Obama VP will have strong military creds: Webb, Kerry, Zinni

[Sensitivity]

Obama is very smart and knows what he needs to shore-up his team.
Consider his lead national security advisor: Zbigniew Kazimierz Brzezinski.




If he acts strategically, as he has in the past, his V.P. will look like this:

[BattyDem]

1. If he's looking for military experience, Wes Clark would be a great choice.

He has more name recognition than Webb or Zinni and less baggage than Kerry (lots of people are still pissed off that he didn't fight in Ohio).

[blm]

2. Kerry had no evidence and McAuliffe and Carville made sure he didn't.

http://www.depauw.edu/news/index.asp?id=13354

http://www.tpmcafe.com/blog/coffeehouse/2006/oct/07/did_carville_tip_bush_off_to_kerry_strategy_woodward

[BattyDem]

5. I didn't say I was pissed off at him

I was at the time, but I now know that he didn't have the evidence he needed. So I'm fine with Kerry. However, as we've seen on DU, a lot of people are still mad at him. Not sure how much of an impact it would have with the grassroots, but it is something to consider.

[blm]

10. And as soon as he's unflitered like in a debate, people remember again why

he won in the first place.

But he's not going to be VP, anyway. I just want to use any opportunity to keep an accurate portrayal out there of one of the greatest patriots this nation has had over the last 40 years.

[BattyDem]

12. "people remember again why he won in the first place."

That's a good point. I wasn't a Kerry fan until he was well on his way to the nomination and I really started listening to what he was saying. He does have a way of winning people over. :-)

I honestly wasn't trying to diss Kerry. Sorry if I offended you. The reality is, the average voter doesn't get upset over - or are even aware of - the things that the blogosphere gets riled up about, so it probably wouldn't have an impact.

Sometimes I forget that we have a very different view of things on DU. We scrutinize everything and let's face it, we obsess over issues that most people don't even know exist. Most times, that's a good thing, but sometimes, we get carried away and make them more important than they are.

[Firespirit]

11. DU isn't a representative slice of the electorate

Most Dems who have a problem with Kerry don't have that particular problem. And I think they'd get past whatever problem they did have, in exchange for a person on the ticket that could counter the media narrative that McCain has great military credentials as compared with Obama.

[BattyDem]

15. You're right. As I said in a reply to "blm" ...

The average voter doesn't get upset over - or are even aware of - the things that the blogosphere gets riled up about, so it probably wouldn't have an impact.

Sometimes I forget that "DU World" politics can be a little different than real world politics. :-)

[Laura PourMeADrink]

31. Are you saying that if Blackwell wasn't alerted via Carville - then

Kerry would have been successful in finding out the truth in Ohio? Surely, Blackwell would have found out anyway once Kerry showed up there.

Please explain.

[Sensitivity]

4. Clark has chose to support Clinton quite vigorously

[Cha]

6. Interestingly enough...

just when I was really starting to like him.

[BattyDem]

7. I know. But if Obama gets the nomination, that could certainly change.

Like most Dems, he will most likely "fall in line" once the nominee is chosen. I think Clark should be on the VP "short list" for both Obama and Clinton. :-)

[abburdlen]

23. plus

it would be sort of an olive branch to the Clinton circle and her supporters.

[FrenchieCat]

8. IT doesn't matter at the end of it all. If Obama won the nomination

and indicated to Wes Clark that he was needed to serve, Wes would be there, I believe.

For Wes, just like for Barack, it's all about what this country need, not partisanship loyalty within the party. Wes Clark has never been that way.....I doubt he would start.

[my3boyz]

28. Wes Clark

is a good guy but he has his head so far up the Clintons' butt that it would be impossible to pick him.

[DrDan]

3. Webb is too much of a hawk . . .Kerry has that "loser" tag

I would quickly rule out both of them

[Sensitivity]

24. How come leaders can loose in other countries and still lead to next election victory

[Laura PourMeADrink]

35. huh? I thought Webb wanted out of Iraq. Didn;t he say that after SOTU>

[KingOfLostSouls]

9. Anthony Zinni would be an EXCELLENT choice

either for VP or SecDef. the man is smart, got true grit. he was against the war before it started and absolutely DESPISES the neocons.

personally, I'm pushing for john abizaid as secdef myself, but that'd be a coup and a half. two well respected, moderate, intelligent generals. one as VP, one as SecDef.

[Sensitivity]

13. I would personally love him to run with Sibelius, Gov of Kansas. But he is too

disciplined.

[Coexist]

20. Yes, or Tim Kaine, or Jim Webb

I can see all of them. Webb for his foreign policy gravitas. He needs some of that.

Webb, Biden, Dodd and Kerry (and Obama) are all on the Senate Foreign Relations committee - Biden is the chair.

To be honest - I was impressed as hell with Biden whenever he got a chance to open his mouth at the debates.

[Sensitivity]

27. Do you think voters need a woman because of the Hillary movement

[Laura PourMeADrink]

33. really? Yikes she was a real snoozer when she gave the dem

response to the SOTU. Jon Stewart was hysterical making fun of her. He played her saying "sleep well" and he said something like "we're already there"

Not trying to diss her - just saying.

[Sensitivity]

14. delete

[KoKo]

16. Great.....let's just put another Military person in there to run our Government...

Just what we need...whether they are on "our side or not" they are still Military....and it's a President and VP's job to control the Military not have them be part of the top two. At least that was the thinking for many years before Bush/Cheney decided to run America like a War Machine.

[johnnydrama]

21. well

We don't have a military person running our government right now, maybe that's part of the problem. Nobody with any dog in the fight, willing to put our soldiers in harms way for a bad policy.

At least Webb's son has been in Iraq or is still there.

[KittyWampus]

17. People suggested Kaine of Virginia?

[Sensitivity]

26. McCain was a POW. Have to do better than a pop Gov

[557188]

18. Those people all suck

[Hippo_Tron]

19. I think picking on foreign policy is stupid

Why do we want the appearance that Obama is just going to run to his VP every time there is a crisis? Especially after 8 years of Dick Cheney running this country's foreign policy.

I'd actually take Bill Richardson with foreign policy experience as a secondary asset which will largely be ignored because the media will say it is to appeal to Hispanic voters.

[Sensitivity]

22. Ticket must have National Security cred. even if Obama plans peace and tranquility

[sandnsea]

25. Webb has a great populist streak

He's been pretty good on most military issues. I'd be okay with him. He's the only one who I think comes with minimum difficulties and a variety of benefits on the ticket.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

29. He's also a great speaker ! And we sure could use VA, huh.

[jasmine621]

30. Has Webb endorsed Obama? nt

[Laura PourMeADrink]

32. No one. Here's the list of Superdelegates who have NOT endorsed...

http://demconwatch.blogspot.com/2008/01/superdelegates-who-havent-endorsed.html

[Thrill]

34. Webb makes sense. Give me the attack dog with military experience