What about Graham?

[quinnox]

After seeing all the vp threads, I noticed one name that isn't brought up much. What do people think about Graham? I used to think he might be too dull, but now I'm not so sure. Does a VP really have to be Mr. excitement, maybe not. Maybe Graham would reinforce Kerry's strengths, of a solid, serious, thoughtful leader.

Plus the Florida help might be a big factor if the state is as close as last time. I haven't heard much in the press either about Graham being floated as vp anymore, so maybe he is out of the running, I don't know.

Kerry/Graham also kind of has a nice ring to it.

[lanparty]

1. I've brought up Graham several times!!!!

And I think he's the right choice. If he can deliver Florida, that alone would make it worth the effort.

[freetobegay]

2. Graham is one of the best politicians Florida has ever had.

It's a shame that he does not get the recognition that he deserves for what he did in Florida & what he continues to do in the Senate. Graham would be a great asset anywhere!

[FloridaPat]

3. Great guy. I'd give him my vote.

[seafan]

4. Graham: Integrity, dedication, smarts, and mad as hell at Bush

Graham represents the single most serious threat to the Bush empire if he gets on that opposing ticket. The media pundits and the RNC have gone out of their way to downplay, ignore and marginalize him. When that didn't work, they called him "crazy", "needing to retire", or said, "LOOK! He's killing his own Florida support" by speaking out against what Bush was doing/facilitating a 9-11 coverup.

That, friends, will be their downfall.

His book Intelligence Matters will be out just prior to September 11. Look out.


This country needs a ticket that is a powerhouse on national security and foreign policy/intelligence. It also needs a VP who is White House ready immediately. We have every bit of this in Bob Graham, in addition to the MOST LOVED politician in Florida's history.




What was it that Ghandi said...."First they ignore you..., Then they laugh at you..., Then they fight you...,
Then you WIN."


Bob Graham is a gift.

[mzmolly]

12. Will the book hinder his chances? I fear that it might overshadow the

campaign. ???

[seafan]

13. Not likely. Graham is a national security/intelligence adviser to Kerry.

...His (Bush's) effort on Wednesday to merge those conflicts (Afghanistan and Iraq) under the umbrella of a war on terror led to an immediate response from two of Mr. Kerry's top national security advisers, former Defense Secretary William Perry and Senator Bob Graham, Democrat of Florida.....

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/17/politics/17bush.html


...Graham is a friend and advisor to Kerry, especially on intelligence issues...

http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld/myrtlebeachonline/news/politics/8831142.htm

[mzmolly]

16. Ahhhh. Interesting. Man, I'd be damn pleased with Graham on the ticket!

:toast:

[Rowdyboy]

5. He was my first choice for president, even before Wes Clark...

I'd LOVE Graham as vp.

[Zorra]

6. I like Senator Graham for VP.

But his age may be a drawback.

[faithfulcitizen]

7. Graham is my 2nd choice :)

Clark, of course, is my 1st. During the primaries, I really liked the idea of Clark/Graham. Kerry/Graham might be a little dull, but I'd take dull over lack of FP exp. anyday.

[happynewyear]

8. I like Bob Graham too!

He's a good honest man. I hope he stays in the picture. I heard he was going to give up his Senate seat. We can hope this might be why - ?

:kick:

[venus]

10. Dated Graham; married Clark. Graham would be great for our country! n/t

[bklyncowgirl]

9. Book coming out in September

I think that the fact that his book's coming out in September and I believe he's scheduled a tour pretty much says it all. But I could be wrong.

Too bad I like the guy.

[mzmolly]

11. Graham would be an excellent choice IMHO ... We've got anti Iraq war

national security experience, Florida, Tailored and firey speaker.

I'd be very pleased with a Kerry/Graham ticket! :hi:

Pleased:

Dean (don't think it'll happen)
Graham
Edwards
Clark
Richardson

I'd live with

Gep
Vilsack

I'd be disatisfied with:
Nunn
McCain
or any other R
Whom I forgetting. ;)

[Bombtrack]

14. Hell Yes. Notice my avatar

These douchebags who say picking him would be "putting all are eggs in one basket" with Florida are frigging, well, douchebags. Yeah he's the most popular politician in the largest and therefor most important swingstate. But he's also been the number one guy in the senate making the case for going after Bush's foreign policy fuckups, both involving 9-11 and Iraq, AND the number one guy in the senate on voter security. And these assholes who just ignore that and brush it off like it's meaningless are just so unbelievably dishonest intellectually.

[seafan]

15. Amen, Bombtrack. Sometimes folks just can't see the forest for the trees.

Great avatar, indeed.

[mzmolly]

17. Graham is not only safe. He's anti-war, Southern, from a swing state

and he has national security experience.

He could compliment Kerry in every way.

He's not so outspoken that he'd steal away Kerry's *cough* thunder ;)
He was anti-war, so he'd appeal to those against the war.
He was on the Senate Intelligence Commitee-and he's got ample National Security experience.
He's Southern
He's from Florida
He's highly respected, and has ran enough campaigns to be considered *safe*

The only concern may be his health? Didn't he have surgery last year for a heart issue? Course Cheney did too, so thar goes that issue!

GRAHAM IT IS! Unless it's Dean :P

[TSIAS]

21. I agree

I don't see it as "putting all our eggs in one basket". I can't think of any candidate that would guarantee more than one state. Graham doesn't automatically win us Florida, but it would give us a big leg up. I don't see Graham hurting the ticket in any region. If it comes down to Nelson or Graham, I'd prefer Graham big time.

[RafterMan]

18. Solid, serious, thoughtful -- exactly

I don't want Mr Excitement, I want solid, serious and thoughtful.

I'd be very happy with Graham.

[mzmolly]

19. Graham has mass appeal as a VP IMHO.

:shrug:

[nickinSTL]

20. Graham

I know very little about Graham.

He seems to be very popular in Florida, which might well be worth it.

He seemed pretty umimpressive in his short-lived run for the nom, though.

I suspect his opposition to the war would make a lot of people more comfortable with Kerry.

[cosmokramer]

22. Okay, except for the notebook thing...too 'Rain Man' esque

[mzmolly]

23. He was writing a book, which might explain it?

?

[cosmokramer]

24. I like Sen. Graham...

...his notebook doesn't bother me at all. He is wise, intelligent, and has loads of experience and a solid record in government. It's all about perception. He is certainly qualified, as is Gephardt. Exciting? Uh, no.

[mzmolly]

25. I think Graham can be exciting without being *distracting*

which is why I think he'll come out with the VP nod. Though, I'd prefer Dean for ideological and some tactical reasons, I *think* it will be Graham.

[cosmokramer]

27. The biggest thing going against Graham right now in the VP race...

...is his age and health. I don't think it likely, though it wouldn't upset me or anything of that sort. He is certainly qualified.

[mzmolly]

28. I agree. That's the only consideration. Though Cheney has similar health

issues so I don't think that would be an *election* issue per-se.

[cosmokramer]

30. One can only hope that Cheney's later years...

...are far worse than Grahams! That man is pure EVIL.

[mzmolly]

31. Oh I agree. A pacemaker failure would be ever so welcome.

:evilgrin:

[cosmokramer]

32. Maybe he will get too close to a telecommunications tower...

:evilgrin:

[mzmolly]

35. I like it!

:hi:

[cosmokramer]

36. Slowly, of course...

...I would much prefer him to be wearing diapers for a while...

[mzmolly]

37. Now were talkin!

;) Diapies and a ba-ba!

[funky_bug]

41. Ah come on' Cosmo!

You crack me up! Rain Man? Honestly, pal, Graham is a strong #2 in my book. He has been a very vocal opponent to the Bush Admin all along, has zero dirt that I can see, and (big plus here) voted against the war. In addition he has been a advocate for education and penned an excellent letter to Bush regarding his failure to fund NCLB (which as a teacher I greatly appreciate.)

Graham is much beloved here in Florida. If Jeb thinks he can steal another election for his brother with Graham on the ticket, he's sorely mistaken. If it comes down to Florida again, Graham on the ticket is a huge asset.

[arcos]

26. I thought you were going to say he should shut up like Gore... n/t

[Doosh]

29. NO WAY! Boring, old and weird

the last thing we need is a VP who writes journal entries about taking a dump

[mzmolly]

33. I haven't read about his *dumps* but I know he was writing a book, and

journal entries are not uncommon in such circumstances? ;)

[cosmokramer]

34. Is it really necessary to be so vulgar Doosh?

[JohnLocke]

38. That's a myth.

Some people believe that Graham does record when he, as you pit it, 'takes a dump.' He does not. ;)

[funky_bug]

42. You better have a link to back that up, Doosh

If not, it's inflammatory and childish. What are you gonna do next? Pick on Cleland because he's missing some limbs?

[dansolo]

39. Graham is probably the best choice

He may not be flashy, but he is vastly more qualified than any other person who has been mentioned so far. And Kerry also wouldn't have to worry about having a VP who may possibly overshadow him.

[seafan]

40. Just to add to all this intrigue..... LOL

....On Friday, Mr. Kerry again sought to throw the news media off his scent, but again was not 100 percent successful. The man who looked exactly like Mr. Graham arrived in a sedan with dark-tinted windows at 2:35 p.m., about half an hour before Mr. Kerry's motorcade showed up at the campaign headquarters, but before reporters had taken up positions at every entrance to the building. The man left just before 5 p.m., minutes after Mr. Kerry's motorcade had left for Capitol Hill, with another passenger holding a portfolio in front of the man's face.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/19/politics/campaign/19veep.html

(This is, BTW, a great article about what Kerry went through when he was a contender for VP in 2000... now he's determined, methodical and considerate of what the potential candidates now must be feeling.)

B-)