My second pick for #2

Well, my man, Bill Richardson, didn't appear to be very high on the shortlist of Vice Presidential picks released today.  That is to say, he wasn't among the 15 named.  My feeling is Obama feels he's got the Latino vote secured, Richardson's primary campaign didn't hold together well or attract many voters, and New Mexico isn't a "big state" politically.

Now, I've already sent a letter to Obama telling him and his campaign that my support for him is contingent on him selecting a running-mate that that did not endorse the invasion of Iraq.  That's because I stick to my promises.  I want to see the Democratic party purified of any element that thought unilateral invasion of a sovereign nation was appropriate under those circumstances (got that Hilldoggers?)  They stand for nothing but bad judgment waiting to repeat when the public grows hawkish.

Obama isn't perfect.  He doesn't advocate a single-payer health care system and he supports civil unions but is opposed to gay marriage.  Those are two major strikes against him.  But he appears to be reigning in the Democratic party from conceding any further to the right.  That's an action I want to support and I'm willing to temporarily set aside my disagreements with him to make that happen.  Likewise, I don't expect Obama's running-mate to be perfect either. 

My second pick for VP isn't perfect, but Sam Nunn brings a lot to the table that will enable Obama to effect his vision of change....

Sam Nunn & Rowdy outside the Senate chamber, June 1988.

Let me first recognize the giant elephant in the room.  Yes, this is the Sam Nunn who, as Chairman of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, helped persuade President Clinton to adopt "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."  But before we dismiss him for that we must recognize that when he endorsed Obama back in April he said, "My own role in this campaign will be as an advisor - particularly in the field of national security and foreign policy.”  That is to say, Nunn's influence regarding gays in the military already holds tremendous weight with Obama regardless of Nunn's official title.  For what it's worth (and by its timing I'd be skeptical) Nunn recently said it's about time to review DADT.

But just think of what Nunn brings to the ticket.  He's a popular Democrat from Georgia.  That's right, folks in Georgia elected this Democrat to the Senate.... 4 times!   Nunn is also well respected on both sides of the aisle for being knowledgeable, matter-of-fact and of sound judgment when it comes to national security.  We're not going to appease all the Bubbas, but Nunn is our guy who can wrangle in the most and give Obama the best chance to turn Dixie blue.  Nunn opposed the invasion of Iraq from the beginning and he gives Obama what he needs to win.

Agree or not, tell me what you think.

Comments

[CBK]

Sounds good on paper, but will it sell? He's not an exciting pick (although more so than Lieberman). I admit I don't really know what I'm talking about, but does Sam have the Southern Identity? I've heard of him, but didn't know he was from Georgia. Plus, I'm not convinced that Dems have to pander to the South to win. They'll already get the Southern Black Vote. And I don't see McCain getting a true Southern Conservative to join him on his ticket that the Dems will need to counter.

I don't have any better suggestions, though. Joe Biden has even less of a chance than Hillary, with his "articulate black candidate" comment.

[David in Atlanta]

It shouldn't come as any surprise to find Georgians elected a conservative Democrat to the senate. For decades after the end of Reconstruction, Georgia, like the rest of the former Confederacy, was a single party state with the party being based on white supremacy. Nunn was a racial moderate but within the accepted limits of white southern discourse.