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Veep in the Middle

The electrifying Obama can afford to share his ticket with a staid running mate. Why Sam Nunn would be a smart choice.

By Jonathan Alter | Newsweek Web Exclusive
Jul 4, 2008 | Updated: 4:53  p.m. ET Aug 11, 2008

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  • Posted By: adelina @ 07/29/2008 3:08:54 PM

    Comment: I think is the other way around, Obama's lack of foreign experience is the reason why his choice should be someone perceived as experienced on foreign policy. Don't try to sell the "would make Obama look insecure" line. He should be insecure or you think a 3-day tour of the middle east & Europe makes replaces his lack of experience. Polls after polls the a majority of americans perceive Obama as not ready to be commander in chief. Polls also reflect that in such a big Democratic year Obama has not close the deal yet. He needs at least 45 % of whites and 12% of independents to be elected. According to the polls it is not happening yet. I guess your article is trying to persuade those who have not been touch with Obama's mania.

  • Posted By: Thewhitesmiter @ 07/22/2008 2:15:32 PM

    Comment: Oops! The New Yorker satire not 'the Newseek Satire". Newsweek should do one too though.

  • Posted By: Thewhitesmiter @ 07/22/2008 1:19:43 AM

    Comment: Chances are good that his wife will encourage him to pick a black man just to cover his butt. The Newsweek satire was right on the money. That lady is a pushy broad.

  • Posted By: bjbprice @ 07/11/2008 5:13:53 PM

    Comment: Your description of Obama as electrifying confounds those of us who consider his lack of preparedness to serve as our president as simply shocking.

  • Posted By: bjbprice @ 07/11/2008 5:12:15 PM

    Comment: Your description of Obama as electrifying confounds those of us who consider his lack of preparedness to serve as president simply shocking.

  • Posted By: dw1989@yahoo.com @ 07/10/2008 7:40:17 PM

    Comment: As a gay person, I take strong exception to Alter's statement, " While gays would protest loudly if Nunn is the nominee, his selection would show Obama's independent streak in standing up to a powerful Democratic interest group." Alter criticized Hillary for her supposed racism, but here Alter is making an unconscionable argument saying it is alright to deny a whole class of people their rights. Although I am a Hillary supporter, Obma would not have to pick her as VP for me to vote for him. However, if he picks Nunn, he will not get my vote.

  • Posted By: Sara Sow @ 07/09/2008 3:16:39 PM

    Comment: I JUST SAW A POLL OF HILARY SUPPORTERS THAT MOST ARE NOT COMING OVER TO OBAMA.
    I AM ONE OF THOSE SUPPORTERS AND I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT IF HILARY IS NOT PICKED AS V.P. I WILL NOT BE VOTING FOR OBAMA. I WILL BE WRITING IN HILARY'S NAME...EVEN IF IT DOES NO GOOD. YES, I KNOW MANY PUNDITS SAY HOW STUPID. WELL IF YOU CALL STUPID STANDING UP FOR A PRINCIPLE AND THE 18 MILLION PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR HILARY. SHE HAS EARNED HER PLACE ON THE TICKET. IF THE TRUTH BE KNOWN, SHE WON THE POPULAR VOTE. I WOULD ALMOST PROMISE YOU THAT OBAMA WILL LOSE THIS ELECTION WITH THE HILARY VOTERS AND THE CLOSET WHITE VOTERS WHO ARE PREDJUDICED AS MEAN AS THAT MAY SOUND....

  • Posted By: chipburpee@hotmail.com @ 07/09/2008 1:02:19 PM

    Comment: I think Mr. Alter is right on EXCEPT he just needs to change the name --- BOB GRAHAM!
    His foreign policy credentials are arguably as impressive as he was the Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and like Sam Nunn continues to work in the field - now as Chairman for Congressionally Mandated Committee on Weapons of Mass Destruction and Proliferation. However, he beats Sam Nunn across the board on all of Senator Nunn's strength's. Electorally - with Graham on the ticket you have a REAL chance of winning the VP's home state and Florida over Georgia is a no brainer. He is also arguably better prepared for the job because unlike Nunn - Senator Graham has executive experience as he was and still remains one of the most popular (two term) Governor's in the State's history
    In addition - though they both oppossed the war - Graham was STILL a Senator which means that the heat of saying your against the war at a Georgetown cocktail party is considerably less then doing so on the floor of the Senate (which Graham was widely criticized for).
    Furthermore, though Graham is definitely a moderate, he is not as conservative as Nunn and though everyone has a questionable vote or two Graham would certainly not run into the same voting record hurdles.
    Enviornment, education, etc.... Graham's a better pick across the board.
    Finally, though Graham has suffered from some of the same knocks as Nunn (lack of charisma, not exciting enough) I do agree with Mr. Alter that those are so insignificant in this election.
    I can't think of a more experienced (30+ years) do no harm, trusted advisor with no personal agenda, advantageous pick. If only Mr. Alter had thought hard enough about the Better pick for his theory.


  • Posted By: HolyRoller @ 07/07/2008 10:24:24 PM

    Comment: Appears Hussein is a man of character, after all. I just picked up this thank you letter due to be released across the country, to all his supporters. I apologize for all my negative comments. He may well be the Messiah...........

    My fellow Americans:

    As your future President I want to thank my supporters, for your mindless support of me, despite my complete lack of any legislative achievement, my pastor's relations with Louis Farrakhan and Libyan dictator Moamar Quadafi, or my blatantly leftist voting record while I present myself as some sort of bi-partisan agent of change.

    I also like how my supporters claim my youthful drug use and criminal behavior somehow qualifies me for the Presidency after 8 years of claiming Bush's youthful drinking disqualifies him. Your hypocrisy is a beacon of hope shining over a sea of political posing.

    I would also like to thank the Kennedy's for coming out in support of me. There's a lot of glamour behind the Kennedy name, even though JFK started the Vietnam War, his brother Robert illegally wiretapped Martin Luther King, Jr. and Teddy killed a female employee with whom he was having an extra marital affair and who was pregnant with his child. And I'm not going anywhere near the cousins, both literally and figuratively.
    And I'd like to thank Oprah Winfrey for her support. Her love of meaningless empty platitudes will be the force that propels me to the White House.

    Americans should vote for me, not because of my lack of experience or achievement, but because I make people feel good.
    Voting for me causes some white folk to feel relieved of their imagined, racist guilt. I say things that sound meaningful, but don't really mean anything because Americans are tired of things having meaning. If things have meaning, then that means you have to think about them.
    Americans are tired of thinking. It's time to shut down the brain and open up the heart. So when you go to vote, remember don't think, just do. And do it for me.

    Thank You.
    Barack Hussein Obama,


    NOBAMA!!!

    • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 07/08/2008 13:58:46

      Comment: HR, here you go again diminishing Obama in order to make McCain look good. Please stop this, it's futile, Obama wins in Nov. Have you no praise for McCain? Come now, you must have some wonderful comments for him.

      • Posted By: HolyRoller @ 07/08/2008 23:15:23

        Comment: Oh, I have lots. Most important is, he is a man of character and integrity. Something Hussein has none of. He is a crook and a fraud.

        As for diminishing Hussein...I can't quit. It's too fun and too easy. He offers a never ending supply of material.

        NOBAMA!!!

        • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 07/09/2008 08:11:20

          Comment: HR- if you have lots of positive comments for McCain why don't you post them instead of endorsing him only by demeaning and smearing Obama?

          • Posted By: tired and old @ 07/09/2008 10:59:41

            Comment: EXCELLENT POINT ! PIA.

            HOLY HAS NOTHING GOOD TO SAY ABOUT A REALLY REALLY OLD GUY LIKE JOHN MC CAIN.

            I WOULD LIKE TO HELP HOLY OUT; BUT, I CAN'T THINK OF ANYTHING EITHER.

            SORRY ! HOLY.

  • Posted By: cheerios @ 07/07/2008 3:42:10 PM

    Comment: Since when does Barack Obama possess "the stature to be perceived immediately as a plausible president"? Sam Nunn possesses so much stature he would tower over Obama & make him come off as the new little Danny Quayle.

    • Posted By: tired and old @ 07/09/2008 11:01:17

      Comment: STALE CHEERIOS REALLY SUCK !

  • Posted By: C. MacLean @ 07/07/2008 1:16:18 PM

    Comment: A better choice is Governor Schweitzer of Montana. He is pro-gun, has successfully run businesses on 5 continents, has done some truly inovative things in Montana with regard to energy, and speaks fluent Arabic.

    He is also a democrat in a western state.

    http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1580387,00.html

  • Posted By: Karenn1 @ 07/07/2008 10:09:12 AM

    Comment: If Nunn is VP One year from now O bama would be a one year old ghost.Military complex man.Keep the war going.Screw him.

  • Posted By: Karenn1 @ 07/07/2008 10:04:09 AM

    Comment: Sam Nunn is one of them,insheep clothing,corp. drone.

    • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 07/08/2008 14:02:33

      Comment: Who is he?

  • Posted By: Chaya @ 07/07/2008 1:33:05 AM

    Comment: Yeah,right Nunn is the choice for VP!LOL If Obama wants to win he should beg Hillary to be his VP.

    • Posted By: tired and old @ 07/07/2008 09:16:59

      Comment: WITCH HILLARY VP CHOICE ?

      BOOoooooooo HOOoooooooo !

      CLASSLESS WITCH AT BEST.

      BAD CHOICE INDEED !

      • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 07/09/2008 08:13:26

        Comment: Yes T, I see you are back and in full force. Was worried about you.

        • Posted By: tired and old @ 07/09/2008 11:03:46

          Comment: HEY ! PIA.

          BEEN WORKING MY TIRED AND OLD BUTT OFF ON MY NEW PORCH; ALMOST DONE WITH TRIM.

          TODAY I SEARCH FOR A NEW RUG .

  • Posted By: Nins @ 07/06/2008 11:00:33 PM

    Comment: Did you know that if McCain is elected you will have to pay income tax on the value of the medical insurance that your employer gives you? Worse still, he is offering a tax break for people who pay their own insurance, BUT only $2,500 for individuals and $5,000 for families.

    Let's say you have a family of four. Your insurance policy costs would be at least $1,500-2,000 per month under a self-pay plan, which cost more than employer group plans. So, you pay $18,000 -$30,000 per year for insurance, and you get to deduct only $5,000 of that. If you paid $25,000 for you insurance, you would be out of pocket $20,000 per year. This is FAR WORSE than the current system, where if you are self employed you can deduct 100% of you medical insurance costs.

    So, if you're not self employed, you would stick with your Employer's plan. Employer plans for a family of four have a value of $900-$1,500 per month totaling 10,800-$18,000 per year. Surprise! On April 15th, you owe tax on all of that as INCOME to you. Say your bracket is 25%, and the value of your Employer medical plan is $14,000. You will OWE THE IRS an additional $3,500, and that's ON TOP of whatever monthly premium you already pay to your employer for your insurance.

    Many analysts say that McCain's new rules would encourage employers to stop offering health benefits. If that happened, then far fewer Americans would be insured than are insured today, because what family of four can afford $18,000-30,000 out of pocket per year for self-pay health insurance?

    Furthermore, McCain's plan does not require insurance companies to cover pre-existing conditions of people who self-pay their insurance. People under employer group plans have all of their pre-existing conditions covered. This is a hugely unfair aspect of the current system. Insurance companies can afford to cover the pre-existing conditions of the much larger pool of people with group insurance, but they refuse to pay the pre-existing conditions on the smaller pool of self-pay customers. They have been allowed to price gouge the self-pay customers, which is a form of market manipulation that should be illegal.

    So let's say one of your kids had diabetes and you have high blood pressure, then your employer stops offering insurance. You now have to buy your own, but you and your child are INELIGIBLE due to pre-existing conditions. Oh, yeah, they will let you buy the insurance, but you can't use it for any pre-existing condition until you have paid on time every month for two years. And you know what happens at one year and 11 months? You get a letter saying your policy has been cancelled. I have many patients this has happened to.

    McCain's plan SUCKS.

    It does nothing to help middle class working Americans afford or obtain medical insurance. In fact, it makes the current system WORSE.

  • Posted By: DavidCA @ 07/06/2008 4:25:18 PM

    Comment: Nunn would be okay, I guess, but boring. If you want someone with military cred, Wes Clark would be a better choice. Plus, added fun that he will tell the truth. McCain would roll over in his grave if Obama picked Clark for VP.

    • Posted By: sharenews @ 07/06/2008 20:15:08

      Comment: I dont think after Gen Clark (e.g. due to negativity with remark ) or Senator Dodd (VIP loan taker from Countrywide) are on Obamas short list anymore. There still are a few others that would be good as VP ...

      • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 07/06/2008 20:28:08

        Comment: Is Gov. Bill Richardson still on the VP list?

        • Posted By: sharenews @ 07/06/2008 21:23:48

          Comment: Yes, he is. Not sure how some Hillary supporters would take to that if Obama are still trying to woo the rest of them holding out until they see the VP pick. Richardson would maybe help with the Puerto Rican voters I would think. I believe I read that Obama does have a portion of this segment supporting him, but that the more stricter (cant thick of word) of the Catholic Puerto Rican voters he hasnt wooed over yet. So Richardson may help with that.

          • Posted By: tired and old @ 07/07/2008 09:23:14

            Comment: WATCH CLINTON RAGE SOAR IF BILL RICHARDSON IS VP CHOICE OF TEAM OBAMA.

            CLINTON STAFF CARVILLE NAMED RICHARDSON " JUDAS ", OBAMA WANTS TO GET HILLARY

            CLINTON SUPPORTERS ON HIS TEAM, WHY CAUSE TROUBLE BY SELECTING RICHARDSON.

            • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 07/08/2008 14:00:37

              Comment: Tired! You are back. Glad to 'see' you. We missed you! For awhile there, many of us were worried about you. Hope all is well.

              • Posted By: tired and old @ 07/09/2008 11:08:37

                Comment: I HAVE MISSED YOU GUYS TOO !

                EVERYTHING IS WELL; EXCEPT, A LOT OF WORK TO DO IN YARD AND BUILT A NEW PORCH.

                GLAD THE DAYS ARE LONG.

  • Posted By: eddiewhere @ 07/06/2008 3:37:27 PM

    Comment: Centrisim, Triangualation. Anyone who wants to be President has to understand these concepts. We will pull out of Iraq when OBAMA takes the Presidency. However, every President has to listen to those "in charge" of the war before any Military decisions are made. THOSE IN CHARGE OF THE WAR HAve already started to build A HUNDRED YEAR FOUNDATION in IRAQ. McCAIN INTENDS TO FINISH THE JOB.
    THOSE IN CHARGE OF THE WAR HAVE ECONOMIC INTERESTS IN IRAQ. THEY WILL MAKE IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR THE NEXT PRESIDENT TO PULL OUR TROOPS OUT.

    OBAMA IS ALREADY ACTING LIKE AN EXPERIENCED PRESIDENT.
    People need to understand a UNIVERSAL LAW
    NOTHING IS CONSTANT
    THINGS ARE ALWAYS CHANGING. IT IS PART OF HUMAN EVOLUTION.

  • Posted By: greghirshoren @ 07/06/2008 3:33:17 PM

    Comment: I have been praying for twenty years Sen. Sam might run for POTUS someday. When I moved to GA. in '70 he was a looney saber-rattling hawk, now he is the moderate voice of reason, the thing is he has stayed fast while the landscape shifted around him... interesting times indeed.

  • Posted By: mhopgood123 @ 07/06/2008 2:05:49 PM

    Comment: schlang ,
    No one cares nor believes in Larry Sinclair. He was sent to jail on a warrant for his arrest. I was one of those wrote to the COlorado police to come and get him. Stop spreading lies!

  • Posted By: datzamore@aol.com @ 07/06/2008 2:05:09 PM

    Comment: The issue of who Obama's VP choice is will pale in comparison to his "close 20 year relationship" with a bigot named Reverand Wright. And the good reverand's "close relationship" with one of America's biggest racists, Louis Farrakhan. Attention people: Birds of a Feather. And most of America is starting to figure it out. Especially Hillary fans and Jewish voters. Remember, this is the same nation that re-elected a very unpopular George Bush only 3 1/2 years ago during an unpopular war. McCain will win this election.

  • Posted By: mhopgood123 @ 07/06/2008 2:04:04 PM

    Comment: schlang,
    I have no idea what you are talking about.

  • Posted By: Roameo @ 07/06/2008 12:33:06 PM

    Comment: Nunn's prejudiced, backward ways is exactly what Obama ( and the country) does NOT need. Why are so many unimaginative pundits talking about Nunn? He is not photogenic. He is not charismatic or a good political speaker. He was never know for great, innovative thinking and has always been far too militaristic for the good of our country. Please don't tell me Obama is that desperate to win Georgia. Even if he is, there are better Georgians to choose than Nunn. Concerning VP candidates, I wouldn't go so far as to say none are worse than Nunn, but he is pretty high up on my NO WAY! list.

  • Posted By: Western Voter @ 07/06/2008 11:35:19 AM

    Comment: Samm Nunn is a bigot. Period. End of story. He did not "support" don't ask, don't tell -- he jammed it down folks throats as barely tolerable in his view. He was the face and bellicose voice that doomed Clinton's executive order allowing gays to serve with dignity. How very nice that we now have a war and too few soldiers that Sam Nunn is willing to reconsider. He is the worst of the south. If Obama picks him he is doomed.

  • Posted By: schlang @ 07/06/2008 11:26:16 AM

    Comment: This is interesting, Obama shows early signs of lying to the American public by hiring bloggers that pretend to be people that they are not. Also a sign of Socialist propaganda!:http://www.larrysinclair.org/download/Relationships.pdf

    • Posted By: Nins @ 07/06/2008 22:17:57

      Comment: Larry Sinclair is a convicted felon with current outstanding warrants for theft and forgery. He has spent most of the last 26 years in jail for crimes like extortion and perjury. And you are using his website as an example of TRUTH?

      Get a freakin life, Schlang.

      And if you are going to say that Obama hires bloggers that "pretend to people they are not" I think you had better back that up with some creditable, verifiable facts. And Larry Sinclair websites don't count as creditable.

  • Posted By: schlang @ 07/06/2008 11:18:17 AM

    Comment: This is interesting:http://www.larrysinclair.org/download/Relationships.pdf

    • Posted By: mhopgood123 @ 07/06/2008 14:08:02

      Comment: EnLarry SIncalir is old smear news. Find a new smear so we can figth you back!

  • Posted By: lithium451 @ 07/06/2008 2:32:03 AM

    Comment: Comment: Sam who?? I guess some would find him charming and many would find him like Bush without the personality.

    Here's a lazy-minded observation from a gay political observer. I actually don't care what Nunn's position on the study was (other than painting him as a son of the Old-Old South). What I do seem to remember was that his picque over not getting the Secretary of Defense job from Clinton caused him to light a fire under this issue (you know preserving his creds with the military leadership) which certainly created plenty of headaches for a new president of his own party. So much for team player.

  • Posted By: lithium451 @ 07/06/2008 2:28:20 AM

    Comment: Sam who?? I guess some would find him charming and many would find him like Bush without the personality.
    ). What I do seem to remember was that his picque over not getting the Secretary of Defense job from Cli
    Here's a lazy-minded observation from a gay political observer. I actually don't care what Nunn's position on the study was (other than painting him as a son of the Old-Old Southnton caused him to light a fire under this issue (you know preserving his creds with the military leadership) which certainly created plenty of headaches for a new president of his own party. So much for team player.

  • Posted By: sharenews @ 07/06/2008 1:14:09 AM

    Comment: As I have heard of Sam Nunn, I really didn???t know where his strengths were. So I googled up this article first to give me some background on this former senator.

    Is he a good pick for Obama to have as a VP given Nunns strength in the area of National Security . . ? Although when reading thru this article, I found out he was considering a run for President this year which of course he ended up not pursuing. Which raises the question would he be satisfied as a VP?.

    ARTICLE FROM RIGHT DEMOCRAT.com
    Saturday, August 25, 2007

    Sam Nunn left the U.S. Senate more than 10 years ago. Since then, the Georgia Democrat, who made his name nationally as a defense-minded hawk, has watched what???s happened to the country, and he???s more than a bit ticked ??? at the ???fiasco??? in Iraq, a federal budget spinning out of control, the lack of an honest energy policy, and a presidential contest that, he says, seems designed to thwart serious discussion of the looming crises.

    Sam Nunn is still considered one of the foremost experts on national security.

    Full article: http://rightdemocrat.blogspot.com/2007/08/sam-nunn-for-president.html

  • Posted By: Achilles22 @ 07/05/2008 9:08:58 PM

    Comment:

    To all the folks that entertain themselves by trying to bring down a truly great candidate -

    Please read every word of the Audacity of Hope and get back to us -

    Obama is no perfect human being, nor is he the next coming, or the messiah - He is a leader of high intellect and moral judgement that we all can be proud of. After the last 8 years - let's get real and give this man a chance to lead this great nation. If you are violently against this guy - it suggests a dark cynicism that no president can cure and is more insightful of what you are lacking than anything else - if not worse.

    Wake up folks.

    Thanks -

    • Posted By: Nins @ 07/06/2008 22:19:11

      Comment: Bravo, Achilles!

    • Posted By: sharenews @ 07/06/2008 01:26:09

      Comment: To Achilles22,

      This seemed like an appropriate quote in response to your post:

      The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it.

      - George Bernard Shaw
      Irish dramatist & socialist (1856 - 1950)

    • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 07/05/2008 22:45:21

      Comment: Outstanding comments, thanks!

      • Posted By: thehappyamerican @ 07/05/2008 23:51:47

        Comment: I've heard some dark cynicism coming from Obama his self!, (and a crowd of his supporters) but no big deal! What Obama says gets flip flopped on so he can't be taken too seriously. Such people don't need to be brought down. They just are.
        It's a long way to November.
        Do you get a refund for the book if he don't win?

        • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 07/06/2008 10:29:37

          Comment: Obama is not in any way down about anything, and he won't be. He is the best candidate. He wins in November.

          • Posted By: Nins @ 07/06/2008 22:21:15

            Comment: I second that, Pia. Obama is a positive thinker, a success thinker, a hopeful thinker. I haven't seen any dark cynicism coming from him. I think that "HappyAmerican" is seeing through a glass darkly.

            And I totally agree that Obama wins in November!

            • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 07/08/2008 14:01:43

              Comment: Ditto! Hello there, Nins.

  • Posted By: ohmyrod @ 07/05/2008 3:45:38 PM

    Comment: Choosing Sam Nunn is the one thing Obama could do that would not only keep me from voting for him, but cause me to consider McCain. I will not forget, nor will I forgive his roll in stopping Clinton from allowing gays to serve in the military openly as equal citizens. Don't-ask-don't-tell was the necessary evil to keep Nunn from leading a Congressional drive to outlaw gays in the military. If Nunn had had his way, simply being gay would not only have left service men and women court-martialed, but would have also landed them in jail. Unless he is willing to repudiate his actions and to pledge to campaign for both a complete lifting of the ban as well as the end of don't-ask-don't-tell Sam Nunn needs to just go away and stay there. I will never vote for Sam Nunn, even if it means McCain wins.

  • Posted By: Nins @ 07/05/2008 3:27:17 PM

    Comment: With all due respect, SKD, I really doubt that President Bush was actually trying to further any kind of democratic humanitarian agenda when he invaded Iraq. He SAID that his motive was the "weapons of mass destruction" but we all know that wasn't true, and he himself knew it wasn't true long before the American people knew. When you say you want to spread democracy and ease the suffering that man inflicts upon man, I respect those values tremendously. BUT if you are going to indulge in war in the name of nation-building, then I think you should start first in the places where (1) we can actually win, set up a democracy and make a difference, (2) there is already war or civil war going on and (3) we have the support of the international community in what we do. Iraq did not qualify in any of those categories. In fact, Somalia and Darfur were much more likely spots for us to go to work. And particularly Somalia, since the civil war there was created by AlQueda in a power-grab to further the spread of radical Islam in Africa. Whatever bad things can be said of Saddam (and there are plenty), he was NOT radical Islam. He was a dictator and sometimes ruthless, but he was very progressive when it came to religion. The nut-jobs like Hammas and AlQueda were exterminated in Iraq under Saddam, who ran probably the most progressive Muslim nation in the world, albeit with an iron hand.

    Honestly, I think that Bush was after the oil in Iraq. And he is such a bungler, that we didn't even get it, since the Iraqis blew up the wells and refineries. All we got was Halliburton companies (owned by Cheney) getting richer, our dollar devalued, our economy in tatters, and the National Debt increased beyond measure. This is not nation-building, this is nation destruction. Destruction of America as well as of Iraq, and a shot in the arm for the terrorists.

    Bush is an idiot.

    If you want more of the same, vote for McCain.

  • Posted By: Nins @ 07/05/2008 3:18:16 PM

    Comment: Sam Nunn would be a FABULOUS Vice President.

  • Posted By: datzamore@aol.com @ 07/05/2008 1:22:09 PM

    Comment: The issue of who Obama's VP choice is will pale in comparison to Obama's "close 20 year relationship" with a bigot named Reverand Wright. And the good reverand's "close relationship" with one of America's biggest racists, Louis Farrakhan. Birds of a feather....and most of America is starting to figure it out. Especially Hillary fans and Jewish voters. Remember, this is the same nation that re-elected a very unpopular George Bush only 3 1/2 years ago during an unpopular war. McCain will win this election.

  • Posted By: willnotvoteobama @ 07/05/2008 1:12:27 PM

    Comment: Posted By: olderwiser @ 07/05/2008 10:58:21 AM
    Comment: Barack Obama had the right as a U.S. Senator to go to look at Iraq. He did not. Then, one of his big vote getters was a promise to get us the hell out of Iraq. Now, nominated, he plans to go to Iraq to see if he needs to change his mind. I voted for him principally because he promised to get us the hell out of there. If he goes there and comes back to endorse staying there, then I reserve the right to flush my Obama vote down the toilet.

    • Posted By: Nins @ 07/05/2008 15:25:40

      Comment: You are wrong about this, Will Not Vote. Obama has visited iraq twice, both times on official State missions, once as a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee and once as a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

      I have posted this before, and I assume you read it, since you responded to it. Therefore, you already KNOW that Obama has been to Iraq. That means that you are intentionally LYING when you post this misinformation.

      Shame on you.

      • Posted By: cult followers @ 07/05/2008 16:10:10

        Comment: Shame on YOU Nins. You've been posting for months as an advocate for Barry and you still don't know the FACTS as pertains to him. Just like every other Barrybot. He went to Iraq ONCE - for two days in Jan 06. He was on a CODEL with Sen Blayh from Indiana. The CODEL went on to Afghanistan and Pakistan, which Barry refused to do. Barry instead went to Qatar to meet with Al Jazeera (American hating Arab network that televises American beheadings and gets Osama videos) and then on to Jordan and then met with Palestinian businessmen, students and leaders just weeks before HAMAS was elected. Any of this sound familiar? It should because it's true and it's been written many times over in here.

        I'm actually appalled at your continued ignorance. What kind of doctor and CEO were you? Or is that more myth written to masquerade as truth? You have been completely discredited as a poster, especially when you tried to recruit Clinton supporters.

        What kind of person are you? And why do you think what you are doing is helping Barry? All it does is show how ignorant of facts Barry supporters and how little they know. You've been blogging for him for how long? A year? I've seen you for months. Are you getting paid? And the absolutely vile words you used to describe Senator Clinton are forever in cyberspace and will never be erased. I find it sad that a lady in her sixties or seventies spends her days writing foul words about another woman and continues to pawn herself as an educated Barrybot. Sad. Very sad.

        • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 07/08/2008 14:04:25

          Comment: Why should we believe your facts instead of Nins? Look, Nins is very well informed and she has nothing to be ashamed of. Lay off!

  • Posted By: tippology1 @ 07/05/2008 12:57:38 PM

    Comment: Obama can dam near pick a convict to run with him and people will still he him more electable then McCan and I just dont get it. The guy has did nothing and the media wants so badly, it is just a f...k... shame that he doesn't deserve to be the President but he is due to self revenge on the GOP. Now that has got to be the most jacked up thing I have ever witness in my life ever and I have seen it all from the birth of a child to the death of a solider and this tops them all.

    • Posted By: cult followers @ 07/05/2008 16:19:53

      Comment: well said tippology1. The only way Barry could possibly lose is if delusional windbag all talk no action sellout Wright breaks free from his Nation of Islam captors. (Nobody cares that Bary has no experience or clue about being Commander in Chief.) Wright's been ranting and raging about politics and evil America for 40 years and now when he has to put up or shut up he hides. Haha A shocker? Not. Just like Barry: talk talk talk talk talk...

  • Posted By: Karenn1 @ 07/05/2008 9:33:32 AM

    Comment: Sam Nunn remines me of LBJ. Well connected and in the right place. Pass on Nunn enough of the hand shakes.

  • Posted By: Arkie_in_CT @ 07/05/2008 1:19:10 AM

    Comment: The problem with Sam Nunn lies in this question: can we be confident that he will maintain a disciplined tongue in not undermining the head of the ticket? In the 1992 cycle, it was Sam Nunn who derisively said of Bill Clinton that he has been "a rising star in the Democratic Party for three decades." That comment and his later prominently undermining Pres. Clinton on the gays in the military led to the feeling among many Clinton loyalists that Sen. Nunn looked down on the president and saw himself as imminently better qualified than Mr. Clinton to run the ship of state.

    How can we be sure that Mr. Nunn doesn't have a similar attitude, in the end, toward Sen. Obama and, more critically, that he will be able to resist the temptation to let such derision and, potentially, condescension, show? Sure, a solid, centrist figure such as Sam Nunn could greatly bolster the greener, less credentialed, more exotic commodity that is Sen. Obama. But it bears recallinh that Sen. Lloyd Bentsen - at least the equal of Sen. Nunn in the ways Mr. Alter sells Sam Nunn to us now - was only able to do so much to help Mike Dukakis in what should have been a big Democratic year;.

  • Posted By: Jill from Florida @ 07/04/2008 5:25:16 PM

    Comment: We can thank Sam Nunn for the economy we have today. He, along with other neo-liberals and neo-conservatives, supported NAFTA (HR 3450 11/22/1993) and voted for membership in the World Trade Organization (HR 5110 12/1/1994). Because of our membership in WTO, we CANNOT have a law that requires all US flags flown on government buildings be MADE IN THE USA. (Not fair to China manufacturers).

    Now, how un-American can you get?

  • Posted By: Jill from Florida @ 07/04/2008 4:09:47 PM

    Comment: Sam Nunn? Oh, great. All we need is another CFR NAFTA lover on Obama's team.

    • Posted By: dunnhaupt @ 07/04/2008 21:03:48

      Comment: Don't forget Bill Clinton when you list your "NAFTA lovers"; even Hillary held several meetings then in support of NAFTA. She didn't know it during the campaign when she argued against NAFTA in Ohio, but 50% of Ohio's exports go to Canada, thanks to NAFTA.

      • Posted By: cult followers @ 07/05/2008 16:21:45

        Comment: Gotta love that you're stilling using Sen and Pres Clinton when talking about Obama.

        • Posted By: sharenews @ 07/06/2008 02:40:17

          Comment: Cult followers, dunnhaupt has what I call: Clintonian Syndrome.

          Symptoms: Uncontrollable rantings about Hillary (and / or Bill) Clinton (some worse than others) in which the patient is obsessed with inflicting negativeness or hatred on one or both of these individuals.

          Prognosis: No cure!

          LMAO

  • Posted By: loriw @ 07/04/2008 3:17:58 PM

    Comment: Sen Lugar is an unsung "hero" in the political arena. He seems to be a fairly honest politician that truly is in politics for the betterment of the US and the world. Contrast him with people who are in politics for the betterment of themselves and the special interests that provided the money to get them elected. Sen. Lugar is very much respected here in Indiana. He seems to be a sincerely nice person who is dedicated to peace in our world.

  • Posted By: josemarti @ 07/04/2008 2:32:41 PM

    Comment: Sam Nunn as his running mate? Does anybody remember Sam Nunn?

    • Posted By: the-commish @ 07/04/2008 17:15:09

      Comment:
      Yes, I do!

      I remember him as the voice of moderation on many issues.

      And his stand on the U.S. Embargo of Cuba is exactly the right one. When something does not work (for 47 years this has not had the desired effect) you CHANGE it. You don't go on hoping that it someday it will magically begin to work.

      The embargo actually has been a crutch to the Castros. Don't believe it. Every time there is talk of a movement in the U.S. to lift it, Castro cracks down on dissidents in Cuba. Why? Because he (and now his brother) need it to deflect the poor state of the Cuban economy from themselves and blame it on the Yankee Embargo.

 
 
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