Dear Barack: The Veep Choice That Could Shock the World

Dear Barack,

If you truly want to electrify the country with your Vice Presidential choice, I've got two words for you: Choose Hillary.
I realize you're never going to do this, because it runs contrary to your play-it-safe nature, overdetermined nature, but let me offer my rationale.
1. It's a Display of Strength
As a political gesture, it's essentially Lincolnian in nature. You're saying to the world: I'm secure enough to make my central rival into my partner -- my junior partner. It's a way of co-opting her, rather than allowing her (and her husband) to be perceived as waiting in the wings for your failure. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer, capiche?
It also shows that you have the courage to take a chance, to ignore the droning pundits. Oddly enough, it would be so surprising as to make you look like a maverick.
2. It Makes Sense Strategically
On a practical level, nominating her will insure the fierce loyalty of the 18 million folks who voted for her. It's the surest way to harness the massive potential energy of her partisans. And to appeal to the millions of "undecideds" who remember the Clinton era as one of peace and prosperity.
3. She (and Bill) Will Make Incredible Attack Dogs
None of this John Edwards French poodle stuff. They'll tear the stuffing out of McCain and his second-ran. And give you the space to set out your positive agenda.
4. She Is Ready to Lead
In announcing her as your choice, you should stress one point: she is the most qualified candidate you could find. Not only will this make you look upright and gallant, but it addresses the underlying concern about your inexperience. Whatever might be said about Hillary, it's accepted that she's a pro.
5. Catharsis
Hillary may have gotten hammered for saying so out loud, but she's right. Her true believers want catharsis. They want a sense that her historic candidacy has been validated. And that the two of you have made up, and joined forces. The pundits will mutter complaints, but because this option has been virtually eliminated in people's minds, the overall reaction will be ecstatic. Hillary's presence at the convention will be triumphant, rather than aggrieved.

My advice would to withhold naming a VP selection until the convention itself, and to nominate her on live TV, during primetime. Can you imagine how insane the energy will be if you show the guts to do this? To stand on-stage and tell the nation, "I have thought long and hard about who the most qualified candidate for Vice President is, and there is no question in my mind that her name is Hillary Rodham Clinton." As a piece of theater - and the political conventions are nothing but, at this point - it can't be topped.

Hoping you'll ditch the script & write your own ticket,
Steve

Comments

[zull2]

I think picking Howard Dean would shock the world more.

Think about it. Hillary has had her name thrown up thousands of times as a VP candidate, and even after she was set up for the speaking position at the convention, people are still doing it.

No one, and I mean NO ONE, would expect Howard Dean. That would come right out of left field and leave you with a feeling like 1. Obama has cajones to take Dean as a running mate (he doesn't give you a state, he doesn't give you military experience...he just gives you someone who complements and enhances the ticket in a major way), and 2. Really stupid that you didn't push for it sooner.

[Laffy]

How in the world can anybody......anybody........say she is "ready to lead" after reading those memos. Her campaign was a DISASTER.

If she couldn't even keep her loyalists in line, how in the WORLD could she lead the country?

Seriously.

[jbeach]

I predict Obama will choose either Virginia governor Tim Kaine for VP, or no one that we've heard of yet.

I think all Senators are out for VP choices. None of them are compelling enough to suggest a 2-Senator ticket. Yes the President leads (our current figurehead GWB notwithstanding), but emotionally for voters it's definitely better to round out the ticket with someone who has a record as an executive - and can also help with a swing state, such as Virginia.

[Sioen]

The biggest problem with this idea is that it will freak Americans out even more than they already are. Like Reagan, Obama has to convince the unwashed masses that he's not THAT scary, that he's not going to screw up the country.

He does that by choosing a sane, responsible white man. That might be ugly to say, but it's the country we live in.

He doesn't do it by choosing a woman -- and not just any woman, but the circus performer Clinton. No, that would say to America, "I AM going to break your country."

[MrKnuckles]

This is a highly speculative scenario I also expressed here on HuffPo several days ago. In my short posting I did add that having Bill Clinton as the main speaker on V.P. night at the Dem's convention might not just be an accident of scheduling, especially since Obama's campaign has shown such a talent for making very few strategical missteps and blunders, and has also exhibited such a flare for getting the most out of dramatic moments when such big moments count..
Anyway, we'll all know soon enough.

[messy]

Barry doesn't want her and she knows that if she gets it the only way she'd get in the white house is as part of a tour.

Hillary doesn't want to be treated like LBJ and Hubert Humphrey were. Taking her off the list is actually a big favor.

[foreffectivegovernment]

Obama's poll numbers are falling because McCain is running attack ads that are working. Obama is being critized for using powderpuffs when he hits back.
You are right, Hillary Clinton proved she could hold her own against attacks and hit back with vigor. Obamabots have whined about it constantly.
Obama is on record that he will use all assets at his disposal to win against McCain, and Hillary Clinton appears to be his best in that department according to Obamabots.
African-Americans, Eggheads, and Michelle should let him pick Hillary Clinton for his V.P. just to show that Michelle will not be running the Country like Nancy Reagan did.

[jbeach]

sigh.

Hillary Clinton will NOT be Obama's choice for VP because:

1) HIllary will not give Obama one state he does not have already.

2) Hillary as VP will make thousands more Republicans in swing states actually go to the polls and vote for McCain - when otherwise, unexcited by McCain, they are morely likely to stay home.

3) Hillary and Bill introduce noise and missteps to a campaign that Obama has run nearly flawlessly.

4) Bill seems to personally resent Barack Obama, and will be unpredictable *and* put under the microscope - producing even more noise.

5) Most importantly, if elected Hillary is not likely to follow Obama's lead. They both want to be the boss, and only one of them can be. If Hillary won, Obama would be an unlikely choice for her VP for precisely this same reason.

I think Obama's VP choice will not be Biden, Bayh, Daschle, Sibelius, or even Clark. It will be someone who most of us have not heard of. Someone who has credible and serious experience in foreign policy, and (hopefully) domestic policy, at high levels, but is also relatively new to the national stage.

That's my prediction.

Let's all see, in just a few days. This is turning out to be the drama of the season.

[MrZebra]

"a campaign that Obama has run nearly flawlessly."

Wow. FISA, public financing, faith-based initiatives, the useless and probably harmful trip to Europe.

If his campaign had been run flawlessly, he'd be 15% ahead in the polls.

[jbeach]

A black man, 15% in the polls? Not if he were Jesus Christ himself. Not yet, anyhow. I wish it were different, but that's our current reality. Obama being ahead in the polls at all shows how forward our nation is moving.

And yes, he's run his campaign nearly flawlessly. Have you been watching everything they've thrown at him? *Including* all of the above. He's ducked and weaved through all of it, and resolutely returned to the message.

And the trip to Europe was far from harmful. It showed to the US that the world is not only ready to accept Obama, but they are ready to accept the US to a credible position as a leader on the world stage. Something we haven't seen for a good 7, going on 8 years now.

[LaughingMan]

"Wow. FISA, public financing, faith-based initiatives, the useless and probably harmful trip to Europe."

.....harmful trip to Europe? You mean, as opposed to the useful and harmless alternative of not going anywhere and continuing to be hammered (and goaded) by the McCain camp for not having any foreign relations pedigree? That alternative?

McCain goaded him into going to Iraq and the middle East (and Europe by extension) thinking it was going to amplify his inexperience and unfamiliarity with the world stage. Guess what? It backfired spectacularly on McCain after those 200,000 strong rallies and cheering troops in the Middle East, along with the foreign leaders falling all over themselves to warm up to Obama. And let's not forget American flags being proudly waved in foreign countries as opposed to the Bush version of having them burnt on the streets.

.........useless and harmful indeed!

[Texas4Obama]

Obama/Sebelius '08

[Freesia2]

I was re-reading this article and this sentence, right off the top popped out at me:

"Her true believers want catharsis. They want a sense that her historic candidacy has been validated. And that the two of you have made up, and joined forces."

?? The vice presidency given to sooth some women? Like a box of chocolates or some roses.

It makes the vice presidency sound like a kleenex. Something to mop up tears with. And that choosing something as important as the vp rather than being a strategic choice based on many factors - is nothing more than a kiss and make up session to make the girls calm down and stop crying.

I don't ever recall seeing this kind of thing before. And as a woman, I wonder, not if a woman is capable of running like a man for the Presidency....but if other women are truly even ready for it.

[Bergen]

If Hillary were as graceless as VP as she has been since Obama won the delegate count, she would be a poor choice indeed.

[mjc]

So many questions could be fielded as to why Obama SHOULD pick Hillary as the vice president but for Obama and his handlers the primary problem is fear. They didn't want to let her name be placed in nomination on the first ballot. Now, why do you think that was their tack?...or tackiness. Now her name can be placed on the ballot but it is to be a sort of "symbolism"; for what, you might ask? For the 18 million voters who supported her. So what are they afraid of? That Hillary Clinton while not as charismatic as Barack Obama IS presidential material, knows the ropes, will perhaps make Obama look like the student rather than the leader.

[MOwest]

Everything you say about Hillary's abilities are true. Yes she had a lot of supporters (fewer than Obama mind you). But ultimately, she lacked grace and at times, when it really mattered, dignity, and it cost her.

[thecanadian]

Hillary blew her chance - but mostly Bill helped her!

[alphax]

Can you imagine Bill Clinton in Obama's White House. NIGHTMARE

[112985]

can you imagine OBAMA in the white house. Thats a NIGHTMARE!!!! AND SCARY

[MaxxEliot]

Bill Clinton has not been an issue while his wife serves in the Senate I don't see why he would be an issue if she were VP. He has his foundation and his library and many speaking events as well as a host of other projects...Bill Clinton would not be an issue.

[JimR]

Don't be naive.

[Freesia2]

The difference is she serves in the senate with 99 other senators. The work is legislative rather than executive. And if Bill could interfere with 1of those senators there'd be 98 he couldn't. Also much of the work is done out in the open. Very visible.

It's apples and oranges compared to working with the President.

[StephenDedalus82]

That may be the only scenario comforting enough to enough Americans for Obama to win.

[Sioen]

Comforting? It would bring out Republicans in droves, guaranteeing failure. NOT having the Clintons around is the only chance we have.

[jpayne610]

It may be the only way he gets in the white house.

[cmarmonhalm]

I would have been all for an Obama/Clinton ticket but the Clintons can not be trusted and Hillary is a piss poor manager. Her campaign was so poorly run. She breeds drama wherever she goes and the woman will not listen.

As much as I would have loved to see a dream ticket...the Clintons have turned into a nightmare and I'm ready to move on.

[loper2008]

i agree. i wish it was possible, but it simply is not. they are high drama. obama needs to win, yes, but he also needs someone he can govern with. if he picks her the focus will not be on issues but personal drama. he needs her out campaigning for him. he can offer a high profile role in the health care legislation to get her motivated. vp she is not.

[TinaGirlla]

Hillary was the inevitable candidate, and she blew it, big time. I have posted this question to HRC's supporters over and over and over as it became clear she had not planned on losing : If she can't run a campaign, how can she run a country? To blame sexism for her loss ignores the fact she ran out of money, which is when I decided to change my support. If she could not keep her eye on her own campaign finances, how in the world could we trust her with out ECONOMY??? I watched in horror as two people I respected (both Bill and HIllary) just imploded as they lost ground to Obama.

She was put to the test, and despite the huge advantage she had, she failed. Time to move on.

[foreffectivegovernment]

TinaGirlla: Your, and other, statements that, "If she can't run a campaign, how can she run a country?" makes absolutely no sense.
Your statement assumes that every successful Presidency throughout history was won by the best candidate. Sorry but, George W. Bush disproves that theory as well as others who have been sold to the public by competent campaign managers and turned out to be busts.
Even Bob Schrumm admitted that John Kerry won every debate but lost the election because he didn't present Kerry the right way. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama were the products and the campaign managers were the salesmen. Karl Rove sold the Country a dud and that alone disproves your statement. Find some logical reason you don't want Hillary Clinton as either President or Vice-President but please don't use that one again.

[Sioen]

Competent managers hire competent people. John Kerry, too, was an incompetent manager. George W. Bush proved his competence by hiring the people who could get the job done for him.

You are the one with the flawed reasoning. On the one hand, you want to say these "best" candidates (like Kerry, Clinton) are just full of ability and talent... but on the other hand they are just puppets when it comes to being undone by their campaign managers.

Huh? You can't have it both ways. In fact, the best candidates have always won... by getting the right people to win it for them, if they couldn't themselves.