Don't Do It
Word around the campfire is that Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine is very high on the list of Democratic vice-presidential hopefuls. I've read a bit about him and he seems like a bright fellow with his feet on the ground, but Kaine just ain't rock 'n' roll on a mike. And he has the face of a second-tier ward politician. There's a slight old-school puffiness in his face that suggests he's into taking a nip every now and then. His voice feels anxious and a bit shrill -- slightly hoarse, high-pitched. His delivery really and truly lacks that "musical" element.
Kaine reminds me of either an Irish street cop from old-time Boston or a frazzled high-school principal from Marblehead, Mass. or suburban Maryland or southern New Jersey. He looks "regional" and doesn't have that special sense of uptown schwing that national-level candidates need to have these days. He doesn't sound eloquent or commanding or even centered, really. His thin voice strains for effect.
Please, BHO...no offense but not this guy. Joe Biden, please. Biden would be very cool, in fact.
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on July 29, 2008 at 12:08 PM
comment #1
Rich S. says ...
Even Mick and Keith need Charlie Watts.
Posted by Rich S. at July 29, 2008 12:30 PM
comment #2
Joshua Mooney says ...
He's going to have to do something about that hair.
Posted by Joshua Mooney at July 29, 2008 12:31 PM
comment #3
redmond says ...
Word is Kaine is creating his own press hoping to boost his chances of being picked. The latest talk has Gov. Sebelius as top contender. Personally, I'd like to see Chuck Hagel to show this, hopefully, new administration's emphasis on bipartisanship.
Posted by redmond at July 29, 2008 12:38 PM
comment #4
Geoff says ...
Anyone know if Evan Bayh has some of that charisma that Kaine is lacking?
Posted by Geoff at July 29, 2008 12:38 PM
comment #5
corey3rd says ...
Billy Mays for VP. The guy knows how to sell innovation and America's greatness. And he has a beard that will look good on a stamp.
Posted by corey3rd at July 29, 2008 12:41 PM
comment #6
62Lincoln says ...
C'mon, Jeff, has there ever been a presidential candidate who chose a running mate that had even a remote chance of outshining the top of the ticket? It's part of the narcississtic nature of aspiring to be president.
Posted by 62Lincoln at July 29, 2008 12:41 PM
comment #7
lazarus says ...
Uhh,, didn't Kerry just do that four years ago? Edwards wasn't better on paper but he had a much more charismatic presence.
And it obviously worked, minus the voter fraud in Ohio and Florida.
Posted by lazarus at July 29, 2008 12:45 PM
comment #8
lbeale says ...
Biden? Are you kidding? The definition of Democratic hackdom. No charisma. The Senator from DuPont, as he's known in my home state (Pa.). One of those guys who keeps getting elected mainly for his prowess at bringing home the defense contracts.
Jim Webb was the best possible veep candidate, but he dropped out.
Posted by lbeale at July 29, 2008 12:46 PM
comment #9
lbeale says ...
Biden? Are you kidding? The definition of Democratic hackdom. No charisma. The Senator from DuPont, as he's known in my home state (Pa.). One of those guys who keeps getting elected mainly for his prowess at bringing home the defense contracts.
Jim Webb was the best possible veep candidate, but he dropped out.
Posted by lbeale at July 29, 2008 12:47 PM
comment #10
clancy says ...
Hagel is right on the war and on the wrong side of every economic and social issue that is important to Obama.
Sebelius is an awesome choice but could well piss up the HRC masses.
Kaine is hugely popular in Virginia and would deliver that state. He is also non-threatening to the Obama legacy and has not shown obvious ambition like, say, HRC.
Looks like Kaine is the guy.
Posted by clancy at July 29, 2008 1:02 PM
comment #11
Aladdin Sane says ...
I think it's clear that Obama's only choice is a grumpy movie blogger from California by the name of Jeff Wells. Anyone else is clearly unworthy.
Posted by Aladdin Sane at July 29, 2008 1:03 PM
comment #12
Mark says ...
Kaine is not the choice; not w/ that hair. if you're gonna go w/ a bald governor, then I'd lean toward Ed Rendall.
Posted by Mark at July 29, 2008 1:09 PM
comment #13
Walter Sobchak says ...
"There's a slight old-school puffiness in his face that suggests he's into taking a nip every now and then. His voice feels anxious and a bit shrill -- slightly hoarse, high-pitched. His delivery really and truly lacks that "musical" element."
Is he overweight? Hard to tell from that pic. I'm sorry, but in Wellsworld this guy shouldn't even be on a city council board, much less sidekick to a smooth cat like the O-Man.
Is James Franco busy for the next four to eight years?
Posted by Walter Sobchak at July 29, 2008 1:17 PM
comment #14
D.Z. says ...
So much for the Iraq war making us safer at home.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080729/wl_uk_afp/britaincrimepassports
Posted by D.Z. at July 29, 2008 1:22 PM
comment #15
BurmaShave says ...
Tim Kaine is genetically engineered to be a number 2. He also has a lot of executive experience, as Mayor of Richmond, Lt. Governor, and now Governor. I've seen first-hand here in Virginia his ability to appeal to the moderate right. He has an affable nature and a seemingly genuine piety. I know plenty of conservatives who fear him as the VP choice more than anyone except maybe Bayh. Bayh is also being vetted, and may be the best choice, depsite his personality deficit.
Still, Kaine or Bayh would be what a Vice President should be: a ribbon-cutter and a surrogate who stands by. The Anti-Cheney. Kaine brings Virginia, Bayh brings Indiana and helps in Ohio. Biden, god love him, brings nothing. If Biden is sick of the Senate, which I don't think he is, he'd be an ideal UN Ambassador or even Secretary of State, despite his foot-in-mouth syndrome.
In all this vetting though, why is no one talking about Richardson?
Posted by BurmaShave at July 29, 2008 1:36 PM
comment #16
Midwest Doug says ...
I actually like Biden, but I agree with lbeale that he's too much of a hack, even with his knowledge of defense/intelligence. I'm sure Biden would have a spot in the Obama cabinet, if that were to come to pass.
Posted by Midwest Doug at July 29, 2008 1:38 PM
comment #17
broadstreetbully says ...
"and doesn't have that special sense of uptown schwing that national-level candidates need to have these days"
National-level candidates like the Presidents of the United States for the past 16 years? Bill Clinton and George W. Bush can be described in many ways, but "uptown schwing" would be near the bottom of the list for both. In fact, I think it's very arguable that lack of uptown schwing is what got them elected in the first place.
Posted by broadstreetbully at July 29, 2008 1:38 PM
comment #18
broadstreetbully says ...
"and doesn't have that special sense of uptown schwing that national-level candidates need to have these days"
National-level candidates like the Presidents of the United States for the past 16 years? Bill Clinton and George W. Bush can be described in many ways, but "uptown schwing" would be near the bottom of the list for both. In fact, I think it's very arguable that lack of uptown schwing is what got them elected in the first place.
Posted by broadstreetbully at July 29, 2008 1:40 PM
comment #19
broadstreetbully says ...
That being said, if Obama doesn't select Sebelius, he's crazy. He already seems to have passed on the perfect VP choice, Jim Webb. Why he didn't latch onto him quickly, I'll never know, unless Webb genuinely wasn't interested.
Posted by broadstreetbully at July 29, 2008 1:42 PM
comment #20
chappiesan says ...
>>>In all this vetting though, why is no one talking about Richardson?
Have you been to New Mexico? The whole state is a disaster, and part of the blame needs to be put on Richardson. He'd be great at keg parties, and as as a partner in crime for later night nacho runs, but the white house is far past his cometency level.
Biden would be a spectacular fit, in that he'd speak his mind and make McCain look like an ass in a way that most independent and undecided voters would find amusing. Not to mention, he'd tear McCain a new one on all foreign policy issues. Too bad he doesn't bring more than 3 electoral votes, though.
Posted by chappiesan at July 29, 2008 2:58 PM
comment #21
chappiesan says ...
If Pennsylvania weren't already (mostly) in the bag, I'd recommend Bob Casey. The guy is brilliant and a damn good interview.
Posted by chappiesan at July 29, 2008 3:01 PM
comment #22
BurmaShave says ...
I'm trying to decide if kegger/nacho runs was racist or just in poor taste haha. I honestly don't know my shit on New Mexico, but I assumed from his approval ratings he was doing a good job. I remember hearing something on Imus a long time ago about him fucking up emergency response in some freak blizzard, but that's it. I'll look into it.
Give Bob Casey a few terms and we'll see. I agree with everything you said about him, but we don't need two freshman Senators.
Posted by BurmaShave at July 29, 2008 3:29 PM
comment #23
chappiesan says ...
If it weren't for poor taste, I'd have none at all. But, the comments were meant to describe his affable personlaity and generous appetite rather than be a racial affront. Shit, I'd say the same thing about GW, Chuck Schumer, Harry Dean, and countless other politicians. Love to listen to their drunken ramblings. Don't want them deciding the future course of our country.
Not to mention, if you watched the democractic debats last fall, in every single one of them Richardson had a really difficult time answering the questions posed by the moderators. If the question was something he hadn't anticipated, he'd rephrase the question so he could answer it using material from his stump speech. I love the guy, but I have a hard time trusting someone who isn't capable to thinking on his or her feet, especially if he or she is going to take the VP slot. Those issues he should have known backwards and forwards by that point in the process.
Posted by chappiesan at July 29, 2008 3:45 PM
comment #24
chappiesan says ...
Random question, but I'm driving from Oregon to Texas tomorrow and could really use some material for the IPOD. Does anyone know of good political sites that have programs/shows you can download onto your IPOD?
Posted by chappiesan at July 29, 2008 3:52 PM
comment #25
62Lincoln says ...
"Uhh,, didn't Kerry just do that four years ago? "
Uhh, no. In Kerry's estimation, Edwards was a harmless pony that represented no threat to him whatsoever - and he was correct.
Posted by 62Lincoln at July 29, 2008 5:26 PM
comment #26
supertaster says ...
I have to applaud Wells for one thing ... with this post he has finally stopped pretending that his vote has anything to do with economics, healthcare, ideology, or policy (foreign or domestic).
Fuck, I'm over here sweating about a 50% hike in my taxes and Wells is worrying about how this guy doesn't fit into the aesthetic of his Obama wet dream.
Shouldn't there be tests to make sure that the Costanzas out there know a thing or two about economics or current events before they cast their vote? That they're not voting for purely emotional and superficial reasons? That they're not waisting all of their time making sandwiches to impress the pretty-boy, hunky Tony's of the world?
Posted by supertaster at July 29, 2008 6:57 PM
comment #27
D.Z. says ...
taster, you're going to be paying no matter who wins. The question is would you rather do it upfront or in installments?
Posted by D.Z. at July 29, 2008 7:16 PM
comment #28
Bob Violence says ...
Biden? Are you kidding? The definition of Democratic hackdom.
Thank you. Christ, when I read that I asked myself why he doesn't just recommend that Obama dig up Tom Eagleton and run him again. Not that Kaine is much better.
Posted by Bob Violence at July 30, 2008 3:44 PM
comment #29
janee
says ...
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