Dream Team (Or, People too Talented to Waste)

[TwilightGardener]

Someone else's thread on dark-horse VP's got me thinking of my most perfect lineup for the next administration--here goes:

President: Barack Obama. I think in the end, the nomination will be his to lose. Youth, charisma, looks (yes, these are important--sorry!), intelligence, family values, authenticity and always right on the war in Iraq. Downside--lack of experience, which brings us to

VP: Bill Richardson. No one can match his resume, especially the Governor creds, and his Hispanic heritage will be a plus. But I don't see him in the top spot for reasons of "lady problems" and lack of charisma/looks. Bein' honest here. (I also like Kathleen Sebelius).

Secretary of Defense: Gen. Wesley Clark. No explanation needed.

Secretary of State: Thought hard about this one, and in a nod to bipartisanship, will award it to Chuck Hagel--foreign policy acumen, tough but reasonable.

Any more "perfect" roles for folks that you can think of? Feel free to disagree!

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Al Gore doing something

with the environment, like EPA

And Dennis Kucinich should have a leading role as well-perhaps in the newly created Dept. of Peace.

[Dinger]

2. Clark Can't Be Sec. Of Defense Till 2010

I think there is a rule that you have to be retired from the military for 10 years before you can take that position. I think I read it here somewhere. Clark would be great wherever he goes. We need him, period.
:patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot:

[TwilightGardener]

3. Dammit! I didn't know that about Clark. I also would like him for the

No. 1 spot, but I don't think it's in the cards for him, money and publicity-wise. Might have to rearrange my lineup--Clark for VP? Hagel as SecDef? Richardson as Sec of State? Gore as Energy Sec? (I don't think Gore is running, but he has to be used somewhere--too much talent to waste!)

[Bombtrack]

4. Bob Graham would be way better a VP for Obama. He hasn't had any health issues since one in 2003.

Richardson isn't going to be a real consideration for Obama no matter what. Not only does it not stand to reason why a national ticket would think it logical to have 2 non-white non-southernors run in the same year, Graham has taken it apon himself to attacking Obama harder than any other fellow candidate already. Barack isn't going to reward his bullshit with making him his runningmate.

An Obama / Graham ticket would be one of the most perfectly balanced, attractive tickets ever. Florida is the one big state or region other than Texas Barack hasn't had much of a connection to in his life. He'll be the latest born major candidate ever, chronologically, the first born in the '60's. Graham was born in '36 and just genuinely has a great "hard working Grandpa" quality to him.

[TwilightGardener]

5. Confused by your post--do you mean Richardson attacked Obama,

or Graham did? Concerning the south thing, I don't think the south as a region will be as strong an influence as it used to. I am thinking the west will be more influential this time--hence, Richardson. And neither of them are, shall we say, so ethnic as to turn off a lot of voters--just my sense there.

[Bombtrack]

6. Richardson's whole candidacy so far has been wrapped in attacking Obama

And nothing about my post addressed the south other than "non white southernor". I don't need an electoral school lesson, it wasn't the crux of what I was saying at all.

So maybe adjusting what I'm trying to say, if you think Obama would chose first a non white, second a non male you're nuts ( I know you didn't address the gender issue but that's just the second thing he wouldn't chose IMO), you're crazy. Being southern for a vp for Obama would be looked at as a plus and being Floridian is the creme de la creme (sp?).

[TwilightGardener]

7. Whoops, not trying to give you a lesson --just

misunderstood the gist of what you were saying. He may very well choose a white male--probably will, but I still don't think Richardson comes across as "too Hispanic" to scare off voters. I agree that Florida is an important state, but if Graham was born in the 30's, then he may just be a bit too old for the ticket--especially one that is energizing the youth vote.

[TwilightGardener]

8. Forgot to add, didn't know that Richardson was giving him shit--

makes sense--he is an old Clinton friend.

[HappyWeasel]

10. a good way to mend the party for the general election

gore should be made sec of the interior

[ripple]

13. I think Clark would be the perfect VP for Obama

Your sig line in reverse. Obama would sell the ticket and Clark would balance it out. I like Clark a lot and while he appeals to a lot of us political junkies, I don't think he connects well to the average voter. It shouldn't be that way, but it is.

While he would most certainly help in Florida, I think Graham would suck some of the progressive appeal out of the ticket. I might be wrong, though. There are a lot of bases to cover and a hell of a lot of demographics to consider. Makes my head spin sometimes.

[Bombtrack]

14. The biggest progressive gripe right now relates to the Iraq war, and Bob Graham is pretty flawless

when it comes to judgement about it and arguments against the elective invasion and occupation.

Clark is obviously a brilliant military mind and attention to his record shows no real misguidance overall, but that one fucking response to his hypothetical Iraq resolution vote has cost him in the past as fuel for opposition bullshit and it could happen again.

Clark would simply not be quite the perfect anchor for Obama Graham would be in my eyes, doesn't mean he wouldn't be the second or third best of anyone on Earth however.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

9. My dream team

President: Mario Cuomo
Vice President: John Edwards
Secretary of State: Zbigniew Brzezinski
Secretary of Defense: Wes Clark (change the law to make him eligble, hey this is a dream team right?)
Secretary of Energy: Al Gore
Attorney General: Barack Obama
Secretary of Homeland Security: Richard Clarke
White House Press Secretary: Stephen Colbert
Secretary of Transporation: Ted Stevens (just kidding!)

[HappyWeasel]

11. I think Stephen Colbert would do an excellent job

[TwilightGardener]

12. Awesome dream team--but Cuomo? Nothing against him, but why?

[draft_mario_cuomo]

15. Governor Cuomo

He is the most articule spokesman for progressvism in modern times, has 12 years of experience as the chief executive of the second most important state in the country, has a vision for what kind of society he aspires America to be, and last but not definately not least he possesses the rare gift of having the ability to inspire people. I believe that if Cuomo were in the White House he would be able to achieve more than any other progressive due to his gift of being able to inspire people and his oratorical skill. He can sell the progressive message better than other leading Democrats.

Click on the link in my signature and listen to even just parts of his speech and you will see what I mean! :)

[TwilightGardener]

16. Thanks for the link. I liked old Mario. What's he up to now?

[draft_mario_cuomo]

17. You're welcome

Cuomo is practicing law now. He debated Newt Gingrich in New York about two weeks ago. It was a real debate in which they both were allotted 30 minutes to speak about their views on the key issues of the day and then had a question and answer session with Tim Russert. Cuomo is as sharp as ever! Unfortunately, the debate has not been posted on Youtube yet so the only place to see it is at Gingrich's website. :grr: