Latest VP Buzz: O's pick will be connected to convention day's theme -see inside

[MarkWarner08]

LOLZ Obama is picking Wesley Clark. Dude, thanks for the "hook up."

[MarkWarner08]

There's nothing unusual about the the VP nominee speaking on Wednesday.  That's when they *normally* speak, at least in recent years.  Both Edwards and Cheney spoke at their respective 2004 conventions on Wednesday.

Um?

The point isn't that "Wednesday" means anything in and of itself, but rather that the theme for Wednesday is "national security/veterans affairs" and having someone with no experience on either of those issues would create a horrible mismatch.  Sebelius indicated that the VP pick would have something to do with that theme.

Bayh has "national security/veterans affairs" experience if you count sitting in on long committee meetings. He and Biden are probably the two finalists, anyway.

Super dark horse: Max Cleland. He's an injured vet with an unassailable patriotic record. His homeland security/union pander vote is long forgotten. He's also a strong speaker.

[MarkWarner08]

There's nothing unusual about the the VP nominee speaking on Wednesday.  That's when they *normally* speak, at least in recent years.  Both Edwards and Cheney spoke at their respective 2004 conventions on Wednesday.

Um?

The point isn't that "Wednesday" means anything in and of itself, but rather that the theme for Wednesday is "national security/veterans affairs" and having someone with no experience on either of those issues would create a horrible mismatch.  Sebelius indicated that the VP pick would have something to do with that theme.

This could also indicate Chet Edwards, well known for his veterns affairs work as a dark horse.

:fingers crossed: Edwards is the perfect VP choice. He's youngish, charismatic, experienced, smart and funny, and he's from a deep red state. He could sell Obama to middle America. As Amy Walter, would say, "some things are more important in life than a House seat." The difference between 251 and 252 is a lot smaller than the difference between 57 and 58, which the Bayh pick could mean.

[MarkWarner08]

I have been thinking about this, and lo and behold my thoughts are again turning on Hillary as Vice President. I'm starting to think Obama would be an idiot not to pick her. Biden, Bayh, Clark, Sebelius... what are these to the average voter? Sure some of them have sat on Veterans Affairs or Armed Services or Foreign Affairs committes; some have high military experience. But these are footnotes. These people are not household names. They have good resumes but they are "strangers" in the average household.

Suppose you have a job opening and some skinny guy with a funny name applies. You like him, and think he has the right temperament for the job and a great message, and you're so sick of the current guy in the position and you like how his approach is totally different. The only thing, you're not sure if he's got the right experience or maybe you're uncomfortable about his background- is this guy for real?

You open up the application, and the first recommendation is from a John S. Lewis. John S. Lewis graduated from Harvard, served in the armed forces, and ever since has had a stunningly successful career as corporate executive. He has also won a ton of honors for community leadership and volunteer work. Mr. Lewis recommends this guy to you.

You open up the second recommendation-- and holy sh**t, it is your uncle Charlie! You may not like uncle Charlie, but you've known him for 20 years. Charlie is always complaining about people with no experience. You know he's a massive stickler for experience because when he applies for jobs, that is the one selling point he uses the most. Recently, Charlie has been telling you a story of a guy who's always applying for the same jobs he is. Charlie's upset because this guy has less experience than him and Charlie's cynical mind is doubtful whether this guy can really do what he says. But now Charlie says this is the guy he's been telling you about! And he says that getting to know him better, he thinks this guy is the real deal!

So whose recommendation is better? On paper, the guy from Harvard, etc. etc. etc. But it's uncle Charlie's recommendation that sets you at ease.

There is only one uncle Charlie Obama could pick to make the case side by side with him. That's Hillary.

Hillary is a guy? Interesting story but I don't see how it relates to this choice. Hillary isn't Obama trusted uncle -- she called him inexperienced and dragged on the nomination fight for months. I agree with you in one respect: Hillary is like the bothersome uncle who Obama never calls.

[MarkWarner08]

I have been thinking about this, and lo and behold my thoughts are again turning on Hillary as Vice President. I'm starting to think Obama would be an idiot not to pick her. Biden, Bayh, Clark, Sebelius... what are these to the average voter? Sure some of them have sat on Veterans Affairs or Armed Services or Foreign Affairs committes; some have high military experience. But these are footnotes. These people are not household names. They have good resumes but they are "strangers" in the average household.

Suppose you have a job opening and some skinny guy with a funny name applies. You like him, and think he has the right temperament for the job and a great message, and you're so sick of the current guy in the position and you like how his approach is totally different. The only thing, you're not sure if he's got the right experience or maybe you're uncomfortable about his background- is this guy for real?

You open up the application, and the first recommendation is from a John S. Lewis. John S. Lewis graduated from Harvard, served in the armed forces, and ever since has had a stunningly successful career as corporate executive. He has also won a ton of honors for community leadership and volunteer work. Mr. Lewis recommends this guy to you.

You open up the second recommendation-- and holy sh**t, it is your uncle Charlie! You may not like uncle Charlie, but you've known him for 20 years. Charlie is always complaining about people with no experience. You know he's a massive stickler for experience because when he applies for jobs, that is the one selling point he uses the most. Recently, Charlie has been telling you a story of a guy who's always applying for the same jobs he is. Charlie's upset because this guy has less experience than him and Charlie's cynical mind is doubtful whether this guy can really do what he says. But now Charlie says this is the guy he's been telling you about! And he says that getting to know him better, he thinks this guy is the real deal!

So whose recommendation is better? On paper, the guy from Harvard, etc. etc. etc. But it's uncle Charlie's recommendation that sets you at ease.

There is only one uncle Charlie Obama could pick to make the case side by side with him. That's Hillary.

Hillary is a guy?

Analogies must be gender-specific now even though the analogy has nothing to do with gender?

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In the analogy, Hillary is your trusted uncle. This is so not because you think she has no ethical blemishes or you like her, but simply because she's a known quantity. You know, for example, that she takes experience seriously and that she knows Obama pretty well.

Okay. Now I understand your point. But your view leads me to think he'll pick somebody like Kaine or Bayh, both of whom he knwos well. Obama doesn't know Hillary at a personal level. She's more like a second cousin.

[MarkWarner08]

Well if Obama is smart, he'll pick based on the person who will (a) make a good VP/potential President (b) help him win, and only take into consideration personal familiarity if it affects one of the two above factors. One can only hope the camp is smart enough and will not go down the old semi-cronyism route.

I wouldn't worry about the cronyism route. Now if he picks Emil Jones...

Chet Edwards covers both bases.  Biden is second and then Bayh is third.