From The Nation: A List Of Possible VP's

[Dover]

http://www.thenation.com/thebeat/index.mhtml?bid=1&pid=1295

Among the people Kerry might consider are:

* New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, the single most effective battler against corporate abuses in either political party. Spitzer has been a watchdog on Wall Street and a fearless advocate for consumers. He's also got a great track record as a defender of women's rights. Spitzer's smart, he's quick on his feet and he already has achieved a stature that extends well beyond New York's borders.

* Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold, the sole opponent in the Senate to the Patriot Act and the most prominent Democratic advocate for campaign finance reform. Feingold's got a far better record than Kerry on issues of concern to working Americans and farmers, meaning that he could be a particularly effective advocate for the ticket in the swing states of the Great Lakes and the upper Midwest.

* Texas Representative Lloyd Doggett, one of the savviest and most effective members of the current Congress. He's a former state Supreme Court Justice with a great legal mind. And wouldn't it be interesting to hear a Texas- accented voice explaining the folly of the war with Iraq, the Patriot Act and other Bush initiatives?

* Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano, who would bring to the ticket varied experience and a base in the southwest -- an emerging swing region. Born in New York, Napolitano moved to Arizona after law school, helped represent Anita Hill, served as U.S. Attorney for Arizona and was elected that state's attorney general in 1998. Four years later, she beat a top Republican to win the governorship.

* California Representative Diane Watson, a veteran Los Angeles educator who served on the Los Angeles Board of Education, as a state legislator, and as the U.S. ambassador to Micronesia before her election to Congress in 2001. A fierce critic of the Bush administration on education issues, she is, as well, one of the most consistent advocates in Congress for media reform. And, as a passionate and highly-energetic African-American woman, she could do a tremendous job of maximizing turnout among the party's base voters.

* Illinois Representative Jan Schakowsky, the truest heir to Paul Wellstone in the current Congress. An able grassroots organizer and a skilled communicator, she is one of the most energetic members of the current Congress. And she is arguably its most aggressive progressive. Schakowsky is often the first member of the House to voice criticism of the latest Bush administration misstep -- she had a statement out on Haiti before the administration had even started spinning. As a vice presidential candidate, she would drive Karl Rove and his crew crazy by outmaneuvering them at every turn. And it is almost too delicious to imagine her debating Dick Cheney

[KissMyAsscroft]

1. Spitzer needs to stay where he is...

Hes kicking major ass..

[metisnation]

2. shakowsky

IL is such a blue state we can take the hit and deliver another candidate.

[dave29]

I heard Doggett tonight on the news in Austin

we love Doggett down here.

:)

[Wickerman]

3. Doggett or Napolitano from that list

though I hope its a longer list than that. Feingold is needed where he is. Watson and spitzer are worthy, but don't help the ticket for the geography - I do think there is something to the south thing.

[Renew Deal]

4. Shakowsky is hitting Bush every day.

Check her site.

http://www.house.gov/schakowsky/

[boobooday]

5. A woman would be great

http://www.wgoeshome.com

[I Lean Left]

8. I think Kerry is already going to get the female vote

Or a pretty sizeable chunk, compared to Bush. That said, it could be spun that he wasn't pandering.

[Zech Marquis]

6. Spitzer would be a great AG

I've heard he's giving the crooks on Wall Street the shits lately :hurts:

[Imalittleteapot]

7. Wow. Doggett. What a surprize!

Great liberal!

[Tank in Texas]

15. Lloyd Dogget

Dogget will probably lose his new republimproved district as well so it isn't as if he'd have business conflicts. Always have liked him, Massachusetts/Texas connection. I could go for that.

[AntiCoup2K4]

9. The Nation seems to forget this is the DLC's party

They won't allow any running mates who are anti corporatists.

[jmaier]

10. Doggett is an interesting option

Isn't he fighting to stay in the House in one of those resized Delay districts in TX?

[dave29]

11. yes he is

he was specifically targeted by Delay (as was Austin in general - the last liberal bastion in Texas).

[I Lean Left]

12. The whole Boston-Austin connection is a little creepy

Kerry is already trying to shed the comparisons to the first JFK. Throw in Dukakis tapping Lloyd Bentson... Well I just don't think Kerry wants to go there!

[SerpentX]

13. God, I'd love to have Feingold on the ticket.

But he really is needed in the Senate.

Napolitano is my favorite longshot, though I'm told AZ Dems might mutiny at the thought of losing their only bulwark against the state senate. :-)

[Citizen Kang]

18. More like the State House

The State Senate is 13-17 GOP, the State House is 19-40-1 GOP. The Senate is much more moderate and the House much more conservative. Either way, losing Napolitano would be a huge blow to AZ Dems. She may not want to give up her seat at Gov just to have a 50-50 shot at VP.

[SerpentX]

20. I sit corrected.

You're right, it was the house.

[thelocalkgb]

14. Napolitano is an interesting choice

That would be pretty aweseome. Also Lloyd Doggett is awesome, and kicks ass on a regular basis in the House.

[Tank in Texas]

16. Add one:

Jim Hightower.

I'd even donate money at that point. But he probably has better sense.

[Dover]

17. He is a Killer D and would be a Killer VP.....DOGGETT

Excellent choice. I'd love to see the face of Tom Delay and the rest of the Texas GOP Crime Family if that happened....

[hellhathnofury]

19. Oy vey,

that's a pretty crappy list. Dogget and Napolitano are the only feasible one's.

Spitzer, Schakowsky, Watson, and Feingold are all wrong geographically.

[jsw_81]

21. Doggett? Schakowsky?

No way. It would be political suicide for Senator Kerry to pick an obscure left-wing representative to be his running mate. The guy who wrote this article is clueless.

Governor Napolitano is the only one on that list with a chance of getting on the ticket this year.

[in_cog_ni_to]

22. Why am I not surprised

that Wes Clark is not on The Nation's list of possible VP's? I am so glad I canceled my subscription after their slanderous Matt Taibi article about Clark. The Nation sucks.