PoliticalDerby.com

Apparently folks in Indiana heard about our CNN segment last week.

Bayh a popular pick for veep short list

Hoosier senator’s credibility and popularity could help Obama in key states, experts say
By Mary Beth Schneider

If Sen. Barack Obama popped the question, Sen. Evan Bayh would say yes.

But pundits and politicians agree that whether a political marriage will happen between Bayh and Obama on the Democratic presidential ticket is anybody’s guess.

“Anybody who knows isn’t talking, and anybody who’s talking doesn’t know,” said Charlie Cook, editor of the Washington-based Cook Political Report.

For Bayh, the speculation that he is on a vice presidential short list is nothing new. He has been mentioned as a potential running mate in almost every election since 1992, when he was a first-term governor who received national attention for winning Indiana’s top office in a predominantly Republican state.

Read the rest.

232 years ago this morning, fifty-six delegates from the thirteen British colonies met at what would come to be known as Independence Hall in downtown Philadelphia. Most of them had spent the better part of the previous several months debating and arguing about the best course of action in regards to the ongoing conflict between the colonies and the crown.

The first months of 1776 had been anything but peaceful. Skirmishes, shootouts, and outright battles were raging from the Carolinas to Boston. Then General Washington’s Continental Army – though victorious in some instants – was dreadfully undermanned, badly supplied, and under-trained in the face of what was the most powerful army on the planet at the time.

Thomas Jefferson recorded that July 4, 1776 was an “unseasonably cool” day for Philadelphia. The aforementioned men gathered in the large room on the ground floor where they had spent so many days and nights to put their signatures to a document which could have very well become their own personal death warrants. They were, for all intents and purposes, committing high treason against the British Crown. King George would not look kindly upon their actions and would not have hesitated to execute the delegates had a few battles gone the other way.

Click to read more …

Let’s face it. If you’re running for president, you’re sometimes going to receive a compliment that just make you cringe.

CNN reports a conference call former Vice President Dan Quayle had with reporters on Tuesday, in which he stated:

“I have a lot of grudging respect for what he [Barack Obama] did because he beat the Clintons, something we couldn’t do in 1992. The Clintons were very convincing in the campaign they ran. So I thought she would be the candidate.” 

In other words, Dan Quayle - who was apparently having a conference call with reporters to promote his participation in a golf tournament later this month - was indirectly complimenting Barack Obama for beating Hillary Clinton.

To fully grasp how unnecessary and awkward this situation truly is, consider the following absolutely made-up scenario: Click to read more …

It’s early.

Waaaaay early.

But already there has been a shuffle at the top of John McCain’s campaign brass.

John McCain has shuffled his top advisors after months of hand-wringing among Republican political operatives complaining about his presidential campaign’s lack of focus.

Senior advisor Steve Schmidt, who had been traveling with McCain, is taking over day-to-day operations; campaign manager Rick Davis will shift to a less central role.

This is probably nothing.

But an adjustment this early means they are either nervous about how things are going, or they are changing their tactics.

Whichever it is, they had better bringing into focus soon, or the “Straight Talk Express” will be quickly derailed.

I loathe the man, but his impact is undeniable.

Rush Limbaugh has apparently inked himself a deal that could be worth an excess of $400 million over the next eight years, according to a Drudge flash this morning.

That should be enough loot to widen the doors of his home, so he can fit his engorged ego through.

This past Sunday, Wesley Clark, (General, United States Army - Retired), waded neck deep into the political swamp and started taking potshots at Senator John McCain (Captain, United States Navy – Retired) and his military service to the United States during the Vietnam War. Said Clark:

I don’t think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president.

Let’s get one thing straight, Wes. McCain didn’t “ride” in a fighter plane. He flew it. In order to fly his 23rd combat mission over Vietnam he had to first be flung off a pitching carrier deck in his A-4 Skyhawk. Taking off was the easy part. Landing that single engine/single seat plane on a carrier deck is like trying to land on a postage stamp in the middle of the ocean all the while hoping to snag one of three steel arresting cables with a hook welded to the back of your plane in order to stop you from flying off the end of the carrier into the ocean.

Very few people on the earth can do this. Only Americans do it well.

Wesley Clark hasn’t backed down from his ludicrous statement that shocked even CBS’ Bob Schieffer. Well, yesterday a man who I am sorry to say represents me in the United States Senate waded up next to Clark and added his endorsing comment. Yes, I’m talking about none other than Senator Jim “The Angry Potato” Webb (D-Washington Post).
Click to read more …

Just a mini-update, because the VP Power Rankings change about as often as Ryan Seacrest whitens his teeth.

Republicans

1. Mark Sanford - He’s a conservative darling, and fits the profile well, if McCain cares to appease the grassroots. The question becomes, does Mac Daddy really care about the conservative base?

2. Mitt Romney - Wealthy, polished, wealthy, already has some national name ID, wealthy, tireless, wealthy, and negates questions about McCain’s weakness on economics issues. Oh, and did we mention he’s wealthy?

3. Bobby Jindal - He’s a complete long shot, but we’ve not seen a long shot get this much buzz since Geraldine Ferrarro in ‘84.

The GOP Darkhorse

Sarah Palin - Great back story, very charming and likable, and serves smack dab in the middle of a drilling-where-the-greens-don’t-want-to-drill state. That state happens to be Alaska. She’s got a bit of a “hottie” buzz about her, but like we said, she’s from Alaska.

Democrats

1. Evan Bayh - He’s the poster boy for Moderate Democrats, plus he’s vetted and experienced. If Obama wants to add very popular, moderate balance, this IS the best pick. By the way, he’s moderate.

2. Evan Bayh - He’s such a good pick, we think he occupies spots #1 and #2.

3. Sam Nunn - He’s also moderate, and very experienced, and also fits the ‘insider’ model that is common with Veep picks. He’s also been out of politics for 10 years, and does the ‘change’ candidate want an old-school Beltway insider? He may need one, and Nunn is just as good as any of them.

The Dem Darkhorse

Al Gore - He’s never been more respected around the world, his pet issue has never been more important, and it would be the ultimate sacrifice for country and would cement a rare place in history. Here’s one for you - who are the only two men to serve as Vice President under two different Presidents?

The Wall Street Journal makes a compelling case for two men that would likely give Barack Obama his best chance at beating John McCain in the general election - Senator Joe Biden and former Vice President Al Gore.

Gore is obviously the reach candidate here. Why would someone who served eight years in the position and lost one of the closest, most controversial elections ever, want to become Vice President again? Well, mainly because he’d be given free reign by an Obama administration to work on his passion - the environment. Besides Gore’s personal benefits, Obama gets someone who was arguably a Supreme Court decision away from being President. He’s respected abroad and even if many American’s don’t agree with his politics, they’d have to begrudgingly agree that he’s qualified to step in to the big chair, if it were required.

Biden is a more realistic pick. He acquitted himself quite nicely in the early parts of the Democratic nomination process, even though it didn’t translate into votes. He’s got a ton of service time in the Senate when it comes to foreign policy, and he appears to be a “bulldog” that many VP candidates need to be in a general election.

Gore is the dream candidate. Biden is the safe pick. Both would go a long way to help Barack Obama in the general.

To quote the late, great Chevy Chase as Clark W. Griswold in the classic film, “National Lampoon’s Vacation,” ‘I could give a frog’s fat (arse)’ about anything John McCain or Barack Obama does for about a good two months. (What’s that? Chevy Chase isn’t dead? But didn’t his career die years ago? Whatever.)

It’s summertime. Time to fire up the grill and cook up some highly overpriced meat. Time to see four-foot, growth-stunted teenage girls flip around on a mat during the Olympics. Time to wonder how bad is the new Will Smith movie.

McCain’s off to Colombia? Send me postcard. Obama flip-flops on public financing for his campaign? Who cares? I thought white people got mad when a black man stayed on government welfare. Go figure!

No matter. I’m fed up with all of it. It’s vacation-time people. Pack up your pundits and take a couple of weeks off. I don’t care. Well that’s not true. I do care, but the point is that it’s finally summertime, dig?

Energy crisis? Yes, gas prices are high. But they’re always high during the summer travel period, but complaining about them while filling up your V-12 SUV isn’t going to lower the price much now is it? Iraq and Afghanistan? Yes, there are two wars going on, but I can’t do anything about that until I vote in November (I suppose.) And yeah, I guess it’s cool that the Bush administration removed Nelson Mandela from the U.S. Terror Watch list as a birthday present but – wait a second.

Is that right? Nelson FREAKING Mandela was on what? What’s wrong with this equation? Nelson Mandela equals terrorist. Really? The man is 90 years old and fought the good fight against apartheid. Today, Nelson Mandela couldn’t blow up a bathroom after a burrito run through Mexico while downing shots of Correctol. Sheesh!

Anyway, where was I? Oh yes, maybe we should ignore the candidates until they pick their running mates and have their respective national conventions. After all, are you really anxious for more campaign drama? This election cycle has already had more twists than that pretzel President Bush choked on back in his first term (ba da BUMP!)

Are you looking forward to the day you’re not glued to the set to hear MSNBC’s Chris Matthews yell at somebody, or marvel at that uber-cool iPhone-esque touch-screen monitor CNN’s John King gets to play with, or wonder why Fox News’ Sean Hannity oddly resembles George Costanza the way he squints at the camera?

For the next few months, I might be mentally on a hammock, whistling the theme music those kids sing in the opening credits from “Meatballs.”  Why? Because I’m ready for the summer.

Welcome to the second edition of “If the election were held today”.

Using a fun little site called 270towin.com along with the RealClearPolitics poll averages, I’m going to post an electoral map with the results as they could happen if votes were counted today.

Now obviously, this is all based on polling, which I’m sure to have several of you grumble about. But I think this could make for an interesting, occasional snapshot of which way the tide is flowing in the battleground states.

Using the RCP averages as of today to pick winners for the battleground states, here’s the results:

First, the only good news for McCain is that the latest RCP averages have him back on top in a very tightly contested race in Virginia.

After that, it gets ugly for the Straight Talk Express. Current poll averages have him now down in New Hampshire, Michigan, New Mexico and Indiana.

Compared to my first map, Obama now controls the Rust Belt and has made some gains in the Southwest, while losing some ground in the “Solid South”.

Based on current poll averages, if the election were held today, Barack Obama would roll into the Oval Office with a comfortable electoral victory of 304 to 234.

Though I live in what is commonly referred to as the Washington DC Metro Area, I very seldom cross the Potomac and venture into the Nation’s Capitol. There reasons for my chronic avoidance of DC are many - it’s crowded, there’s no place to park, and I always feel less intelligent when I go back to Virginia than I did when I left. Perhaps it’s something in the water.

But I digress.

Last week my son, Corderinho, enjoyed a day-camp at the National Zoo.  While this was fun for him, it meant that I had to go collect him from the Zoo after work lest the zookeepers feed him to the lions.  I’m pretty sure the Ravishing Mrs. Cordeiro would have thought me a bad father had I let our son become lion-chow, so I dutifully crossed the Potomac and walked the six blocks from the Metro stop to the Zoo gates.

In the midst of my trek through the super-humidified street, I was approached by a college-age young woman who asked me the following question:

Do you have a moment for Barack Obama?

Of course I had a moment for Barack Obama! As a matter of fact, I had three or four moments to spare - so I entertained her question.

Her mission, of course, was much like Barack Obama’s - namely to separate me from some of my money. She “only” wanted a C-Note from me so I could join Obama’s campaign to “fix the economy, give free health care to everyone, end the war, and bring hope and change to America.”

Here’s the rest of the exchange:

Click to read more …

How hard do you think Wes Clark was spanked by Obama’s advisers after his boneheaded exchange with Bob Schieffer? IHT reports:

McCain frequently points out that he led “the largest squadron in the U.S. Navy,” but Clark said on CBS television that that was not enough to support a claim to the presidency.

“He hasn’t been there and ordered the bombs to fall” as a wartime commander, the general said on CBS. Clark is mentioned as a possible Obama running mate, although he originally supported Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.

When the interviewer, Bob Schieffer, noted to Clark that McCain had been shot down over Hanoi, Clark replied, “I don’t think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president.”

When Schieffer then asked what executive responsibility Obama had held - the Democrat’s résumé includes work as a community organizer in Chicago and eight years in the Illinois legislature - Clark said that Obama was running on the strength of his character and good judgment.

Um, what?

PD regulars know I’m not a J-Mac Man, but he obviously has vastly more military experience than our two most recent presidents. (Some might argue he still has more experience than W, since Cheney’s reportedly been running the war.)

Maybe I’m wrong, maybe Obama has oodles of experience from playing Halo 3 on the weekends with his kids. But I sorta kinda doubt that. This is a guy who’s probably uncomfortable carrying a loaded cap gun.

Why in the name of Community Organizers would Wes Clark want to assail McCain on this issue? Hit him where he’s weak, of course, but McCain’s service, sacrifice and back story are the things Americans like most about him.

If Obama thinks he can win by minimizing McCain’s military background, then he’s gone back to smoking more than just cigarettes.

UPDATE: Obama formally rejects Clark’s comments (and informally calls him a big fat doofus with no shot of ever being on a national ticket)