As noted before: even if Obama has picked a VP, he can unpick. Biden in particular: slurs against Asians are more McCain's territory, you would think; why would Obama want to go there with his VP pick? And I almost wonder if Georgia got a little hint from Bush to call Biden, to make him look better to Obama, or at least to confuse Obama? Hm. May be worth a diary...
Note this insightful Time interview with Barack, at Obama's VP: The Candidate Drops Some Hints,
...I try to surround myself with people who are about getting the job done, and who are not about ego, self—aggrandizement, getting their names in the press, but our focus on what's best for the American people.
I think people will see that I'm not afraid to have folks around me who complement my strengths and who are independent. I'm not a believer in a government of yes—men. ...
Like guy #1 below?
- Jim Webb
War hero, economic populist, writer, hard-charger, Navy Cross in Vietnam. A killer.
(For more, see, e.g., my diary "Lethal Weapon '08")
- Jack Reed
Senator AND Army Ranger. There we go.
- Claudia Kennedy
Fooled ya: not Caroline, but another C.
Woman, three-star general, and a "Kennedy"; what else do you want?
- Kathleen Sebelius
2-term DEM governor in REPUB state. Enuf said.
- John Lewis
Well, John McCain said he was wise. So there.
(Not sure he should be VP, but deserves a mention anyway, that mighty civil rights icon...)
- Not Biden
More from the Time article in the intro above:
Okay, so the first qualification he mentions is someone who won't be all that interested in getting his or her name in the media. That would seem a high bar for the famously voluble Joe Biden to clear.
Barack needs to choose wisely, because he ain't guaranteed a win. If he chooses any of the first four I mentioned--in rough order of preference, and noting military service--, I think he might do pretty good. Otherwise, I just don't BidenBayhHillaryLiebermanEdwards know if he'd do well at all.
Or disagree with me, dear readers. This may be your last chance to voice your opinion in public before Obama's pick, after all. . .