Obama may anoint VP pick Tuesday morning

(Cross posted at Indiana's Conservative Hardball)

Eariler today, Gov. Tim Kaine was all but eliminated from Obama's VP short list.

The DNC announced that a "Virginia governor" will make the keynote speech at the Democratic Convention—but it wasn’t the state’s current governor, Tim Kaine.

Rather, former governor (and current Senate candidate) Mark Warner will give the speech.

Since Democrats are unlikely to give the keynote address to a Virginian if the vice presidential nominee is also from Virginia, the announcement means that Tim Kaine is unlikely to get the nod as Barack Obama’s number two.

Surprises are always possible, but with Kaine apparently out of the running, we see four likely candidates left in Obama’s veepstakes:

Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius
Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill
Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh (do we have to claim him?)
Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd
Delaware Sen. Joe Biden

Let the madness begin...

So who should we prep for?

Ripping apart Evan Bayh? Beating up Joe Biden?
Laughing at Chris Dodd? Taking swipes at Claire McCaskill?

Maybe an outsider or darkhorse?

Sam Nunn? James Webb? Or maybe even Hillary herself?

Drudge is reporting:

The NYT newsroom was buzzing late Monday afternoon after Obama-beat reporter Jeff Zeleny learned how the Dem hopeful has finalized his choice for a
running-mate -- and set out an elaborate roll-out to announce his decision that will begin with an early morning e-mail to supporters, perhaps as early as Tuesday!

Developing... all night long

My friends... this could be a long night.

My money is on Biden or Sebelius...

Obama supporters treated like ATM's

Many of us are frustrated this week that Twitter has taken down the reply feature, so it's real tough to have active conversations there. So quite a few moved over to FriendFeed to keep things engaged. I happened across this post and resulting comments, albeit the original poster is probably a Democrat and many of the others are too. But suffice it to say, some of the comments are very eye opening. If you're sitting on twitter waiting for things to get hot, don't, head over and join the debate and interaction on FriendFeed.

"I don't want to be an Obama ATM"
"Now that he's running for general election, he's compromising and moving back to the center"
"He'll need millions, thus the reason he's moving closer to the Clinton power brokers"

Dave Winer posted a message on Twitter

“New blog post: To Obama -- I'm not an ATM. http://bit.ly/3vLFdH”

yesterday at 10:53 am

Note: One name redacted by request, commenter suggested that she's not supporting McCain and therefore felt her name on Friend Feed was taken out of context and made it look like she was. Of course that doesn't minimize the fact that many of the commenters were bummed to be treated like ATM machines for the Obama machine. And even more felt that he's sliding to the center to pick up votes in the General election.

The honeymoon is over. Obama is now running for President, with all that implies: need for vast sums of money, move to center, compromise with non-liberal voters. And now the backlash begins. "But he's OUR candidate! How dare he." - Leo Laporte

I take it as read that politics is all about compromise, and money. Take the latest vote on giving Telecoms immunity. Nancy Pelosi says she voted for the bill because there might be another bill that's worse than this one. I just don't see how a politician can be elected without selling themselves out in some way. I like Al Gore far better since he left politics (sort of) than when he was an elected official. For me the longer I'm around the more cynical I get. Lost my virginity with McGovern. - Henry Burger

Show 19 more comments

I don't agree with Obama on immunity - but I'm a supporter and he was NEVER the most progressive candidate. Obama is being pretty consistent here with what I expected in the primary and the more I think about it, the more I agree with Keith Olbermann's take on this - Obama might be being smart here. - Lee Stranahan via Alert Thingy

I got the same email only they asked me for $25 bucks. Maybe it's proportional to what you've donated in the past? - Kyle

Kyle - it's much more effective to ask for a small amount - those who can do more will, and those who cannot won't be offended. - Anthony Citrano

@Henry Burger - You like Al Gore more - that's understandable. Firstly, because he does his cool slide show. Secondly, because he doesn't have to make possibly uncomfortable choices any more. Telling the world what's wrong is easier than fixing the world. If he actually had to fix the environment, he would have to make choices that a lot of people wouldn't like. - sebmos

Kyle, all my donations have been $100. - Dave Winer

I had a donation of $30 dollars during the primaries. Sounds like they are just asking you to re-donate the same amount you have in the past. - Kyle

Of course you're an ATM-what do you think he wants to show up at your house and shoot baskets with you while he finds out about what issues really matter? If you want that you better put a lot more zeroes behind the amount you give. - Mark Forman

@Mark Forman - You obviously don't understand the US election donation law. - sebmos

@sebmos - you obviously don't understand humour :) - Jordan Brock

Obama's a politician...shock! - Hrag

Yesterday I was sitting with one of Obama's Tech Advisers. We were having breakfast. He told me to look around. He said that everyone around us was Clinton's biggest money supporters. Turned out he was right, they spoke to these people later that day. They are very pissed, he said. Why? Because they raise money millions at a time. Obama has gotten them out of the loop because they were no longer able to buy their way to power. So, I'm now far more willing to be seen as an ATM by Obama. - Robert Scoble

Here's an article on this meeting: http://blogs.abcnews.com/polit... - Robert Scoble

There is always power and luxury to those that cater to those outside of the borders they represent. Obama and Corn will turn America into a modern day plantation for fuel. No energy diversity here. All about the money - Noah David Simon

So Obama is a bum because we all don't get to have a personal sit-down meeting with him? - Mike Doeff

I believe it is called a "Cash Crop Economy". America really will be a 3rd world nation, because we won't be able to eat our own food! Energy for the rest of the world. No more corn bread. - Noah David Simon

@Kyle and Dave: Typical fund raising is to ask for the amount you gave previously or a slight bit higher. It's all dynamic. You gave $30 last time, you might be asked to give $35, doesn't sound like a lot, but that's a 17% increase in giving, do that across a vast donation base and it adds up - quick. Politics and money are intertwined (like it or not), and I'm happy Obama and Democrats have finally figured out and harnessed direct marketing. - AJ Kohn

I think it's pretty amazing to see the extent to which Obama's supporters will rationalize his pointless conservativism. - J T. Ramsay

All this talk about money and special interests is why the US should adopt the California policy of two term limits. It keeps anyone from getting to entrenched and beholden to special interests. Or we could go to the Mexican policy of only one term and the holder of an office can not campaign for a new position unless they resign from their existing position. This eliminates the advantage of the incumbent and keeps the person focused on governing not raising campaign funds. The current system if broken. - Jon Erickson

Leo, then let him get the money from non-liberal voters. - Dave Winer

Obama is just like every other politician. He flip-flops and begs for money. I love how he said he would use public funding and then as soon as he found out he could get a whole lot more from people, he's doing that. - Jason Mitchell via Alert Thingy

Finding it sad that once again Democrats are finding ways to divide themselves and look for ways to lose an election. - AJ Kohn

I just wrote up my thinking on the changing money train in Politics here: http://scobleizer.com/2008/06/... - Robert Scoble

Hillary supporters working to defeat Obama

Under the umbrella group, Just Say No Deal, diehard Clintonites have set up more than 100 anti-Obama websites in the last 20 days, most of them boiling with indignation." From: Judiciary Report

"The Republicans are having fun with a simple phrase Senator Barack Obama apparently, reportedly, purportedly, used during a meeting with members of the Congressional Black Caucus last week.

Women, loyal to Senator Hillary Clinton, will “get over it,” he reportedly told C.B.C. lawmakers, once they learn what Senator John McCain’s positions are on women’s issues." From: Obama says to Hillary supporters Get Over It

John McCain today

Your McCain Support Online - seems that some people are suggesting that John McCain just can't seem to get the support online that Obama has. Bah! I bet this 70 plus year old will beat Obama hands down when the teenie boppers weary of the game.

How does Ralph Nader affect the race? - I see it this way. If Hillary pulls off Texas and Ohio then she picks up the nomination due to games with superdelegates at the convention. This will alienate a ton of Democrats. Sure at that point Nader, or Gore-Nader, or Bloomberg-Nader, or something like that can pick off some support especially on the coasts as independants.

If Obama holds off Hillary, basically suggesting that super-delegates that vote for her are racist ... and wins the nomination. Then Nader will have little affect at all. Clintons will do exactly what they did to Kerry and pull their support and their team out of the race all together and let Obama flounder.

Democrats (Obama and Clinton) Scared to take a stand

From Publius Pundit a terrific post worth your time to read and digest: Two Democrats Betray Democracy. I have sided with John McCain against torture, but it would appear that once again the maverick has found a way to lead from the center, drawing on the strengths of strong wills on both sides.

Yesterday, one of the most important votes in recent memory occurred in the Senate, over whether the U.S. should engage in coercive interrogation such as the infamous "waterboarding" technique. President Bush has said such techniques are necessary in the war on terror and vowed to veto the measure if it passes Congress.

Guess which way "Democrats" Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton voted
.... (they didn't show up)

John McCain, however, did vote. And so-called Mr. non-Conservative voted
with President Bush, as did 45 other members of the Senate, sufficient to
sustain a presidential veto ... In other words, McCain a great and courageous
leader. And, by contrast, Clinton and Obama are cowering in the shadows like the
craven cowards they are. Leadership? They don't know the meaning of the word.
Ask yourself this: If he becomes president, how is Barack Obama going to protect
us from terrorism? By saying to Osama bin Laden: "See, I'm black, so you don't
need to hate America any more, I feel your pain"?

Obama supporter moves to McCain

From the Daily Dish

I am a lifelong Democrat and have been a strong Obama advocate--even donating
money for the very first time in my life. (And I am over 50.) Still, all
along, I thought, if Clinton gets the nomination, I'd vote for her over a
Republican. Especially after the past decade of the Republican
experience. However, after seeing Clinton in action in these past weeks
and at last night's debate (as well as Bill's "contributions"), I will never
vote for her. Never. If she gets the nomination, I will have to hope that McCain
is nominated and give him a good look.
While I have considerable disagreement
with him on a policy level, he is a man of integrity. (Mostly; but that's
another email.) Perhaps a McCain presidency balanced by a Democratic
Congress will serve the country well. But no matter the Republican
nominee, one thing is certain: I will not vote for Hillary. The
person who once bemoaned the politics of personal destruction now applies them
with stomach-turning zeal. Not to mention her well-crafted art of the
politics of distortion. No, that's not what I want for this country.
We've had enough of destruction, distortion and manipulation. Obama is a
breath of welcome fresh air. If the country does not see it, well, then I
suppose we'll "get what we deserve." Again.