Vice President Mary Landrieu or John Breaux?

[ringmastery]

http://www.bayoubuzz.com/articles.aspx?aid=1253

As John Kerry makes his southern tour and speaks at Woldenberg Park today in New Orleans, the only news worth reading right now in a campaign is who will be the running mate.

Obviously, those close to the political scene are wondering if Mary Landrieu or even John Breaux might be that someone.

Landrieu certainly took on President Bush during her run for the last Senate roses. Instead, perhaps it should be said that Landrieu ran on Bush’s record and then distanced herself from the president as he meddled in the election but on the side of Landrieu’s opponent, Suzie Terrell.

John Breaux has announced he is getting out of the Senate presumably to make some green stuff. However, with his seniority and his moderate record, he certainly would make things formidable.

[robsul82]

1. Landrieu.

The name Landrieu is like the Cajun Kennedy down here. Add in the babe factor and you've got history in the making.

Later.

RJS

[ringmastery]

3. I don't think a woman will work in times of war

People will want a VP that can be president.

I don't think they get that vibe from a woman. We are still a backwards country in many ways.

[robsul82]

5. One way around that.

Kerry delivers all Gore states, which is definitely possible, and adds Louisiana, which is MUCH in play and is BANKED if Landrieu's the VP choice, we have President Kerry.

Later.

RJS

[phillybri]

28. Actually Gore states + Louisiana=269 to 269....

Then it goes to Congress, and we're fucked...

[Ficus]

39. not if we win congress this year

they are sworn in on January 3 or something like that right? And that is about a week or so before they certify the electors' votes?

[fujiyama]

52. No, it's not even that close...

On Edit: I didn't include NM. My fault.

You're right.

[JI7]

6. Mary Landrieu kicks ass, known for being pro military

i heard her nickname was "military mary". that's one area where the right wing did not even try to attack her on. and when i say pro military, i mean pro military in terms of being on the TROOPS side unlike right wing seeing pro military as being the defense industry. i'm not saying kerry should pick her for sure, but seriously consider her and spend some time with her.

[JI7]

2. i like Mary Landrieu the more i think of it

john kerry should seriously consider her and spend some private time with her. i saw her kick right wing ass in the senate , she made all women proud.

[WI_DEM]

4. if confronted with those two

I'd go with Mary.

[Tom Rinaldo]

8. Me too. Maybe she's not as set in her center right ways, but

She's not anywhere near ready to be President, and I would really rather not put Breaux in the warm up circle. Too cynical a political move all the way around in my opinion. Not enough shared vision to be genuine. I included my overall opinion on the whole VP thing in this post: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x436495

[Atlant]

30. Either one would be a good reason to "walk".

Is electing a fake Democrat really any better than electing
a real Republican?

Atlant

[Tom Rinaldo]

34. This time, yes.

And I would even argue the case if events forced me to, but God willing, I won't have too.

[Hoosier Democrat]

7. Please don't flame me...

But, with an election promising to be so close, should we do something as innovative as put Mary Landrieu on the ticket?? I'm not sure how a woman on the ticket would play with some of the blue-collar "Reagan Dems" in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, etc.

I fully support a woman for vice-pres, but I'm not sure if we should take that kind of step in a close year.

John Breaux, on the other hand, would provide a nice regional balance to the ticket.

[JI7]

9. you have a point, but just consider this

i myself said we should not take any risks considering the bigotry that may exist in people with the election being so close and so much at risk. but i kind of changed my mind when i thought of mary landrieu because she has a certain appeal where she comes across as tough. she has a soft innocent look about her, but when she speaks she is very much in command. so i do think she should be seriously considered.

[Dedalus]

10. VP

I'm afraid I agree that pulling "a woman thing," as the tobacco industry would say, is too risky for '04 when so much is at stake. We're talking like we don't think Edwards has VP sewn up; do you really think there's more than one name on the short list? I have heard buzz about Vilsack and Locke. I'd love to see RFK Jr. up there, but I realize doubling up on MA is senseless.

[arcos]

53. Locke? the very unpopular Gov of Washington? n/t

[BL_Zebub]

11. If it's Breaux, Bayh, Miller, Lieberman or anyone else of the sort..

...This Devil votes for Nader!

Fuck this pandering to the right wing crap. Kerry's a "liberal"?? Fucking ACT like one :grr:

[nator311]

21. grow up

A vote for Nader is a vote for Bush. You're just gonna get four more years of the same crap that we're dealing with now. You will also be voting for a big time hypocrite. Nader has said that no one in the United States should be allowed to make over $100,000 a year, yet he himself lives in a gated mansion. I remember him saying in an interview with Newsweek a couple of years ago that it's better to have Bush and a republican Congress in power than Gore with a Republican Congress. If you need any more proof that he is psychotic, he will not get near anyone who he finds out owns a cat because he thinks that cats cause leukemia.

[BL_Zebub]

27. Grow up? I'm 27,000 years old, you fool!

From where I'm sitting, we're stuck with "four more years of the same crap" no matter what happens. Kerry will carry out the PNAC agenda, same as Junior. More countries will be invaded, more Americans will die, and the media whores will spin another orange "terralert" every three months or so just to remind the sheep what all this imperialist fascist crap is supposedly for.

As for the cats, that's only the calicos. They work for me, remember?

[SangamonTaylor]

33. You may be old

but your rhetoric seems childish.

Why do you think Kerry will "carry out the PNAC agenda, same as Junior"? Why would you think that? Because he's not willing to cut and run from our responsibility abroad?

Kerry is a great candidate, a great Democrat, a great Liberal.

[BL_Zebub]

47. Spare me the "Kerry is a Liberal" rhetoric

He may have very well been a Liberal in 1971. But those days are long gone. Liberals do not vote to authorize wars based on nothing but lies. Liberals do not give tax cuts to the rich while those who actually PAY taxes lose their jobs and find their health care costs quadrupled within 3 years. Liberals do not conveniently skip important votes to avoid taking a stand one way or another.

And Liberals most certainly do not endorse PNAC's plan for global fascism, regardless of what kind of pretty wrapper you put it in (PPI)

[Padraig18]

12. I have made this case over and over again...

...only to be beaten about the head and shoulders with all manner of alleged 'reasons' why Graham or Nelson should be the choice. I will say once again that the Republicans WILL steal Florida again, and they will NOT steal LA. The reason that that is so should be evident to anyone who thinks about it for 3 seconds...

[JI7]

13. asshole jeb ?

i personally find landrieu a much better choice anyways even without asshole jeb in florida.

[Padraig18]

15. In a word, yes.

Jebbie and his pals control the political machinery in Florida, and it's whistling through the graveyard to pretend that Graham or Nelson will change that fact. OTOH, our party controls the machinery in LA, and its EVs, added to the 2000 blue states, are enough for a victory.

I'm being practical AND hardheaded. :)

[Florida_Geek]

14. I think Mary Landrieu would be great.

flame me if you will, but a Southern Female Senator, is not the same as a Northern Female Senator.

Per the Edwards map, LA would draw the electoral college.

http://www.johnedwards2004.com/map/

[robsul82]

16. What then?

What WOULD happen if we deadlocked at 269-all?

Later.

RJS

[Moloch]

50. subject

The blue states of 2000 do not have the same amount of electoral college votes as they did in 2000. We could carry Louisiana and Missouri!

[Mairead]

17. Hey, why not go straight for the hi-test: Zell Miller

Don't bugger around if you want to make the GOP lose control of their sphincters with laughter.

[genius]

18. If he picks one of them, he may lose me and that's hard to do.

Picking someone so conservative will only prove Nader right. Nader won't cost Kerry the election as long as Kerry doesn't move right.

[nator311]

22. a vote for Nader

obviously indicates that you don't know anything about politics. Sometimes, you just need to compromise to get at least somewhat of a victory for your side. Deal with it.

[Atlant]

29. 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004...

> Sometimes, you just need to compromise to get at least somewhat
> of a victory for your side.

1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004...

Hones! The Democrats will reform any day now!

Yeah, right after the *NEXT* election! That's the ticket.

Atlant

[genius]

41. I would never vote for Nader. Rather than vote for Breaux or Landrieu,

I'd write in my own name.

[nator311]

45. Breaux is a strong democrat

Just the other day he was able to convince Rep. Rodney Alexander from bolting for the GOP. He was of great help to Mary Landrieu during her last senate campaign. Even though I'm disappointed in him over the medicare bill, I think he would be a great asset to John Kerry.

[IrateCitizen]

19. Why would you waste time with a southern VP?

If you're basing your VP on regionality, you've got to go with someone from the Midwest or Southwest. THOSE are the regions in which the current election will be won or lost. Chasing ancient spectres of former Southern Democratic dominance is a losing strategy, IMHO.

Us putting a VP from the deep south on the ticket makes about as much sense as Bush dropping Cheney for, say, Giuliani, so that he can win NY. It just ain't gonna happen.

[Florida_Geek]

20. For one the Mary Landrieu MACHINE in LA is very very

strong. Her alone could turn LA blue.

[robsul82]

23. The state's leaning blue...

...and the addition of the Landrieu name will make this state BLEED blue. Mark my words.

Later.

RJS

[Padraig18]

24. I agree.

Forget FL---Jebbie is gonna keep it red. LA is the blue 'plum' of the South, this year. :)

[JI7]

25. they have it all planned if graham or nelson is picked

i'm sure they got everything planned in florida just in case bob graham or bill nelson is picked. and while they stole it in 2000, in this case bush has the powers of president and will use that to keep florida by sending more funds or anything else to the state. so they might not even have to steal it in this case. i think this happened in 2002 with the governors race when bush suddenly got an interest in the environment and they either promised or gave funds for it. also, terry mcauliffe made a huge mistake in putting so much in florida in 2002. he was bragging about how we are going to beat jeb and other things. it would have been m uch better if he had invested a little more i na few other states and we would have probably won new hampshire with shaheen at least and maybe max cleland in georgia and ron kirk in texas.

[IrateCitizen]

26. So what? It's still a poor strategy for just one state.

Personally, I think we'd be better off with a VP that would be able to appeal to the Midwest -- and pick us up the likes of OH, WV, MO and AR.

LA has only 9 electoral votes. OH alone has 20. You do the math as to which is more valuable overall.

[Florida_Geek]

31. I have ALWAYS been a Clark fan for VP

Two ex-military men against two chicken-hawks.

[mndemocrat_29]

32. I like the idea of Mary

She's a tough, likeable Southern female who could deliver Louisiana. With West Virginia and New Hampshire (along with all of the Gore states), we'd take back the White House. Also, we have the added bonus of Gov. Blanco (a Democrat) choosing Mary's Democratic successor (since Rep. Alexander has basically lost every chance he had at climbing up the Democratic ladder, I'd expect Blanco to appoint either Treasurer Kennedy (unless he's already won in 2004, in which case Rep. John would surely be the appointee) or Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu.

[revcarol]

35. A Breaux protege even CONSIDERED for VP?

I'm sick.:puke:

She only began to criticize Bush when it was evident that she would lose unless she did.So much class!<sarcasm> So much...well...going by the polls to win?

[katieforeman]

36. no to Breaux, no to Landrieu, yes to Edwards

Breaux- remember Nader is in the race. Also, we have Kerry's 19 year voting record to contend with. We don't want to add Breaux's record to the mix. The line of attack against Kerry will be to use his voting record to paint him as a flip-flopper. Repubs will go after inconsitiencies in Breaux's own record and any inconsistencies between him and Kerry.

Landrieu- again she exacerbates Kerry's credibility problem because of her changing views on abortion.

Edwards is bar none the best campaigner out there today. He has an enthusiastic organization of volunteers. Experience in running a national campaign. He's a disciplined candidate with a short voting record. He would be an unbeatable Presidential candidate in 8 years.

[robsul82]

37. I think Landrieu would get a pass on changing abortion views...

...because Landrieu's a WOMAN. I mean, hello? If anyone has the right to say, "Hey, second thought" on such a topic, it's someone with a uterus.

Later.

RJS

[katieforeman]

40. I'm not saying she doesn't have a right to change her mind.

I'm just saying we don't want to exacerbate the attacks on Kerry's credibility. She sure won't get a pass on credibility issues.

[LynneSin]

38. Breaux is another Lieberman, but a decent guy

I'd go with Mary, I like the gal!

[AlinPA]

42. I thought she voted to drill in ANWR.

[AntiCoup2K4]

43. How about at least ONE actual liberal on the ticket?

I keep hearing all these Puke lite names thrown in. What the fuck for?

How about Kucinich?

I would have said Dean, but nobody really expects him to get along with Kerry.

[BL_Zebub]

46. A Most Unholy analysis of the situation, AC2K!

I concur 666% :evilgrin:

[Carolina]

44. NEITHER

No wimpocrat, conservative Senate Democrat period. Kerry needs a man with charisma, national recogntion and appeal who inspires and can woo and win sunbelt states. Selecting some dry person from one state in hopes of capturing that state is a losing strategy.

This is the wrong time to test the waters with a woman, and remember Mary had one hell of fight in her last Senate race. She needs to stay in the Senate. Breaux is another friggin sellout. I'm sick of movin right and center. Let Breaux retire and be the lobbying whore he already is. Besides with Kerry and Breaux and their long Senate records and more recent votes with Bush, it would be a repeat of 2002 : repuke versus repuke-like. Which means, WE LOSE!

Kerry needs Edwards and I say this as someone who was originally for NEITHER of them.

[Finch]

48. I know its unpopular...

...here but I rather like Breaux, don't agree with him on the economic side of things but i have a great deal of respect for him, having said that I don't think he'd work as VP for Kerry, if he where I have little doubt that he would basically carry LA for Kerry and boost the Dems in senate races in GA, FL, SC, NC and OK... he should definitely be on the short list but i don't think that Kerry should pick him (in my view however Breaux WOULD have been Clark's running mate had the general nabbed the nomination)... with Mary Laurdieu however i reckon you have the makings of a strong VP, moderate (Which is what you need with Kerry) with the backing of only really Breaux she beat the hell out of a candidate who the entire GOP establishment had lined up behind in a conservative southern state, she could put LA in play and might boost Kerry in FL but i worry about here appeal as a woman up north in states like MO, OH, WV, PA, IA and MN, no doubt the Kerry people are doing polling right now about how she would fare up there... but if she can do well there and the polling bares that out then Kerry could do much worse than to pick her, in any event i think she is the most likely of the current set of congresswomen to become President one day... For myself my pony in this race is Bill Nelson... Kerry/ Nelson... Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Moloch]

49. Breaux or Landrieu

I think Breaux would be better because if Mary was VP her seat would be up for grabs, also Breaux is MUCH more popular down here than Landrieu is. Landrieu barely won her last election, whereas Breaux was more or less unopposed.

[amazona]

51. I would like to see Breaux picked

He is already giving up his Senate seat. I would hate like hell to have two Senate seats up for grabs in Louisiana. Either one would make a fine candidate but I personally wish that Breaux would stay in the Senate and that Landrieu would do the same. The GOP does not fight fair and we need those two Democratic Senators. Unfortunately, I think Breaux has just about had enough of public service. An advantage of Breaux is that he is proven to be able to work with and attract people from a wide spectrum of ideologies. If asked, I hope he would agree to run for/serve as VP but I don't know if he's at all interested.

[Adelante]

54. I've been staying out of these discussions mainly

But I feel like giving my list for the hell of it:

Clark
Graham
Gephardt
Richardson
Vilsack

[arcos]

55. Breaux's voting record is anti-choice...

there's no chance he'll be picked.

[Donna Zen]

56. Anti-choice

That's what I thought. Of course with the cynical insiders doing the chosing, no telling what will happen. And 6 votes is not enough to alienate the women in our party.

[hyphenate]

57. Landrieu

supported drilling in ANWAR. She wouldn't get my vote unless I was absolutely forced.