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No More Fooling Around

This morning I listened to the talking heads on the Sunday news shows talking about Barack Obama's impending victory in the Democratic primary, and the likewise pending choice of a running mate. 

I gag every time somebody mentions an "Obama/Clinton dream ticket."  That's not a dream ticket, it's a nightmare. The last thing the "candidate of change" needs to drag with him into the future is the Bill and Hillary Clinton "bridge back to the 20th Century."  To say nothing of all the baggage he'd have to pack and carry.

On Meet the Press, Virginia was mentioned as one of the potential swing states to consider when selecting a running mate,
though no specific possibilities were mentioned.   But they've got the right idea. 

I've been saying for some time now that the best candidate for Obama's running mate is Senator Jim Webb of Virginia.  Sen. Webb is an Annapolis graduate, former Marine veteran of Vietnam, a former Secretary of the Navy (from 1987-88, under Ronald Reagan) and a former Republican, no less. Who better to appeal to the "Reagan Democrats" and other red-state leaning voters?

Given Senator Webb's military experience and national security credentials, it's hard to imagine a more formidable opponent to John McCain and whoever he nominates for the VP slot.

THIS IS HOW THE DEMOCRATS WIN IN NOVEMBER. It takes the whole national security issue out of the Republican's hands and puts it firmly in the hands of two candidates who have maintained their opposition to the Republican foreign policy from the beginning.   

So, I've got another website going and I'm going to launch a petition as soon as I can figure out which online petition service to use. 

When President Obama and Vice President Webb take the oath of office next January, you can say you "heard it here first."

These two...

... may soon be Senate colleagues:

Red on Black

Centennial Park-DSC_00192
Originally uploaded by schatzkins.com

From my recent afternoon at Nashville's Centennial park. There's an old steam locomotive on display in the park, and it's all black, with a little silver in the drive train. And then there's this one red valve-handle. Must have been something important.

Fall Creek Falls

Fall Creek Falls 0408-DSC_0056
Originally uploaded by schatzkins.com

Last weekend in April, we went to Fall Creek Falls State Park in Tennessee. The morning of our photo expedition, it mostly rained, but we hiked down to the base of the falls anyway. It started raining really hard when we got to the bottom of the trail, and we took refuge under a rock over hang. This was the view looking back up the trail. Things always look more interesting when the weather is iffy.

The Obama/Webb Ticket?

This is an idea that I started talking about MONTHs ago:

Makes a ton of sense, subject to the caveat (is he a loose cannon?) that you noted.  He reinforces Obama's "Iraq" and "change" messages; has national security cred (was Reagan's Navy Secretary) without being an old insider; clearly has the testicular fortitude to be an attack-dog when necessary, yet (as a former Republican) can claim to be post-partisan; has (had?) a son in Iraq just like McCain; was a Vietnam hero like McCain; and may even be able to reach the Appalachian Scots-Irish demographic that Obama has had so much trouble winning.  And, of course, he could help in Virginia, a state that already looks promising for Obama.

About the only downside I can think of is that, like Obama, he has a short resume as a legislator.  But then being a past Secretary of Navy should shore that up those credentials (forgive the pun, sorry).  And I think that Webb could go a long way to strengthening an Obama ticket's appeal to those white working class types who seem to be swinging toward Hillary at the moment (and might go with McCain in the fall). 

Too bad he has to wait to win the nomination to pick a running mate.  Webb would be very good on the campaign trail.

Why Is It Always So Ridiculous...

...when top-of-the-line Washington politicians pretend to know what it's like for "the little people" ?