Veepstakes

With the Democratic and Republican National Conventions just around the corner, and with all the hoopla surrounding the potential Vice Presidential picks, I thought I'd throw in my own 2 cents.

My Favorite for the Democrats:

Joe Biden.

This senator from Delaware is probably the most qualified out of all of the contenders. He's the current Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. During the recent conflict in between Georgia and Russia, Biden was beckoned by the Georgian president by name, in hopes that he could bring about expediency to a resolution. During the beginning stages of the Democratic Primaries, Biden proved to be sharp-witted and to the point. He seems like a no-bullshit kinda guy, and he's definitely got some sass. What's not to like about a guy with Foreign Policy street cred and a sharp tongue? During times when our international reputation is at an all-time low, I'll definitely take the guy who is well-respected by the rest of the world.


There are some other names being floated around for the VP slot for the Democrats:

1. Hillary Clinton: Uber-bad idea. While she's technically the runner-up from the primaries, the Democrats will get squashed by the Republicans if she gets the position. There are enough people in this country that hate the Clintons, she would ruin Obama's chances pretty quickly. People would come out in droves just to vote against her. Remember the "Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy" and the "Republican Attack Machine?" The Clintons are the ones that got them going. I'd rather not travel down that path in politics again.

2. Chuck Hagel: Now, THIS would make some people crap their pants. Hagel is a Republican, and sits pretty far right on all social issues. But this Senator from Nebraska has been against the war in Iraq from the beginning. Asking Hagel to take the VP spot would pack some punch to Republicans who claim that Obama can't reach across party lines to get things done. Having a two-party ticket would speak volumes about Obama's dream for a new kind of politics. Next to Biden, this guy is my pick.

2. Gov. Tim Kaine of Virginia: This guy is kinda out of nowhere. Not many folks know about him, but he could help Obama nail down the swing state. He's a middle-of-the-road Democrat, which could help bring in some of those independents. He's just not that impressive to me, though.

3. Senator Evan Bayh of Indiana: Another centrist Democrat, the Junior Senator from Indiana is a charming dude, to be sure. He has age on his side, being only 52 years old. He is widely loved throughout Indiana, which could prove to be another swing state in November.


My favorite for the Republicans:


Mike Huckabee.

I'm not a huge fan of where this former governor of Arkansas stands on pretty much every issue, but you gotta love this guy. He's a friendly dude, very amiable and a jokester. He has had some of the best one-liners throughout the campaign, and I think he gave the other guys a good run for their money. And the guy loves Jesus. Can't argue with that.


Here's my rundown of the other guys:

1. Mitt Romney: This would pretty much hand the election to the Democrats. While he's knowledgeable in business, I don't think he has what it takes to be VP. He's a flip-flopper on some really tough social issues, which caused him some trouble in the primaries. But he takes a tougher stance than McCain on immigration, which bodes well with most Republicans. I really don't like the guy, though.

2. Joe Lieberman: Once a Democrat, then turned Independent, now is campaigning for a Republican. I think Lieberman would get torn apart by the Democrats for not really knowing what he stands for. While it's nice to see a guy push back against party lines, the two party system is here to stay for a while, and going against the grain on this issue might prove to be damaging to McCain. He's a strong supporter of the war in Iraq, which would help push McCain's message of no surrender.

3. Tim Pawlenty: The Governor of Minnesota. He sits solidly on the right on a host of social and economical issues. With Minnesota also being a potential swing state, McCain might look to Pawlenty to help solidify his poll position in that state. Nothing too shocking about Pawlenty, except his awful haircut.


Anyway, there's my political talk for the day. Now it's back to work!
-Nish