Edwards Gets Off the Bench!

[Cop No. 633]

John Edwards finally endorsed Barack Obama today. Perfect timing I say. Looks like his delegates will go towards Obama. My day got a lot better after hearing that. I got two great pieces of news, one personal and one that could affect the election greatly.

Edwards better get a cabinet position. The man deserves to help shape the country to a better future.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NC5ID3WZh8Y

[MadsenOMC]

Interesting timing. I wonder if the endorsement was contingent upon some sort of offer from Obama, like the VP nod.

[Brando @$$ Fat]

Edwards will not be VP for these reasons:

1. Obama won't feel obliged to Edwards for his endorsement. Who does he really help? The working class voters won't vote for Obama in any case because they don't like him. There was no bargain between the two.

2. He lacks experience the same way Obama does. They'd be giving the Republicans too much to work with.

3. Bill Richardson is tailor-made for the role.

Of course, I might be wrong, but I probably won't be...

[Ayestrain]

I don't know about the whole experience angle everyone keeps harping about. It's all dependent on hypothetical scenarios.

I do know that by and large Edwards got his ass handed to him in the 2004 debate between himself and Darth Cheney.

Edwards is all the more seasoned for his time spent running for VP and Prez, however. I think him and Obama would be a good ticket.

Richardson is too busy working on his tan and beard.

[MadsenOMC]

I think the timing is a little curious, and if Obama wants to win in November, he definitely needs the help.

[Brando @$$ Fat]

I don't know about the whole experience angle everyone keeps harping about. It's all dependent on hypothetical scenarios.

I do know that by and large Edwards got his ass handed to him in the 2004 debate between himself and Darth Cheney.

Edwards is all the more seasoned for his time spent running for VP and Prez, however. I think him and Obama would be a good ticket.

Richardson is too busy working on his tan and beard.

You're thinking of Lieberman. He got his ass handed to him in 2000. Edwards composed himself really well. When the polls came back, they said that the two were tied. So his ass wasn't handed to him.

Experience will be brought up here regardless. It doesn't matter if it's perceived as a real issue, Republicans are going to use it, because they don't have much else to work with.

Richardson will probably be VP. He's been running for the position.

[MadsenOMC]

Richardson and Edwards both bring something important to the table, something Obama needs in order to win. I would not be surprised if he picked Edwards. A white male from the south who appeals to blue collar, working class white voters and seems to be well-liked by the party (and has name recognition) is a pretty big asset to Obama.

[bigred760]

Edwards will not be VP for these reasons:

1. Obama won't feel obliged to Edwards for his endorsement. Who does he really help? The working class voters won't vote for Obama in any case because they don't like him. There was no bargain between the two.

2. He lacks experience the same way Obama does. They'd be giving the Republicans too much to work with.

3. Bill Richardson is tailor-made for the role.

Of course, I might be wrong, but I probably won't be...

Not to mention he's already lost once as a VP candidate. I think there tends to be a bit of superstition as far as VPs go if they've already lost once (they're bad luck :D).

[Gordon]

Edwards will not be VP for these reasons:

1. Obama won't feel obliged to Edwards for his endorsement. Who does he really help? The working class voters won't vote for Obama in any case because they don't like him. There was no bargain between the two.

2. He lacks experience the same way Obama does. They'd be giving the Republicans too much to work with.

3. Bill Richardson is tailor-made for the role.

Of course, I might be wrong, but I probably won't be...

Definitely going to be Bill Strickland, Governor of Ohio. Experienced white man, and, the fucking governor of Ohio.

For sure Edwards wants to be Attorney General.

[MadsenOMC]

Definitely going to be Bill Strickland, Governor of Ohio. Experienced white man, and, the fucking governor of Ohio.

Ted Strickland, for the record.

[Brando @$$ Fat]

Definitely going to be Bill Strickland, Governor of Ohio. Experienced white man, and, the fucking governor of Ohio.

For sure Edwards wants to be Attorney General.


No, it won't be. He endorsed Clinton, and now Obama is probably going to be the nominee. Unless Clinton pulls a miracle, Strickland is out of the question.

[MadsenOMC]

You really think it will be Richardson, Brando? I haven't heard much from Bill R. lately.

[Gordon]

No, it won't be. He endorsed Clinton, and now Obama is probably going to be the nominee. Unless Clinton pulls a miracle, Strickland is out of the question.

Yeah, except, he's on everybody's short list for potential nominees and is probably the best potential help.

[Brando @$$ Fat]

No. He's not on Obama's short list. That wouldn't make any sense whatsoever. Take a moment to absorb what I'm saying and realize that there is no maybe about it. He will not be the VP. He backed the wrong horse and any aspirations (if he ever had any) of being VP are gone for this race. If he did choose him for his VP, the McCain camp would have a field day. His own VP doesn't think he's the best for this country? HA! The only case in which this can happen is if the VP is a former primary opponent, like Edwards in 2004. Otherwise, it would make virtually zero sense.

I am right. I will convert to Islam if you prove me wrong on this one.

[Gordon]

Yeah, I guess last time around the guy who was nominated only ran against Kerry.

[Brando @$$ Fat]

^^^
This is often the case, though. When a VP candidate has built up enough momentum like Edwards did, it makes selling his own candidacy much easier. To endorse someone who didn't become the eventual nominee is always a disqualification for the VP slot. Would you personally want someone who was rooting for the other guy, especially in a polarizing race like this one? It would send mixed messages to the voters and to those who actually endorsed and supported your candidacy.

Plus, that Strickland guy is a tool. I remember that Daily Show clip where it showed him nodding like a subservient pet whenever Hillary made a point. Do we want Igor to be second-in-command?

[MadsenOMC]

Interesting article that offers a shortlist of VP contenders for Obama and McCain.

Obama:
1) Sam Nunn (someone I am not familiar with)
2) Joseph Biden (I am a fan and like this idea)
3) Jim Webb
4) Michael Bloomberg

McCain:
1) Mitt Romney
2) Tim Pawlenty
3) Joe Lieberman

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=a8aZdQtitYJo

[Homyrrh]

Interesting article that offers a shortlist of VP contenders for Obama and McCain.

Obama:
1) Sam Nunn (someone I am not familiar with)
2) Joseph Biden (I am a fan and like this idea)
3) Jim Webb
4) Michael Bloomberg

McCain:
1) Mitt Romney
2) Tim Pawlenty
3) Joe Lieberman

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=a8aZdQtitYJo
Lieberman? Gore-Lieberman?

Mildy amusing that Bloomberg made the four-slot on a list from his own company:)

[MadsenOMC]

Mildy amusing that Bloomberg made the four-slot on a list from his own company:)

I thought the same thing. However, Obama has had at least two private meetings with Bloomberg, and there has been a lot of talk about an Obama/Bloomberg ticket.

[Gordon]

^^^
This is often the case, though. When a VP candidate has built up enough momentum like Edwards did, it makes selling his own candidacy much easier. To endorse someone who didn't become the eventual nominee is always a disqualification for the VP slot. Would you personally want someone who was rooting for the other guy, especially in a polarizing race like this one? It would send mixed messages to the voters and to those who actually endorsed and supported your candidacy.

Plus, that Strickland guy is a tool. I remember that Daily Show clip where it showed him nodding like a subservient pet whenever Hillary made a point. Do we want Igor to be second-in-command?

I'm not saying he's the right man for the job (although it really is more ceremonial than anything else) or that he is going to get it. What I am saying is that, and especially being from Ohio, I hear all the talk is that he's on the short-list. That is all the buzz in Ohio, and I've heard his name tossed around a few times on political shows, etc. He is a possibility. You then responded that it was impossible because he backed Hillary. That's totally ridiculous.

When Bush Sr. attacked and attacked Regan's economic plans, and then was VP, he simply told the press "We re-tooled his economic plan together to make it work." The same thing would definitely work here.

[Brando @$$ Fat]

I'm not saying he's the right man for the job (although it really is more ceremonial than anything else) or that he is going to get it. What I am saying is that, and especially being from Ohio, I hear all the talk is that he's on the short-list. That is all the buzz in Ohio, and I've heard his name tossed around a few times on political shows, etc. He is a possibility. You then responded that it was impossible because he backed Hillary. That's totally ridiculous.

When Bush Sr. attacked and attacked Regan's economic plans, and then was VP, he simply told the press "We re-tooled his economic plan together to make it work." The same thing would definitely work here.

Not totally ridiculous. When was the last time somebody who endorsed the other guy selected as VP? I'm saying it's impossible because he backed Hillary, and when you think about it, it's not ridiculous. It would be a political misstep. It's harder to turn something like that around because he's on the sidelines. VP's have an accepted history of being former primary opponents. If you can give me a historical example of someone endorsing the other guy and getting the VP slot, you'll win this round.

In your state he may be tossed around, but it's like that all over the country I imagine. In my state, our governor is being thrown out there as potential McCain VP, but I doubt it because he's incredibly lazy and I don't think he'd be up to the effort of campaigning nationwide.

[MadsenOMC]

I'm listening to Webb on NPR's Fresh Air right now. I'm impressed. He's a bit of a curmudgeon at times, but he's a military man who says the most important issue for him is the huge disparity between the rich and poor in this country (translation: he'll appeal to white working class voters). I think he'd be a good VP pick for Obama. I'll post the link in case anyone's interested.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90595861