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Ten Running Mates for Obama

posted at 5/12/2008 10:04 AM EDT

*Moderator*

David_Allen_Waters

First post: 10/30/2007
Last post: 9/14/2009
Total posts: 18

Sen. Barack Obama's campaign looks like a winner, but after a grueling nomination battle he might need an unconventional running mate to broaden his appeal. Here are my nominees. Do you have others?

1. Dick Cheney. You think rural Pennsylvanians are bitter?

2. Mel Gibson. The Mad Max of Catholicism would leave voters asking Jeremiah who?

3. Gavin Newsom. San Francisco Mayor. Kiss the evangelical vote goodbye, but this duo would make Clinton and Gore look like Flat and Scruggs.

4. Jimmy Carter. Why not have the oldest and wisest ex-president on your side?

5. Al Gore. Win the popular vote and the Electoral College.

6. Bruce Springsteen. Blue-collar, Rust Belt Catholics already lining up for Inaugural tickets.

7. Jim Webb. Vietnam Vet, Sec. of Navy under Reagan, Virginia senator. A flag lapel pin as a running mate.

8. Tom Cruise: Mr. Scientology would leave voters asking Jeremiah who?

9. Toby Keith. Country music star, Ford truck man and a conservative Democrat who thinks the party needs to man up.

10. Oprah Winfrey. "Big Give" economic plan pays off everyone's mortgage.

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Why not a serious, meaningful list?

posted at 5/12/2008 10:28 AM EDT

pKrishna43

First post: 8/29/2007
Last post: 9/2/2009
Total posts: 43

I think this moderator posted a similar silly list before. Why is this frivolous use of the discussion space encouraged by Washington Post?

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Why Not A Female V-P?

posted at 5/12/2008 10:53 AM EDT

drzimmern

First post: 3/12/2008
Last post: 5/23/2009
Total posts: 49

Let's consider some females who might bring zing to the ticket:
How about Opray Winfrey?
She is a billionaire democrat, and has influence.
How about Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas, who in the past has called herself "a queen". Let her be a queenly vice-president.
Last but not least, Donna Brazille, very active in Democratic politics.

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Another waste of cyberspace

posted at 5/12/2008 10:55 AM EDT

gso-chris

First post: 8/20/2007
Last post: 7/29/2009
Total posts: 17

I have long railed against this feature on the WaPo site. Like today, it's usually extremely off the mark in its ranking; today it just seems ludicrous. What is the point of it? It seems to be mocking Mr. Obama, and the entire presidential nominating system, as well as belittling the job of VP.

Again, do away with this absurdity already.

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Lighten up PKrishna43

posted at 5/12/2008 10:55 AM EDT

lapluie

First post: 5/12/2008
Last post: 5/12/2008
Total posts: 1

Isn't there enough to be serious and feel down about? Reading some political humor is a wonderful use of time and posting it is a fine use of Post discussion space.
Cheers! And Cheer Up!

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Somehow I just don't get the political humor part of the thread

posted at 5/12/2008 11:05 AM EDT

Dungarees

First post: 12/13/2007
Last post: 11/19/2009
Total posts: 55

I probably could understand it if Gene Weingarten or Marc Fisher put it into a column, but here it looks like it's a really but "funny" list. I'm with those that think it's a waste of space, and like gso-chris, I'm not really a fan of this feature.

Before opening it, i thought there might be some, howelver little, some, substance.

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Broooooce

posted at 5/12/2008 11:06 AM EDT

dkp01

First post: 6/28/2007
Last post: 12/3/2009
Total posts: 188

Springsteen always puts on a good Philly show. Maybe he could use that to help Obama shore up support in PA. Then Obama would have PA, NJ, and possibly NY in an even stronger lock than before.

But those states are already strongly in Obama's favor for the general, so what else could the Boss do to help? Perhaps a revival of the Ghost of Tom Joad tour in the west, to attempt to bring in the Hispanic vote.

He doesn't have any political experience, but he's been around the world and is an excellent wordsmith. I'm sure he'll be able to handle himself in the VP debates. And the Obama campaign could surely use his lack of experience in their favor - their campaign is so anti-establishment that his runningmate isn't even a part of the establishment.

Once he gets to Washington, there'd be very little for him to do. That's fine. Our club scene is mediocre compared to some cities, but it's getting better with every year. He could play here. For 4 to 8 years. Appoint Clarence as the Secretary of, I don't know, State (he's very stately looking). Professor Roy could head the Department of Education. Little Steven looks like a pirate, so maybe he could be the Secretary of Defense. And when it comes to getting a dirty job done, it takes a red headed woman - so make Patti Scialfa the NSA.

I think it could work.

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ABC - Anybody But Clinton !

posted at 5/12/2008 11:15 AM EDT

dunnhaupt

First post: 10/3/2007
Last post: 11/29/2009
Total posts: 63

I suppose this is a feeble to be humorous. Perhaps it was this kind of media carelessness and flippancy about the second highest job in the land that got us Dick Cheney the last time around.

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Re: Why not a serious, meaningful list?

posted at 5/12/2008 11:17 AM EDT

HeddWyn

First post: 12/29/2007
Last post: 4/4/2009
Total posts: 5

Replying to:

I think this moderator posted a similar silly list before. Why is this frivolous use of the discussion space encouraged by Washington Post?
Posted by pKrishna43

I think the idea of Senator James Webb of Virginia is a first-rate proposal. When Senator McCain gets on his soapbox to complain about the Democrats and cutting and running, Senator Webb can go up and kick the box out from under him. For Senator Obama, he supplies the November ticket the depth of experience some people think is necessary.

Okay so Tom Cruise may not be a suitable candidate, but Senator Web is a terrific prospect.

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Bob Graham

posted at 5/12/2008 11:20 AM EDT

hrayovac

First post: 1/29/2008
Last post: 9/2/2009
Total posts: 9

Bob Graham is my serious choice for Obama VP...not that the moderator cares, he thinks it's all a big joke. It seems to me that there are an awful lot of Republicans who feel compelled to voice their opinion about Democratic party affairs..from the networks on down you have Karl Rove giving Demcorats advice.

Any Democrat who gives these sob's the time of day ought to be sent to work for Liebermann.

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Re: Ten Running Mates for Obama

posted at 5/12/2008 11:24 AM EDT

hookemhorns1

First post: 5/12/2008
Last post: 5/12/2008
Total posts: 1

In no particular order:

1: Ted Strickland (win OH)
2: Ed Rendell (win PA)
3: Dick Gephart (champion of white, rural, working class)
4: Bill Richardson (if foreign policy were still the main issue)
5: Kathy Sebilus (sp?) (KS Gov.)
6: Jim Webb (guarantee VA to go blue)
7: Bob Casey (try to get Florida into the blue column)
8: Tom Vilsak (win IA)
9: Evan Bayh (win IN)
10: Hillary (I ran out of names)

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posted at 5/12/2008 11:41 AM EDT

Sutter

First post: 1/4/2008
Last post: 10/17/2009
Total posts: 26

Jenna Bush.

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Bill Richardson is a 3-fer...

posted at 5/12/2008 11:44 AM EDT

dgloo

First post: 10/11/2007
Last post: 7/14/2009
Total posts: 19

1. You get demonstrated results and experience in foreign policy.
2. He allows Dems to show their big-tent attitude by including hispanics in the mix.
3. And those who would oppose him BECAUSE he's hispanic probably don't even know that he is hispanic!

Richardson puts NM, NV, and CO in blue, and almost neutralizes McCain in AZ.

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Re: Ten Running Mates for Obama

posted at 5/12/2008 11:48 AM EDT

dgloo

First post: 10/11/2007
Last post: 7/14/2009
Total posts: 19

Replying to:

8: Tom Vilsak (win IA)
9: Evan Bayh (win IN)

Posted by hookemhorns1

My thoughts:

I like Vilsak; I voted for him twice when I lived in Iowa. But I don't think he would bring much to the ticket. He's smart and thoughtful, but he's as exciting as watching corn grow. I think he'd be a great Secy of Ag or Commerce.

I think Bayh's strong (and strong-handed) support of Clinton in Indiana took him off the list.

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Mrs Obama?

posted at 5/12/2008 11:57 AM EDT

moidalam

First post: 5/12/2008
Last post: 4/2/2009
Total posts: 4

Michelle Obama

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Re: Ten Running Mates for Obama

posted at 5/12/2008 12:29 PM EDT

Birddog08

First post: 1/28/2008
Last post: 9/9/2008
Total posts: 14

Replying to:

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Obviously Obama would prefer a fellow Muslim.

posted at 5/12/2008 1:06 PM EDT

gneubeck

First post: 5/12/2008
Last post: 10/22/2009
Total posts: 8

Obama, whose father was a practicing Muslim and whose mother was a radical Marxist, has stated that his mother: "Was the dominant figure in my formative years; and, the values she taught me continue to be my touchstone in the world of politics". Common sense deductive reasoning suggests that Obama's rearing as a child, and his extended 20yr relationships with anti-American fanatics such as Rev. Wright and William Ayers are in fact reflective of Obama's true psychological makeup. This man's refusal to wear an American flag lapel pin and to place his hand over his heart on the singing of our National Anthem are conditioned reflexes from his protracted association with disaffected elements in our society; visual images that Obama is certain to attempt to obfuscate in future campaign appearances. Further, Michelle Obama's angry commentary directed at our country is telling. Obama is indeed the real-life Manchurian Candidate. Greg Neubeck

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Re: Ten Running Mates for Obama

posted at 5/12/2008 1:24 PM EDT

mightysparrow

First post: 5/30/2007
Last post: 12/2/2009
Total posts: 39

Oprah Winfrey? Donna Brazile? Give me a break! What qualifications do these people have? Oprah is great at promoting herself and Donna presided over a disasterous campaign for Al Gore. I've talked to Ms. Brazile on the phone, when she was working for Sen. Holmes-Norton, and she didn't impress me.

My vote for a running mate for Obama: his own ego.