Remember when I told you that Barack Obama needs to use his VP pick to bolster his lack of military cred? Well, check this out!
So you think you know who's on Obama's veep short list? Well, think again. According to sources on the Hill, Obama veep vetters -- specifically Jim Johnson and Eric Holder -- have been asking Dem members of Congress this week their input about potential running mates. The conversations are free-flowing but one name the vetters are inserting in the conversations is one that is not a household name... Ret. Gen. James Jones, the former Marine-turned-NATO Supreme Allied Commander. ...
Who?
Jones, a Vietnam vet born in Kansas City, MO (swing state alert!), was a career military officer rising to one of the highest posts possible. Now retired, Jones has been critical of the number of troops currently in Afghanistan. He’s been appointed to independent posts by both the Democratic Congress and the Republican-run State Department.
Jones currently is the president and CEO of the Institute for 21st Century Energy, which is an affiliate of the US Chamber of Commerce, not exactly the type of organization a typical Democrat gets involved with.
He seems perfect, but....he might not want to run against his friend John McCain. What's more, a campaign that's supposed to be about "change" might not jibe with a guy who just took seats on the board of Boeing and -- far worse -- the company that's given you $4.15 gas AND Condoleezza Rice: Chevron.
Marlins win, 5-4!!— Some Boca Dude- Maybe it's not a VP choice but consideration for DOD or a military position. Given that the economy is the Number 1 issue, this guy will not help, but will probably hurt as VP. Being born in Missouri many years ago gives him no advantage there now. If you want a veteran Clark makes more sense, he's better known and has Clinton connections. I'm thinking more and more of Graham, he did have a partial national campaign 4 years ago, got quite a number of volunteers to come up to Iowa to campaign for him but was overshadowed by the Dean versus Gephardt media war (which Kerry and Edwards wound up winning), plus he could make the difference in Florida.— atp2007
- Of course Jones would be perfect! Its another part of Obamania! Everything is perfect in Obamaland. And Attytood will be there every step of the way!— shoeshineboy
- Of course Jones would be perfect! Its another part of Obamania! Everything is perfect in Obamaland. And Attytood will be there every step of the way!— shoeshineboy
Obama must think having Gen. Jones at his side will bolster his credibility in war matters, but he's wrong. Gen. Jones' credibility on war matters will diminish with Obama at his side.— jmc- "Everything is perfect in Obamaland" -- except for the part where I say he's too close to the oppo party and a hated corporation. Read the whiole posts, SSB...— will
Comment removed.
Jones standing next to Obama would not make Obama look good, in comparison. From a strictly aesthetic standpoint, it's a non-starter.— Mr. Smith- "Perfect?" Because he's from MO (how many electoral votes does Missouri have?). Simply because he has a military background? Does he have ANY other qualifications besides being a corporate hack?— Talking point sleuth
- Jones isn't a real VP candidate. Maybe we'll see him endorse Obama in a few weeks. This way everyone will know who he is.— yobill626
- 'What's more, a campaign that's supposed to be about "change" ' Emphasis on the word 'supposed' is key. The only change will be in which entrenched interest groups and shady characters have direct access to the Oval Office.— db_cooper
The key here is that Gen. Jones reinforces Obama's talking points on Iraq, and how it's distracted us from finishing the job in Afghanistan. If nothing else, dropping his name like this makes that point, and suggests that Obama has the support of the professional military.- "Does he have ANY other qualifications besides being a corporate hack?" I'm sure Obama's veep search team will find his corporate hack status to be a stellar qualification. After all, Eric Holder was a driving force behind the Marc Rich pardon, and Jim Johnson was up to all kinds of shady stuff at Fannie Mae: "http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/10/AR2008061003475.html?hpid=topnews" And Caroline Kennedy? What qualifications does SHE have for the job other than who her father was? Some change...— db_cooper
- A question to both left and right on this board. If we drew 546 names at random from voting-age citizens in this country - 435 for the House, 100 for the Senate, 2 for prez/veep and 9 for SCOTUS - do you think it would be an improvement over the status quo in both parties?— db_cooper
- Uh-oh, db's disillusioned. Can they be elitists? What about members from the dreaded liberal bastions of academia and media?— RG
Will Bunch, a senior writer at the Philadelphia Daily News, blogs about his obsessions, including national and local politics and world affairs, the media, pop music, the Philadelphia Phillies, soccer and other sports, not necessarily in that order.
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