My Choice for Vice President

If I wasn't certain it would be like pounding sand down a rat hole, I would be taking out full page ads to tell the world I saw the man who should be the Vice Presidential running mate for either Barack Obama or John McCain. For John McCain because he calls himself a conservative. For Barack Obama because he said that in '06, despite his conservative credentials, he voted for Democrats who promised to end a war he had long seen as futile. For Barack Obama and John McCain because in this one-hour interview on Bill Moyers Journal (Friday, August 15 on your PBS station), Andrew J. Bacevich, graduate of West Point, 23-year Army veteran and retired Colonel, now an author and professor of history at Boston University, stood up with more strength, more historic context, and more clarity than any Democrat or Republican in the house or senate on all the front-burner issues.

Watch the interview here.

Comments

[RepugsOut08]

Great interview! It was nice to see Jimmy Carter getting some credit for trying to lead on the pending energy crisis, and at a time when it could have really put the US at the forefront of new technologies. I still remember the solar panels Carter had installed on the White House roof. Solar panels that Reagan had removed with a sneer towards alternate energy sources.

[castlerider]

I agree with you, sir, but whether he would be picked or not, you really do this country a favor bringing attention to this gentleman, and his interview, Mr. Lear. Thank you so much. I was hoping this interview would get more attention, myself, - I placed the link on about a half dozen posts in my comments throughout this blog since last weekend, but your post here is really more what's been needed.

I made both my daughters, 15 and 18 sit down and watch this. My oldest has lately started to see much clearer now, this was a big help. I made my youngest write down every word she didn't understand, look 'em up , then write me a sentence using each word.

This man is a patriot. A wise, great man. I pray for him, his son, his family, and America.

Thanks, Mr Lear.

[Dayahka]

Unfortunately, academics have great ideas but they don't know how to translate the ideas into action. That's one problem with this suggestion. The other main problem with this idea is that the American people (the voters) are dumber than dirt and react with their reptilean brains instead of their human brains (and thus tend to elect reptiles or dumb brutes). Right now, most Americans can't be bothered or are too shallow to be able to grasp much less listen to the truth about their situation--which is getting worse by the day. The empire is finished, toast, with a bunch of rich folk looking out for their own interests only, a bloated military in 800 bases around the world, and a dead economy, an uncivil society, a defunct mythology, and a populace with no clue of how bad it's going to get.

[ShamusDaedal]

We must not forget that to pick a sitting Senator for vice president risks not having the power in that house to get things done with less tomfoolery. However a really smart man like Obama will bring his open mind to bear on all problems and he'll listen to many, many advisors along the way.

Unlike what's anchored us in the dark for the past eight years, bigoted close-mindedness, look for folks like Colonel Bacevich to be just one of a veritable legion of smart minds close to the brightest president we'll likely see for many years to come.

[glitz]

I really hope so. Based on what America has elected in the last two elections, my faith in the intelligence of the American public is somewhat wavering.

[vegasrichard]

it has nothing to do with intelligence people vote on an emotional level and if the dem party understood that they win the whitehouse more.

[colleen2]

Certainly a better choice than Wesley Clark and it was a great interview but Bill Moyers would be a better

[TheEmptinessOfTruthiness]

Politics should be full of guys like Bill Moyers.

I think that's what the founding fathers had in mind.

[rextrek]

I watched the interview..and by the end - felt exhausted...this man made me REALLY think....I was moved as an Individual, and as an American!

[Helzapoppin]

What? Someone who actually stands and leads on principle? In the US government? Are you nuts? That would be too shocking a break with tradition.

[RRonin]

There are a great many wise, quality people in this world like Mr. Bacevich, who, given the opportunity, could be great leaders. Most of them will never get that opportunity, but perhaps they will inspire someone who will.

[kshane]

This guy shouldn't be VP, he should be President. He has the vision needed to really change things.

[TheAlchemist]

This is twenty seven minutes very well spent.

[americanideal]

Bill Moyers show made me get off of my duff and donate to public television for the first time ever. While I have always viewed PBS as a home for the Muppets and Masterpiece Theater, it has become painfully obvious how thin the connection is left between true financial independence/political objectivity and "reporting" in the 21st century. If we lose national treasures like Bill Moyers, our lifeline to truly independent and rational thinkers, like Mr. Bacevich, becomes tenuous at best.

Unfortunately, in this day and age, naming an "unknown" like Mr. Bacevich is easy fodder for the neo-con machine and a brainwashed media to label as inexperienced, ideological, and not "Presidential material". How easy is it to imagine the Rovian attacks - "he's one heartbeat from the White House...can you really take this seriously?". And We The People fall for it every time.

Shame on us. I'll take Mr. Bacevich's true experience and critical perspective anyday over a Washington fossil and insider like Cheney or Lieberman. But i'm in a slim, open-minded minority - doomed to losing elections.

[JohnnyBoyyy]

YESSS, Mr. Lear! That you would take the time to offer up your valued opinion on Mr. Bacevich, speaks volumes. IF only the MSM and the average "low information" American could be introduced to AND understand his insights.

This Is OUR Moment - This Is OUR Time.

Obama '08!!!

[origin]

Fantastic interview. Mr. Bacevich's comments are like a splash of cold water on the face. Awake yet? Good. Now, what are you going to do to reduce your consumerism?

[NABNYC]

I agree. I saw that interview and was completely blown away, thinking I agree with so much of what this guy says, but he calls himself a conservative. Go figure. Excellent speaker, very interesting analysis, and I'm going to get the book.

But it also made me realize that conservative and liberal are meaningless terms in today's political climate. Is it conservative or liberal to start wars of aggression, to pass laws to let loan sharks steal every penny from the working person's pocket, for politicians to hold public auctions to sell their vote every time something comes before them, and to compete for bragging rights to see who gets the most money, for our leaders to lie, cheat, steal, kidnap, torture, murder, like Stalin's Children, then to joke about it and thumb their noses at it. Liberal or conservative to encourage corporate CEOs to send jobs to third world countries to be done by child labor?

I think we need a new political party. Maybe the honest party, or the constitution party, or the no corruption party. Because too many of us see that the evil that the religious people scream about to sell their books and to steal taxdollars is actually sitting in D.C., in expensive suits, driving limousines, dining with dictators and felons and plotting their next big con.

[doctordawg]

A conservative who opposed the war by courageously voting Democrat... in '06.

Good-god-on-a-popsicle-stick. This now qualifies as leadership?

Anyone who calls themselves a "conservative" needs to have their personal income taxes elevated sky-high to pay for this conservative administration's folly, sparing self-professed liberals from having to shoulder the burden of their hegemonious ways.

We are so screwed.

[RepugsOut08]

Yep, and the conservatives need to invest their own blood in their bloody wars as well, but Mitt Romney's sons were too busy gettin' ol' dad the nomination to serve in the "war on terrorism." Jeepers, ol' dad ain't runnin' no more. I wonder what's keepin' them boys from the recruitment center now?