Durbin was deeply considered as VP last year

[TayTay]

according to the Chicago Tribune article on Sen. Sweetie, ah Durbin:

Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) was so impressed with Durbin's skills that he confided to a Chicago fundraising audience not long ago that he badly wanted to pick Durbin as his running mate but passed him over because he didn't think the nation could tolerate two Roman Catholics on the ticket.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0506170083jun17,1,1285589,print.story

Oh, that would have been so perfect. I love Sen. Durbin.

[JohnKleeb]

1. Sigh

Kerry-Durbin would have been a great ticket, but he's sadly right about Catholics. Like consider this, we're a 25% Catholic nation around yet in the whole 20th century there were only two Catholics heading major party tickets, Al Smith in 1928 and John Kennedy in 1960, and both times the Catholicism was an issue, Smith in fact I think got beat worse than he would have normally been simply because he was Catholic and Kennedy barely won the election. There's still in many areas of the country anti Catholicism, and I will venture to say that some will probably deny it exists but undoubtly the Protestants have always yielded the power in this country, I know its not a big deal but I loved the fact that Kerry was Catholic. Oh and we had a Greek Orthodox Candidate once, I apologize to Dukakis. Anyhow sigh hes right about that though, Kerry-Durbin damn what a ticket it would been, but the anti Catholics would have had a field day.

[rockymountaindem]

6. Hey Kleeb!

Sorry I didn't reply to your other post. I went to bed right after I made that enigmatic statement. Anyhow, I agree with you that there is still some anti-Catholicism in the US. I live right down the street from Focus on the Family, which puts out some pretty anti-Catholic rhetoric as I'm sure you know. That's why that little exchange between Focus and Sen. Salazar was so hypocritical on Dobson's part. Focus basically said that Salazar should "be a good Christian and vote for all of Bush's nominees", to which Salazar replied that Dobson is "the antichrist" (which he retracted) and that Focus uses "unchristian" tactics (which he did not retract).

What makes it so wierd is that Focus isn't big on Catholics, calling the Papacy an unholy, non-biblical position and not so subtly calling Catholicism nothing but a money-grubbing glorified cult (I know some fervent Focus followers who say that sort of thing all the time). Which, if Catholicism is a money-grubbing fraud organization, then what does that make Focus, eh Dobson?

On to more important matters: Listen Kleeb, this whole Orioles thing was cute at first, but I'm done tolerating you guys! Get back in fourth place where you belong!!!

AL East = Red Sox vs. Yankees

Orioles, Jays and D-Rays = loveable bit players :)

[JohnKleeb]

8. Actually we're third place

and I dont think you'll want the Yankees as your main competition for the prize, since with the exception of last year, they got your number, do you really want that? I dont. Oh and its mid June and you guys still havent regained first place yet, I think we're here to stay. We nearly took that series from you in Boston too I may add and you guys are one of the best home teams in the league. Anyhow I think we should both be rooting for the Yankees to slip down hill, stupid bastards are on a four game winning streak though, grr I wish they would just go away, their damned fans are everywhere and I got the odd feeling Jeffrey Meier was in Baltimore last night. Oh and about the Orioles just being bit cutesy stuff, we were one of the division's top teams until the mid 80's throug early 90's then weak again for the end of last decade until now.
Now to the anti Catholic bigotry, it really is common and people wont admit it, but its true.

[Island Blue]

2. From the article Durbin says

"It would take a seismic shift for us to take back the Senate in the next election."

Hmmmm. Besides the DSM hearings yesterday wasn't there also an earthquake in California? Coincidence? I don't think so. ;)

Hopefully this was the seismic shift Durbin was talking about!

[JohnKleeb]

3. BTW that witch from the christian coalition is a stupid idiot

Durbin never said we were responsible for 9/11, Durbin's response is right on, the administration has said fuck you to the Geneva Convention. Anyhow, I am now pissed off at this country's subtle anti catholicism.

[FreedomAngel82]

4. I've grown to like him too

I think this is the guy I read about how Kerry wanted him as his VP but others encouraged Kerry to get Edwards. Plus, I remember reading how Edwards was chosen a few days after he attended the Bilderberg group. Hmmm. I think at first Kerry didn't like Edwards but now they like each other. Not long after the election I read how the young Edwards kids went up to visit the Kerry's and Mrs. Heinz Kerry gave them some cake and Edwards and Kerry talk on the phone often and keep in touch.

[PresidentObama]

5. Durbin would have been a good choice

But I understand why John didn't pick him. I personally didn't favor John Edwards that much at first. I was thrilled when I heard Dick Gephardt was being considered as the VP running mate. Not that I like Gephardt all that much, but he was a Congressman from my homestate and I was hoping we'd get someone like Dick to turn my state blue. Finally :)

John Edwards was the right choice. Though Dick Durbin would have been a good choice. Dick Durbin's a strong willed person. Him and John got a lot in common when it comes to not backing down from a political fight.

[BlueIris]

7. I was initially pulling for Gephardt, too. A lot.

But I share your sentiment that Edwards was the right choice. For so many reasons. Not the least of which were the rumors I heard that Kerry had a somewhat personal dislike for Gaephardt. True, those may have been just rumors, although I recall Nancy Pelosi telling Tim Russert that she didn't think Gephardt would become Kerry's running mate, because the VP choice would need to be someone "the candidate was comfortable with." Anyway, I was happy with the Edwards pick. I still hold out some hope that those two can kiss and make up.

[JohnKleeb]

10. Rumors is what they are, they're pals I believe

I really like Dick Gephardt, he was one of the first people I saw on CSPAN as a little kid and I couldnt help but to like him and I really miss him in the Congress.

[JohnKleeb]

9. I would have loved Gephardt

Ha hes actually like how many Catholic Dems in my family are, a little traditional socially but liberal economically. Either Dicks would have been a fine running mate though I liked Edwards.

[Mass]

11. I agree that any of those two (Durbin or Gephardt) would have been a good

choice.

[JohnKleeb]

12. Would have maybe boosted our numbers in Ohio

Ohio is a big union state, the congresswoman I worked for was based out of Toledo which has a lot of labor influence, UAW in particular, if this was 40 or even 20 years ago, I think Kerry would have picked Gephardt though, because labor then was still relatively big, its sad though, how labor has declined these past twenty years, thanks Ronnie :grr:.

[pinkflower21]

13. Durbin would have been a great choice

I really like Dick Durbin. I check out CSPAN2 a lot and he really has a way of getting his points across. I think the points he made about Guantanamo are probably accurate. If there is doubt about what is going on, they should open Guantanamo up for inspection and let everyone see who is right. The comments Durbin made that the right wing jumped all over him for were taken out of context I think.

[JohnKleeb]

14. I do too, hes a good guy

But Kerry's fears werent exactly inaccurate either about the anti Catholicism.