Kerry's VP

MSNBC is running a pol for who you think Kerry should pick to be the VP. The choices are Edwards, Graham, Richardson, Mc Cain and Clark. I strongly supported Edwards, but I don't think he'd be the best choice. First, he is far more charismatic than Kerry and I don't think he would co-exist really well with Kerry (I'd rather he replace Rehnquist as Chief Justice). Graham -- forget it. Mc Cain -- said NO a zillion times already. Also, I like Mc Cain in the role of loyal Republican soldier. There is nothing that hurt Bush more than when his "own" people dispute his ridiculous statements -- like when Bush said Kerry was soft on supporting the military. Richardson -- Maybe. He's smart, articulate and does not get rattled easily. He's also a team player in the party. Clark, good possibilty. He's got that outsider appeal and what would sound better than Gen. Clark critizing Haliburton's job of taking care of the troops. The Career Military Man, Rhodes Scholar and Patriot vs The Corporate Shill. I think there are other good choices (Not Dr. Dean -- he gets angry to easily and if there is a VP debate, Cheney's calm demeanor would destroy him, mine include Diane Feinstein and John Breaux. Any other possibilities.

Need Dennis back in the House generating ideas and bills.

Swore he would not leave his Governor post early.

How do you make him into a non-promise breaker? Get the AZ people to impeach him to relieve him of his promise?

I prefer he remain Governor of New Mexico. I just mentioned his name because he was one of the five on the CNN site.

I prefer Edwards, but could be happy with Clark.

we need. He can't go help in the South to help keep and win seats in the Senate there. The person not only has to be a stronger speaker but someone who can go places Kerry can't and help keep and win Seats in Congress. Edwards and Clark can do that. But Clark isn't the strong speaker we need. Edwards is going to be the guy. When you way all the options he just makes the most sense

That's why McCain is so attractive. Gore states + Arizona = the election.

Someone on the johnkerry.com forum posted the following:

I just listened to Dem. Governor Richardson and Republican Mitch McConnel give a post-new-conference analysis on Larry King.

Richardson was so weak and unwilling to challenge Bush it made my blood boil!

He praised Bush for his "resolve".

He said we should not look to blame anyone for 9/11, Clinton and Bush both made mistakes.

He said Bush was taking terrorism seriously now.

He said Bush was right to stay the course in Iraq.... but look to internationalize it more.

When McConnel said that Bush's Anti-terror policy post 9-11 has been a stunning success---Richardson did not challenge that.

When McConnell said that millions of Afghans now live in freedom--that was not challenged. No mention that almost the entire country is run by warlords; women's rights are as non-existent as ever; heroin poppy production is again a huge problem; murderous warlords like Dostum are attacking towns and villages;

Osama bin Laden is still at large!

When McConnel said that Iraq was going to be a huge success, Richardson did not challenge that.

When McConnell said that there is no doubt whatsoever that we are much
safer now than immediately after 9/11, with the Patriot Act, Afghanistan invasion, Iraq invasion---Richardson did NOT challenge that.

I have been thinking that Richardson was my second choice for VP (a distant second, to be sure), but if all this is true, he's not the guy for the job. We need someone who can be Kerry's attack dog, as vicious or concilliatory as Kerry wants him/her to play it.

'Course, you all know who I think that is.

Interesting that Kerry has been putting Clark on more of the conservative news shows lately (Hannity last nite, Scarborough Country a couple times, Greta, some talk radio). I'd say he's going after the moderate Repubs who watch that crap. And Clark's been doing a damn good job explaining the BushCo foreign policy failures. It's a sound strategy.

From the South, will bring Indies/Moderates/Republicans to vote for him.

But his real asset is his experience. Kerry faces 2 huge problems. The domestic front: a broken fiscal policy, jobs, and energy problems. The international front: Iraq, US international image.

Kerry's going to need a strong 2nd to help out. I think Clark's expertise in building an international coalition and developing a stabile Iraq while extricating our troops will make him a logical choice. Kerry would be freed up to focus on issues that affect the home front.

By a country mile.

Kerry better damn well pick someone with strong foreign policy credentials.

too bad Paul Wellstone's not around anymore. He would have been perfect.