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[Hootie]

Schwarzenegger isn't eligible because the qualification to be vice president is identical to being president. It dates back to the early days, originally VPs were determined by who got the second most votes, thus the Federalist John Adams had the Democratic-Republican Thomas Jefferson as his VP, it... didn't work well, so they changed the system slightly to allow parties to run as a ticket, so electors (and citizens who vote for electors) vote for the President and the VP as a pair rather than taking the runner up automatically.

Yeah I pretty much knew all of this but thanks for clearing it up. Imagine if the system was the same as back in the old days. Gore the VP of Bush, and now McCain the VP of Obama or vice-versa. Would be quite strange. :lol

 

[speculawyer]

Clark is gonna rip McCain's ass open and I think he's probably the only VP candidate that I don't really see any drawbacks.

I sure hope so. But I gave him a lot of money in 2004 and that didn't work out so well. But I still think he's a great candidate.

 

[Tamanon]

Yeah I pretty much knew all of this but thanks for clearing it up. Imagine if the system was the same as back in the old days. Gore the VP of Bush, and now McCain the VP of Obama or vice-versa. Would be quite strange. :lol

I think you'd probably have a lot more assassination attempts if the old system was still in place.

 

[reilo]

Yeah I pretty much knew all of this but thanks for clearing it up. Imagine if the system was the same as back in the old days. Gore the VP of Bush, and now McCain the VP of Obama or vice-versa. Would be quite strange. :lol

Carter the VP of Reagan.

Nixon the VP of JFK.

Dukakis the VP of Reagan.

Dole the VP of Clinton.

Clark is gonna rip McCain's ass open and I think he's probably the only VP candidate that I don't really see any drawbacks.

Positives:
Military and command experience
Didn't vote for war
Fairly innocuous in that he won't distract from change message
Well spoken surrogate
HRC supporter
Perfect attack dog against McCain (weathered the controversial but true comments he made about McCain)
Foreign policy cred

Negatives:
Not great on the stump, but does he even need to go out on the stump of he can just troll news shows all the time. Maybe townhalls would work. I'm sure that David Axelrod can find a good format for him.

Yes yes.

All on the Clark for VP love-boat. We serve candy!

 

[Hootie]

The more I read about Clark the more I like him. I guess I'll climb aboard his VP hype train/boat

 

[mckmas8808]

Clark is gonna rip McCain's ass open and I think he's probably the only VP candidate that I don't really see any drawbacks.

Positives:
Military and command experience
Didn't vote for war
Fairly innocuous in that he won't distract from change message
Well spoken surrogate
HRC supporter
Perfect attack dog against McCain (weathered the controversial but true comments he made about McCain)
Foreign policy cred

Negatives:
Not great on the stump, but does he even need to go out on the stump of he can just troll news shows all the time. Maybe townhalls would work. I'm sure that David Axelrod can find a good format for him.

Wes Clark would get his ass ate on the economy by Mitt Romney!

 

[reilo]

Wes Clark would get his ass ate on the economy by Mitt Romney!

lol.

 

[Gaborn]

Yeah I pretty much knew all of this but thanks for clearing it up. Imagine if the system was the same as back in the old days. Gore the VP of Bush, and now McCain the VP of Obama or vice-versa. Would be quite strange. :lol

np, and yeah, I especially think Nixon/McGovern would be EPIC. I don't think he'd be resigning after Watergate broke...

 

[Frank the Great]

Hype train! Woo woo!

 

[GenericPseudonym]

Wes Clark would get his ass ate on the economy by Mitt Romney!

He would. Romeny could say "I'm rich, I know how the economy works" and what could Clark say that conflicts that? Most people think personal business success = economic genius, because most people don't see that there is a difference between the art of business and the science of economics.

 

[Amir0x]

Wes Clark would get his ass ate on the economy by Mitt Romney!

i guess they sorta feel like they don't need to boost their economic strengths at the moment, since people voting on the economy are currently significantly leaning Obama anyway

not a fan of Clark so this news makes me kind of lethargic but whatever

 

[SouthernDragon]

PoliGAF needs a compilation website where we can accrue news stories, tidbits, images, chartz, and the like.

I need a friggin database and it's annoying, trying to find all this information.

 

[reilo]

i guess they sorta feel like they don't need to boost their economic strengths at the moment, since people voting on the economy are currently significantly leaning Obama anyway

not a fan of Clark so this news makes me kind of lethargic but whatever

Why not?

 

[PhoenixDark]

Wes Clark would get his ass ate on the economy by Mitt Romney!

True but voters won't be voting on Obama based on Clark's lack of economic experience; and besides I bet if he did debate Romney he'd simply keep hammering stuff like this

"I believe most Americans want their next president to remind them of the guy who they work with, not the guy who laid them off," Republican rival Mike Huckabee frequently cracked.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20080803/pl_politico/12258

Spoiler

Huck <3

Obama is already seen as a better candidate with respect to the economy when compared to McCain: foreign policy is the weakness. Clark wouldn't erase that deficit totally imo but he'd essentially destroy many of McCain's arguments on experience.

 

[worldrunover]

Carter the VP of Reagan.

Nixon the VP of JFK.

Dukakis the VP of Reagan.

Dole the VP of Clinton.

Goldwater the VP of Johnson!! (lol)

 

[reilo]

True but voters won't be voting on Obama based on Clark's lack of economic experience; and besides I bet if he did debate Romney he'd simply keep hammering stuff like this

http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20080803/pl_politico/12258

Spoiler

Huck <3

Obama is already seen as a better candidate with respect to the economy when compared to McCain: foreign policy is the weakness. Clark wouldn't erase that deficit totally imo but he'd essentially destroy many of McCain's arguments on experience.

Clark SHOULD destroy McCain on FP, EASILY.

There is no fucking way McCain has more FP experience or knows how the world functions better than even Obama. McCain, much like Bush, lives inside his own bubble.

And Clark would destroy McCain if Johnny boy were to bring up his military service.

 

[The Librarian]

I Think Obama should choose Chuck Todd as his VP.

 

[mckmas8808]

Why not?

Personally I think Clark would be a horrible president overall. Great on FP though.

 

[worldrunover]

I like Bloomberg as a surprise pick.

 

[Karma Kramer]

Personally I think Clark would be a horrible president overall. Great on FP though.

Reasons why? You basically just repeated the statement in question.

 

[tanod]

I like Bloomberg as a surprise pick.

Me too. I think he'd do OK.

 

[PhoenixDark]

Clark SHOULD destroy McCain on FP, EASILY.

There is no fucking way McCain has more FP experience or knows how the world functions better than even Obama. McCain, much like Bush, lives inside his own bubble.

And Clark would destroy McCain if Johnny boy were to bring up his military service.

Smackdown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5bYzL2y7xQ

Mika is just laughable here. "This is John McCain we're talkin' about!" :lol

 

[mckmas8808]

Reasons why? You basically just repeated the statement in question.

I personally dont trust someone thats never been politics before. And in 2004 he looked horrible to me.

 

[grandjedi6]

Clark SHOULD destroy McCain on FP, EASILY.

There is no fucking way McCain has more FP experience or knows how the world functions better than even Obama. McCain, much like Bush, lives inside his own bubble.

And Clark would destroy McCain if Johnny boy were to bring up his military service.

Didn't work too well for Kerry. The American public has a perception of Republicans being better at foreign policy no matter what the reality is :/

 

[Gaborn]

Didn't work too well for Kerry. The American public has a perception of Republicans being better at foreign policy no matter what GAF thinks :/

Fixed for more precision although I too find the devotion many Americans have to imperialists a bit disturbing.

 

[speculawyer]

Wes Clark would get his ass ate on the economy by Mitt Romney!

McCain/Romney would be AWESOME! It would be like Flip/Flop 2008.

Can you think of any two candidates that have flipped and flopped anymore than those two? OMG! :lol

 

[speculawyer]

Personally I think Clark would be a horrible president overall. Great on FP though.

FP? Do you fap to Wesley Clark? :lol

 

[GhaleonEB]

Smackdown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5bYzL2y7xQ

Mika is just laughable here. "This is John McCain we're talkin' about!" :lol

Christ. That's why I never, ever watch TV news any more. Such vapid talking heads. :lol

But it's John McCain! John McCain!!! How DARE YOU say that about JOHN MCAIN!!!

 

[APF]

I don't think choosing a non-politician VP in an attempt to neutralize concerns over your personal inexperience in military and FP matters adequately alleviates the greater narrative that's been pushed against Obama from the beginning, that he's all style and no substance. Expect this to be a line of attack, and likely a successful one.

 

[GhaleonEB]

I don't think choosing a non-politician VP in an attempt to neutralize concerns over your personal inexperience in military and FP matters adequately alleviates the greater narrative that's been pushed against Obama from the beginning, that he's all style and no substance. Expect this to be a line of attack, and likely a successful one.

Worked in the primary!

 

[Mrs. Manky]

JOHN McCAIN

6. Good Vibrations The Beach Boys

What, not Barbara Ann? :lol

 

[grandjedi6]

I don't think choosing a non-politician VP in an attempt to neutralize concerns over your personal inexperience in military and FP matters adequately alleviates the greater narrative that's been pushed against Obama from the beginning, that he's all style and no substance. Expect this to be a line of attack, and likely a successful one.

Does this mean I can start calling McCain old?

 

[mckmas8808]

I don't think choosing a non-politician VP in an attempt to neutralize concerns over your personal inexperience in military and FP matters adequately alleviates the greater narrative that's been pushed against Obama from the beginning, that he's all style and no substance. Expect this to be a line of attack, and likely a successful one.

Do you think Obama is style and substance?

 

[Tamanon]

You gotta pick, it's either all style and no substance, or EVIL substance in a hidden agenda.

 

[APF]

Worked in the primary!

Why is it a good strategy to confirm vulnerabilities: that you're weak on FP, and that you're all sizzle?


grandjedi6: old meme is old? sure.

 

[Karma Kramer]

Why is it a good strategy to confirm vulnerabilities: that you're weak on FP, and that you're all sizzle?

So if McCain picks Mitt Romney that won't be viewed as him trying to add strength to his weak points?

I really don't think, anyone will see a narrative that Obama is "now weaker on foreign policy" because he picked a vice president that is exceptionally strong in that area.

That type of logic is just dumb.

 

[The Librarian]

Christ. That's why I never, ever watch TV news any more. Such vapid talking heads. :lol

Are you talking bad about Chuck Todd?!

But it's John McCain! John McCain!!! How DARE YOU say that about JOHN MCAIN!!!

:lol But yeah, Wesley Clark was making complete sense, but all the news guy could do was what you said above.

 

[APF]

Romney is a politician with Executive experience who made a legitimate run for his party's nom just a few months ago. It's a different situation than with Clark, even given his run in 04

 

[speculawyer]

What, not Barbara Ann? :lol

Nice. I get it.

 

[Karma Kramer]

Romney is a politician with Executive experience.

He is viewed highly among republicans because he is a smart businessman. If McCain picked him it would obviously be because McCain isn't very strong on the economy. Overall, a McCain/Romney ticket is much better though in my opinion then a McCain/McCain ticket... cause it gives his ticket balance and comfort.

 

[GhaleonEB]

Are you talking bad about Chuck Todd?!

I'm talking about the two blowhards in the video I quoted. I would never defame Chuck Todd that way.

 

[APF]

The point is, don't think this is some invincible combination that there are no downsides to. IMO there's very little he really brings to the ticket (Wes)

 

[Karma Kramer]

The point is, don't think this is some invincible combination that there are no downsides to.

Alright... I don't think there is any combination that has no downsides.

Can you give any reasons as to why? Without spouting media spun bullshit.

 

[sc0la]

The point is, don't think this is some invincible combination that there are no downsides to. IMO there's very little he really brings to the ticket (Wes)

I doubt its Clark since Obama's campaign already had to formerly distance themselves for previous comments he made (when he "wasn't a surrogate"). I am surprised no one has brought that up. (*didn't actually look to see if anyone has brought it up)

 

[Frank the Great]

APF: Who would be a good VP pick for Obama, in your opinion?

 

[Tamanon]

I doubt its Clark since Obama's campaign already had to formerly distance themselves for previous comments he made (when he "wasn't a surrogate"). I am surprised no one has brought that up. (*didn't actually look to see if anyone has brought it up)

I'm relatively sure that any civility over Clark's comments evaporated when McCain morphed into full-on curmudgeon mode.

 

[Jonm1010]

Weird to say it, but I kinda agree with APF. I think knowing the republicans way of attacking, the first thing they would do if Obama picks Clark is try and spread the meme that Obama is conceding that he's weak on foreign policy. I can see it now, fox news headline:
"Is Obama's VP pick a admission that he doesn't have the credentials to lead?"

Then further attacking the choice by telling everyone that VPs really don't do that much. I think that pick could actually further push the inaccurate meme that McCain is better on foreign policy.

 

[speculawyer]

The point is, don't think this is some invincible combination that there are no downsides to. IMO there's very little he really brings to the ticket (Wes)

He may bring Hillary supporters . . . Wesley Clark was a big Hillary supporter and was obviously going to be some part of a Hillary administration.
He does bring military credentials to the ticket.
He does bring some Arkansas power to the ticket. (Maybe put Arkansas into play?)

Yeah, I know . . . there are a lots of right-wing anti-Clark talking points out there but they are not that powerful and won't dupe the general public.

 

[maximum360]

The republicans can get away with all but calling the democrat a traitor but if a democrat makes a comment that tries to put a crack in the media-created bubble of McCain's "maverickness" it's a week long all out assault in response.

 

[Tamanon]

Weird to say it, but I kinda agree with APF. I think knowing the republicans way of attacking, the first thing they would do if Obama picks Clark is try and spread the meme that Obama is conceding that he's weak on foreign policy. I can see it now, fox news headline:
"Is Obama's VP pick a admission that he doesn't have the credentials to lead?" Then further attacking the choice by telling everyone that VPs really don't do that much? I think that pick could actually further push the inaccurate meme that McCain is better on foreign policy.

It doesn't matter, no matter what Obama does, they'll attack it from some angle. That's kinda how it operates