Edwards not veep? How about AG?

[GreenPartyVoter]

Does anyone see this happening instead?

[NMDemDist2]

1. that would be a great spot for him

a real job doing the peoples's business

[BlueEyedSon]

2. E Spitzer for AG!!!

[jobycom]

10. Yeah, that'd be a good fit. (Spitzer)

I saw some commentator pushing him as VP, which is silly, but he'd be a great AG.

[djg21]

29. Doubt that he'd take it.

He's running for Governor. He should win handily, unless Giuliani runs. Then it's a horse race!

[in_cog_ni_to]

3. Yup...AG is exactly what Edwards should be. n/t

[I thought so.]

4. He has no experience,

in criminal law. I think there are many better choices.

[Padraig18]

8. The AG is essentially an administrator & 'policy person'.

Criminal law-enforcement makes up a distinct minority of the work the DOJ does; the vast majority of its work involves civil law. The prosecutorial workload is handled by a staff of veteran prosecutors, so experience or a lack thereof in criminal law really isn't an issue.

[Jai4WKC08]

12. Good point about policy

I've been one who thought Edwards' lack of experience as a prosecutor would be a factor, but perhaps not. He's certainly seems smart enough to consider the recommendations of experienced professionals on his staff and balance them against the President's guidance, desires of Congress, and so forth.

That only leaves me with a concern of his management experience. The Dept of Justice is a big organization with a lot of things going on. What has Edwards done in the management field, if anything?

I'll admit to not knowing enough about the legal profession to judge his education or knowledge of aspects beyond his personal injury background. I'm more familiar with the medical profession, and I know when those guys specialize they have a tendancy to fall way behind in areas outside their specialties. But new research findings and technological advances occur in medicine every day--perhaps that's not the case with law?

[AP]

14. He has experience making corporations accountable. But I tend...

...to agree.

I think someone like Jennifer Granholm has exactly the resume you'd want for a AG.

ADA, DA, State AG, Governor, all from a very Democratic, pro-consumer perspective, with a good record on criminal law (but really being defined as being anti-gov't corruption, anti- white collar crime, and pro-consumer).

[SheilaT]

5. I don't understand

the ongoing obsession with the various former candidates' becoming vice president or a member of the cabinet. That's not the way it works, guys. The nominee (in this case Kerry) will choose a VP he thinks is the best choice to work with him. And if elected, he'll select a cabinet based on political favors he owes and who he thinks will be right in each position.

[JI7]

6. it's just fun that's why it's discussed

people hate bush and everyone in his administration so much. people like to fantasize about how things will be a lot better and how we can try to make it better.

[jobycom]

11. It's hard to let go of someone you supported

People got to know and like these candidates, so it's hard to just let that attachment go. Also, these are the figures everyone knows, since they've been in the limelight. Many of the good candidates for cabinet positions are local, and no one really thinks of them.

I disagree on VP, though. No one chooses a VP to work with him. Candidates choose VPs on how much that VP will help them get elected, based on popularity, party position (left, right, mod), and often, regional popularity. Edwards helps Kerry a lot on all three of those, so he's a valid VP consideration.

And it's happened before. JFK and Reagan both chose VPs who ran against them in the primaries. Of course, both hated their VPs, and both were shot by people with connections to their VP...

[RafterMan]

7. Spitzer

If he's not picked, he can be governor of NY, but I think he can do more damage as AG.

[IronLionZion]

27. Spitzer is hell bent on punishing CEO's

I wouldn't be surprised if they find his body in the East River.

He'd be 1000 times better than asscroft.

[JI7]

9. maybe Solicitor General

[Cuban_Liberal]

13. He be outstanding in either position. n/t

[Freddie Stubbs]

15. He has never prosecuted a case

I'm not sure when the last time it was that we have had a US AG that had no prosecutorial experience.

[Cuban_Liberal]

16. That's why the prosecutors at DOJ are civil-service people.

When was the last time an AG actually prosecuted a case?

Shrug:

[Freddie Stubbs]

17. Then why do Presidents keep appointing former prosecutors?

:shrug:

[Padraig18]

18. Asscraft was a prosecutor?

Remember, prosecutor or not, he lost a re-election bid to a man who'd been dead for 3 weeks.

:shrug:

[Freddie Stubbs]

21. He was Attorney General of the State of Missouri

Janet Reno was State's Attorney (most states call them District Attorney) for Miami-Dade County.

Dick Thornburgh was a Federal Prosecutor.

Ed Meese was a former prosecutor.

[Padraig18]

24. But was he a prosecutor before that?

His role as MO's AG is essentially a down-sized version of what it is now, since the offices do the same basic things.

[leyton]

19. Maybe, but for only one reason...

so that in 2012 he'll have a launching pad for another run for President. Honestly, I don't think Edwards would be a fantastic AG for the reasons stated by other people here - not much prosecutorial experience. As far as I know Edwards' brilliance is in his skill as an orator in the courtroom and his ability to grasp the specifics of a case (such as medical information). Trial law seems to have little relevance to the duties of an AG. Isn't there some other brilliant legal mind we can tap into? Someone with a specialty in Constitutional law or something? Spitzer is a possibility, of course, but then again he's going to run for Governor. Surely there are others...

[TexasSissy]

20. Either Edwards or Spitzer.

[robbedvoter]

22. Is this Edwards career choice day? Why is this DU's business?

[Eurobabe]

23. Certainly!!

But E. Spitzer's not a bad choice either!

[JohnKleeb]

25. no because I want Johnny Eds as Veep and Elliot Spitzer as AG

[Claire Beth]

26. yes...I think he'll be AG! n/t

28. Edward Would Make An Excellent AG!

Regardless of his chances of getting the VP nod, he would still make a great AG.

[Raiden]

30. Edwards for DOJ, Clark for DOD

I think that if neither Edwards or Clark get the VP position, Edwards would make a great AG and Clark would be great in the State Department or the DOD, preferably Secretary of Defense.