Report: Clinton Going the Ultrasafe/ Boring Route with VP Pick

[Doctor Jack]

Apparently Kaine and Vilsack are the only likely candidates left. On the one hand, I think Kaine..... ...Oh sorry, fell asleep for a second. Like I was saying, Vilsack will really...


https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/two-names-emerge-from-clintons-vp-deliberations-kaine-and-vilsack/2016/07/19/62189146-4d2d-11e6-aa14-e0c1087f7583_story.html?wpisrc=al_alert-politics

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. That's really disappointing.

Does she think getting a boring old white guy like Kaine will attract more old white guys away from Trump?

[Doctor Jack]

5. I think Sen. Brown would be far more effective at getting blue collar voters

If that is what her game plan is. He's from Ohio and is far more charismatic than Kaine or Vilsack.

[Hortensis]

7. I suspect he was always out of the question

because he would be replaced by a Republican. She did him the honor of considering him, which was a nice boost to his name, but note that he wasn't actually discussed much during all the speculation.

[TexasBushwhacker]

10. It doesn't matter who replaces him

If she doesn't get elected! The number of Senate seats concerns me, but that won't mean much if she loses the election. That's why I wanted Warren, even though I would hate losing her as a senator. She's qualified and she EXCITES people. She could even win back some of the BernieorBusters, especially amounst the millenials.

[Hortensis]

11. Keeping the ultimate proof of big balls out of Trump's

flaky little hands depends on Brown or Warren on the ticket?

Well, then, if you're not in proper shape, you might just want to practice stretching until you can bend over and kiss your ass goodbye. If nothing else, you'll be more limber come inauguration day.

[TexasBushwhacker]

18. We'll see what happens in 4 months n/t

[Hortensis]

20. Yes.

[timlot]

8. What wrong with trying to attract old white guys? Anywho...

I like Kaine. Be a governor a senator speaks Spanish and never lost an election.

[pnwmom]

2. I think Vilsack's personal story is very inspiring, though heartbreaking. Not boring at all. n/t

[PatSeg]

17. Vilsack has been a leading

advocate for Monsanto. Progressives will not be happy with this pick.

[Person 2713]

49. I didn't even know she was considering this shill.

[TheBlackAdder]

74. What's wrong with someone Pro-Monsanto? The next GMO crops might be able to tolerate fracking waste.

[NastyRiffraff]

3. I don't think the role of the VP

is to entertain us.

[Silver_Witch]

31. It is to get votes. You remember those silly things?

And to bring unity. But who cares I guess? The republican ladies will bring in the votes.

[mr_liberal]

4. Vilsack.

I think its an attempt to make her seem more trustworthy because that is her weakness. He has "midwestern values"... considered an honest older man... Could help with working class men too which is also a weakness.

[villager]

6. Quite a disappointment. Diminishing hope that her eventual cabinet will be less disappointing

...than Obama's turned out to be.

"Hope" and "change" were quashed rather early on.

[840high]

48. yep

[Expecting Rain]

9. I hope it is Warren

Not a good year to go "boring" IMO.

[applegrove]

12. Stands on a table holding up a sign that says: "WARREN"

[triron]

14. Warren for VP

Same here; sent the campaign an email as well.

[840high]

50. It won't happen.

[Her Sister]

13. I trust the nominee to pick her running mate!

They all have great qualities and qualifications going for them!

[BobbyDrake]

59. Same here. Too many backseat drivers and armchair quarterbacks around DU for my tastes.

If these folks want to pick a VP, they can run for President like every other person who got to pick one did.

[JI7]

15. you look to VPs to entertain you ?

[Doctor Jack]

19. My concern is Sanders supporters being disillusioned by a more centrist pick

Shoring up the base will easily win her the election. I don't know why shes going for the moderate appeal instead

[JI7]

21. most Sanders supporters already back Clinton. the rest are not liberals

The base is already with her.

[musicblind]

33. I think she needs someone exciting

to help her counter Trump's "celebrity" appeal. Trump is going to use that to draw in low IQ voters. Having a firebrand VP IS very entertaining and CAN help her counter some of that flash.

[Silver_Witch]

34. In you humble opinion

This liberal dem begs to differ! But blinders are hard to see beyond

[840high]

51. Agreed.

[snooper2]

73. your

[Zen Democrat]

61. There's a difference in voting for someone, and supporting them enthusiastically.

With Kaine or Vilsack, she won't get the $27 multitudes.

[farmboy]

16. If Hillary doesn't think she needs a compent but INSPIRING vp candidate...

someone other than another right-leaning moderate democrat, and especially another white male (like every vp that has served this country has been), the I'll go along with that and be completely uninspired, will let go of some of my hope and expectations that she would be different and more progressive, and will definitely not put forth the effort I would have if she had fulfilled my hopes and dreams of being more in tune with where the country and democratic party is today.

I'll take such a choice as letting me, a supporter of hers from day one who never wanted Sen Sanders or anyone other than her as my candidate, know that she's got this without my needed energy and passion, for I can't get excited for more of the same old same old. If she is making the same choices that have been made in the past by the men who've led us, then her being physically different isn't worth a hill of beans. It was never about her being a woman, though that is great; it was about her being "different" in the best possible way.

This is a monumental moment in her candidacy to show us through action and choice where she will lead, and nothing about either of these men points us toward a tomorrow that I feel is necessary and that I thought she would take us. There are so many worse choices than either, as both are descent men as I know them, but they really represent backwards thinking for our party and our nation when it comes to leaders of our future.

Until a selection is made and until/if she really does surprise me with a Vilsack or Kaine pick that feels like taking us back to the 1990s instead of the uncharted territory of a minority-majority future of the 21st century, I will hold out hope that she doesn't make such a colossal mistake in reading what this country needs right now and what she needs to win this election and to prevent us from the damnation that would be President Trump.

[pnwmom]

22. Gov. Vilsack finished his second term with 69% approval, and his life story IS inspiring. n/t

[kwolf68]

23. Good post other than the anti white male crap

If she finds a white male who kicks ass, who cares. When did Democrats begin judging people by the color of their skin and not their character? Or does that only work for minorities?

Sometimes those of us on the left need to check our hypocrisy.

[farmboy]

55. I am white. I am male. I am boring. Excuse me if life experiences from others inspire me.

You don't get to have every president but one in our country's history be a white male and every single vp in our country's history be a white male, and then put forth a holier-than-thou sentiment that desiring leaders with other world views than those of white males is somehow a bad thing, not in 2016.

Life experiences resulting from societal behaviors and expectations, actions and reactions, prejudices and choices related to the differences in people are real, and the best way to move our country and our world forward and make it better is to champion our diversity throughout our population, including our leaders.

We have far to go to achieve this goal, so hoping for just another step forward when such possibilities as a vp choice made by someone other than a white male for only the second time in our history, and other than a male for the FIRST time in our history, seems fair to me.

[NYCButterfinger]

24. I love Vilsack and Kaine. I like boring

I don't know about the rest of you, but boring is the way to go. Excitement my ass. This is politics, not The Voice. Stop thinking about excitement and get to work. This is about competence and managing a country. Warren and Castro cannot run a country at this time.

[hamsterjill]

25. Kaine is pro-life.

In my book, he's not an asset.

[marybourg]

27. I'm sure all her potential

Veep choices are pro life. But Kaine is anti-choice. He's not an asset in my book either

[hamsterjill]

53. Yes. Thank you.

My verbiage was incorrect. Yours is the proper term.

Either way, I hope he is not her choice. I think she can do better.

[pnwmom]

69. They're all pro-choice. Kaine, like the others, thinks the government should stay out of it.

He has distinguished between his Catholic beliefs and his political view that the government shouldn't be legislating against choice.

[marybourg]

81. Thanks. I'll research this further. nt

[pnwmom]

70. He is a pro-choice Catholic who doesn't think the government should be legislating away

women's right to choose. He distinguishes between his personal religious belief and his political views, which are pro-choice.

[hamsterjill]

72. I'd still like someone without the religious hangup.

Just my opinion, of course. But I'd really like someone other than him.

[treestar]

42. +1

[WhiteTara]

26. I hope not Monsanto Vilsack

that is a real pivot right off the get go. That almost gave me hives. There is the possibility here for a more positive future, but not with Vilsack. MHO

[MohRokTah]

28. I've been a Hillary '16 fan since November of '08.

I would have supported Hillary in '08 but I wanted Obama for president since 2003.

This is disappointing news.

[DinahMoeHum]

29. Vilsack: ". . .a workhorse, not a show horse. . ."

http://www.politico.com/tipsheets/morning-agriculture/2016/07/how-vilsack-would-help-clintons-ticket-215351


Hey, folks, I like Elizabeth Warren, too, but she's far too valuable as a US Senator to be replaced there. Let her be the orator and conscience in the US Senate, just like Ted Kennedy was in his later years.

[Silver_Witch]

35. Honestly if Warren is valuable as a senator

She is more valuable as a VP. That line just doesn't work. It is a platitude.

[HarmonyRockets]

67. How in the world would she be more valuable as VP?

Unless something were to happen to Clinton, I don't see how that would be remotely close to true.

[Silver_Witch]

30. You expected some who would pull in

Liberals. Silly you.

[wildeyed]

32. It is going to be a white, male centrist.

That was pre-ordained when Trump won the GOP nomination. It's a math thing. They want a white man who is going to make the people who are worried about voting for a woman feel reassured.

VP picks are just window dressing anyway, so no need to worry your head about it.

[Silver_Witch]

36. How patronizing and

Mysogonistic

[wildeyed]

38. Nope.

Just living in the real world. It's a sexist country out there and we are trying to get the first woman elected to the highest office in the land. Obama did the same thing.

[Silver_Witch]

40. yes actually.

Sorry you don't see it. This is 2016. Gender has nothing to do with it.

[wildeyed]

41. I wish you were right.

But better political minds seem to agree with me.

[OhZone]

37. Yeah, I prefer Warren but I understand the thinking.

Oh well.

[JustAnotherGen]

39. I hope she goes Vilsack

He restored voting rights to felons in 2005.

[JI7]

62. this type of stuff shows how much people give a shit about issues

[JustAnotherGen]

66. Ah - he has a solid record

As a Governor and due to his current position has an ear to the ground in navigating those idiot Republicans in the House and Senate. He also gets energy independence. Green Energy and Green initiatives. Being independent for our "wants" and "needs" as a country is not a bad thing. It's why I supported O'Malley. A Great Lakes person who grew his career in the middle of the country is not a hindrance to the campaign. I have a lot of concerns about Kaine but not Vilsack.

[okasha]

43. Three points.

1. This is gossip.

2. Since it's coming from within the campaign, it's gossip Hillary wants out there.

3. In which case, it's likely a diversion from her real choice.

[Doctor Jack]

47. Could be

Although VP picks are often pretty predictable. The only time i remember anyone being blindsided was Palin and that wasn't a good thing.

[DemonGoddess]

58. ^^^This!!!

[AgadorSparticus]

60. God, I hope this is it! I just feel like it is going to be warren.

She acts like a veep & looks like a veep. It just makes sense that she becomes VP. Please oh please let it be her.

[okasha]

63. I have my own feelings,

but am not going to commit to them in print.

That said, I doubt it's Warren, and I think Hillary is rolling out her running mate in Florida for a specific reason.

I could be completely wrong.

[kevink077]

45. Controlled leaks?

Leak the boring candidates, then jolt people with a surprise. The clintons are very clever.

[Adrahil]

46. Hip! Hip! .... Meeeeeeeh....

Nothing wrong with those guys per se, but honestly, we need as much energy as possible, and these guys? <yawn>.

What we DO NOT need to be doing is trying to convince folks that the Veep pick isn't boring, or that boring is good.

Neither of those guys will hurt, but I can't see them helping either. Come on, Hillary. Do better.

[6chars]

52. Those two have VP written all over them

They are like movie vps. Could be fine but would definately be cautious

[book_worm]

54. Why don't we just wait and see--besides both of these guys are

decent and good public officials who either of whom would make a good VP.

[MFM008]

56. I am deeply

Disappointed.
........but I'll wait and see and hope.

[Android3.14]

57. If she goes with Kaine or Vilsack

She must be trying to bore Trump to death as a tactic.

[NBachers]

64. Low Wattage . . . hope dims

[Nye Bevan]

65. Would a ticket comprised of two white women in their late sixties excite you?

Did it excite you when Barack Obama picked Joe Biden?

[BlueStater]

68. Yeah, it's funny.

I don't recall too many people complaining about Obama picking a "boring white guy" in 2008 but it suddenly matters concerning Kaine and Vilsack. As long as they're qualified (and both are eminently), their race and gender are completely irrelevant.

[DemocraticWing]

80. Regardless of all other arguments about the quality of any candidate...

There is no way that Joe Biden could be described as "boring." Kaine and Vilsack aren't going to replicate Biden.

[geek tragedy]

71. Warren's a much more talented national politician than Vilsack is.

Vilsack is a nobody on the national stage. A bureaucrat. Does anyone care whether Tom Vilsack is getting a speaking role at the DNC?

No. Because no one cares what Vilsack has to say about anything.

[Orsino]

75. That's what I was afraid of.

Not inspiring. I want my president to swing for various fences.

[tonyt53]

76. She will go with SMART on her choice. This isn't a TV show. This is real life.

[liberal N proud]

77. Either one would be an outstanding President if so called

That is what you are looking for in a VP.

[Lil Missy]

78. Boring is fine. Competent is the main qualification.

[PragmaticLiberal]

79. In an election where our candidate isn't particulary liked, I'm not sure boring is fine.

Choose Warren or even Tom Perez and this thing is a wrap.

Kaine or Vilsack? I think it could go either way.

[ibegurpard]

82. these are not safe choices

They will do nothing to motivate turnout... which is what we need to match the irrational hatred coming from the right. These are dangerous choices.