ABC News reports probable Dem VP, you're not going to like it!

[ShaneGR]

Sounds a lot like Bush picking Cheney, in a "I need brainpower behind me" sort of way. Not that I think this Johnson character is anything like Cheney, heck, I have no idea who he is.

From ABC's the Note:
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/politics/TheNote/TheNote.html

ABC News has learned that the person considered the leading and most likely candidate to head the Kerry Veep selection process is Democratic wise man Jim Johnson.

Johnson is the vice chairman of Perseus, L.L.C., a merchant banking and private equity firm, and chairman of both Brookings' board of trustees and the John F. Kennedy Center.

He was Vice President Walter Mondale's executive assistant from 1977 until 1981, when he founded Public Strategies, which advised corporations on "strategic issues," to say the least.

He joined Lehman Brothers as a managing director in the mid 1980s and in 1991 became the chairman and CEO (and "$7 million man") of Fannie Mae. He lives with his wife and son in Washington, D.C.

[BootinUp]

1. according to your copied section, he is likely to head selection process

not leading VP candidate....going to read rest now.

[ShaneGR]

5. Ahhhh, I think you're right!

Misread it. Thanks!

[xultar]

2. Judy Woodruff = Drudge in Drag and other pundits on CNN

were saying that they thought they were going to use the VeeP selection process as a way of keeping media attention on his Presidential bid.

I don't think, however, they should air bad or crappy choices just for media sake.

They don't wanna ruin it. They better not.

[sangh0]

3. You might want t re-read that article

Johnson will head the "Kerry Veep selection process" - NOT "Johnson will be Kerry's VEEP"

[ibegurpard]

4. You misread

The person you are talking about is most likely to head the veep SELECTION process...not most likely to be veep.

[Zynx]

6. Read that article closer. He is heading the SEARCH committee.

[DenverDem]

7. Johnson is just heading the VP SELECTION PROCESS.

He's still a big business insider and his judgement and agenda must be suspect.

[tigereye]

8. we need a Southerner!

[displacedtexan]

21. How about Richardson?

He can deliver the Hispanic vote, and the Kerry machine already knows how to get the bodies to the polling places.

[tigereye]

23. thought you meant Anne

Bill Richardson is pretty cool

[tishaLA]

24. But Kerry already got 71% of the Latino vote in CA

yesterday. Looks like he is fine with that demographic.

[revcarol]

9. And will he say,'the most qualified is I."

like Cheney.

Still, don't care for his "credentials."

[BootinUp]

11. that was one of the silliest things

the Bush team has done. I would be surprised to see a repeat performance from Kerry.

[Renew Deal]

10. That's a bullshit story.

He is leading the group that will find a VP. What a crap story.

http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20040303-011427-1207r.htm

Kerry names adviser to head VP search



WASHINGTON, March 3 (UPI) -- Assumed Democratic U.S. presidential nominee John Kerry Wednesday named Washington businessman Jim Johnson to lead the search for a running mate.

The announcement came following the Massachusetts senator's sweeping victory in nine of the 10 Super Tuesday contests and reflects the campaign's strengthened focus on the 2004 election against President Bush.

Johnson, currently a vice president at the merchant banking and private equity firm Perseus LLC, said he looked forward to working with Kerry.

"I have the greatest respect for John Kerry as a friend and as a national leader, and know that he will make an outstanding president," Johnson said in a statement released by the campaign. "Kerry's swift action in beginning the process to select a running mate indicates what type of president the nation can expect -- decisive, focused and ready to lead."
<snip>

[Renew Deal]

12. BTW, you almost put me into cardiac with that.

[BootinUp]

15. beep beep beeeeeeeeeee..............

straightlined a bit there eh?

[NNN0LHI]

13. Got an hour to edit the title if you misread the story & it is incorrect

[TacticalPeek]

17. Good idea. Actually a necessity to prevent unnecessary pulse spikes.

Gun jumped.

Surely the media advisors have more sense and clout than to allow such a fubar as announcing any time soon.

[West Coast Democrat]

14. Remember how Dick Cheney led Bush*s committee to find a VP?

and then he selected himself?

Not that this is going to happen in Jim Johnson's case!

[Finch]

18. What do we know about this guy?

If he worked with Mondale then for the love of god don't let him be a blinkered Union nut who will advise Kerry to select Gephardt... please no... don't get me wrong i like geppy... but as VP for Kerry NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! sorry getting a little bit carried away there but seriously what do we know about this guy?

to me it looks like Kerry will pick someone who was not one of his competators... Gov. Warner (D-VA)Evan Bayh (D-IN) Mary Landrieu(D-LA) or Bill Nelson (D-FL) of his competitors from the primary race I'd say Edwards, Graham and Clark in that order are worth some cosideration... but not Gerhardt for the love of all thats holy no!

[West Coast Democrat]

20. Having worked for Mondale does not automatically make someone....

a "blinkered Union nut." The rest of his resume doesn't appear to indicate that...not that Unions are such a bad thing.

[Career Prole]

22. I remember that.

Having Cheney pick the VP candidate.
Damn! That's like putting a defense contractor in charge of handing out defense contracts. Jeez! :wtf:

Edited to add clarity to the sarcasm...

[Cat Lewis]

16. Calm Down!

ABC and every other media outlet is going to do their best to make the "correct" guess. But at this point in time, Kerry and his people are going to keep their considerations very close to the vest. The media knows no more than we do.

Whomever is chosen will be the product of extensive inside polling and careful political consideration.

We can only hope that Kerry's professionals manage to get it right.

[newyawker99]

25. Hi Cat Lewis!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[eissa]

19. If Johnson is smart

he'll take his time with this process, drag out until just before the convention, and leak plenty of names to keep everyone guessing. Builds up the suspense in our reality-tv-ADD world.