Pelosi On The Dream Ticket: "No, I Don't Think It's A Good Idea"

WASHINGTON — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton shouldn't share the Democratic presidential ticket unless they really want to.

"No, I don't think it's a good idea," Pelosi said in an interview with CNN talk show host Larry King aired Thursday night.

"I think first of all the candidate, whoever he or she may be, should choose his or her own vice presidential candidate," said Pelosi, who will chair the Democratic National Convention in Denver in August. "I think that's appropriate. That's where you would see the comfort level on not only how to run, but how to govern the country.

"And there's plenty of talent to go around to draw upon for a good, strong ticket. I'm not one of those who thinks that's a good ticket."

But Pelosi added that if Clinton and Obama "think that it's a good ticket, maybe it is. But I don't think that we should thrust the vice presidential choice onto the presidential nominee. That's her or his decision to make."

Pelosi also said she agrees with Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean that the nomination should be settled before the national convention.

"I don't want a brokered convention. I think there's too short a time _ maybe just about eight weeks between the end of the convention and the election. And I don't think that's enough time to bring everyone together," Pelosi said.

"I do think that the campaigns have to work their way through this, that we should have all the elections, let the people speak and then we'll find out who our nominee is."

The last Democratic primaries are June 3 in Montana and South Dakota.

Comments

[pertello]

Nancy Pelosi has a lot of class. Maybe she should give lessons to Hillary on charm and grace. Nancy Pelosi proves that a woman doesn't need to become a loudmouthed bitch to be powerful.
On another note I hear Hill is beating the drum for (YET!) another debate, this time in NC.

My opinion is-- we don't need anymore debates! We found out from the last one that news reporters are retards and Hillary is a cut throat bitch (but didn't we know that already?)

[shep1900]

You know what would be a big idea? If Speaker Pelosi spent some time trying to thwart the Bush Administration's policies, instead.

[rwe2late]

So Pelosi thinks the most important factor should be "compatibility".
Otherwise, we must suppose, the candidates would not be professional enough to work together toward supposedly shared Democratic Party goals.
Traditionally, the most important factor for the VP pick was whether he/she added to the electability of the ticket. But, that's a "secondary" consideration for Pelosi.
And intra-party democracy? Well, party Democrats are pretty evenly split over who should serve as POTUS. But I guess they don't get any voice in choosing who should run as VP, and perhaps become President.
Hillary and Obama both say they "work well" with Lieberman on most issues. Maybe Pelosi could convince him to rejoin the Democratic Party and run for VP again. He meets Pelosi's criteria perfectly.

[santafenm]

Pelosi is worthless.­.. along with Brazile and Dean.

Even if you don't believe in the dream ticket, isn't the point that the CANDIDATE decide?

I hope she's replaced in the near future- she is a horrible majority leader.

[TiffanyHusseinBanned]

Nancy was asked her opinion. She then went on to say:

"I think first of all the candidate, whoever he or she may be, should choose his or her own vice presidential candidate," said Pelosi, who will chair the Democratic National Convention in Denver in August.

[americanwomaninpa]

TiffanyHus­seinBanned

Your right. Word for word.

[1dogs2]

Isn't that Pelosi's point?

[venicesurfer]

i agree. i supported her in the beginning but hasnt done anything significant. she gives bush everything he wants.

[GeoLee]

I was utterly unimpressed with her on Larry King last night. I kept hearing what a woman of strength she was, but now I figure the administration must be blackmailing her based on some intercepted phone calls or emails or something because she shrinks into a compliant mousy voiceless woman at any confrontation with the President. Does she not realize that over a half the country would rather she not "fi9nd compromises the president will sign. A do nothing congress would be a lot better than a give the chimp in chif everything he wants. At least if they sent NO legislation to him, the we would not the republicans did not slip anything in at the last minute

[ObamaEdwards]

Know the story of how Napoleon invaded Moscow and nobody was home? That will be Clinton if she wrangles a nomination. She will flash the pearly whites and proclaim herself Czarina. But she'll be talking to about 1/4 of the Democrats who are currently involved in the primaries. Obama would lend support to the party out of loyalty--but a lot of us won't. Obama is a unique and once-in-a-lifetime leader. Clinton is just like McCain. Clinton and Obama are not interchangeable. They stand for completely different things. I'd rather watch the party go down in flames than cast a vote for Clinton. OK, Democratic Party: Your move.

[EinChicago]

Hogwash. Clinton has more votesthan Obama is you don't disenfranchise states or resort to deceitful fuzzy math and count caucus goers 29 times or something equally dishonest. Obama has the passionate support of about 20% of the voting population. When he wins teh nomination and the Obama Kultists are put back into the larger voting pool, he's going to be hearing the sound of crickets chirping and not much else. The Obama Kultists are shrill and loud, but few and far between in the general election pool.

[msemper]

damn you must was need good at math...lol

obama has more votes. when you start taking like a dummy you sound like hillary. However hillary is very smart. Therefore she is brain washing you. Hillary knows it is over, however she is not a quitter. the voters have to stop her. NC, and IN will finish her off.

[S1m0n]

Dude, the decision to ban MI and FL was made by the folks running Hillary's campaign in the first place.

[BWonka]

Too bad - she signed on with the decision regarding FL and MI. But now she whines - because she is losing.

[luvthelaw]

Hillary knew what the process was. Bill ran twice with it. They should have changed it if they thought it was unfair. The only what she leads in pop vote is if you disenfranchise the caucus states who followed the rules and give votes to Hillary in 2 states who broke the rules but disenfranchises everyone who voted against her in Mi when they voted uncommitted. If the Obama supporters are so few, why does he have so much money and the lead in both the primary results and the national polls?

[KnockedUpsuperbadvirgin]

Pelosi is right and wrong.

It's a bad idea that would not have the country's best interest at hand. It creates a superficial de-valuating of other politicians.

However, Pelosi's wrong is being so adamant about shutting the idea down. Obama's been so damaged by this campaign. He should've been the nominee before the Rev Wright story hit its peak. Hillary never had a chance in hell; 'nuff said. He needs Hillary on his ticket and she needs him. They are two flawed candidates who are both unelectable on their own against the GOP spin machine.

[Gmoney1]

Hillary is damaged to no redemption - she's a liar - she lied more than once, joked about her lie on the Jay Leno show and now expects american people to believe anything else she has to say - she's a liar - she's dividing the races and she does not care - she wants to be president because she's angry with her husband for the Monica Lewinsky scandal - she's not over it - she's a scorn woman - take a look at her eyes when she speaks - she's a very unhappy woman -

[Robespierre]

I wonder if she's addicted to Liagra, the ED drug for Excessive Dishonesty!

[AZM]

Consider confidence is at a 26 year low. Do you suppose a lot of people are bitter? Or perhaps they're just disgruntled?

[Stevelagain]

Obama told us all about those ignorant bitter christian republicans, thank good a man of Obamas "brilliance", "intelligence", and outright elitist racist bigotry may soon be in charge. Boy will we be happy then.

I say Obama is an average black man. I'm saying that as, what Obama told me I am....an average white person.

[luvthelaw]

Didn't know you were Obama's grandmother.

[savemefromher]

The Obama campaign and the DNC are about to sign a joint fundraising agreement whereby Obama's contributors' checks/debits over a certain dollar amount will be shunted to the national committee's bank accounts. An Obama campaign spokesperson confirmed that an agreement was being set up.

So far, the Clinton campaign has been skeptical about setting up such an agreement with the DNC. Obviously she doesn't have the party's best interest at heart, and I think this is very short sighted considering this money will go towards helping out the down-ticket candidates. Many of those candidates just happen to be .....super­delegates.

[DavidK08]

Would you want anything connected to the HRC fundraising? She is so terrible at running her campaign that she should get to run the country because she is wiilling to do anything to get it.

[FJRinLA]

The CLINTON INSURGENCY MARCHES ON

The Clinton Insurgency will continue on no matter what party leaders say or do. They stopped running for President in '08 sometime between Super Tuesday and Mini-Super Tuesday, and morphed into the "Campaign To Defeat Obama" at all costs.

So we loyal DEMS have to recognize that and behave accordingly.

The Clinton Insurgency will just move to the Senate if she fails in denying Obama the Presidency.

There, she'll caucus with Sens. McCain, Lieberman, and the rest of the REPS to keep blocking Progressive legislation and help create a failed Obama Presidency.

Of course, she's still got a great chance to avoid that by bringing to pass her preferred self-fulfilling prophecy of a failed Obama General Election campaign that produces a McCain Administration.

If The Clintons can pull that off, then they'd gladly take the heat while slowly trying to spin themselves back into DEM good graces.

So please be informed and aware, because based upon The Clintons words and deeds that we are all currently witnessing, there is absolutely no reason for any of us to be caught off guard or not prepared for their continued assault against Obama and any type of "Change You Can Believe In".

You see, The Clintons want to remain "titular heads" of the DEM Party in absentia, even if it means dooming us, the country, and the entire world to another four years of wandering in the wilderness during a McCain or Cheney-Lite Administration.

[Wanod]

Who care's what she thinks, she's a looser, she needs to resign.

[paulfromportland]

A "looser" - And she hangs around what Seniors singles bar?

[drzoon]

she does? do you know the name of any of them?

[adzeman]

Pelosi's stock goes up in my book. Obama would rather have McCain as VP, and I do not blame him. Clinton is approaching a seat in the cloakroom with Lieberman, as in we will call you if we need you.

[JerryTheAngel]

I'm a supporter of Senator Obama but to say Senator Clinton's views are close to Lieberman and McCain is denying reality. Mrs Clinton has promised to start bringing our troops home as soon as she takes office. She is for Universal Health Care. She wants to bring back reasonable gun control laws. If you want to attack Clinton for her Karl Rove and Lee Atwater like attacks on Mr Obama, that I can agree with.

[fiona2]

together they own the election, AND, they will keep each other honest, authentic, focused, encouraged, and productive­....they should consider it thoroughly before dismissing the idea.

[Gmoney1]

Honest, Clinton has never said an honest thing since this campaign - focused, Hillary can't even keep Bill Clinton focused much less than herself, productive - Hillary can't even run a debt free campaign - encouraged - Hillary told the blue collar workers that they were happy with no jobs, no pensions, gas prices sky high and no healthcare - she told them that they were poor, uneducated and happy - how encouraging is that ???

[MiddleRoadLiberal]

Obama-Pelosi '08?

[TiffanyHusseinBanned]

I wouldn't mind that ticket. I just don't think it is a good idea.

[likeicare]

My idea for a dream ticket for the Dems: McSame/Hillary -- to run against!

[JohnKemp]

Didn't Pelosi invent a couple of Old Testament verses to support her opinion?