You're off the VP Short List: Dems Attacking Dean

[stopbush]

Well, three of the Feeble Four (Edwards is the exception) who voted god status for bush through the IWR are now spending 99.999% of their time trying to tear down Howard Dean. Sadly, Gephardt and Kerry have sunk below the level of even Lieberman, more by giving up any high ground they held over the shameless shill Holy Joe has become (any Dem who needs Faux News as a forum to get his message out obviously has the wrong message).

The smear-Dean tactics and rhetoric coming out of the mouths and campaigns of Gep, Kerry and Holy Joe have revealed the obvious - none of them has any interest in being considered as VP material in the looming Dean-as-nominee campaign. How could Dean possibly offer the position to one of these three after they've questioned every aspect of his leadership abilities? Can you imagine the RW media frenzy - a godsend, in fact - if Dean was to put one of these three on his ticket? "Mr GepKerLieb, you supported president bush in his Iraq war, yet you have said Howard Dean can't match bush's foreign policy experience. How can you run with a man who in your own words is so severely handicapped?"

Clark, on the other hand, has been much smarter than that. I'm not so sure he'd accept the VP slot from Dean, but IMO, he'd be short-sighted not to. I still think Dean/Clark or Clark/Dean equates to a Dem landslide in '04.

I think GepKerJoe should be seriously looking to what their Congressional positions will amount to in a Dean administration. I don't get that HD is a vindictive person, but I can see him changing the tone of the Dem party in DC by indicating who he'd like to see in key chair positions and the like via stature demotions to Holy Joe and others.

Just my 2¢.

[eileen_d]

1. That's odd... I never thought they'd want to be VP

under Dean. Why would they?

Never thought about how Dean would treat his formal rivals in Congress if he becomes president either.

Hmmm... <stroking imaginary beard>

[quinnox]

2. Dean needs to be more kind to the other candidates

so they will give him consideration for surgeon general in their administration.

[Patriot_Spear]

4. Everyone needs to be nicer- Bush* is chortling at the division here...

It's sad really...

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

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[blm]

19. Bull. Dean was attacking them as far back as January.

He was even attacking Kerry while he was in recovery from cancer surgery and off the campaign trail. THAT is Dean's true character. DISGUSTING...especially for someone who calls himself a 'doctor'.

[Scott Lee]

33. In what administration? President of Grenada maybe?

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

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[TexasSissy]

6. Dean's been after Clark for VP since before Clark entered race.

Someone tell the li'l fella that it ain't gonna happen. If Clark doesn't win the nomination, he'll become governor of Arkansas.

Clark is no more of a #2 man than Dean is. The VP job is a nothing kind of job except hanging around in the background supporting the Prez (unless you're Cheney, in which case you stick your arm up the Prez's back to make the Prez's mouth move -- and of course take off lots of time because of heart trouble, and say you're in seclusion because of terrorist threats).

I think Clark would make an excellent Sec of Defense or Sec of State, however. I hope some future U.S. President remembers that (Hillary?)

[Patriot_Spear]

7. You're right. Clark's Ego would keep him from serving America as VP

'Pride goeth before a fall.'

[DoveTurnedHawk]

12. You Were Wrong Before and You're Still Wrong

Clark won't be Dean's VP, that is true, but it has NOTHING to do with Clark's ego.

DTH

[Patriot_Spear]

16. I guess we'll find out...

Remember you're in a battle for second, third or even fourth place right now.

Clark may choose to ignore the call- but is that the honorable thing to do?

[Jerseycoa]

21. Actually

That's a question I've been asking myself. Clark is not running for VP. He probably would like to go back to making a living and making up for 34 years of military pay, if he were not the nominee. But his commitment to national service is the strongest streak in him. If he were not the nominee, and he saw his place in second on a ticket as the clearest way to get rid of Bush, as an act of patriotism, then maybe. Certainly if there were an encumbant Democratic president, he would never refuse the call.

I don't say any of this will happen. But looking at it as a scenario, I'm left with: I can't say for sure.

[mikehiggins]

30. If Clark doesn't get the endorsement

after the election he'll look for a teaching gig, and then try to get a job as a golf pro.

He's not running to become another politician in waiting to become President, he's running to become President. If he loses he has still fulfilled his duty as he sees it.

What has "ego" got to do with it?

[Jai4WKC08]

32. In a battle for second?

There's only one battle that matters.

Gallup poll from December, 1991:
Mario Cuomo.......33%
Jerry Brown.......15
Douglas Wilder.....9
Bob Kerrey.........8
Tom Harkin.........7
Bill Clinton.......6
Paul Tsongas.......4
Undecided/Others..18

[eileen_d]

34. ROFLMAO

What a blast from the past. Anyone still bitter about Cuomo losing?

[stopbush]

10. I dunno, the importance of the VP slot depends on who's prez.

Al Gore certainly wasn't a shrinking violet as VP. Clinton gave him lots of responsibilites, and I mean *real* responsibilities. And Cheney is running this mis-administration, not bush.

Clark could gain immensely politically by accepting the VP position, much more than by going off to become a governor for 8 years, IMO.

BTW - I didn't intend this thread as flamebait. Sorry if appears as such.

[mikehiggins]

31. Again, Clark will not remain in politics if he loses

He will be free to decline any position in any administration and go about his business. I am fairly confident that is what will happen.

[Larkspur]

22. Not true, Dean NEVER offered the VP slot to Clark

When Clark last talked with Dean and the press created the "Dean offered Clark VP slot" meme, Dean had said that it was too early for him to begin picking VP's.

[9119495]

26. Sometimes VPs become president.

So Clark could gain valuable "civilian" experience and run in 8 years. He's not that old ya'know.

[TrueAmerican]

8. Why would they want to be #2 on a losing ticket?

FYI, nobody has voted in yet. We know Dean is the chosen insider. Let's count the votes first.

[9119495]

27. So nobody has voted, but its a losing ticket? Wow. You're

interesting.

Ask Joe Lieberman if being nominated VP made the decision to run for pres easier or harder to make this time. Never mind he decided to sound like a Republican. He's pulling like 10% now. What would he have if he had not been the 2000 VP nominee? more or LESS?

[mydawgmax]

9. Seperation of Powers

I thought trying to run rough shod over your party's congressional organization was a Bush administration thing. Are you suggesting that this is how Dean would govern as well?

[stopbush]

13. Well, unless the Congressional Dems immediately form the circular

firing squad after a possible Dean win, I'd hope they'd give their own party's man as big a honeymoon as they gave the usurper (who actually lost the last time). Politics cuts both ways - there are plenty of Congressional Dem back-benchers who would be more than willing to challenge the party elite for leadership positions (a la change the tone), and with a subtle nod from Dean, things could *really* change. Could you imagine what would happen if Daschle was sent packing from his leadership position in the Senate? What if the anti-war Dems who had the guts to vote against bush's illegal war were suddenly in the power positions?

BTW - I think Dean can win without Clark, but I think that Clark would provide for a coattail effect that may allow us to take back the Senate, even with all the Southern Dem resignations. I don't think we stand a chance of taking back the House this time 'round. Maybe in 2008.

[demnan]

11. Many of the candidates

are as shrill and fractionous as some people on this board, however I give Clark credit for not being as shrill and fractionous as a few of his supporters here.

[paulk]

14. I know that it's our role as the faithful

to kiss the hem of the nominee - designate, but don't you think it's a bit much to ask of those who are actually running against him?

You want to know a secret? Gep,Kerry, and Holy Joe have "supporters". These are people who believe Gep, Kerry, and Holy Joe should be president. What a novel concept, huh? President! Not vice president.

I'd even be willing to bet that Gep, Kerry, and Holy Joe themselves think they should be President! And I'm sure none of them could give a flying fuck what Howard Dean is going to do to their Congressional careers once he wins this glorious landslide that so far exists only in your fevered imagination.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

17. They better worry about the voters.

Gep,Ker,Holy Joe, and Edwards may not have to worry about Dean's vindictiveness, but they better start worrying about being turned out by the voters for their support of the dimwit-in-chief and the invasion of Iraq, not to mention their attacks on the left.

[paulk]

24. You've got the power!

Yeah, the left is gonna rise up and throw not only those nasty Repukes out of DC, but all those non-ideologically pure Democrats with them!

It's this kind of thinking that will lead to a Republican sweep in 2004. Bush with a filibuster proof Congress...

[seaglass]

28. Kerry just won in 2002 with 80% of the vote. Try again.

n/t

[TLM]

15. I still think it will be graham at this point...

they've bee being too nice to each other... graham's position on the war is very close to Dean's and Graham makes up for any percived lack of FP experience.

Graham is a good solid VP choice.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

18. I think Dean will step outside the expectations and select

someone that will fortify his base. Perhaps a woman? Patty Murray? Barbara Boxer?

Of course, the "moderates" will promptly line up to tell us that a "woman can't win".

[blm]

20. He'll choose his good friend, Evan Bayh.

.

[paulk]

29. how about Winona LaDuke?

VP's aren't picked to fortify the candidate's "base" - They're picked to broaden the base.

[JohnKleeb]

35. Winona LaDuke

endorsed Dennis Kucinich :evilgrin:

[retyred]

23. I would really be surprised if any of the candidates

other than Lieberman would take a sympathy offer to be deans VP should he get the nod, dean got back exactly what he gave, nothing more, nothing less, besides it's a bit premature speculating who he'll pick when the nominee position is still up for grabs.


retyred in fla
“good night paul, wherever you are”
So I read this book

[Hippo_Tron]

25. You know Vice President...

Is pretty good for your first time running for office. Not that I'm saying Clark can't be president.