The 2008 US Presidential Election thread

[Marx]

With the Democratic race still going on and the Republican race over, questions are starting to come up regarding Vice Presidential candidates. The question has already been posed to both Democratic candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton on potential running mates. John Edwards has already been asked about the possibility of VP and has said no. Al Gore could become a compromise candidate if the Democrats can't get their act together. Republican candidate John McCain is working on his list. Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney haven't necessarily ruled out VP spots. Independent candidate Ralph Nader has already announced his choice. Socialist Worker's Party candidate Roger Calero, Socialist Party USA candidate Brian Moore, and Prohibition Party candidate Gene Amondson have all announced their respective running mates. The Libertarian Party and Constitution Party are both still working on their choices.


So what do you think? Who will be who's running mate? Which ticket has the best chance? Discuss, argue, debate!


John Edwards says "No"
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080403/pl_nm/usa_politics_edwards_dc

John McCain mulls over VP list
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/04/02/mccain/index.html

Ralph Nader names running mate
http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/2008/02/28/nader/

Don't discount a Gore-led ticket
http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2008/mar/24/mark-tomasik-dont-discount-gore-led-ticket/

United States Presidential Election 2008
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election,_2008#Other_parties

 

[Malice]

I am absolutely convinced Gore will not run at all.

 

[redfirebird2008]

Gore would love to be Energy Secretary if the Dems win but otherwise I am sure he wants nothing to do with the more normal political positions within an administration.

 

[Handsome Rob]

I would like to see J.C. Watts get on the McCain ticket. I think Watts ought to run for President eventually, myself, and springboard into it from the VP position. He was my dream VP for Fred Thompson before Thompson picked Jigglypuff as his campaign manager.

http://www.washingtonspeakers.com/speakers/Speaker.cfm?SpeakerID=4153

Besides, how can you dislike a guy who referred to Jesse Jackson as a "race-hustling poverty pimp?" t:

 

[The Senator]

I have a feeling we'll see Obama/ Kaine on the Democratic side, and McCain/ Hutchison on the Republican side.

 

[Marx]

I would like to see J.C. Watts get on the McCain ticket. I think Watts ought to run for President eventually, myself, and springboard into it from the VP position. He was my dream VP for Fred Thompson before Thompson picked Jigglypuff as his campaign manager.

http://www.washingtonspeakers.com/speakers/Speaker.cfm?SpeakerID=4153

Besides, how can you dislike a guy who referred to Jesse Jackson as a "race-hustling poverty pimp?" t:

I think Fred Thompson was doomed from the start, despite his initial buzz.

 

[Marx]

Gore would love to be Energy Secretary if the Dems win but otherwise I am sure he wants nothing to do with the more normal political positions within an administration.

I could see Gore being Energy Secretary.

I have a feeling we'll see Obama/ Kaine on the Democratic side, and McCain/ Hutchison on the Republican side.

Are you referring to Governor Tim Kaine? Isn't he the one that's being accused of delaying the execution of a cop's killer in Virginia? (I realize he is against the death penalty but...)

 

[hippie_hunter]

I don't see Kaine being on the ticket. He was just elected governor and I think Obama would like to have someone a tad bit more experienced.

 

[The Senator]

Well, if it isn't Kaine, then it will probably be Anthony Zinni, Chris Dodd, Joe Biden, or some surprise choice like Chuck Hagel... it will most likely wind up being a white sixty-something with military, foreign policy, or economic experience...

 

[Marx]

Well, if it isn't Kaine, then it will probably be Anthony Zinni, Chris Dodd, Joe Biden, or some surprise choice like Chuck Hagel... it will most likely wind up being a white sixty-something with military, foreign policy, or economic experience...

What about Wesley Clark?

 

[Matt]

What about Wesley Clark?

Die hard Clinton supporter.

 

[Chris B]

To reiterate a point made in another thread, I don't think experience will be as much of a factor in who Obama picks as conventional thinking would suggest. Going with a Dick Chenney-esque experienced statesman would undermine his whole message of change and being a Washington Outsider. That is why I also think Tim Kaine would be the best choice for him. But if he wants experience, then I'm going to say Joe Biden.

As for McCain, I see Tim Pawlenty, Mark Sanford, Rob Portman, and Kay Bailey Hutchinson as possibilities. With Pawlenty probably being the most likely. Though I think Sanford would be the best.

 

[Marx]

To reiterate a point made in another thread, I don't think experience will be as much of a factor in who Obama picks as conventional thinking would suggest. Going with a Dick Chenney-esque experienced statesman would undermine his whole message of change and being a Washington Outsider. That is why I also think Tim Kaine would be the best choice for him. But if he wants experience, then I'm going to say Joe Biden.

As for McCain, I see Tim Pawlenty, Mark Sanford, Rob Portman, and Kay Bailey Hutchinson as possibilities. With Pawlenty probably being the most likely. Though I think Sanford would be the best.

Isn't Kay Bailey Hutchinson majorly against gun control? I'm not too familiar with her...that's really about all I know. As for Rob Portman

 

[Lightning Strykez!]

I dunno. I still think an Obama/Bloomberg ticket might happen.

 

[Marx]

I dunno. I still think an Obama/Bloomberg ticket might happen.

I think it could happen, Bloomberg doesn't really seem to be all that interested though. I really think Governor Strickland (D-OH) would make a great VP...if I can do a little shameless home state promotion!
(He supports Hillary Clinton though, which could be a problem if Obama gets the nomination.)

 

[redfirebird2008]

Die hard Clinton supporter.

He's been really complimentary of Obama though. They are on the same side in the grand scheme of things.

 

[Marx]

He's been really complimentary of Obama though. They are on the same side in the grand scheme of things.

Anyone else notice how alot of the great Democratic VP choices support Hillary? Maybe it's just me...

 

[Marx]

Romney weighs in on McCain VP
http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/03/romney_on_mccains_vice_preside.html

Lieberman rules out running with McCain
http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/2008/01/lieberman_rules_out_running_with_mccain/

Guiliani wants "Cheney-style" VP
http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/2008/01/giuliani_wants_cheney-style_vice_president/

 

[Excel]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/04/04/mccain-booed-heckled-at-m_n_95079.html

And people think this guy can win

He even has a black man holding his umbrella; the guy is too clueless

 

[SentinelMind]

That's pretty bad...McCain is a little too honest....he'd have been better off just not even bringing it up....

but Dick Cheney voted against MLK Day Jr holiday, ...John Edwards exposed him during 2004 VP debates...and Cheney sat there like "so what"... Dick Cheney's not at the top of the ticket, but I dunno how much this will play in general elections. The people booing him were not going to vote Republican anyway....

 

[Marx]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/04/04/mccain-booed-heckled-at-m_n_95079.html

And people think this guy can win

He even has a black man holding his umbrella; the guy is too clueless

Wow...that's just not right Ex. McCain truly is clueless if he thought that kind of image portrayal would be acceptable.

On the Democratic front there are more rumblings of VP candidates - Virginia Senator Jim Webb, Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell, Indiana Senator Evan Bayh, Former Louisiana Senator John Breaux, and Governor Sebelius of Kansas.

On the Republican front I have heard Tom Ridge's name being thrown around alot too. Also, Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour, and South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford (yeah, the guy that let live pigs run through the house chambers to protest pork spending.)

 

[The Senator]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/04/04/mccain-booed-heckled-at-m_n_95079.html

And people think this guy can win

Well, people who come to that conclusion look at the polls, which has McCain leading in all the major swing states against both Obama and Clinton. So I'd say his chances are pretty good, gaffes aside.

 

[Marx]

Rice: No interest in McCain ticket

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/04/08/condi.mccain/index.html

 

[Chris B]

South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford (yeah, the guy that let live pigs run through the house chambers to protest pork spending.)

I think he would be the perfect running mate for McCain. Though the fact that he refused to endorse McCain probably hurts his standing.

 

[Doomed_hero]

I can see a Obama/Bloomberg happening, but I would not mind seeing a Obama/Biden ticket since Biden would fill in the experience gap, if not as Vice President then in the cabinet somewhere. I also like the idea of Gore as Energy sec. That may be the position Obama would give him that he talked about.