Obama/Feingold '08 Still a Possibility?

[Bullet1987]

Assuming Barack Obama gets the nomination, I've been juggling names around to see who would fit him best. I've all but eliminated General Clark, he seems pretty pro-Clinton right now...probably trying to position himself as a running mate assuming she gets the nomination. Plus, Clark has attacked Obama in defense of Clinton more than once. If Obama gets the nomination, I don't expect the General to be high on his list of names (though not impossible). Then there's Joe Biden, out of every Democrat currently running...he's on the top of MY list of running mates if he doesn't get the nomination. I think Obama/Biden would be a VERY formidable ticket, and Biden would tear the Rethug VP a new @$$hole. But according to his supporters, Biden seems pretty adament that he won't be accepting a running mate position...it seems to be all or nothing for him. Ignoring Edwards and Clinton for the obvious reasons, the only other Dem running that's a possibility is Bill Richardson. But I just don't know...I like Richardson and I think he has a witty sense of humor (and an EXCELLENT resume)...but he seems overlooked and unappreciated. He's also not catching on like many thought he would earlier.

Which means there's a strong possibility that Obama would have to chose someone outside of the Dems currently running. He would need someone with a lot of foreign political credibility...or at least someone who has been around the block. That way he'll have the experience on the ticket to balance off his fresh face appeal. A Govenor would probably be the smartest and safest thing to do since they have executive experience. But don't be surprised if it's another Senator. Especially if it's someone Obama knows and trusts and has worked with. People have already thrown around names like Barbara Boxer and Katherine Sebelius...but what about ole' Russ Feingold? Many on DU were talking about Feingold last year as a potential candidate before he took his names out of the box. Obama/Feingold would be criticized as a "liberal" ticket...but it would likely energize the base in ways we haven't seen in YEARS. It would also be a breakthrough ticket seeing as how not only would Obama potentially be the first BLACK President, but Russ Reingold would potentially be the first JEWISH Vice-President. I can almost here the cries of "ZOG" coming from the bowels of sites like Stormfront already...lol. But Feingold has a lot of respect and support I'm sure in Congress and the Senate.

What say you people of DU?

[JI7]

1. no, he would probably pick Biden before Feingold

i don't think he would pick Clark now either just because he has been involved too much in the hillary campaign criticisms of Obama. of course things could change after months and Clark starts campainging for Obama should he win the nomination. in this case Clark would probably be the best choice.

i think he would go with Bill Richardson or Bob Graham or someone else who is similar to that type.

[sandnsea]

2. Maybe Feingold

I get the feeling there's some reason Feingold doesn't want to run. I really don't know who I'd pick if I were Obama, nobody seems to be quite the right fit at this point. Gary Hart?

[Seabiscuit]

3. I personally think we need Feingold in the Senate - he's one of the few there with character.

Same goes for Boxer.

[maximusveritas]

4. As much as I love Feingold

I don't think he'd be a good match for Obama. They're too similar. He needs somebody different who could add another dimension to the ticket.
I'm thinking someone like Senator Webb. He really hasn't been in the Senate long, but that might be a good thing because it helps Obama make the argument that experience outside of Washington matters as much if not more than experience in Washington.

[VarnettaTuckpocket]

5. They aren't similar at all, Feingold is infinitely more progressive

And I doubt he'd even want to be included in an Obama ticket for that reason. And visa versa, Feingold's one of the few politicians on the national stage who has endorsed gay marriage (*gasp*) That makes him far too "radical" for the supposed candidate of hope and change. Donnie McClurkin fans would be displeased. And Clinton/Gore winning two elections disproved the idea that a presidential ticket needs dissimilar candidates anyway.

[maximusveritas]

7. Not true actually

Obviously, gay marriage is an important issue to you, but when you look at all the issues, they are very close.
I know both of these Senators' records very well. I know their backgrounds very well. I know they're good friends. Out of the current crop of candidates, Obama is certainly the closest to him, with the exception of Kucinich.
As far as Clinton/Gore, it might have disproved that you "need" dissimilar candidates, but not that having disimilar candidates helps.

[VarnettaTuckpocket]

8. Gay marriage isn't a particularly important issue to me

I brought it up as an example of how totally progressive Feingold is. He is one of only a tiny handful of senators who have had the progressive backbone to endorse gay marriage. The only other one I know of is Kennedy, there may be one or two more.

What is there to know about Obama's record but that he has a pattern of hiding from controversial votes? I mean that was the whole point, to remain a question mark. And Obama's better friends with Lieberman who he's called his mentor. Learned to be a triangulating centrist weasel from him.

[maximusveritas]

9. Oh, I see

So you just have an irrational hatred of Obama for no good reason. My mistake.

[VarnettaTuckpocket]

10. No, I'm aware of the fact that Feingold is infinitely more progressive n/t

[maximusveritas]

12. Ok. If you're rational, then perhaps you'll change your mind

after you see that Obama and Feingold have received nearly identical ratings from top progressive ratings systems:

Progressive Punch:
Feingold 89.51
Obama 88.76

ADA:
Feingold 98.0
Obama 97.5

If you spent time looking into their records, you'd find the same thing. Yes, Feingold is more of a fighter than Obama, but they are fairly equally progressive

[Bullet1987]

14. Webb would not help with the experience factor...

He's been there less than Obama has.

[Jack Bone]

6. If the VP select is a sitting Senator, they would need to be from a

State w/ a Democratic Governor, who could then appoint a Democrat replacement Senator. I think in '08, it is very important that we gain a larger margin in the Senate. All potential Presidential candidates understand that.

[hayu_lol]

11. Feingold was very prominent leading into the last presidential election...

a very large group of supporters asked him directly if was interested in the presidency. His reply was firm and remained consistant--he was happy serving where he was and serving his constituents.

He stayed with that then. Have no idea if his refusal to run then applies to today. As for VP, don't really think he would be interested.

[book_worm]

13. Feingold's great, but two problems with that ticket

first, you don't necessarily want two Senators and second I think Obama has to go out of his home region to pick a running mate. He probably needs to go South or West, rather than pick somebody from a neighboring state.

[no name no slogan]

15. Doubt it. It would be a huge demotion for Feingold

He's been in the Senate long enough where he has some real power and influence-- especially now that the Dems are back in the majority.

The VP slot would be a big step down for him. I doubt he'd take it.