April 5, 2008
Meet The Dream Ticket: Obama-Kerry '08
Weekly Standard: Candidate Needs Serious Running Mate; Besides, It'd Be Fun!
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January 10, 2008: Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. left, waves to the crowd after being introduced and endorsed by former Democratic presidential candidate U.S. Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., during a rally on the College of Charleston campus in Charleston, S.C. (AP)
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The 4 C's In Selecting A VP
As the race for the White House intensifies, the presidential candidates must decide on a vice presidential nominee. Katie Couric examines four important facets in selecting a running mate.
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Notebook: Vice President
Each presidential candidate gets to decide who they want to appoint as their vice president. The decision is made by one, but could potentially affect everyone. Katie Couric comments.
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Talk Of Vice Presidency
Barack Obama rejects the idea that Hillary Clinton is in a position to offer him the vice presidency, pointing out her second-place status with delegates. Jim Axelrod reports.
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Barack Obama
A look at the life and meteoric rise of the president-elect.
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The latest list of primary and caucus dates as states continue jockeying for position.
With the Lioness of Tuzla's campaign taking on still more water and her path to victory looking all but impossible, Barack Obama has emerged as the overwhelming favorite. And you know what that means soon everyone will be talking about who Obama should select as his running mate.
Let's first discuss what Obama requires in a running mate. Obviously, he desperately needs someone who will balance out his unprecedented lack of experience. The most important thing that needs addressing is his flimsy (i.e. non-existent) military bona fides. Chances are, the analysts will unanimously dictate that Obama needs a veteran on the ticket.
But Obama's credentials deficit runs much deeper. Obama is equally inexperienced in everything else that matters, too. For instance, there's no reason to believe that he's particularly economically literate, or that he's savvy in the ways of congressional dealings. We've learned this week that he certainly doesn't know the way to the Senate's secret underground bowling alley.
But these are mere pragmatic concerns, and I know the Obama campaign likes to exist on a loftier plane. Therefore, I'll try to discuss things in terms that David Axelrod and perhaps even Obama himself will appreciate. After endorsing Obama, Bill Richardson explained that he did so because, "In my view, Senator Obama represents our best hope of replacing division with unity." That's swell, but one can imagine a lot of voters thinking, "Unity sounds really neat, but right now I'm really concerned about rising gas prices and the plummeting value of my house." At some point, the Obama campaign will have to find a way to tether itself to more earthly matters than the problems Obama prefers addressing. The running mate selection will be a milestone event in that process.
Some people think the aforementioned Richardson would make a good ticket-mate. Sorry he wouldn't, even if he lost the unbecoming facial hair. In spite of the media's impressive effort to turn a guy who earned about 2 percent of the Democratic party's support in the primaries into a kingmaker when he endorsed Obama, Richardson, as evidenced by his performance in those primaries, is a second-rater. Additionally, in spite of his really nice résumé, Richardson has gravitas issues of his own. Let's not forget that Governor Richardson spent decades boasting about the Oakland A's drafting him when no such thing had occurred.
In the lefty blogosphere, Jim Webb has emerged as Obama's dream running mate. While Webb certainly has the military bona fides for the job, he's only been in the senate for 15 months. Now, please don't take what follows the wrong way I like Jim Webb and got a lot of heat for saying nice things about him during his race with George Allen. But I don't think Jim Webb is a great politician or even a particularly good one. I don't consider a razor-thin victory over an incumbent who ran the worst campaign in memory the mark of a political titan. Webb also has little tolerance for foolishness, which suggests that he should stay as far away from presidential politics as possible.
Besides, Obama needs someone with a thicker political résumé than Webb's. Webb has strength in one area, and Obama has weaknesses in every area. What Obama really needs is an éminence grise, a senior figure who oozes seriousness on an array of issues. Unfortunately for Obama, he's a Democrat, and the Democratic party hasn't made a hospitable home for serious people this decade. For goodness sakes, the last two chairmen of the party have been Terry McAuliffe and Howard Dean. As law professors like Barack Obama say, "Res ipsa locquitur."
Yet there is one man that Barack Obama can turn to who will fill all the ticket's needs. That man is John Kerry. We've already discussed how Obama needs a serious running mate, and Kerry at least looks serious. Besides, Kerry is haughty and dour, two traits which are sort of bastard cousins to seriousness. Additionally, if my memory serves correctly, Kerry spent time in the armed forces and even had a tour of duty in Vietnam. And although he's gotten nothing done in the Senate, at least he's been there forever.
Unlike the almost presumptive nominee, Kerry is a fine debater. How good was Kerry in the 2004 debates? The New York Times described his fluid performance in his first joust with George W. Bush by exclaiming, "He moved gracefully. Mr. Bush slouched and stayed coiled tight, but Mr. Kerry seemed at times to be waltzing with his partner, the lectern. Mr. Kerry moved his hands almost continuously, at one point folding them over his heart like a French mime as he explained that he felt 'nothing but respect' for Tony Blair and British soldiers serving in Iraq." A French mime? Waltzing with his lectern? Need I say more?
Kerry would also bring certain pragmatic, political advantages to the fray. Kerry has been vetted. No surprises will emerge about John Kerry. Well, maybe a few minor ones from Bob Shrum's back-stabbing memoir (like Kerry's juvenile behavior at a campaign get-together with Peter, Paul & Mary), but nothing major. And Kerry's presence on the ticket will make this election more of a referendum on the Bush administration. I know Obama prefers looking forward rather than backwards, but a little glance of this sort in the rearview mirror would help his chances considerably.
I know what you’re thinking: Why would I, a conservative partisan, give the Obama campaign such valuable free advice? This actually would concern me were it not for two factors: 1) I'm quite confident the Obama campaign doesn't care what I think; and 2) I'm even more confident that John Kerry is doing everything he can to further his ambitions on his own. I've been a Kerry constituent for almost 25 years. (It feels like longer.) I know he's still scheming his way to the presidency, and a spot on the Obama ticket would put him back in the game.
But I must confess an ulterior motive for my pining for an Obama/Kerry ticket. Things have gotten dull around here. Every day, we have to write about the latest development that defines Barack Obama. The little lies, the habitual evasions, the avoidance of substance each day we get fresh evidence that Obama is a lot more like the typical politician than the country believes. It's an important story, one that has to be covered.
And I will cover it. But is it too much to ask of the Obama campaign that while it makes me slog through this drudgery, it also provides me with the endless entertainment that another national John Kerry campaign will surely provide?
Ah, the times we had! Like when John and Teresa went to a Wendy's with the Edwards to prove they were regular folks but didn't eat and had a sumptuous catered feast waiting for them at their hotel. Or when he promised his advisors he wouldn't go windsurfing and did so anyway. Or when he called a Secret Service agent a cuss word for allegedly making him stumble on the ski slopes, declaring to the media, "I don't fall."
Just the thought of fresh, anguished cries of "Swiftboating!!!!!" brings a smile to my face. Besides, doesn't the country deserve to see what kind of relationship would develop between Michelle Obama and Teresa Heinz Kerry?
By Dean Barnett
© 2008, News Corporations, Weekly Standard, All Rights Reserved.
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See all 163 CommentsThey should be re-named the "WEAKly Standard".
And, how much experience did W have? (Hint: less.) But the big difference between W and Obama is that Obama is intelligent enough to recognize incompetence and won''t so stupid as to surround himself with "yes men."
They all understand how blacks would feel outraged if Obama were to get muscled out of the nomination by the Clintons'' backroom dealings, but they just seem to take it for granted that women will be accepting if Obama beats out Hillary based on ''dragging his heels'' over MI and FL.
If Hillary makes it known that she wants VP, and if Obama shows reluctance, women are going to be furious. Even if Obama does nominate Hillary VP, women are still going to need to be cultivated to come on board.
I just skimmed this piece, but the author didn''t even mention Hillary even in passing did he? I know it was supposed to be funny, but still . . .
They should leave the smears to the masters.. This pathetic little piece of tripe isn''t even worth the cup of electrons it''s consumed.
But what do you expect from Neocon-scum Fred Barnes?
The trial will soon be going to the Defense''s witnesses soon. So, people should really give that up. Sorry Hillary; ain''t nothing there. He just knew the man. It''s kinds like how YOU KNEW HSU AND COUNTLESS OTHER CRIMINALS.
Kerry lost the election for a reason - he was weak, a roll rover, low in talent, big on wife''s billions, big mouthed (remember his comments about young people going to Iraq? Only those who don''t do well in school end up in Iraq).
Ughhhhhhhhh...............
Kerry lost the election for a reason - he was weak, a roll rover, low in talent, big on wife''s billions, big mouthed (remember his comments about young people going to Iraq? Only those who don''t do well in school end up in Iraq).
Ughhhhhhhhh...............
This team looks familiar; oh, another BUSH - CHENNY team.
Arrgh. Wake up, Obama, you can''t win.
NOT ACCURATE!
NOT INFORMATIVE!
NOT FUNNY!!
Doug LaPlante
position all over the nation for supports. He is even using Al Gore''s name., basket ball court (he knows more American play basket balls instead of bowling), etc... My biggest problem; he is selling empty promises for supports. This guy is cheap & dirty.
This mends fences & gives Gore the highest post givable. We all know the power that can be had by a VP is more than in the 90s. Gores what he says, even thinks what he thinks he thinks (make sense?). But THIS is the solution! Obama could possibly facilitate it to happen; it wouldn''t with Hillary on the top of the ticket. Hillary fans will be sated, Obama''s giddy, and more than 50% of America will be happy.
This mends fences & gives Gore the highest post givable. We all know the power that can be had by a VP is more than in the 90s. Gores what he says, even thinks what he thinks he thinks (make sense?). But THIS is the solution! Obama could possibly facilitate it to happen; it wouldn''t with Hillary on the top of the ticket. Hillary fans will be sated, Obama''s giddy, and more than 50% of America will be happy.
In my view, the author is not adding to the important political dialogue that we so desperately need right now. It seems that his intention is simply to ''fire-up'' the right by bashing the left. I wish he would spend more precious wit trying to raise the right instead.
He can''t win the big states we dems need in the national election...he is losing support from independants because of his closet racism. Plus be sure he has more skeletons in his closet!!
We need Hillary to go up against Mccain in Nov or else we get four more years of repubs!!
Wake up Obama kool aid drinkers!!
obama is no more than AN EMPTY FLUTE WHICH MAKES NICE SOUND BUT ON BORROWD LIPS AND BREATH OF THE FLUTE PLAYER WITHOUT THAT IT IS A N EMPTY PIECE OF WOOD WITH TOO MANY HOLES.
obama,s empty rhetoric is nothing more than that. he claim to be a honest and fair person but he is trying to steal the nomination by not agreeing to seat the delegates from florida and michigan based on voting results. his tactics are deep dirty inside but polished outside. OBAMA SHEEN WILL BE OVER SOON AND SOON WE WILL SEE A VERY DIRTY AND CUNNING POLITICIANS WHO IS FOOLING EVERY ONE BY HIS RACE CARD.
clintons are the best god given gift to america after kfk and bobby kennedy.
wake up america before it is too late.
bhagwan deol los angeles
when i give money to myself it is not tax deductible.
Maybe.....
VP: Kerry, Bloomberg, Biden, or Sebelius
Sec. of State: Biden
Sec. of Defense: Wesley Clark
Sec. of Energy/new global warming type position: Gore or Richardson
Attorney General: John Edwards
somewhere Clinton should be involved as well although definitely NOT as VP.
You prove it''s true that Clinton attracts the uneducated, and uniformed. Charitable donations to the Clinton library and/or foundation can hardly be considered charity. 400,000 dollar income declarations, from the crooks Bill Clinton pardoned can only be considered payoffs. They make the Sopranos look tame. What a joke. I can''t believe Americans continue to be bamboozled by these two. Will YOU ever wake up?
http://tinyurl.com/2zwwte
From NBC/NJ%u2019s Aswini Anburajan
GREENBURG, Pa. -- The Clinton campaign today accused the Obama campaign of "false advertising," claiming that a recent ad Obama released in Pennsylvania was disngenous because Obama has been the recipient of more than $200,000 from the oil and gas industry.
In the ad, Obama says, "I''m Barack Obama, and I don''t take money from oil companies or lobbyists, and I won''t let them block change any more."
Obama has taken $213,884 from the oil and gas industry as of Feb. 29th, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Sen. Hillary Clinton has taken $306,813 in that same period.
Two of Obama''s campaign bundlers are also CEOs for oil and gas companies, per a list released on his campaign Web site.
Robert Cavnar, listed as a bundler who has raised between $50,000 to $100,000 for the campaign, is the chairman and CEO of Mission Resources Corp., a Houston-based firm. George Kaiser, also listed in the same $50,000 to $100,000 category, is the CEO of Tulsa-based Kaiser-Francis Oil Company.
"It''s unfortunate that Senator Obama is using false advertising to explain why he can be trusted to do something about energy prices," Clinton spokesman Phil Singer said. "Senator Obama says he doesn''t take campaign contributions from oil companies but the reality is that Exxon, Shell, and others are among his donors."
http://tinyurl.com/2on6dr
From NBC/NJ%u2019s Aswini Anburajan
GREENBURG, Pa. -- The Clinton campaign today accused the Obama campaign of "false advertising," claiming that a recent ad Obama released in Pennsylvania was disngenous because Obama has been the recipient of more than $200,000 from the oil and gas industry.
In the ad, Obama says, "I''''m Barack Obama, and I don''''t take money from oil companies or lobbyists, and I won''''t let them block change any more."
Obama has taken $213,884 from the oil and gas industry as of Feb. 29th, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Sen. Hillary Clinton has taken $306,813 in that same period.
Two of Obama''''s campaign bundlers are also CEOs for oil and gas companies, per a list released on his campaign Web site.
Robert Cavnar, listed as a bundler who has raised between $50,000 to $100,000 for the campaign, is the chairman and CEO of Mission Resources Corp., a Houston-based firm. George Kaiser, also listed in the same $50,000 to $100,000 category, is the CEO of Tulsa-based Kaiser-Francis Oil Company.
"It''''s unfortunate that Senator Obama is using false advertising to explain why he can be trusted to do something about energy prices," Clinton spokesman Phil Singer said. "Senator Obama says he doesn''''t take campaign contributions from oil companies but the reality is that Exxon, Shell, and others are among his donors."
http://tinyurl.com/2on6dr
Judicial Watch: Obama %u2018intended to leave no paper trail%u2019
By Klaus Marre
Posted: 03/26/08 01:01 PM [ET]
The president of a prominent watchdog group said Wednesday that he believes Democratic presidential frontrunner Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) %u201Cintended to leave no paper trail%u201D during his time in the Illinois Senate.
Judicial Watch, which has been seeking access to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton%u2019s (D-N.Y.) records from her time in the White House, argued Wednesday that the Illinois senator, who has criticized the former first lady for a lack of openness, has his own %u201Crecords problem.%u201D
%u201CThe more we learn about the Illinois Senator, the more obvious it becomes that he is anything but the ethically upright outsider he purports to be,%u201D said Tom Fitton, the president of Judicial Watch.
The group rose to prominence when it repeatedly took on former President Bill Clinton during his time in office. It also sought records from the Bush administration regarding Vice President *** Cheney%u2019s energy task force.
In a statement, Fitton noted that his group has sought access to Obama%u2019s records as a state senator and questioned whether the presidential candidate has been forthcoming with regard to what happened to those documents.
He said that %u201Cnobody knows where they are, if they exist at all%u201D and claimed that %u201CObama%u2019s story keeps changing.%u201D
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