Monday, November 9, 2009

Opinion

Robert Schlesinger

Vice President Kathleen Sebelius? What's the Matter With Kansas?

August 20, 2008 04:54 PM ET | Robert Schlesinger | Permanent Link | Print

Reader Comments

A Proud Kansan

P.S. to "of WA" "WE ALL KNOW (caps mine) that out of more than 150 million women in the US, only one of them is capable of handling the rigors of the vice-presidency: Hillary Rhodam Clinton.

Where do you get that "we ALL know" bit? and

"Women across the country know that if Obama doesn't hand her the keys to the VP office, no woman will gain a position of leadership in this country for decades." Pretty strong language and a major assumption without basis in fact (other than your supposition). That's all.

Sibelius

I am an oddity I guess... a Democrat in Kansas. I am a strong supporter and admirer of Kathleen Sibelius. She is intelligent, competent, "works well with others" (<G>) and has accomplished pseudo miracles in working against the blow-hard of the evangelistic, radical right Republicans in Kansas (not all of them are such, trust me). We (?) are flattered that others recognize the excellence of our Governor to the point of supporting her for the VP nomination as well as making her Co-Chair of the Democrat National Convention. That said, she does not have the international experience and knowledge that is needed as an Obama VP OR A PRESIDENT should the most horrible things thrust her into that position. She will be an outstanding Cabinet member in an Obama administration given the chance and I salute her.

Jen

I feel that Kathleen would of made a wonderful VP. She has done amazing things for our state. She is honest and hardworking. Not a typical politician that you can't trust. Kathleen has went above and beyond what was promised when she first ran for Govenor. Honestly the name or the gender shouldn't matter. But I do think he overlooked a wonderful VP. Many Republican voters in our state might have swung a democratic vote had he picked her.

Who for Vice President?

Senator Obama obviously will have ubdoubtedly choosen his running mate for vice president on the conditions he has mentioned in his public meetings. Senator Obama is one very brillant man, if he were to pick Senator Hilary R.Clinton he would still be one very very smart man!!

hillary for vp----------------------------not

I'm sorry but I personally don't like Hillary Rotten Clinton. I found her rude and impersonal, she wouldn't remember me, because when I attempt to embrace her present with pride and love in my heart during her compaign for her current Senate position she totally ignored me. She made me feel insignificant as a person of color, that sealed my lack of faith in her as a potential V.P.

And no, I'm not prejudice, because she is of the caucasian persuasion. I met "Muhammed Ali" some years ago, and he was equally rude and literally untouchable to a child whom attempt to hug his idol.

Madness

I guess all women in the US have to stand in line for a few more years until Hillary Clinton gets her turn at bat. So much for forward progress.

Why bellitle women this low

WA who are you to insult women on such an important score-intelligence? I propose we gaet only women preisdents around the world for only five years and i bet there wont survive any wars!

Forget Hilary

I would love to see a woman in the oval office wether as president or vice president, if they have the qualifications, and if they bring something desirable to the table. I do not think being the wife of a former president is considered qualifications, and from the primaries we've seen all she brings to the table are a bunch of sour grapes. To think that the womens movement would want the historical path to their defining moment to lead through the murky woods of a philanderers bed, is demeaning to all women, Hilarry supporters or not. Can't we forget Hilary and her supporters already? They threaten to vote for McCain, I do not consider them members of the Democratic party. I hope Barack does pick Kathleen, more change is what we need.

KS vs HRC

Frankly it's just plain proving that the HRC babies are the real ones in a cult of personality. HRC has never personally governed anything except a discordant campaign for prez. I've never heard KS speak (that I can recall), but I'd guess that KS is actually a better speaker than HRC (who is neither good nor bad.) The thought that nominating a woman other than HRC for VP is to say that in eight years or so, HRC wants to still have the market cornered on the "woman president" crowd -- who at least in NH where I live, may have another contender or two by then (Jeanne Shaheen) besides KS.

I think that Barack will choose based on the following criteria:

1) good speaker 2) likely to either help win a demographic or a region/large state 3) 'gets' what he means by "change".

Kathleen Sebelius of KS wins on two of those three -- and I repeat, I've never heard her speak.

BTW, for other veeps, those three categories::

HRC -- 1)mediocre, 2) Clintonistas 3) no.

Biden 1) wild card 2) ummm MD? the Potomac states? 3) mebbe

Bayh 1)No. 2) Indiana (and the Red-state mindset) 3)who knows

Kaine 1)yes 2)VA and the red state mindset 3) I think so

just to note.

If I were a betting man, I'd say three choices:

Kaine, Sebelius, or none of the above.

Obama to pick Kaine VP

www.notwrightforamerica.com makes a pretty compelling case that Obama's pick will be Tim Kaine, because that buzz about a month ago on Kaine was a trial balloon, and since the far left did not freak out about Kaine's moderate credentials, Obama will go with him. We'll see...

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Robert Schlesinger is a deputy editor at U.S. News and World Report and oversees all opinion editorial content. He is the author of White House Ghosts: Presidents and Their Speechwriters.

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