Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon, no longer on the veep shortlist.
Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon has spent the last several years grooming himself for a vice presidential pick -- pitching himself as one of those "common-sense moderates" who can win tough states like Missouri. And with very little appetite among Democrats to nominate another white male for president, it looks like white dudes may be "balancing" out Democratic tickets for the foreseeable future.
Nixon's ambitions are well known inside Democratic Party political circles, but it has trickled out into mainstream coverage such as here, here, here, and here.
But of course, that was all salient before this week. The governor's lack of action in response to the atrocities in Ferguson is well established at this point. Things never should've gotten this far, this bad. And his actions now to remove Ferguson and St. Louis County police from the beat smack of too little, too late.
Our nation needs decisive leadership, not leaders who disappear when things get difficult. It's a simple test, and one that Jay Nixon just failed spectacularly.
Update:
MO State Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal: Gov. Jay Nixon 'is not really at 'ground zero,' and for that I call him a coward.'-#AMR staff
— @mitchellreports
:
Gov. Jay Nixon (D-Mo) says he's implementing a number of operational shifts that he said he hopes produces a different "tone" in #Ferguson.
— @RebeccaShabad
Such boldness! Yup, veep chances definitely dead.
