Evan Bayh, Tim Kaine, and Joe Biden: Which Is the Worst Choice for VP?

[PalJoey]

Posted: 8/18/08 at 11:28pm

Try as I may, I just can't decide!

[Chance]

Posted: 8/18/08 at 11:29pm

Hillary Clinton.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 8/18/08 at 11:30pm

Somebody called them Sleepy, Dopey, and Grumpy.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 8/18/08 at 11:31pm

I don't like any of them.

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 8/18/08 at 11:33pm

Biden has a role a Judiciary Chair, VP - not so much!

[PalJoey]

Posted: 8/18/08 at 11:35pm

So that leaves Bayh and Kaine, brd...who's better, who's worse?

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 8/18/08 at 11:37pm

I think the least of three evils is Kaine.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 8/18/08 at 11:48pm

He's anti-choice.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 8/18/08 at 11:52pm

I would rather see Richardson or Clark (if not Clinton).

But it would seem of those 3, Bayh is the best choice. I dunno. Biden would be a better choice if he were from a state that would help Obama.

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 8/18/08 at 11:53pm

Really? Wow. I was just thinking that he's from a Southern state, so strategically it might be a good move. But I do not remember reading that he is pro-life. That's bad.

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 8/18/08 at 11:53pm

I always thought that Bahh would be a contender. I saw his speech in Chicago in 1996 and as leaving saw Mrs. Bayh put her kids in the car as leaving the United Center.

I would like to see HC and Obama on a stage announcing the Governor of Kansas as the VP!

[PalJoey]

Posted: 8/18/08 at 11:57pm

'Fraid she's out.

She stank delivering the response to Bush's State of the Union.

Anyone who makes Bush look good deserves to stay put in Kansas.

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 8/19/08 at 12:00am

I actually would be OK with Biden.

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 8/19/08 at 12:01am

Biden is the worst.

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 8/19/08 at 12:02am

Kaine fits in the rather large "personally anti-choice" but not in favor of overturning Roe v Wade group.
His actual political positions, opposing late term and in favor of notification are the same as Bayh.

My extremely lukewarm take on these three is:
Bayh- the worst, most milquetoast choice of all, extending all the way to his "reminds me of 2002" Dem nonexistent issue stands. The only one I am apt to truly disappointed to see nominated.


Kaine- really does have an aura of seeming incompetence and his record as governor is underwhelming. I do think he would be a more effective campaigner and better political choice than Bayh.

Biden- completely ineffectual in the two big ways of being a huge Washington insider (which is the wrong kind of "national security experience" for Obama) and being a complete gasbag. Doesn't help much politically and has quite a bit that can be dredged up negatively about him. With all that said I rank him the highest of these three because of the "Devil you know" argument that might enter people's minds if he is on the ticket. "Oh yeah, I've heard of that guy as veep, maybe O will be ok."

ETA:
The other candidates mentioned are all ahead of these to me, but it does not seem they are to Obama.
I think too much has been made of Sebelius's SOTU response speech, few people saw it and it wasn't any worse than a 1000 Biden or Bayh speeches it was just bad for her among the crazies who follow closely. I think we do a great disservice to "send her back to Kansas" without first taking a good look. I still don't think Obama picks her though.

Updated On: 8/19/08 at 12:02 AM

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 8/19/08 at 12:06am

And how many times we will have to watch Biden's clean and articulate gaffe if he is chosen?

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 8/19/08 at 12:09am

Three VERY weak choices. I know I'm preaching to the choir, but still....

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 8/19/08 at 12:10am

There are so many Biden gaffes over his 30 years in the Senate that we may not have to see any one all that often at all.

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 8/19/08 at 12:15am

But he does have a Soap Opera-like story to tell on some level. That's always appealing in a pathetic, calculated way.

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 8/19/08 at 12:49am

I wonder if Clarke "I have not been invited to the convention" is a smokescreen, because I would be all for him as VP.
Updated On: 8/19/08 at 12:49 AM

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 8/19/08 at 1:00am

I think that, after Hillary, Clark is probably the best choice.

[Chance]

Posted: 8/19/08 at 1:26am

Richardson and Clarke would be the smart choice, but it's clear the smart choice isn't the one that gonna be made.

[romantico]

Posted: 8/19/08 at 7:20am

Are we sure its down to these three? Don't forget in 2004 everyone thought for sure it was going to be Dick Gephardt as Kerry's running mate. Could Obama pull something out of his hat no one saw coming? Does the public know everyone who is vetted? Could he have been looking at someone else we don't know about?

Just asking. However, I keep hearing both McCain and Obama are going to play it very safe.I think these are all three very bad choices personally.

[Patronus]

Posted: 8/19/08 at 7:41am

Of the three I prefer Biden, but as the penguin said, there are more skeletons in his closet than Jeffrey Dahmer's.

My #1 choice is and has been Richardson with Jim "I'm not interested" Webb as a close 2nd.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 8/19/08 at 7:54am

These are the three the Times and other pundits (none of whom I particularly like or trust) have narrowed it down to.

I hope Obama chooses a surprise candidate.

That's probably what McCain is waiting to do--a surprise game-changer like Meg Whitman, CEO of eBay, to tempt the Hillary fans.

Here's today's article by Hobbit Adam Nagourney.
Obama appears ready to announce running mate

Updated On: 8/19/08 at 07:54 AM