Last week I posted my reasons why Barack Obama should not choose Hillary Clinton as his VP and I promised a list of my top picks. Here they are.
The Big 3
1.) Jim Webb. Matt stole my thunder on this the other day. After it’s all said and done I’m hoping this guy is still standing; I really think he would be the best not only as next in line to the presidency but also as someone who can balance the ticket. First, to be frank, he’s white and he’s from the south. That should help with Obama’s “white blue-collar male” problem. Second, he has military and national defense experience. He served in the Marines and the House committee on Veteran Affairs not to mention he was Assistant Secretary of Defense under Regan. That should be enough to convince the red folks in swing states. Oh, did I mention he’s pro guns?1
2.) Wesley Clark. For almost the same reasons as Jim Webb. In fact, it would be pretty easy to make the argument that Clark as more military/defense experience than Webb because, well, he does — I just happen to like Jim Webb a little better.2 Clark is a four-star General — which means that even Johnny boy would have to salute him — a Rhodes Scholar out of West Point and he’s been a presidential candidate in the past. For all those people that hate on Obama for experience, Gen. Wesley Clark your man.
3.) Mike Bloomberg. Honestly I don’t feel very strongly either way with this one. Bloomberg is known for being an independent politician and as I’ve said before, independents and undecideds in — swing states especially — are going to determine who wins this race. So that’s a plus. Other than that, Mike as a great economic record, but unless you’re a political junkie or you live in NYC you probably haven’t heard of him. That could make it tough. Plus, we don’t really know where he stands on some of the issues.
Honorable Mention
- Bill Richardson — A lot of people are saying he should be up there in the running. I don’t disagree. But I think he should use his experience and wisdom in the best possible manner. Given his foreign relations experience I think he could best serve as Secretary of the State.3 So I’m holding out for that.
- Joe Biden — I haven’t heard many people talking about him, but I’d be willing to bet that he’s probably on the longer short list. The best thing about Biden is his foreign policy experience. It surpasses anything that McCain myself can bring to the table. But, like I said with Richardson, he should spend his experience wisely. Which is why I think he should be Secretary of War, err, I mean Secretary Defense (I really wish we’d stop all the euphemizing and call it what it is — Secretary of Military Hegemony). He’s got the experience and he has that attitude. You know what I mean.4
So that’s what I’m thinking. What do YOU think?
- For the record, I am not pro guns. Actually, I’m probably as anti-guns as a person could be. But as much as I dislike it, this helps Obama . [↩]
- Have you seen Webb in an interview? He’s a really personable guy. Plus he went on the Daily Show and didn’t act like a pompous ass. Any career politician that does that automatically goes up a few notches in my book. [↩]
- Plus he now has an awesome mustache and goatee; therefore, he means business. [↩]
- Did you see him in the debates? He goes for the jugular without discretion — on second thought, maybe that’s not what we need in the Pentagon. [↩]
8 responses so far ↓
1 Jeremy! // Jun 17, 2008 at 9:46 am
Ah, Blake. I’m one for three of your picks. Jim Webb is definitely on my short list, but Clark has never impressed me, and Bloomberg is interesting, but again, unremarkable.
Remember the only qualification for VP shouldn’t be whether they help their candidate get elected, but whether they can be a heartbeat away from the presidency. Webb fits this mold, but the other two? Not so much, IMO.
2 blake // Jun 17, 2008 at 10:15 am
@jeremy. you’re right. that’s why i put webb and clark at 1 and 2. i understand what you’re saying about clark, frankly i’m not too impressed myself, but he has the experience one needs to be VP. i just think webb would be better.
3 david // Jun 17, 2008 at 11:18 am
man.. why do all the top candidates need to be people that like to kill…
sigh.. my vote would be for bill… incidentally, it seems really odd to me that the guy that has probably more influence between the two (pres & vice) is the guy that the public don’t really get to vote for.
and also.. that thing down there that copies everything i type is really cool and creepy all at the same time.
4 Matt Scott // Jun 17, 2008 at 2:32 pm
Oh man, I thought we were gonna talk about the Bachelor.
But seriously, like mentioned, I’m down for Jim Webb, and I agree with you on Clark as a second choice. But if we’re looking for Middle Class Whites and military record I’d go with Max Cleland, superb military record (Purple Heart) Georgia Boy (Aren’t they all the greatest?) and… white… (I feel so dirty saying that).
5 blake // Jun 17, 2008 at 11:57 pm
@david. exactly. it’s a myth of redemptive violence fest for sure. i like bill too, but like i said, with his experience and his personality i think he’d be the best person to negotiate as head of the state department. but the case could be made either way.
i’m glad someone finally noticed the comment previewer. i decided to go with a live one because i didn’t like the one’s the required you to click an extra button.
@matt. yeah, pretty rockin’ title isn’t it? the whole race thing is really starting to bother me a bit, but if we’re gonna be honest then we have to admit its will be an issue, especially in the south. but then again, historically the executive branch has been a white boy’s club anyway, so we need not be too worried.
6 Jeremy! // Jul 7, 2008 at 4:09 pm
Webb’s out, just FYI. Sadness.
7 blake // Jul 7, 2008 at 4:28 pm
nnnnnooooooooooo!!!!!
did webb withdraw himself or something. or is there something else i don’t know about?
8 blake // Jul 7, 2008 at 4:32 pm
*sigh* nevermind.
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