Sorry I missed yesterday. I've missed two days of daily threads since I started, but I'm confident this will not affect the quality of Obama's ultimate decision, though I still think he should make it early.
I went to see Narnia at midnight the night before and fell fast asleep when I got home from work yesterday. I dreamed Barack Obama had lied about when he was born by six years, so he was really 53. That wouldn't be much of a scandal even if it was true, so maybe it was inspired by all his other non-scandal scandals.
As I promised from Thread #5, then, here are the top Democrat picks from all of the voting in my polls so far, with Sen. Barbara Boxer (CA) and a few others knocked out (more on those below the fold), and Fmr. Gov. Ray Mabus (MS), whom I had not included before, and who I am still figuring in to my top Obama v.p. picks, included for the first time.
(continued below the fold)
I've left off five of the other top Democrat vote-getters this time: Gen. (Ret.) Wesley Clark (AR) and Gov. Ted Strickland (OH), strong Hillary supporters who may not have left themselves enough graceful wiggle room in their Obama criticisms to make the cut in reality, Sen. Clinton herself, same reason, Gov. Bill Richardson (NM), whom, I believe, is not the strongest candidate for a variety of reasons, discoverable if you care to look over any of these past threads, and Gov. Brian Schweitzer, running for reelection in Montana, and so needed there.
I had just barely heard of Mabus, some before the Mississippi primary, but had not considered his strengths as a v.p. candidate before Lady Bird Johnson helpfully suggested him last time. A little research has made me think he'd be good.
My top picks, with Mabus still unranked, remain Fmr. Sens. Sam Nunn (GA) and John Edwards (NC), Justice (Ret.) Sandra Day O'Connor (AZ) and Gov. Tim Kaine (VA). Yes, that Sandra Day O'Connor, and yes, I know many won't agree with me, which is sort of the object lesson of my continuing to pick her. I'm not a nut, and I think she'd be good, better than any other possible Republican, which might tell you what I think of other possible Republican choices. I won't give her a slot today in the poll though, this one's just for (D)'s. And I'm aware that she was very wrong on Bush v. Gore and was loyal to the Republican Party in making her retirement decision, but those wouldn't disqualify her, for me anyway, if Obama and she were both interested, in agreement on basic issues and willing to try something admittedly quite unconventional.
Meanwhile, please vote, let me know what you think, feel free to call me a moron, etc.
And I'd like to send my best and warmest wishes and prayers to Sen. Ted Kennedy and family today....
Thanks,
Alex
Choose Our President 2008