Veepstakes: A man courted and detested

Posted: Thursday, August 21, 2008 9:15 AM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: Democrats, Republicans

The Boston Globe sums up the enigma of Joe Lieberman. "Lieberman, the Connecticut independent, sits in a position of extraordinary power in the presidential campaign, simultaneously courted and detested by members of both political parties."

There will be blood? Rep. Rahm Emanuel said “there are consequences” for Lieberman speaking at the Republican convention.

The AP uses the Biden speculation to write about Obama's resume gaps. "Obama is keeping his decision quiet, but his staff in Chicago and party activists are buzzing about Biden, in large part because he can address two of Obama's biggest weaknesses - his lack of experience, especially on world affairs, and his reluctance to attack his opponent."

More compiled by NBC/NJ’s Matthew E. Berger…
DEMOCRATS: Biden went to the dump Wednesday but wouldn’t comment on anything, including his recent trip to Georgia. “I have not had another single thing I can tell you,” he said.

Lots of buzz that Obama would be heading to Indianapolis on Saturday, raising the stakes of Sen. Evan Bayh as veep. But the Obama campaign shot the report down. And in DC, Bayh dragged a gym bag behind his car for about a block Wednesday after leaving his garage. He opened his passenger door to free the bag but drove off without it. Reporters staking out his Washington home returned it to his front door and he later retrieved it.

Yes, you Kaine? It seems some Democrats in Richmond received a hoax e-mail saying Kaine had been selected as Obama’s veep.

Obama praised Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine Wednesday, saying he’s “doing such a great job as governor of Virginia.” Kaine will campaign with Obama today in Richmond.

Sen. Joe Biden’s son, Beau, will be deployed to Iraq on Oct. 3. The son, the Delaware attorney general, is a captain in the Army National Guard.

REPUBLICANS: Rudy Giuliani says Republicans would back a pro-choice veep. Giuliani said that the most important factor in the VP decision is “a person that would allow us to sleep at night knowing that we had selected someone who could immediately be president of the United States."

Lieberman called for increasing Georgia’s ability to defend itself from Russian attacks and the Wall Street Journal has praise for the Connecticut I/? He would “be a better vice president than many oft-mooted Republicans, including some of those who are favorites of the anti-Lieberman alarmists,” the paper writes.

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Comments

Obama need to hit McCain hard with a funny ad. The ad opens with a picture of Mr. Magoo and the voice over says, "WOULD YOU VOTE FOR MR. MAGOO FOR PRESIDENT?"..."THEN WHY WOULD VOTE FOR SENATOR MCCAIN?" The ad could show how they both move through the world oblivious to the destruction they leave behind them.

When McCain supporters howl Obama should say, Hey we are just having a little fun - I guess you guys can't take a joke!

David, Baltimore, MD (Sent Thursday, August 21, 2008 9:27 AM)

Maybe McSame wants to comment further on his support for a new draft to fight a never ending war:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/20/mccain-on-bringing-back-d_n_120178.html

No more war (Sent Thursday, August 21, 2008 9:28 AM)

I hope LIE-berman does join the mcCAN't ticket.

They deserve each other !!!

OUCH!!!

Ouch!!! (Sent Thursday, August 21, 2008 9:29 AM)

...buzzing about Biden, in large part because he can address two of Obama's biggest weaknesses - his lack of experience, especially on world affairs, and his reluctance to attack his opponent."
********************************************************

However, Biden doesn't 'bring a state' and he has been in Washington for nearly 30 years. The latter of these two points could/will be used to chip away at Obama's "change" meme.

I love Joe Biden... but I'm just playing devil's advocate here.

http://thepajamapundit.com/

the Pajama Pundit (Sent Thursday, August 21, 2008 9:30 AM)

Bayh Obama...has a nice ring...bye bye

lily (Sent Thursday, August 21, 2008 9:32 AM)

"his lack of experience, especially on world affairs, and "

It absolutely scares me to death that a man might become President at this time of world strife has his own staff saying he's inexperienced at world affairs. Lord, have mercy on us.

gus in tx (Sent Thursday, August 21, 2008 9:34 AM)

Enough VP talk..let's talk some issues...perhaps McCain's answer yesterday to a Town Hall comment about reinstating the draft.

Jen,MI (Sent Thursday, August 21, 2008 9:34 AM)

It's gotta be Biden, right?

The resume, the son in Iraq, the 'everyman' look.

At this point, I can't think of anyone else.

http://www.rodneyhopper.com

Rodney Hopper, Waxahachie, TX (Sent Thursday, August 21, 2008 9:35 AM)

Seriously, who here is planning to vote for McCain, now that he has admitted that he wants to reinstate the DRAFT?!

20 August, Las Crucas, NM Town Hall:
GUEST: If we don't re-enact the draft, I don't think we'll have anyone to chase Bin Laden to the gates of Hell.

SEN JOHN MCCAIN: Ma'am let me say that I don't disagree with anything you have said, and thank you.

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3msRsdt6bWY

Matt, Idaho (Sent Thursday, August 21, 2008 9:38 AM)

You want him - be my guest- we're trying to impeach him.

Talk about Rep. desperately picking over sloppy seconds.

Hey Joe- grow a backbone, take some decongestant and STFU for the love of God.

JohnH55Conn (Sent Thursday, August 21, 2008 9:40 AM)

"Time is against Obama, he ought to Name a V. P., while he can still find a "heavyweight" who may be of help.
Looks like most Dems, who are looking for a future in the Party are looking for ways to say "No thank you", without being labeled a racist.
James J. Grady, Colchester Ct. (Sent Wednesday, August 20, 2008 5:39 PM)"
----------------------------------------
Dear Genius:

Please provide links to support your theory. I've not read anything about what you are stating. Do you only get your news from Rush and O'Really? or do you have an actual source of information?

MI Chick (Sent Thursday, August 21, 2008 9:44 AM)

Ugh, Lieberman!
He smacks of disloyalty and opportunism.
Get 'em out of here!

Sandi, Beaverton, OR (Sent Thursday, August 21, 2008 9:45 AM)

There will be blood? Rep. Rahm Emanuel said “there are consequences” for Lieberman speaking at the Republican convention.

LOL Rahm......
his people have already paid a steep price........
what makes you think Nancy pelosi's little boy is going to intimidate him with his threats??????

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Thursday, August 21, 2008 9:48 AM)

Have jerry, david and dennis from texas gotten down to the recruiting station to join the mccain-lieberman war juggernaut yet? Thought so.

Rojer, NY (Sent Thursday, August 21, 2008 9:50 AM)

Are Connecticutt voters raising a recall effort to remove Liebermann since he ran on the promise to caucaus with the Democrats? I don't think using his position as a senator to promote a Republican candidate for President was what voters had in mind when they re-elected him.

Amy B Portland, ME (Sent Thursday, August 21, 2008 9:53 AM)

It absolutely scares me to death that a man might become President at this time of world strife has his own staff saying he's inexperienced at world affairs. Lord, have mercy on us.

gus in tx (Sent Thursday, August 21, 2008 9:34 AM)
*****************************************************
i'd personally rather have someone with no "experience", but has the ear of other leaders around the world than another hip shooting cowboy hell bent on starting wars to puff up his own ego.

Obama has the people skills that are necessary for a leader of this nation. Bush and McCain don't. period.

What the Obama trip to the Middle East and Europe showed was the eagerness of the rest of the world to listen and compromise with him, and a change in how the rest of the world would view the US. right now, even our own "Allies" don't trust us, and no one can blame them with how cowboy george has run this country. McCain would be no different, unless his warmongering gets worse...

With Obama we at least have a chance of turning around how the rest of the world views the US, and we can take a leadership role again because the world knows that wwe won't go to war over Oil... errr, "terrorism" again.

a little straight talk: Words have infinitely more power than weapons when your audience has a reason to listen. its time for the US to give the world a reason to listen again.

Tzalaran (Sent Thursday, August 21, 2008 9:55 AM)

I knew you were referring to Lieberman as the courted, and detested before I read the article.

The point that Senator Biden hauled a load of wood to a dump site yesterday sure caused a lot of low humor around here.

Beau being deployed to Iraq must be rather tough for Biden. He's being sent to a war, he voted for, but no longer supports. Perhaps it will make him more persausive on the stump should he be on the ticket, and have the chance to campaign against Senator McCain.

donna (Sent Thursday, August 21, 2008 9:56 AM)

Jpe Lie-Berman, you are all being spun by the Republican spin machine, just like you were about the WMD, it gets attention away from Obama and the lies and deception of Senator Mc Smear. Does anybody think Smirking Joe helped Al Gore? And anyways why would he want to be vp, when he can be co-president .

GW (Sent Thursday, August 21, 2008 9:56 AM)

Biden not only doesn't add any states (like Kaine, Byah, Clinton), he doesn't carry any constitutents like Clinton. His primary run was dismal at best. He brings nothing but hot air to the party.

Sean (Sent Thursday, August 21, 2008 9:58 AM)

Jery in Corpus christ is right about Pelosi. Just listen to Rush for the straight talk. I was for navy man McCain until he started using Britney and Paris Hilton and has turned away from Huckabee. He is running a stupid campaign and I would tell you all that he's not nearly as conservative as Bob Barr who is the only one who would balance the buget and still stop terrorists from attacking us here.

dusual tx (Sent Thursday, August 21, 2008 9:59 AM)

I personally detest Lie-berman, and would hope the Dems excommunicate him to the deepest realms of hell where Dante says traitors go.
I think Bayh and Kaine are nice guys, but they both are all domestic and no foreign when it comes to experience, whereas Biden is both, but especially foreign. That's why the President of Georgia invited him and not Bayh or Kaine.

Class Warrior, D.C. (Sent Thursday, August 21, 2008 9:59 AM)

Joe Biden, although he has been a part of Washington for many years, still takes the Amtrak commute to and from his home. He is a regular guy who knows his fellow commuters and the Amtrak employees. I don't think he would tarnish the "need for change" message that Obama is stressing because he is not an entrenched insider.
He doesn't need to "bring a state" with him because his regular Joe roots can spread throughout the Pennsylvania region up through Appalachia.
And the part I like best is he will absolutely destroy John Sydney McCain III on the stump and point out ALL of the lying, low-road tactics that John is employing. That's what this campaign needs.

Benny, SFBayArea, California (Sent Thursday, August 21, 2008 10:01 AM)

Obama, McCain just gave you the election, that is if the media informs that he wants to bring back the draft. Lest see what all the young,mothers, fathers,and grandparents will have to say about this. i will not vote for a man that wants to keep us at war to God knows when.

Sally (Sent Thursday, August 21, 2008 10:02 AM)

Lieberman looks like and reminds me of Senator/Supreme Chancellor Palpetine, aka the Emperor, aka Lord Sidius from the Star Wars movies. He looks like him before his face is all scarred.

I can't wait for the Dems to increase their SEnate majority and kick this bum out of their caucus.

Pat Huntington NY (Sent Thursday, August 21, 2008 10:05 AM)

"Traitor" Joe Lieberman is the detestable one and belongs with the repugnant ones. How anyone figures he has any power whatsoever is a bit off their rocker when he is despised by so many. He belongs on the "Double Talk" Express and only helps to energize the Democrats to vote for Obama.

It's a pity that when Joe Biden went to the dump the other day he didn't dump "Traitor" Joe where he belongs, with the rest of the garbage. Oh that's right he's already with the rest of the garbage known as the republican party.

Only Barack Obama will bring honesty and integrity back to the White House!

Go Obama 08/12!

Eric, Salinas, CA (Sent Thursday, August 21, 2008 10:06 AM)

Liberal running in circles, WE WANT CHANGE and when huge change comes they are up in arms THE WILL BE BLOOD. No wonder we see nothing done in the congress with idiots like this being in the positions that they are in. RAHM the great ax murder.

Charlie, Midland, VA (Sent Thursday, August 21, 2008 10:09 AM)

This may sound stupid but I really hope McCain picks
Joe Lieberman, As I was thinking about past presidents
and vice presidents I could not think of any team of politicians running for these two offices that were
both physically ugly. These are two very ugly people.
Americans are really shallow they wont really want to
have both pres and v pres to be so nasty looking. I know that is silly but when I think of the both of them standing together I lol.

Obama/Biden

marty holloman,columbia,s.c. (Sent Thursday, August 21, 2008 10:09 AM)

As I've stated before I really HOPE McFossil picks Lieberman as his running mate! Dumb and Dumber. Can't get better thant that. If he choses Lieberman, watch the conservatives jump ship faster than the rats they truly are....they aren't excited about McFossil to begin with..then add Lieberman, a pro-choice VP and watch their heads swirl in circles while they sit at home in November! McFossil needs a running mate he can be comfortable with and someone who will whisper in his ear when asked a question, so I'm hoping Lieberman gets the assignment!

Diane from Illinois (Sent Thursday, August 21, 2008 10:10 AM)

It'll give LIEberman something to do for a while, up till they lose the election, because he's toast otherwise. Nobody's going to vote for that war-monster McShame who wants to reinstate the draft to start more wars and continue the ones his mentor started.

Brian, Cedar Hill, TX (Sent Thursday, August 21, 2008 10:18 AM)

I'll be sure to confirm that selective service has all Jerry's in Corpus Christi, Texas legally registered. You'll be the first to be drafted, under your emperor McCain's new plan.

Have fun in the next war!

Not jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Thursday, August 21, 2008 10:21 AM)

THE MEDIA DESCRIBED JOE LIEBERMAN PERFECTLY

A MAN WHO KISSES EACH PARTY ON BOTH SIDES

TO DO ANYTHING TO BECOME VP.

A MAN YOU CANNOT TRUST ESPECIALLY WITH THOSE MOTIVES

sharon, la (Sent Thursday, August 21, 2008 10:26 AM)

It's amusing to see the right-wingers say they are scared because Obama doesn't have a large body of experience in foreign affairs. Yet these same people voted for Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush for president and they had no foreign experience at all. Obama has served on the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Senate and has travelled some abroad as well as living abroad in his youth. Reagan and Bush had no such connections. It just proves again that people are looking for reasons not to vote for Obama, almost assuredly because of his race. The majority of people favoring McCain say they are doing so because he's not Obama.
Even the polls show that Hillary draws more positive polling responses than Obama and she has the exact same positions as he does. Why? Race. Let's face it, even if the media won't report it... race was the single most decisive factor in the primaries and will be the single most decisive factor in the general election. Obama will win if enough people overcome their racial prejudices to vote. If not, then McCain will get the election from people voting against Obama because of his race. The statistics show this to be true, even if it's the unspoken element in the election. In every primary state where the minority percentage was under 5% or over 15%, Obama won. In every state where the minority population was between 5 and 15%, Hillary won. There are easy reasons for this and all involve race. In some states, such as Kentucky and West Virginia, 20% of the voters admitted to the pollsters that they were voting against Obama because of race. They ADMITTED it. Undoubtedly there were many more who wouldn't tell a stranger they were racially prejudiced. So... stop the feigning horror at Obama's "inexperience". He's far more qualified than either Reagan or Bush II was. It's just that they were white and Republican and Obama isn't that you're "shocked". What hypocrisy.

George Hoffman (Sent Thursday, August 21, 2008 10:29 AM)

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