Bredesen's Gaffe Problem
A Memphis TV station has joined the speculation that Phil Bredesen could run with Obama or Clinton in November. The governor had this to say: “I’m not pursuing the job. I’m 100 percent focused on being the governor of Tennessee. However, my mom is very flattered every time my name is mentioned as a possible running mate.”
All joking aside, Bredesen seems pretty serious about landing the veep spot. He’s remained uncommitted even after Clinton swept Tennessee’s primary. And unsolicited, he’s offered himself as a party leader to settle the nomination fight, making the rounds of TV talk shows to propose a superdelegate convention in June. He holds obvious advantages for the Democrats as a Southern governor.
But his greatest strength at the moment is that almost no one outside Tennessee has ever heard him give a speech. One of the worst public speakers who ever lived, he can suck the air right out of a room. In fact, given the number of stupid things he’s been saying lately, it’s probably a good idea for Bredesen to stop talking altogether if he wants to be the veep. Yesterday, he compared pending cuts in spending for the mentally ill, children and other needy people to tossing baggage overboard. Here’s a state GOP presser on the governor’s latest gaffe.
Comments
One way to think about how the current unpleasantness of the Democratic nomination process will evolve into something more constructive come select-a-veep time is this: Either Obama or Clinton as nominee needs a running mate who is or closely approximates the other. An alarming number of Clintonites may be telling pollsters now they won't vote for Obama in the general, but I'd like to see what they say when it's an Obama-Sebelius ticket. I'm not sure who can stand in for Obama as a running mate for Clinton, but Obama would do nicely.
Bredesen as a running mate (for either of them) does little to unify the party, except perhaps in collective astonishment at the presence of charismatically and telegenically challenged quasi-Republican on the Democratic presidential ticket.
Posted 04/24/2008 at 02:34:54 PM"In fact, given the number of stupid things he’s been saying lately, it’s probably a good idea for Bredesen to stop talking altogether if he wants to be the veep."
Why am I reminded of the Hag and Hussein?
Posted 04/24/2008 at 05:48:32 PM