# Who will/should Obama pick as running mate? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [June 4, 2008, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752 "2008-06-04T13:50:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/81 "2008-06-17T14:06:56Z")
[QUOTE=Cyberhwk] That depends, is he trying out for the circus? “Step right up folks, and witness the great Obamazinni!” 😉 [/QUOTE] 😃 We laugh; but that truly is one (small but real) thing that has to be considered in picking a running mate – the bumper sticker. ---
**Author:** ![CapnPitt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/edb3f5/32.png) [@CapnPitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CapnPitt)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/82 "2008-06-17T14:38:01Z")
[QUOTE=Captain Amazing] Before that, it happened in 1960, when Kennedy picked Johnson. [/QUOTE] I hate to pick nits on another **Captain** but Hubert Humphrey was really the 2nd biggest candidate for the Democrats in 1960. Johnson was strong, but definitely regional…he was a ticket balancing selection. As far as Obama goes, I’m really hoping Richardson. He’s actually who I wanted for president in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![tds1273](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/df705f/32.png) [@tds1273](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tds1273)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/83 "2008-06-17T18:28:22Z")
[QUOTE=EddyTeddyFreddy] 😃 We laugh; but that truly is one (small but real) thing that has to be considered in picking a running mate – the bumper sticker. [/QUOTE] Obama/[Lincoln](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Chafee) would look pretty good. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/84 "2008-06-17T19:00:50Z")
[QUOTE=tds1273] Obama/[Lincoln](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Chafee) would look pretty good. [/QUOTE] Well, yabbut… two candidates from the same state? Isn’t the veep supposed to balance the ticket and What? Oh. That’s very different. Never mind. 😃 Whoa, wait – that article says he worked for seven years as a professional blacksmith? Dayyum, the man isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty and he’s wicked experienced in dealing with horses’ asses. Sounds good to me. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/85 "2008-06-17T19:21:51Z")
[QUOTE=John Mace] Chuck Hagel? Not in a million years. [/QUOTE] I don’t know–[Salon](http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/06/17/hagel_veep/), while admitting he’s still a long shot, doesn’t paint it as _that_ unlikely a possibility… ---
**Author:** ![buttonjockey308](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@buttonjockey308](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buttonjockey308)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/86 "2008-06-17T20:44:05Z")
[QUOTE=tds1273] I just can’t say enough how great I think a Obama/Sebelius ticket would be. Her persona, her record, and her demographics/region compliment Obama like no other candidate. With the economy likely being the defining issue of the election, I think it is important to have a Governor in that spot; someone with Executive domestic policy experience and who has successfully ran a real budget. Also, when the issue of healthcare comes up, as it will, she was an Insurance Commissioner who fought and beat the insurance industry’s conglomeration attempts. And she did this all(she was also a State Rep), like Obama, cleanly by refusing to take any contributions from insurers. As far as the vetting process goes for Sebelius, the biggest criticism among Dems is that she didn’t have enough “bite” in her SotU rebuttal. I counter that it was not what was called for. She connected where she needed- moderates and right-leaners. She also was likable enough that the only attacks to be waged back would be on policies; as Barack says- ‘that is a debate they welcome’. If you saw Brit Hume’s face afterwards you knew she did the job. Plus, just look at Obama v Clinton, the “fighting” is counter productive. The only “dirt” that has been turned up on Kathleen Sebelius is that her son made a GTA-esque video game about prison life called ‘Dont Drop the Soap’. If that is all they have on her we should be so lucky; sure as hell beats a revisit to Bill’s infidelity. It is not a big enough deal to be a vote breaker, and could in fact serve as an opportunity to introduce her in the favorable light as a, perhaps disappointed, but ever-loving mother. Her only negative could easily be flipped into a benefit. As far as the foreign policy/security issue goes, I like what Bill Richardson said on Larry King last night- that Obama should announce his intended foreign policy team early, SecState, Defense, FP Advisor. He could announce them now and have them start campaigning together as a team, which would also free up the issue so he is able to pick whoever he wants for VP. Imagine this line up touring the Country and the Sunday talk shows… FP Advisor- Sam Nunn SecState- Bill Richardson SecDefense- Chuck Hagel SecHomelandSecurity- Thad Allen …it’d be like the GlobeTrotters of foreign policy. I think Richardson is a lock as SecState, but I’m sure somewhere a place could be found for a Clark, Sestak, Powell, etc… I intentionally excluded Biden and Webb as I think we really need them in the Senate. Obama is really in a good place to be. Aside from just facing a losing Republican ‘brand’, it is amazing how deep the talent pool he has to choose from is; not just for VP but for his entire cabinet. Just compare the initial Presidential Candidate line-ups of the two parties. [/QUOTE] I find myself in league with you, generally, except for Chuck Hagel (A SECDEF that’s never served? Bollocks. Even Cheney and Rumsfeld served). I think, if he’d take it, I’d put William ‘Fox’ Fallon right in that seat. Never heard the name? [Behold.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_J._Fallon) ---
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/87 "2008-06-17T20:58:07Z")
[QUOTE=buttonjockey308] I find myself in league with you, generally, except for Chuck Hagel (A SECDEF that’s never served? Bollocks. Even Cheney and Rumsfeld served). I think, if he’d take it, I’d put William ‘Fox’ Fallon right in that seat. Never heard the name? [Behold.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_J._Fallon) [/QUOTE] Cheney never served. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/88 "2008-06-17T21:01:32Z")
[QUOTE=buttonjockey308] I find myself in league with you, generally, except for Chuck Hagel (A SECDEF that’s never served? Bollocks. Even Cheney and Rumsfeld served). [/QUOTE] Cheney never served. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/47e85d/32.png) [@Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Lance_Murdoch)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2008, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/89 "2008-06-18T14:54:56Z")
But hopefully he’ll be served. ---
**Author:** ![tds1273](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/df705f/32.png) [@tds1273](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tds1273)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2008, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/90 "2008-06-18T15:32:17Z")
[QUOTE=buttonjockey308] I find myself in league with you, generally, except for Chuck Hagel (A SECDEF that’s never served? Bollocks. Even Cheney and Rumsfeld served). [/QUOTE] Umm, should I duck? Hagel [served](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Hagel#Early_life_and_family): > [@](#): > > Hagel is a Vietnam War veteran, having served in the United States Army infantry, attaining the rank of Sergeant (E-5) from 1967–1968. While serving during the Vietnam War, he received the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge Now, as far as VP goes, that would be a bad pick; he is Rushannity-right on pretty much [every other issue](http://www.ontheissues.org/Senate/Chuck_Hagel.htm) I would like to add one more name to that list though, [Tammy Duckworth](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tammy_Duckworth) for SecVA. Then make Powell her personal assistant, and make him have to deal daily, hands on, with the mess that he help to create. ---
**Author:** ![buttonjockey308](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@buttonjockey308](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buttonjockey308)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2008, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/91 "2008-06-18T18:14:33Z")
[QUOTE=Lakai] Cheney never served. [/QUOTE] So you’re right. I didn’t read the entry fully enough. Still, my vote for Fallon stands. ---
**Author:** ![buttonjockey308](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@buttonjockey308](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buttonjockey308)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2008, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/92 "2008-06-18T18:17:14Z")
[QUOTE=tds1273] Umm, should I duck? Hagel [served](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Hagel#Early_life_and_family): Now, as far as VP goes, that would be a bad pick; he is Rushannity-right on pretty much [every other issue](http://www.ontheissues.org/Senate/Chuck_Hagel.htm) I would like to add one more name to that list though, [Tammy Duckworth](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tammy_Duckworth) for SecVA. Then make Powell her personal assistant, and make him have to deal daily, hands on, with the mess that he help to create. [/QUOTE] GAH! I jsut coludnt’ get ayntingh rgiht yessterday! Reading is funduhmental! Thanks. I Agree with the Duckworth nod though. Capital choice. ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2008, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/93 "2008-06-18T18:18:49Z")
I think Olympia Snow is perfect for VP. That would make the ticket black/white, male/female, young/old, Dem/Repub. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2008, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/94 "2008-06-19T23:47:45Z")
OK, my whole objection to Sebelius was that she was running for reelection this year. But she’s not. I was wrong. She’s midway through her second term, so she’s in the same position as Bill Richardson: She’d just be quitting her term midway through for a warm bucket of spit. …I guess that’s OK, but it bugs me when governors do that. And since it turns out [Samantha Power was born Irish](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samantha_Power) & is thus ineligible, I guess I would be OK with either Sebelius or Richardson. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2008, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/95 "2008-06-19T23:50:57Z")
Oh, & John Edwards needs a job, but I want him to be Sec of HHS. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2008, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/96 "2008-06-20T21:17:30Z")
Well, he doesn’t actually _need_ a job, but he’s free. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2008, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/97 "2008-06-20T22:33:07Z")
Perhaps we should do it this way: who would be better as VP than in the Cabinet? I like Richardson, but I’d put him in there so I could easily drop him if he was too Clintonesque. You’d want a veep to do the rounds of the shows too, so they have to be likeable and engaging. I haven’t seen any of these folks speak: are they personable? ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/98 "2008-06-21T01:36:48Z")
Here’s a novel one: [Robert Rubin](http://news.yahoo.com/s/huffpost/20080620/cm_huffpost/108187) > [@](#): > > In an election focused on the economy, and, more precisely, an ailing economy that needs major surgery, selecting Bob Rubin powerfully sends that message. > > Rubin was first the Director of the National Economic Council and, from that position, convinced the new President, Bill Clinton, that high interest rates were like a tax on the entire economy, both at the individual and societal level, and that demonstrating credibility on deficit reduction would trigger a “virtuous cycle” of falling interest rates that would further reduce the debt (lower interest payments), provide people with more money to spend and spur investment. > > The key was both controlling spending and raising revenues through higher tax rates on the wealthy. They did it. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/99 "2008-06-21T13:54:42Z")
[QUOTE=foolsguinea] Oh, & John Edwards needs a job, but I want him to be Sec of HHS. [/QUOTE] HHS and not AG? We’re talking about a department that has been run through a shredder and will have to be pretty much rebuilt from the ground up. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/100 "2008-06-21T15:22:56Z")
[QUOTE=gaffa] HHS and not AG? We’re talking about a department that has been run through a shredder and will have to be pretty much rebuilt from the ground up. [/QUOTE] Oh, no, it’s much worse than that. We’re talking about a department that **needs** to be run through a shredder and rebuilt from the ground up. The Justice Department has been systematically packed these seven years with staff carefully vetted for RW ideology – many of whom have civil-service protection. Purging them will be essential, but a daunting challenge. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752.md?page=6)