New York Times: Obama "Appears Ready To Announce" His VP

New York Times:

Senator Barack Obama has all but finalized his choice for a running mate and set an elaborate roll-out plan for his decision, beginning with an early morning alert to supporters, perhaps as soon as Wednesday, followed by a trip to swing states by the new Democratic ticket, aides said.

Mr. Obama's deliberations remain remarkably closely held. Aides said perhaps a half-dozen advisers were involved in the final discussions in an effort to enforce a command that Mr. Obama issued to staff: that his decision not leak out until supporters are notified.

Mr. Obama had not notified his choice -- or any of those not selected -- of his decision as of late Monday, advisers said. Going into the final days, Mr. Obama was said to be focused mainly on three candidates: Senator Evan Bayh of Indiana, Governor Tim Kaine of Virginia and Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware.

Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[TocinoHumano]

I think Obama should pick McCain and McCain should pick Obama. That would REALLY mess with people's heads, man!

None of the Above '08!!!

[abby4ever]

Yes, and on a scale from one to ten on the Messing With People's Heads meter, your idea is an 8; a 9 would be McCain picking Hillary and Obama picking Bill.

[alaintex]

That's the way it used to be done.

Person with the most votes was Pres, second place was vice.

[ThunderclapNewman]

So you want to go back to the early 1800s?

I'll bet you would like it if Senators were still appointed.

No wonder you're a Republican.

[RButler]

Sounds kinda like the Miss America title. If the prez can't perform his duties, the first runner up..............................

[MyNameIsJames]

If these three are the best that Obama can do then my question is, "Who in the hell is advising him on his selection!" Biden is OK.
Both Kaine and Bayh are so weak and wimpy. It seems like during every presidential election the Democrats try to outmaneuver themselves. Gore did in 2000, Kerry did the same thing in 2004. Both Kaine and Bayh are guys that inspire no one and they will not help Obama.

One thing remains if he chooses either Kaine or Bayh - no foreign policy credentials. The Republicans will use this to continue to weaken him.

If Obama loses this election - I believe that Progressives should think about forming their own political party - put together a 20 year plan. Start to aggressively court Gens X and Y and build a party that can clearly articulate itself and relishes hand to hand combat with the conservative movement.

[AdLib]

The smart money is on Biden.

The dumb money is on Edwards.

The home schooled money is on Jesus.

The honest money is on Kucinich.

The counterfeit money is on CIinton.

[ThunderclapNewman]

Very good!

[Midnightrain]

Lol ... "the home school money is on Jesus." Good one!

Lmao! "the counterfeit money is on Clinton" Priceless!

[BAM47]

I don't know about the home school one. Most of those folks I've met don't want to contribute to anything public....until their kids want to be on the public school soccer team. Then, suddenly, home school just isn't enough and they become demanding.

[abby4ever]

what a riot, lol

[Ramirez]

Greatest post ever!!!

[zendem1]

She needs the counterfeit stuff to pay back the campaign debt. The rest she uses to pay Bill's girlfriends to keep their yaps shut.

[robodweeb]

Since I trust O to run my country I also trust him to pick the guy he feels would make the best VP and I'll back whatever decision he makes.

[abby4ever]

good for you and most us will do the same, but in the meantime, it's fun to speculate and wonder, etc.

[scandals&skeletons]

I'll be sure to tell him that "robodweeb" is OK with whomever he picks. I am sure that will put him at ease.
:-/

[robodweeb]

Good, then maybe he'll stop calling me.

[williamg]

Tim Kaine looks like Wolverine with that haircut.

[robodweeb]

"Evan Bayh looks like he belongs in Lifetime movies."

"Tim Kaine looks like Wolverine with that haircut."


Do you base all of your political decisions on the politician's looks?

[abby4ever]

Yes.

[williamg]

Will you relax. It's a friggin joke. My God.

[JJK]

To me, if Obama picks Kaine it means he has some concern about winning. The pick will tick off his progressive base and does nothing to enhance the Senator's limited Foreign Policy credentials. Plus, he just doesn't seem to be Barack's kind of guy. But, and this is a ginormous but, he probably brings Virginia, making the Electoral math formidable for McCain and hedging against a loss in Michigan (Arithmetic: Kerry states minus Michigan plus Colorado, Iowa, New Mexico and Virginia equals 269).

My personal first choice has always been Clark since he is an insurance policy against a terror- or national security-related event, but Obama, unless it's a fakeout, has apparently decided against him.

Of the candidates mentioned in the article, my second choice is Kaine because of the Arithmetic cited above.

My third choice is Biden because he brings the national security credentials, but he doesn't bring a state and he is a bit of a wildcard on the campaign trail.

My fourth choice is Bayh, because he brings neither national security credentials nor a state (we ain't carrying Indiana).

I still think that HRC gives him the best chance of winning but, unless this is indeed the biggest smokescreen in the history of policitcs, there appears to be little chance of that happening.

[williamg]

Clark has the distinguished honor of watching his own campaign implode on the very day he announced his candidacy in 2004. American politics has never seen someone's candidacy tank so quickly.

[robodweeb]

"American politics has never seen someone's candidacy tank so quickly."

Fred Thompson and Rudy gave him a run for his money.

[american2008]

You ever hear of Ghouliani?

[Fabienne]

Why will Kaine tick off his liberal base? Because he says he is pro-life but would respect the law of the land regarding abortion? Didn't Kerry say the same thing? Is abortion the ONLY liberal issue? How many liberals voted for Gore with the heinous Lieberman on his ticket? Statistics have proven the Veep choice doesn't make much difference in the outcome of the race. At least Kaine is young enough to run in eight years. I would prefer Richardson, but don't think it will happen.

[thewildlunch]

I agree with those posting here who say the pick has to be/ will be Biden.

Read this, "Say it is so, Joe," from Time mag:
http://thepage.time.com/

If the choice is between Biden, Bayh, and Kaine, really this is a no-brainer. As a senior Democrat, Biden has the experience and name recognition that will be an asset in the election. No one realy knows who Bayh or Kaine are, outside of their respective states, and neither would seem to really inspire confidence the way Biden would/could. Few other potential VPs match up to Biden on this score. As a VP with years of Senate experience, Biden would be a much more substantial asset to a potential Obama administration than either Bayh or Kaine.

I'd bet money on this: The pick is Biden.

[Ramirez]

You're probably right.

Biden is a mainstream pol who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy.

[abby4ever]

True, plus he has the skills to verbally fry someone like an egg in a hot pan, when necessary. My only concern is that he will sometimes use these skills when it is ISN'T necessary. Other than that, he'd be great.

[williamg]

That's funny.

[robodweeb]

My only gripe against Biden is that he's in the pocket of the credit card companies.

[BAM47]

If Obama picks Biden, McCain will pick the slick salesman Romney. I'm from Mass. I'm from Michigan. I'm from Utah. I'm whaever you want or need me to be. Biden brings a lot to Obama's plate, but he does say a lot and sometimes the wrong things. And he has 30+ years of Senate voting for the Republicans to pick at......."he voted to raise taxes, he voted against the elderly, he voted against his neighbors!"

[ltyr2002]

Obama was ddreadful on Saturday night. That is the real story from the forum. McCain looked better, was more concise and straight forward with his answers, he was more at ease and had more humor to boot.

This business about cheating seems to be coming from Obama's supporters who can't fathom their hero doing less than great.
Admit it folks, McCain won that round. So Obama can regroup and do better next time.

[robodweeb]

McClone gave stump speech talking points. No need to even listen to the questions, just hit on key words.

But he was playing to his audience... people who believe in things that aren't real.

[timregler]

A lot of us who call ourselves Christians will be voting for the man who TRULY walks the walk, instead of just talking the talk. Obama is the clear choice. I know that those of us with faith make an easy target, but insulting us will only cost Obama votes. I suggest you keep that in mind the next time you want to make bigoted statements about Christians.

[abby4ever]

To point out that some politician or other was playing to his audience, is like pointing out that some pastor or other was preaching. Of course he was playing to his audience, it's what politicians do.

As for people who believe in things that aren't real, that's your opinion, one not shared by a huge portion of the population. Where is kq, everybody? He has the stats on the percentage of Americans who believe in God, as I recall, the percentage was very high, something like 80 or 90 percent.

[AdLib]

Yeah, right, LOL!

McCaln" "Me going to destroy_evil! Me going to give everyone $7,000 per kid but cut taxes cause me not need money to pay for things! Me steaI story about cross in dirt from Russian guy. Most of all, me lie at beginning about "cone of silence", lying am good especially in church so me did it all night! Me win!!!"

[AdLib]

Yeah, right, LOL!

McCaln" "Me going to destroy evil! Me going to give everyone $7,000 per kid but cut taxes cause me not need money to pay for things! Me steal story about cross in dirt from Russian guy. Most of all, me lie at beginning about "cone of silence", lying am good especially in church so me did it all night! Me win!!!"

[Fabienne]

McCain "won" that round with those who have no depth and can only understand sound bites. It this is most of the American electorate (and I don't think it is), so be it. They're digging their own graves if they vote McCain.

[scandals&skeletons]

is approved.

did you like his humor about the bear's DNA? Once again Mack tells a complete li-e and instead of getting taken to the woodshed he gets praise.
Mack is a li--ar I have lost all respect for the man, not to mention he is in-sane.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[MagisterLudi]

Whoever its going to be it will be someone weak. Obama wouldn't want someone to dim his star power.

[ThunderclapNewman]

You seem awfully proud of being ignorant of hte facts.

Why is that?

[TiffanyHusseinBanned]

test

[robodweeb]

Which candidate said:

“I’m An Admirer of Secretary Rumsfeld. I Think He Is An Honorable Man"

and whcih candidate said:

"I think that Donald Rumsfeld will go down in history as one of the worst secretaries of defense in history,"

Hint: The same guy... McClone. It's called "straight talk".

[Ramirez]

The two statements are not exclusive.

It is possible to still admire an honorable man who screwed up his job.

[ThunderclapNewman]

If you really believe that Rumsfeld is an honorable man, you're far less intelligent and far more depraved than I thought possible.

[solid]

If only Dumbsfeld was an honorable man......

[robodweeb]

Admiring the worst DefSec in history is a qualifcation I'd prefer not to have in my president.

How about this:

I Have “No Qualms About Out Strategic Plans.”

Sen. John McC a i n of Arizona, called the Pentagon’s strategy appropriate

“I do believe that Secretary Rumsfeld has done a good job transforming the military. I believe he has done a good job in the early stages of the war."

[williamg]

Evan Bayh looks like he belongs in Lifetime movies.

[ThunderclapNewman]

Now you're just being mean. :-}

[TiffanyHusseinBanned]

LOL Stop it.

[Ramirez]

chortle

[boing007]

Seventy-five percent of registered voters did not vote for Bush in 2004 yet the Republican Party has just about changed the face of America irrevocably. So why would Barack Obama knowingly ignore three quarters of the voters and pick someone on the conservative fringe like Bayh for a few extra votes?

[williamg]

It was mentioned yesterday, that a top advisor to Joe Biden went on vacation last week - in Hawaii. Coincidence?

[JJeff88]

Hiding in plain sight (like the culprit in most whodunnits) are:

Lindsay Graham for McCain (If McCain and Leibermann are joined at one hip, Graham - who is younger than Leibermann - is joined at the other)

and

Russ Feingold for Obama (Reformer with strong reform and foreign relations/security creds.

If you follow the dictum that the guy of the moment is "the man (or woman) who wasn't there", these are your Veep candidates.