Anybody else hoping its a Kerry/Graham ticket?

*Graham balances the ticket in the south
*Graham has never lost a Florida statewide election (27 EC votes!)
*Graham has experience at the state and national level, as a Governor
and as a Senator
*Graham has National Security and anti-terrorism experience
*To those who want insider status, Graham is a DLCer, a Dem
fundraiser, and has more than paid his dues in the party.
*To those who can't stand the DLC sucking up to Bush, Graham has
called Bush a liar, voted against the Iraq war, voted against
Patriot Act II, and though he voted for the 87 billion additional
for Iraq, he stipulated that not one cent should go to Haliburton!

Durbin is:

he a great campaigner
he's from rural and southern Illinois
he is tough
he is articulate
he is well liked
he is a strong Democrat
he is a populist

Graham's a good guy, no doubt and has a great voting record considering his mostly centrist image. Nevertheless, on the stump, Durbin is terrific. He's folksy and strong, but articulate.

He also has credibility by being one of only two Democrats (along with Wellstone) who voted against the war in Iraq while being up for re-election. That took guts.

Still, my favorite is Congressman John Lewis. That would energize the nation far more than any of the moderate white people being discussed in the media.

He also voted against the war. He would speak why he voted against the resolution with credibility when debating Cheney.

On the other hand, he is a strong believer in Free Trade.

Cheney would go down faster than a $10 hooker behind a 7/11.

Graham is too boring and his excessive journaling is just fodder for smart aleck late-nite comics.

Clark or Edwards puts parts of the South in play and they are real good on the stump.

Edwards doesn't have the gravitas, and Clark doesn't have the political experience.

Graham's the dude I want to see next to Kerry.

Don't you think Rove'll have a field day with Graham's obsessive documentation of his daily routine? It's something to think about, if you want to get into the 'faulted' arena.

as a contrast to Cheney's obsessive secretism.

Thats a great idea!

It's like contrasting JK's obsessive desire to fight for his country against W's obsessive desire to not report for duty.

That's all I'm saying.

The MOST experienced. He is from the South.
His supporters are well informed. We need to throw in some real *issues*. Graham has proven he can handle the top jobs. He knows DC. He's really the most qualified. He's got the creds.
I can only hope Kerry can see how strong Graham would be for us.

Let me just remind them all that Bush ran with that ugly bastard Cheney who has one tone of voice "under his breath while he glares at the rest of us with disdain"

and he has the Washington Post connection as well.Did you know he was Katherine Graham's brother in law? They wouldn't dare trash his ticket!

Kerry needs someone who doesn't have any explaining to do about his stand on the Iraq war--he's got enough problems of his own as it it.

Graham's got Gubenatorial experience and he's from a battleground state.

I'm also starting to like Wes Clark alot--assuming he passes the vet.

my number three choice after Clark and Edwards...though when it comes to the war, I'd prefer him over Edwards. He makes it clear that Iraq was a distraction from the WoT.

a great choice and I would be happy, but I think someone younger and more charismatic would be better.

folks I've been a fan of Bob Graham's since he was in the State Legislature, but does he want the job?

Really Really BAD choice!

Graham is too old (would be the oldest man ever elected VP), He is really really dull :hangover: he does not guarantee you FL (in fact if polls are to be believed we have a better shot in AR than FL this year if we can win any southern state) and really doesn’t address Kerry's weakness, namely being dull and longwinded... it would be a similar problem to Gephardt Dull and Duller, "No Child left awake" LOL...

If you want a Floridian then pick Bill Nelson just as much experience, he would have to give up his senate seat (JEB would appoint his successor... :scared: ) but he's far better to watch and would have a far wider reach with ordinary voters... Graham doesn’t help anywhere really apart from perhaps FL... Nelson could perhaps help with moderates nationally, Graham could not...

The simple fact is nominate Graham for VP and create one of the dullest and least inspiring presidential tickets in American history... and that the truth :)

..TOP 4...
Warner
Edwards
Landrieu
Bayh

They have other things for Clark. They need a more seasoned politician for VP. This is a serious election. Slip ups can hurt. And Clark has had a few like that. I love the guy. But not for VP right now. Edwards probably offers the things we need. Good on the stump, Great campaigner, good actor, and can stump with the people running for Senate in the South.

is a better actor than Clark? I do like Edwards, but I don't think he brings nearly enough to the table. Clark brings a brimming plate.

get a big log from FL and say that is Kerry's veep? The excitement generated would be about as much.

... your about right on Bob, nothing against the guy, but he would just be a real bad pick...

I just don't see any candidate who would be a better running mate in this election than John Edwards... imho Clark just doesn't cut it...

that had national security expertise, and that called Goerge W. bush a liar to his face, then I'm cool with that...

Find a log like that and I'll vote for it!

But why hurt yourself trying? Graham may not be your big Florida log, but I'm sure that he could help carry Florida in 2004, add all the things to the ticket that a VEEP is supposed to add, and be ready to retire in 2008 or 2012, letting a younger man run.

By that time, I'm sure that there will be a wealth of players on the Dem field, all playing with the home court advantage.

but incredibly, unbelievably boring. Kerry needs help fighting Bush's cult of personality.

...and i really doubt that Graham could carry FL for Kerry... and i don't see him giving Kerry any national boost at all... Kerry needs some youth and charisma, the last thing Kerry needs is a VP picked on the basis of experiance... So that means no Gephardt and No Graham...

"the last thing Kerry needs is a VP picked on the basis of "

Considering Kerry has stated that he wants, foremost, a VP that could fill in as President, what makes you say something so counter to conventional wisdom?

... he does not need someone with experience, he needs someone with charisma and experience and preferably a moderate record with a strength amongst moderate voters... Edwards or Warner are the best candidates in that regard... Kerry/Graham would be Dull and Duller, worse than Kerry/Gephardt!

but they are way too old! It would be nice to have a more charismatic Veep to balance out Kerry.

WELL HERE YA GO




Senator John Edwards (D-NC)

Because we deserve better than Bush/Cheney and their clowns, their not all evil, that said some sure tend towards the hypocritical, they just can't do the job they we're elected to do...

Kerry/Edwards could win and could sort out the mess that Bush and Co have gotten us into...

for the reasons you stated.

I am. Bob Graham is a class act and would make a great President.

of the names being discussed.

I used to be a big supporter of Graham -- but then I saw his nacent presidential campaign crash and burn. Frankly, I'm amazed that this guy has never lost an election. I don't think he'll guarantee Florida, and I'm not sure he'd be of much help elsewhere either. In addition, there would be a whole ton of press stories about how often Graham has voted differently than Kerry.

this thread wouldn't have been "official" if you had not disagreed :)

Whoever Kerry needs and wants. But. There is nothing shameful about being a diarist. Bob Graham has more brains than two thirds of the Democratic primary field put together. He is a good and decent man who thinks for himself and thinks deeply. Anybody who actually listens to him speak would not find him boring, but actually fascinating. He has stellar national security credibility. And he has never lost an election. I hate to seem him disrespected and dismissed the way he is in every DU thread about him.

...plus I already supported him as Dean's potential running mate, so I wouldn't turn against him now. He's probably the most tolerable DLC'er in the running, at least.

My only objection would be the "2 senators" thing - which wouldn't have been an issue with Dean as the nominee.

I appreciate his knowledge of foreign policy/national security.

His state & national experience is second to none.

And I especially liked the fact that he spoke out against Bush, long before many others did. Remember, he voted against IWR.

On the stump, during the primaries, he was not effective. However, he had just undergone major surgery, & perhaps he was not fully recovered.

So, on balance, I would prefer Graham to many other Veep hopefuls. He is ready to take over, if anything happened to Kerry, & that is THE most important qualification for Veep.

I get a lot of stupid "Kerry is Old" comments from Freepers and Bob Graham plays the older man role well but Kerry needs someone a little younger. Not neccesarily John Edwards young but someone younger.

Of course my pick is Wes Clark so what does that say?

Eh, I was just posting anyways because GrovelBot will come in and post now at #37 like he always does. :)

Rp

then putting him next to the Pete Pan-like John Edwards will only emphasize Kerry's age.

Stand him next to Graham and he seems a bit younger, doesn't he?

And put Graham next to Cheney, even though Graham is the elder of the two, and Cheney seems old. I think it's because Graham smiles, and Cheney grimaces or sneers.

I've always thought Dick Cheney looked like Mr. Wilson off the Dennis The Menace cartoon strip.

too boring and Florida is probably unwinnable with Jeb still around no matter who the VP is.

I just don't think he's right for a Kerry run, right now.

I want a real attack dog out there for Kerry, and although Graham can do an excellent intelligent anyalsis of any situation, and is correct on the issues, I just don't see him as that type.

It was a shame he had to bow out of the primaries so soon, I didn't understand it.

I think he should have a place in a Kerry admin, though.

Remember when he said that Bush intentionallymislead America about Iraq?

"Intenionally mislead?"

Doesn't that mean he just called Bush a damn liar?

It's not just what you say, it's how you say it and staying on the offensive.

All of the Dems said bad things about Bush during the primaries, not all of them sounded like attacks while saying them, if you know what I mean. Even if it is devastating.

I have a lot of respect for the man, make no mistake. Not being right for Kerry's VP spot is no insult to anyone. It's a very specific job, and not the greatest one either, despite what a lot of people here seem to think.

And we really need Florida.

Nope.

All he has to do is put Florida into play. If Kerry is going to write off the third most populus state, the largest southern state, and 10% of the EC votes needed to secure the Presidency, he's making a mistake.

Put Graham on the ticket, and you have enough of a contest in Florida that it will pull Republican resources from other areas. Ensuring a FL victory is going to be a HIGH priority for the Repugs.

1) It's a Bush state
2) It was contested in 2000

Make those fuckers fight for it, even if we lose Florida, and we can pull in a few borderline states that went red in 2000.

I don't buy the "charisma" complaint. Yeah, Graham isn't as charismatic as Edwards, but he wouldn't be running against Edwards, would he?

Tell me this - who is more charismatic - Bob Graham, or Dick Cheney?

Who is more charismatic - Kerry/Graham or Gore/Lieberman?

I'll go with Graham any day. ;)

Sure, they generate some enthusiasm when they're announced, but that enthusiasm dies down, and the VP choice really doesn't end up helping or hurting the ticket that much in the long run.

Want proof? Look at 1988. Bush the Elder picked Dan Quayle, a man who makes Shrub look like a boy genius. Dukakis picked Lloyd Bendtsen, who many thought would add a little "weight" to the ticket. In the end, all we got out of it was one good quote ("Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy") and an interesting VP candidate debate.

If anything, Bush #2 makes Quayle look bright, and boy does that make MY head spin!

Second, Quayle actually did help Bush #1, as Quayle helped him firm up his base, which always believed that Bush #1 was not as conservative as Reagan. Furthermore, Quayle distracted the media attention from the fact that Daddy Bush was running around pardening America's worst political criminals.

Bentson certainly might have helped Dukakis, if Dukakis wasn't so damn busy screwing up his own campaign (Tank Boy and his WEAK response to "what would you do if Kitty were raped" come to mind).

LBJ helped Kennedy.
Bush #1 helped Reagan
Gore helped Clinton
-
Lieberman hurt Gore
Kemp hurt Dole
Stockdale hurt Perot ("Why am I here?")

The VP does matter, especially in the age of the idiot box.