With 103-days remaining until American voters go to the polls to select who will lead this nation for the next four years, the chatter has begun on who will be the Democratic and Republican choices for Vice President. The selection of VP is of particular importance this election... more so than any in recent history. Truth-be-told,neither Senators McCain or Obama have any governing or administrative experience. And, unfortunately, executing an election campaign (no matter how well- or ill-run it is) is no substitute for GOVERNING!
Neither McCain nor Obama has ever run a company (where they would have gained valuable experience (and stress) in meeting a weekly or monthly payroll). Neither one of them have ever governed at the City, County or State levels. Consequently, neither has any hands-on knowledge of how to oversee massive budgets, deal with tax/financial shortfalls, or how and when to dispatch the National Guard in an emergency situation. These are basic leadership skills needed by anyone who aspires to preside over the largest budget and greatest military in the world.
And although both men are engaged in this pointless "roar-the-loudest" exercise in an attempt to convince the American public they are most qualified, the reality is neither of them has ever had to lead, supervise, boss, head, or be that person where the "buck-stops-here" in their adult "elected official" lives. Therefore, it is incumbent upon both Senators to pick a former Governor as their Veep to compensate for the lack of experience in that area.
To that end, the Republican presidential hopeful will more than likely select former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. There is no getting around it for McCain. It's Romney... or back to the Senate.
Indeed the pundits will say Romney didn't campaign well in the GOP primaries. Regardless of how soundly the voting public rejected Romney during the primaries (he can't have everything: too rich, too handsome, too successful, too smart, perfect family, etc.), Americans are funny people. Voters couldn't purposely and knowingly give him yet another plus or advantage in life, the nod for the top-job-in-the-land. But, well... it's okay if he's relegated to the number two place on the ticket. Yes, placement here somehow dismisses the perception of Mitt Romney's "all-that-and-some-CHIPS! "
On the other hand, if presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama hopes to have any chance to win this election in the Fall, he is going to have to pick Senator Hillary Clinton as his running mate. The latest Rasmussen poll numbers show McCain up 10+ in Pennsylvania! Say what you will, those white, rural, working-class, blue collar men and women (18 million and counting) who will never vote for a man of color, love Hillary and Bill and will vote for either one of them if they ran tomorrow! And, like it or not, those are the very votes Obama will need. Or he loses.
So, exactly where is Hillary's governing experience? It's no secret--she couldn't really say it during the primary campaign--but everybody knows she was co-Governor of Arkansas, and co-President during the Clinton White House years. Hillary said it throughout her campaign, that she really would be ready on Day One!
The Vice Presidential picks for 2008 are really a no-brainer. The match-ups will probably be: Obama/Clinton '08 versus McCain/Romney '08. Now, that will be a close race... a photo finish for sure!
Bio:
Vivian Berryhill, founder of a national service organization, is a renown speaker and travels extensively throughout the United States and abroad. She has addressed audiences in Thailand, Nigeria, Honduras, Peru, Chile, and has traveled to Kenya, Uganda, Camaroon, Zambia, Rawanda, France and the U.K. She was selected as one of the premier partners for Walden Media's internationally acclaimed movie: Amazing Grace, http://amazinggracemovie.com/_pdf/ag_faithguide_uk.pdf and the worldwide movement Amazing Change, www.theamazingchange.com/music2.html, lending her voice and talent, along with Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Right Reverend Patrick O'Donoghue, and other notable world leaders, to end modern day slavery. Mrs. Berryhill, a 2007 Jefferson Public Service Award winner, also received the prestigious Presidential Service Award in 2006. She is married to Rev. C.L. Berryhill, Jr.
http://www.vberryhill-soulvoice.blogspot.com
Vivian Berryhill, founder of a national service organization, is a renown speaker and travels extensively throughout the United States and abroad. She has addressed audiences in Thailand, Nigeria, Honduras, Peru, Chile, and has traveled to Kenya, Uganda, Camaroon, Zambia, Rawanda, France and the U.K.
She was selected as one of the premier partners for Walden Media's internationally acclaimed movie: Amazing Grace, http://amazinggracemovie.com/_pdf/ag_faithguide_uk.pdf and the worldwide movement Amazing Change, www.theamazingchange.com/music2.html, lending her voice and talent, along with Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Right Reverend Patrick O'Donoghue, and other notable world leaders, to end modern day slavery.
Mrs. Berryhill, a 2007 Jefferson Public Service Award winner, also received the prestigious Presidential Service Award in 2006. She is married to Rev. C.L. Berryhill, Jr.
I would never pick someone as my number 2 who hinted 2x that I would get assasinated.
I'll bet he picks Biden, who people in PA are familiar with as he is from DE. Plus he gives Obama clout in experience in places he is perceived not to have any. I would not vote for Obama if he chose Hillary, as that to me would be a serious lack of good judgement. His FISA mistake currently has me voting for McKinney, but it's a long road and he could potentially get back in my good graces.
by
Son of our Father's (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 19 comments)
on Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 11:09:12 AM
Think about it: the Unity Ticket! McCain/Lieberman '08!
The die was cast at the end of '06 when McCain and Lieberman spoke at AEI to support the surge. That's why Lieberman keeps following him around for the photo ops, and that is why Lieberman is so vocal about the "pro-war" stance (makes him look less "liberal")
it will be Lieberman. (and since the elections are rigged anyway, it doesn't matter if the republicans like it or not. Get it?)
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scott creighton (24 articles, 10 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 203 comments)
on Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 11:29:11 AM
The Enquirer usually leads hard, updates once and then finishes strong with exclusive pictures of the politician being tailed. So expect pictures of John Edwards fleeing the cameras of the NE later this evening or early morning.
According to the Enquirer, their reporters and photographer “cornered” Edwards in the Beverly Hilton early this morning after his meeting in Room 246.
The comical scene of Edwards running from the Nat'l. Enquirer's photographer and two reporters is captured in hilarious detail by the Enquirer:
Edwards went out of the hotel briefly with Rielle, they were observed by the NATIONAL ENQUIRER and then went back to her room, where he stayed until attempting to sneak out of the hotel unseen at 2:40 a.m. (PST). But when he emerged alone from an elevator into the hotel basement he was greeted by several reporters from the NATIONAL ENQUIRER.
Senior NATIONAL ENQUIRER Reporter Alexander Hitchen asked Edwards why he was visiting Rielle and whether he was ready to confirm that he was the father of her baby.
Shocked to see a reporter, and without saying anything, Edwards ran up the stairs leading from the hotel basement to the lobby. But, spotting a photographer, he doubled back into the basement. As he emerged from the stairwell, reporter Butterfield questioned him about his hookup with Rielle.
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Wolfie (8 articles, 0 quicklinks, 32 diaries, 1189 comments)
on Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 3:45:13 PM
It's irrelevant to the outcome of the upcoming faux election process who either candidate chooses as his running mate. The next president has already been ordained, and it is McCain. Whoever he chooses will be the next VP.
This will be accomplished by a combination of media orchestrated manipulation of the candidate’s images and both low tech and high tech election tampering. Coupled with an abiding racism that isn’t reflected in the polls, Obama doesn’t stand a chance if he’s not at least 20 or 30 points ahead in the polls now, and he’s not. It’s a stone cold fact that Obama will become damaged goods a la Gore, Kerry and the prematurely damaged Hillary Clinton. My mind respects at least the first two of those, but my gut reaction to them has been successfully manipulated to disesteem them whenever I’m feeling instead of thinking. Obama has only recently entered this phase of his candidacy, apparently benefiting from the mistaken assumption that Clinton would be the candidate. He’s still relatively pristine, and still he is only a few points ahead in the polls. How will he surmount all of the obstacles I have named if each steals several percent of his support?
The Republican VP candidate, the next VP, will not need to get votes just as Cheney wasn’t needed for that purpose. He just can’t lose votes because of baggage, which disqualifies a Rumsfeld or Rove, both otherwise perfect for the position. Like them, he will be a shrewd political operative who is a long time Neocon loyalist in the mold of Cheney, which will be necessary to baby-sit McCain’s moronic and clueless Bush reprise. He will be a proven cutthroat without morals or compunction, slavishly devoted to implementing the fascistic program that was mapped out decades ago.
Romney can’t do any of that. Plus, he is a conservatives in name only by Neocon standards, who as governor, embraced egalitarian and liberal principles (pro-choice) and appeared to be trying to govern Massachusetts rather than loot it and exploit its citizens. This disqualifies him. Remember, McCain's miraculous recent conversion and his Neocon credentials are also suspect, his loyalty to corporate fascism not yet proven.
There must be hundreds of such people available, although I couldn't name most of them. The name that comes to mind is Gingerich, who would do nicely. Rice is out – she’s lieutenant material, not a general, and besides, she’s both black and lacks a Y-chromosome, which are only desirable if votes are needed.
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Yaybob (12 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 174 comments)
on Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 6:36:17 PM
THIS WILL BE THE SAME AS 2000, 2004, THE GOLBAL ELITE WHO ARE RUNNING THIS SHOW, CONTEST, BUT SURLY NOT AN ELECTION, NEED A PLAYER THEY CAN COUNT ON, AND MC-CAIN FITS THE BILL, AND WILL FOLLOW THROUGH WITH WHAT BUSH HAS STARTED, INCLUDING THE NORTH AMERICAN UNION.
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RICHARD SHADE (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 460 comments)
on Thursday, July 24, 2008 at 4:16:01 AM
You obviously are a realist and haven't been propagandized and brainwashed to death.
We, the people did not choose Obama as the nominee. McCain was not chosen by the people as a nominee. The elite does the choosing. The pathetic phoney debates for choosing a nominee should have been a wake up call...The corporate elite owned media rammed them through. They chose them. If anyone thinks we have a democrat and a republican running for the office of President, think again. We have two elite chosen running who will continue to advance the elites agendas of power and control. One world government, world bank, depopulation. Destroying the sovereignty of the U.S. is imperative to their goals and The North American Union is well under way to it's completion. Our roads, our land, our ports etc etc being put under foreign control. Rascism, homophobia and the like being deliberately whipped to a frenzy. Mercenaries retraining the police and being used against the people such as they were in New Orleans...taking over land in cities even as local government opposes them such as in San Diego CA. People expressing dissent, peaceful protesters treated as criminals and often brutalized by those that should be protecting us. The list of freedoms lost is endless. Our Constitution in tatters, our elected, worthless to us for the most part because a great majority of them are part of that elite who seeks to destroy what we, as Americans hold dear. When they fully gain control in North America we will essentially become their prisoners and will have a say in absolutely nothing. They will own us and they will destroy the majority of us. Realistically look at how many forms of genocide are being used against us already.
Sovereignty of the United States is the only thing keeping them from their goal of a New World Order and they are fast doing something about that.
We do have a two party system but it isn't the Democrats and Republicans. It is the elite against the people and we darn well better realize it before it is too late...and it soon will be.
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Rae (0 articles, 1 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 218 comments)
on Thursday, July 24, 2008 at 1:07:53 PM
Although I largely concur, there are a few areas that I’d like to poke at
[1] We, the people did not choose Obama as the nominee. Maybe, but not necessarily. Whether we did or not is moot, because he’s going back to the Senate. And even if he went to the White House, that would only at best only slow the process a tad, but not reverse or stop the inevitable conversion to a non-democratic, authoritarian state as you imply. The reason why I question this assumption is because with control of the national election and control of the Republican nominee, they have no need to control who the Democrats choose.
Still, they might have anyway. There’s one piece of evidence that I am having trouble reconciling with the idea that Obama was preselected to be the Democratic candidate, and that is, the conservative smear machine behaved as if it was a given that Hillary would be the nominee. She was trashed a la Gore (the sighing wooden liar) and Kerry (the Frenchified blue-blooded flip-flopper). Hillary was well on the way to being the cackling, ball-busting, insincere chameleon, the constant subject of ridicule or slander by the Limbaughs and Hannities, whereas Obama was relatively pristine until he claimed the nomination. Of course, now he’s become the out-of-touch unpatriotic Muslim who bowls like a girl, drinks orange juice (geek!), and is married to the reincarnated Angela Davis principally in the past two months.
This is not an important point at all, but my inductive faculty is piqued by that trashing of Hillary almost exclusively until she was gone and they refocused on Obama. One could speculate that that was to cripple Clinton’s candidacy and give Obama the win, which is certainly what all of that trash talk did to her candidacy. America is simple to predict, and, all things equal, the people would prefer a white woman to a black man, and a celebrity candidate already linked to the White House to an unknown not far removed from his state legislature. Whatever the truth, it’s fun to speculate by identifying the hypothesis that best accounts for the most observable facts.
[2] If anyone thinks we have a democrat and a republican running for the office of President, think again.
I would like this statement better if you said liberal and conservative. Democrat and Republican have evolved in meaning such that both the left is disenchanted with the Democrats and the right with the Republicans. Republicans have become densely packed with antidemocratic, antiegalitarian, elitist corporatist, and the Democrats are at an earlier stage of the same process, where genuine liberalism is almost completely stifled, yet vestiges of progressivism can be seen in the Kennedys, Kuciniches, Frank. There are more. But how many Republicans can you name that are not intensely vile? Snowe and Collins in Maine, Scwartzeneggar, Ron Paul – all outcasts by the way.
And how many formerly Republican lights have drunk the Kool-Aid recently and converted to Neocon, like all three major candidates last year: McCain, Romney and Rudy. Of course we have a Democrat and a Republican, We just understand that they are not too different from one another, they are not too interested in restoring democracy, taming the corporations, ending the war, liberating lost freedoms, restoring justice, restoring fiscal solvency, restoring Americas place in the world as an honorable, kind and fair state, or doing any of the other things that any good American should attempt to do.
[3] will continue to advance the elites agendas of power and control. One world government, world bank, depopulation.
I’m not sold on depopulation, but I don’t know much about the subject except a handful of truths that altogether might be as relevant as some others that I’m not considering. Still, I’ve got to work with what I know, and it is this: Overpopulation keeps nations poor and disempowered. People are capital, labor units, until they get sick, and then you take another one.
How do explain the church’s devotion to hyperpopulation: get married, don’t get divorced, don’t use birth control, don’t have an abortion or a hysterectomy, etc. What do you suppose that bundle of guidelines is intended to do? Don’t all ranchers like to grow their herds of working and otherwise commercially useful animals as large as possible? It’s not like anybody in charge cares if famine, epidemic or whatever thins the herd naturally.
[4] Destroying the sovereignty of the U.S. is imperative to their goals. Sovereignty of the United States is the only thing keeping them from their goal of a New World Order and they are fast doing something about that.
This confuses me. The power brokers control the country. They are sovereign, whatever their configuration. They control America. What exactly still needs to be destroyed? And toward what end that isn’t achievable until that is done? I see nothing of that nature. There is no political force that they do not already control to go with this sovereignty that you see as an obstacle of some sort. Frankly, I don’t get the whole One World paranoia. How is that worse than dozens of smaller fascistic, corporatist pieces? I have always assumed that this is an irrational, perhaps a result of Christian millennialism and Biblical prophecy.
[5] Realistically look at how many forms of genocide are being used against us already.
Please explain. Are you using the word metaphorically, as in the death of so many middle class life styles, dreams, etc?
by
Yaybob (12 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 174 comments)
on Friday, July 25, 2008 at 11:03:38 AM
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