Obama's VP List: MSNBC Gathers Names

From NBC's Chuck Todd and Domenico Montanaro:

So you think you know who's on Obama's veep short list? Well, think again. According to sources on the Hill, Obama veep vetters -- specifically Jim Johnson and Eric Holder -- have been asking Dem members of Congress this week their input about potential running mates. The conversations are free-flowing but one name the vetters are inserting in the conversations is one that is not a household name... Ret. Gen. James Jones, the former Marine-turned-NATO Supreme Allied Commander. ...

Besides Jones, the other names on the list bandied about with congressional Dems include (and not in any order): Hillary Clinton, John Kerry, John Edwards, Evan Bayh, Kathleen Sebelius, Ted Strickland, Mark Warner, Tim Kaine, Jim Webb, Bill Nelson, Jack Reed, Joe Biden, Chris Dodd, Tom Daschle, and Sam Nunn. You'll notice a few names NOT on this list (that's not my exclusion -- hint hint). Besides Jones, I'm told the two other names that invited extended discussion were Biden and Strickland.

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The Huffington Post recently published profiles on two of the top names on the list: Jim Webb and Kathleen Sebelius. For more on Obama's veepstakes, check out HuffPost's rundown list of the pros and cons of the potential vice president candidates.

Comments

[Oilygarch]

Richardson for Secretary of State?

[nathananderson]

I say:

No. I'd say put him back at the Secretray of energy

Jim Webb or Kathleen Sebelius for veep

Richardson sec. energy

Joe Biden at the secretary of state

Adm. Fox Fallon at secretary of defense

Wes Clark as national security advisor

Chris Dodd as economic advisor and/or secretary of the tresury

Give Hillary a consolation prize - secretary of the interior

Cass Sunstein to the supreme court

[marthamay]

the reason the gas is$4 a gallon is because the demos in congress refuse to let the US control their own oil. ten years ago your hero Clinton vetoed the bill so WE THE US could be rid ourselves of foreign oil. You libs are so wacko you have let the enviormentalists take over your party. so you should not whine about oil prices because this is what you wanted. You and your party have put everyone and every country first before your own. as usual. and if people are so upset about oil prices and complaining about how much everything costs, then why do I see people lined up to buy the Iphone, so don't tell me things are really that bad

[windwalker1984]

from: wakeupfromyourslumber.com

The real nightmare took off in 2000 when George II seized power. That’s when large energy traders (notablyhis buddies at Enron) got Congress to pass the Commodity Futures Modernization Act, which allowed oil futures to be traded electronically "over the counter" -- that is, traded in unregulated markets outside the CFTC’s jurisdiction. This trick became known as the “Enron Loophole,” and it allowed oil to be traded in a global free-for-all. A gigantic casino was born. Prices started to climb higher and higher, and became truly insane after the sub-prime mortgage meltdown.

After the Congress and the CFTC deregulated the trading of oil, the CFTC started deregulating all sorts of other commodities, especially food. On 22 April 08, CME Group Inc. (the world's largest grain exchange) requested CFTC permission to clear trades on over-the-counter grain swap contracts. CME wanted to play in the global casino.

The casino has pushed food prices so high that millions of people around the world now face death by famine. (Remember: famine kills more people than wars, disease, cyclones, volcanoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, etc etc etc) The more food and oil we produce, the more “gambling chips” are available for use in the casino, and the higher the prices rise. In other words, the more food we have, the more we starve, because of the global casino.

“Supply and demand” is irrelevant in this circus.

[1PALady]

I think Senator Casey would be a good choice. Since Strickland didn't want it, I'd pIck someone from another big, swing state.

[larazon]

General J@mes Jo nes is the "intelligent" version of Di ck Che ney, except he has impressive military and defense credentials and Che ney just has "impressive" hunting skills.

[tyrodin]

Cheney's "impressive hunting skills" consists of going to a bird farm, having a holder release birds who's wings had been clipped so they couldn't fly, having the holder spook them so they'd jump up into the air, then Cheney shot them at about 10' away.

[cuttyshark1]

I'm happy to see that Obama is looking outside the box for VP choices. However, I don't think James Jones would add any weight as vp, but he would be my choice for SOD, or SOS along with Wes Clark. Both of these men have excellent national security credentials and would be a serious asset to Obama's administration. I would also take a look at Sam Nunn for both positions...he has a strong backround in national security matters. Either way the democratic party has a very impressive list of candidates to choose from...to include Hillary Clinton.

[stokely]

Also, Jones is Cheney without the (5) deferments, but I prefer USMC General Anthony Zinni.

[larazon]

General James Jones is the "intelligent" version of Dick Cheney, except he has impressive military and defense credentials and Cheney just has "impressive" hunting skills.

[IntelligentDesign]

Geraldine Ferraro is right out!

[BeyondGoodAndEvil]

You don't say?

[vocalist]

Mathews as McCain VP ?

[VoteLibertarian]

how about John McCain...war hero, old guy, lots of experience, votes with the democrats on many issues, Might as well make this an uncontested election now that many of us feel disenfranhcised by the choices.

[larazon]

George Clooney.

[IntelligentDesign]

Scarlett Johannson?

[larazon]

In your dreams.

[nathananderson]

I would vote for that ticket!

[longislandlol]

Gotta get Webb off-- family values problems regarding too many ex wives out there-- Obama's gotta follow the Bill Clinton playbook when he got Gore-- get a VP who is as madly inlove with his wife as you are Barack... get Bayh- get Nunn- Kaine loves his wife-- don't open any doors with skeletons- besides Webb has that Confederate thing jumping out of his closet- oh, and that Irish temper!

[yako]

My guess, Edwards and Richardson will either be VP or in the cabinet somewhere, or Edwards and HC, SCOTUS..

[cuttyshark1]

I'd like to see John Edwards on the SC for several reason's. 1) He would provide the energy and intellect necessary to fight on behalf of ordinary citizens. 2) He provides a clear philosophical contrast to Roberts and Sculia on important issues. 3) America needs an advocate on the supreme court who can and will stand up and support progressive views.

Damn...I just convenced myself!

[WasteNJ]

Wait, now I see them. Decisions, decisions.

[WasteNJ]

Oh, please anybody but Daschle. He's the stereotypical whining, weak democrat. I don't see Biden or Dodd or Webb in there, hmmm maybe for cabinet positions.

[vocalist]

Ditto...He lost to an unknown.....

[JackND]

Uh...John Thune was hardly an unknown.

[YOHY]

I couldn't agree more...sorry to say, if Daschle is on the ticket, I'll sit this election out. I'm very PRO Obama but very CON Daschle. When he had true power he wasn't able to harness it for the good of the Democratic Party. He was impotent !

[speeddeeps]

tom coburn sugestion conservative vote?
, apparently him tom are friends

[SouthernBlueBelle]

Wes Clark for VP or SecDef.