Biden informs Sanders he is starting VP vetting

[mcar]

Link to tweet

?s=20

[Walleye]

1. Good!

[still_one]

2. We are running out of time, and this election is too important

[mcar]

3. Yes

And Joe handled it in his usual classy way.

[still_one]

7. Yes

[DENVERPOPS]

40. Speaking of running out of time

Was it rumored that the Dems are postponing the convention to a month later????????

WTF

WASF

[still_one]

42. I think it is to figure out if they need to set it up virtually

[DENVERPOPS]

68. Wow,

I hope that that isn't true......If it takes the Dem's that long to just figure out if they need to do a virtual system, then how long is it going to take them to actually develop it? I mean three months? to just figure it out?' I hope this doesn't mean there is a chance we won't have a candidate until the last week in October.......

And I hope these Dems do a much better job of developing a new system than some of the State Primaries people have done......

Maybe, just maybe, Bernie can solve this whole nightmare by just withdrawing?????????
Or will he continue to make us listen to him for the next three-four months before he suffers the inevitable........

At any rate, we all can bet Trump and his best comrade Putin are enjoying the hell out of this........

[onetexan]

78. Agree, & with the covid situation its even more important now than ever

So good that Joe gave Bernie the 411.

[msongs]

4. well any top competitor would be doing the same thing. no shocker here nt

[mcar]

6. Nice that he informed Sanders in such a classy way, though

[Indykatie]

5. Biden is Always a Class Act n/t

[William769]

11. ...

[George II]

8. I hope this is part of the conversation, "it is not you!"

[LiberalFighter]

13. And your input is not wanted or will be considered. :)

[Sucha NastyWoman]

32. I'm glad to see that Joe is less provocative than some of his supporters

He’s smart enough to leave it alone

[The Magistrate]

44. The Mere Call, Sir, Would Be Sufficient, In Dealing With A Competent Politician

Unfortunately Mr. Biden was calling 'Bernie' Sanders.

There is no more chance 'Bernie' would get the nomination for Vice President than he has of getting the Presidential nomination, but there is no particular reason to suspect he understands that.





"From Bernie’s perspective, dropping out of a race once you have no chance of winning is peculiar behavior that can only be explained by the work of a hidden hand. For most politicians, though, it is actually standard operating procedure. Only Sanders seems to think the normal thing to do once voters have made clear they don’t want to nominate you is to continue campaigning anyway."





"When things are not called by their right names, what is said cannot make sense. When what is said does not make sense, what is planned cannot succeed. When plans do not succeed, people become uneasy. When people are uneasy, punishments do not fit crimes. When punishments do not fit crimes, people cannot know where to put hand or foot."

[BlueLucy]

9. Biden is moving on regardless of Bernie staying in the race.

[William769]

10. Oh to have been a fly on the wall.

[BlueLucy]

14. Or like Cha once said.

A spider. They're more appealing than flies. Lol

[Cha]

12. Booom! Thank you for this,

mcar!

Why would Biden Not start doing what needs to be done to move Forward Against getting trump GONE! Just because BS stays in when he can't win the nom has nothing to do with Joe Biden's path to Victory.

[mcar]

17. I'm glad he's moving forward

This country cannot wait.

[Cha]

20. The World cannot wait.

[mcar]

22. Yes

The world cannot wait.

[djacq]

15. Fingers crossed for Senator Kamala Harris.

Though we don't elect the Vice President, I'll vote blue no matter who.

Seriously, Trump has got to go.

[mcar]

18. She's my first choice too

[Dem4Life1102]

23. She comes from a solid blue state

and won’t flip any swing states. Plus her history as a prosecutor won’t help attract progressives.

[BidenBacker]

28. Not sure about that

Her voting record in Congress earns a higher progressive score than Sanders.

[msongs]

31. oh those progressives, like they are some sort of special tribe totally removed from dems politics

[BidenBacker]

33. LOL

I'm just saying that Kamala is kinda a chameleon. She is often perceived as being less progressive than her voting record indicates. Kinda like Joe is often perceived by many as being less liberal than he really is. That's not necessarily a bad thing.

I like Harris a lot but I oscillate back and forth as to who the best running mate is. It depends on what criteria you value the most so I'll leave it up to Biden and his advisors to figure it out and I'll get on board with whoever he chooses.

Unless it's Palin.

[Dem4Life1102]

34. Great

But she didn’t get progressive support in the primaries. Why would she get it in the general? There are better choices who don’t have her baggage and could help flip a swing state.

[BidenBacker]

35. Progressives

wouldn't vote for her as long as there was Bernie and Warren. They may feel differently if she becomes his Veep...which I am not predicting she will be. Just pointing out facts, is all.

[Dem4Life1102]

37. Facts?

Guessing about how progressives may feel is not pointing out facts.

[BidenBacker]

39. I'm in the middle of dinner while posting

but will love to fight with you after I'm done since you seem hellbent on one.

FACTS as in her progressive voting record in Congress is quite high. That's it...I said no more and no less despite what you read into it.

I can type slower for you if need be but I don't want my meat loaf to get cold.

[Dem4Life1102]

43. Yet her voting record didn't get her progressive

support in the primaries. That is a fact. She also doesn’t help to flip any swing states.

[The Magistrate]

41. Suggesting, Sir, 'Progressives' Will Not Vote For Her Is Not Pointing Out A Fact Either

It is every bit as speculative as someone suggesting they might well support her for Vice President.






"When things are not called by their right names, what is said cannot make sense. When what is said does not make sense, what is planned cannot succeed. When plans do not succeed, people become uneasy. When people are uneasy, punishments do not fit crimes. When punishments do not fit crimes, people cannot know where to put hand or foot."

[Dem4Life1102]

45. I'm not suggesting progressives won't vote for her

I’m stating that they didn’t support her in the primaries. That is a fact.

[BidenBacker]

46. And where exactly did I ever say progressives would vote for her?

You don't need me to argue with...you're doing a plenty good enough job arguing against your own strawmen.

[Dem4Life1102]

48. So then you agree that

she won’t help attract progressive voters so there are better choices for the VP slot on the ticket.

[dansolo]

75. Her support while running for president is irrelevant

Harris was running against both Sanders and Warren. Sanders would never be picked for VP, and there are probably good reasons for Biden to not pick Warren either. Progressives may prefer that Biden pick Warren over Harris, but that doesn't mean that they wouldn't support Harris if she were picked.

[Dem4Life1102]

77. And where is the evidence that they would?

[The Magistrate]

52. And I Suspect Mr. B. Backer Is Correct, Sir

I enjoy a fight myself, but am not going to allow my propensity towards that to slip me into one with you over such a trivial and pointless matter. I will merely suggest that how evident support fell out in a crowded Presidential field may be a poor indicator of whether people would support the choice for Vice President of the Party's anointed Presidential candidate. A legislative record is every bit the fact that levels of apparent support in the early primary going is.

Besides, the question of whether someone 'brings a state' is not nowadays the usual, or the best, calculation in selecting a running mate. Energizing a constituency is now the usual aim. Mr. Biden has made evident that, since a great many of the voters his run will need are suburban women and career women, these are a constituency he wants eager to cast ballots. At the same time, Mr. Biden knows he owes a debt to the Party's solid African-American constituency, and wants this bloc of his supporters eager to cast ballots.

On the face of it, Sen. Harris would seem to serve both needs. The fact of the matter is that 'progressives' are not a constituency anyone is going to go much out of their way to court this year. That is one of the consequences of attempting to make the Party sorry if 'progressives' don't get their way, instead of trying to make the Party glad to see 'progressives' are always in there pitching right alongside the rest, particularly in a crisis.





"When things are not called by their right names, what is said cannot make sense. When what is said does not make sense, what is planned cannot succeed. When plans do not succeed, people become uneasy. When people are uneasy, punishments do not fit crimes. When punishments do not fit crimes, people cannot know where to put hand or foot."

[Dem4Life1102]

56. Do you know how the Electoral College works?

Because that’s how Presidential elections are decided so having someone on the ticket who can help flip a swing state would seem to be a good idea if you want to win. Plus having a ticket that would appeal to both moderate and progressive voters would seem like a good idea too. And are several African American women who can both help flip a swing state and appeal to progressives. And none of them ever accused Biden of being a racist.

[The Magistrate]

59. Yes I Do, Sir --- I Can Also Suck Eggs With The Best Of Them

Let me know when you have a point. and I may attend to it.

The old 'favorite son' style is long gone as guidance for professionals in choosing a running mate. Mr. Kaine in 2016 was not chosen to secure Virginia, but to provide some solid male ballast to the ticket for people reluctant to vote for a woman. It did not seem to me a good choice, but that is neither here nor there, and I emphatically do not credit him with carrying Virginia. The 2018 round showed where the trend in that state was heading, regardless of who Mrs. Clinton chose for her running mate.

It might help if you stated whom you think Mr. Biden should choose for a running mate.





"When things are not called by their right names, what is said cannot make sense. When what is said does not make sense, what is planned cannot succeed. When plans do not succeed, people become uneasy. When people are uneasy, punishments do not fit crimes. When punishments do not fit crimes, people cannot know where to put hand or foot."

[Dem4Life1102]

61. Kaine was a poor choice

because he didn’t provide any ideological or demographic balance to the ticket. But whether he was chosen to help secure Virginia or not is unknown. Can you provide any evidence that it wasn’t one of the reasons he was chosen? It’s not like there weren’t many other moderate white guys available.

[The Magistrate]

64. Good Lord, Sir

You remind me of a probably apocryphal tale of a conversation between a sergeant and his battalion commander in one of the jungle columns of 'Merrill's Marauders' in Burma. The commander had observed there'd been no fighting for a couple of days, to which the sergeant is said to have replied 'Well, Sir, we could always cross the ridge there and attack 2nd Battalion.'





"When things are not called by their right names, what is said cannot make sense. When what is said does not make sense, what is planned cannot succeed. When plans do not succeed, people become uneasy. When people are uneasy, punishments do not fit crimes. When punishments do not fit crimes, people cannot know where to put hand or foot."

[Dem4Life1102]

65. So I guess you don't have any evidence

to back up your claim. But nice try at diversion.

[The Magistrate]

67. I Have No Interest In What Seems To Fascinate You, Sir

It is clear to me that appeal to 'progressives' will play little if any role in Mr. Biden's selection of his running mate, and so whether Sen. Harris can or cannot appeal to 'progressives' as a running mate for him is as of little interest to me as whether some particular baseball team has a decent shot this year at the pennant and victory in the Series. Actually, that has a little more interest, because it is my view that the triumph of the Chicago Cubs in 2016 altered the fabric of the universe and pitched us into this whole horror by doing so. So I do not want them to win this year....





"When things are not called by their right names, what is said cannot make sense. When what is said does not make sense, what is planned cannot succeed. When plans do not succeed, people become uneasy. When people are uneasy, punishments do not fit crimes. When punishments do not fit crimes, people cannot know where to put hand or foot."

[Dem4Life1102]

69. More diversion

You claimed that out of all of the moderate white men in the Democratic Party Clinton chose one from the swing state of Virginia but the fact that he was from a swing state had nothing to do with it. Do you have any evidence to back up your claim or not?

[The Magistrate]

70. You Seem To View Chanting 'Diversion' As Helpful, Sir

So by all means continue, if it makes you feel better.

Your efforts here strike me as akin to someone asking how many touchdowns were scored in the last Series. It is not even wrong, it just has no bearing on what actually occurs. Or on any serious discussion of whom Mr. Biden ought to choose for a running mate, and why.

"If it makes you happy, why the Hell are you so sad?"





"When things are not called by their right names, what is said cannot make sense. When what is said does not make sense, what is planned cannot succeed. When plans do not succeed, people become uneasy. When people are uneasy, punishments do not fit crimes. When punishments do not fit crimes, people cannot know where to put hand or foot."

[Dem4Life1102]

73. So I guess that's a no.

And you can’t back up your claim that Kaine coming from the swing state of Virginia had nothing to do with him being chosen for VP.

[The Magistrate]

80. Rather, Sir, It Is a 'Know'...

The possibility you may say something cogent, or even useful, grows increasingly slim....



"Silence is the perfect expression of scorn."

[Dem4Life1102]

82. Why not just answer the question

instead of playing games.

[The Magistrate]

83. 'Playing Games', Sir, Provides Amusement

You have made it clear there is no point to taking you seriously. Your approach may work in the comments section of a newspaper, or similar venue. That is not where you are now, however.


"Them hogs comes under livestock, but this here tortoise is an insect."

[Dem4Life1102]

91. The just provide evidence to back up your claims

any else IS just playing games and an admission that you can’t.

[The Magistrate]

93. You Fail To Amuse, Sir

If you hope to distract me from engaging someone regarding Venezuela in the General Discussion forum, and postpone putting the laundry in the dryer any further, you are going to have to do better than that.

[Dem4Life1102]

95. Just answer the question

and prove your claims.

[The Magistrate]

100. Serious Lack Of Amusement Here, Sir

You really are going to have to better, if you mean to hold my interest.

[Dem4Life1102]

103. Not surprised

since you can’t prove your claims.

[The Magistrate]

106. Nor Me, Sir --- Just The Same Old Same Old

Surely you have begun to bore yourself by now?

[Dem4Life1102]

108. No it is fun

to watch you continue to evade proving anything that you claimed.

[The Magistrate]

112. You Haven't Enough On The Ball, Dear, To Justify a Double

This one we are going to have to shut down for the duration.

"Only three men ever understood the Schleswig-Holstein affair. One is dead, another gone mad, and myself, I have quite forgotten."

[Dem4Life1102]

115. Just prove your claims

[The Magistrate]

55. A Fact From Which You Drew A Predictive Conclusion, Sir

Nothing wrong with doing that, people do it all the time and it does not frighten the horse or affront the womenfolk. No need to disown it.

(Quote from your No. 34 --- Why would she get it (the progressive vote) in the general?)





"When things are not called by their right names, what is said cannot make sense. When what is said does not make sense, what is planned cannot succeed. When plans do not succeed, people become uneasy. When people are uneasy, punishments do not fit crimes. When punishments do not fit crimes, people cannot know where to put hand or foot."

[Dem4Life1102]

57. No a fact that I'm asking if there is any evidence

to assume things would be different in the general.

[The Magistrate]

60. In All Modesty, Sir, I Like To Think I Am Pretty Good At The English Language

Last edited Sat Apr 4, 2020, 12:36 AM - Edit history (1)

I am having trouble teasing a meaning out from this string of words:

'No a fact that I'm asking if there is any evidence to assume things would be different in the general.'

If I am quibbling over typos or the sort of skipped or misplaced words and letters I try to clear up with 'preview' and 'edit', I do apologize.

Because the nearest to meaning I can extract from this is that you are claiming it is a fact that you asked something, which is true enough but somewhat beside the point of any discussion underway





"When things are not called by their right names, what is said cannot make sense. When what is said does not make sense, what is planned cannot succeed. When plans do not succeed, people become uneasy. When people are uneasy, punishments do not fit crimes. When punishments do not fit crimes, people cannot know where to put hand or foot." .

[Dem4Life1102]

63. Instead of quibbling over a typo

Can you provide any evidence that Harris would attract progressives to the ticket in the general after they didn’t support her in the primaries?

[The Magistrate]

66. As I Said, Sir, If The Incoherence Was A Genuine Error That Is One Thing

But the comment as presented was not coherent, and so no reply was really possible. And you have not really cleared it up, either, but no matter.

Courting 'progressives' is really not on this year, it seems to me. Defined, at least, as people still expressing support for Sanders, 'progressives' will come along or they will not. No one on the left should need courting to act against this cheap thug Trump, and no one who does need courting to do so can possibly be relied on. The constituency which actually must be courted in this election, and promises many more votes for harvest than hold-out 'progressives', comprises middle of the road suburban types, who have grown disgusted with the cheap thug Trump, but were at best neutral towards him, or hostile to Mrs. Clinton, four years ago. If selection is framed as a choice between appealing to these people, and appealing to 'progressives' who are still at this date not solid for the Party's nominee, it is the former group that will be favored over the latter.

Besides, there is a sort of antique air about this whole discussion. Nowadays, the chief role of a Vice Presidential candidate is as a campaign surrogate, and this year that will be more important than it has been even in the last few elections. Skill and effectiveness as a campaigner will be a leading criterion in choosing a running mate for Mr. Biden.





"When things are not called by their right names, what is said cannot make sense. When what is said does not make sense, what is planned cannot succeed. When plans do not succeed, people become uneasy. When people are uneasy, punishments do not fit crimes. When punishments do not fit crimes, people cannot know where to put hand or foot."

[Dem4Life1102]

74. So I guess the answer is no

You don’t have any evidence that Harris would attract progressives to the ticket in the general after they didn’t support her in the primaries so now you’re changing your tune and claiming progressive voters are not needed. Ok.

But if “Skill and effectiveness as a campaigner will be a leading criterion in choosing a running mate for Mr. Biden.”, doesn’t it seem like a bad idea to pick someone who ran such a bad campaign during the primaries she dropped out before a single vote was cast?

[The Magistrate]

79. You Are Going To Need To Provide Some Evidence, Sir

That you are capable of providing some amusement, if you intend to keep this up for another day....


"This pretense of not knowing what any fool knows is become predominant in our political discourse."

[Dem4Life1102]

81. Still trying to divert

Why not just answer the question?

[The Magistrate]

84. Rather Than Accuse Me Of Trying To Divert, Sir

Why not acknowledge successful effort and have done with it?

Since you have made it clear there is no point to taking you seriously, this sort of kitten with a butterfly play really is all you are going to get....


"For the Snark was a Boojum, you see."





"When things are not called by their right names, what is said cannot make sense. When what is said does not make sense, what is planned cannot succeed. When plans do not succeed, people become uneasy. When people are uneasy, punishments do not fit crimes. When punishments do not fit crimes, people cannot know where to put hand or foot."

[Dem4Life1102]

90. But you are trying to divert

and refuse to provide any evidence to back up any of your claims.

[The Magistrate]

94. I Deny The Allegation And Defy The Allegator, Sir

I am not trying to do anything but find amusement in your continued use of a tactic which clearly is not bringing you any positive result, and for the record, I am finding the pickings damned slim in the amusement line.

Laundry beckons.

[Dem4Life1102]

96. So you're admitting

that you are just playing a game and can’t back up your claims.

[The Magistrate]

101. I Am Acknowledging You Cannot Be Taken Seriously, Sir

And therefore there is nothing to be done with you except to play. Manage to be sufficiently boring, and even that will fail of being worth the candle....

[Dem4Life1102]

104. And more diversion

because you can’t prove your claims.

[The Magistrate]

107. It's Not Much Of A Diversion, Sir

Better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick, but not by much....

[Dem4Life1102]

109. Or you couldn't just prove your claims

but you can’t can you.

[The Magistrate]

111. You May Be Beginning To Catch On, Dear

I shall return in a couple of hours after putting together a saag ghosh for the womenfolk, and we shall see....

[Dem4Life1102]

114. Or you could just prove your claims

But you know that you can’t.

[The Magistrate]

117. But What I Am Doing Is Relaxing After A Nice Dinner And A Movie

Being complimented on my cooking and getting my back rubbed.

[Dem4Life1102]

118. But you still can't prove your claims

So sad

[The Magistrate]

119. There Certainly Is Something So Sad Here, Sir

You have my sympathy. Really you do....

[Dem4Life1102]

120. Yet you still can't prove your claims

[BidenBacker]

51. You know I do my homework before I toss out facts and figures

so I'll put this here for folks to make their own conclusions...

https://progressivepunch.org/scores.htm?topic=&house=senate&sort=crucial-lifetime&order=down&party=

2nd highest in the entire Senate for lifetime voting on crucial progressive votes...and 5th highest lifetime on all votes. Ahead of Sanders on both counts.

This actually surprised me when I found out about it quite some time ago because I was one of those who thought Harris was less progressive than her voting record indicates.

Whether or not progressives (of which I consider myself to be one on quite a few issues) would find her an attractive running mate is entirely up to them. But I would imagine that she might help to ruffle some Bernie supporter feathers if Joe was to name her as a running mate. Certainly I would think that many of them would be more satisfied with such a choice rather than say, Klobuchar. Amy is also another great choice who I like an awful lot...it's just that she ranks higher if Biden was to use different criteria to make his selection.

This is all above my pay grade, so as I said I'll trust that Joe & Gang will go through each and every one and will make the best choice they can depending on many factors. From what I've seen speculated as to who may be on that short list Joe could pretty much throw a dart and wind up with a VP who is at a minimum 10 times better than the guy we got now. Pence spends half his time with his head up Trump's ass and when Donnie pulls him out spends the other half nauseatingly kowtowing and genuflecting to his beloved Fuhrer. Dude makes me sick to my stomach just thinking about him which is not a good idea since I just ate.

[The Magistrate]

54. I Trust The Professionals As Well, Sir

Where the idea politics is a business in which amateurs ought to direct things got started is a mystery to me.

My inclination is towards Sen. Klobuchar, as she has proved herself one helluva campaigner in Minnesota, with an especial appeal to women of the suburban and professional sort, who generally do tend more to the middle of the road. These are people we want firmly on our side. Sen. Harris has appeal to this constituency, and also to African American supporters of Mr. Biden.



Regarding people who do this for a living, you may find the material at this link interesting:

https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/plunkett-george/tammany-hall/index.htm

It is a series of monologues from a professional old pol, set down a bit over a century ago. Disregard the 'marxists' in the link line, this has nothing to do with that, and why these people host it I haven't a clue, but they have it in a good read on-line format.





"When things are not called by their right names, what is said cannot make sense. When what is said does not make sense, what is planned cannot succeed. When plans do not succeed, people become uneasy. When people are uneasy, punishments do not fit crimes. When punishments do not fit crimes, people cannot know where to put hand or foot."

[Dem4Life1102]

58. I never disagreed about her voting record

But despite that record progressives didn’t support her in the primaries. What evidence is there that they will have a change of heart in the general?

[ismnotwasm]

85. First, Who are these "progressives"

Let’s define the field. Who do you consider a “progressive”? People that didn’t support Kamala Harris in the primary? I supported her.


Who, precisely now, are you talking about?

[Dem4Life1102]

86. People who self identify as progressives

And let’s remember it was just progressives who didn’t support Harris, it was moderates too. Why do people think that someone who ran such a bad campaign in the primaries and was such a bad candidate that they were forced to drop out before a single vote was cast would suddenly be a good candidate in the general? I guess that is why most nominees don’t pick a former primary opponent as their running mate.

[ismnotwasm]

87. You are being vague. I identify as a progressive. I was very disappointed when she dropped out.

A group? A PAC? Polling? I think you mean polling. You can find some evidence there

Why do you think she ran a “Bad” campaign? Specifically please.

[Dem4Life1102]

88. Because she didn't even last until Iowa

That is a bad campaign by definition. Maybe if she ran a good campaign and actually got the support of progressives she would have stayed in and maybe even won some delegates.

[ismnotwasm]

89. No, not winning does not mean a "bad' campaign. There are other factors

An interesting point of view however.

[Dem4Life1102]

92. Losing is good campaign???

Not even making it to Iowa is a good campaign? That’s a valid point of view, on the bizarro earth.

[ismnotwasm]

97. Like I said.

An interesting point of view.

[Dem4Life1102]

98. Yes. Reality is interesting.

[ismnotwasm]

99. I'm glad you think so

I like it.

[treestar]

113. Same reason people who did not support Biden

in the primaries would support him in the general. They don't want a Republican (especially the Dotard) as President. So they don't want one as VP either.

[Dem4Life1102]

116. From that argument

it doesn’t matter who is VP.

[treestar]

122. It is said Vote Blue, No Matter Who

In this election, the VP matters because they need to be younger, or youngish, and ready to take up the presidency if need be (well maybe that is always the case).

Someone not voting for someone in the primary does not mean they won't vote for them as VP. From that argument, the VP is more important than the President, and no one would switch over to the eventual nominee where their preferred candidate didn't win.

[Dem4Life1102]

123. Actually the argument that

the VP has to be younger is saying that Biden is too old and that only benefits Trump and the GOP.

[treestar]

124. No. Biden is old, but not "too old" is a possible position

to take.

I had to go and find my claims.

But despite that record progressives didn’t support her in the primaries. What evidence is there that they will have a change of heart in the general?

Every case in the past where a Bernie supporter voted for Hillary in the general, or a Hillary supporter voted for Obama in the general.

[Dem4Life1102]

125. Any argument

regarding Biden's age benefits Trump and the GOP.

Every case in the past where a Bernie supporter voted for Hillary in the general, or a Hillary supporter voted for Obama in the general.

That's an argument for Biden, not for Harris. So I'll rephrase, how does Harris enhance the ticket?

[treestar]

126. The Bernie supporters who voted for Hillary

Voted for Kaine of necessity; no one seems to have made a distinction. Hillary supporters who voted for Obama certainly did not let Biden deter them. It would be tough to find someone who supported Hillary until she chose Kaine or Obama until he chose Biden.

Your argument was that progressives would not vote for Biden if Harris was on the ticket, or, at least, that follows from the argument that progressives didn't support Harris for POTUS so they wouldn't be tempted to vote Biden/Harris by the presence of Harris.

In the debate about who is on the ticket as VP, I would support the chosen one regardless; the only one I think Biden should not pick is Hunter. Or someone in his age group. The argument for Harris might be: she is the right age, she can make a good presentation; she can no doubt decimate Pence in the debate; she seems sometimes not quite ready to govern at a high level, but would no doubt learn during the Vice Presidency. Her votes on the issues so far are quite solidly liberal and she comes from a very liberal state (a state Bernie did win in the primary). Now that she dropped out, she is no doubt any longer going to pursue her absurd busing claims, as they weren't a real issue but something she could use against Biden while she was running against him.

[Dem4Life1102]

127. Please don't dishonestly put words in my mouth

I never made the argument that progressives would not vote for Biden if Harris was on the ticket. That is not the argument I made and you know it.

So I will ask the same question again. How does Harris enhance the ticket? What constituency does she bring that Biden ins’t already winning?

[ismnotwasm]

128. She's smart, politically astute and experienced

She can take on anyone in a debate. She’s a decent administrator and has a full understanding of law. This means she has the legislative experience to help bring the Democratic platform through Congress.

She brings diversity. She’s relatively young. She and Biden would present a united face to the county, her relative seriousness would balance out his “folksy” humor. Black people did not pick her in the primaries, but would not be amiss with her as VP, is my reading at this point. Biden himself is considering her.

[Dem4Life1102]

129. Yes but there are others who could bring diversity

as well as help flip a swing state and/or help attract more progressives to the ticket.

So what makes Harris the best choice? And you still didn’t answer my first question. What constituency does she bring to the ticket that Biden isn’t already winning?

[The Magistrate]

130. Now, Say Who, Sir, There's a Good Fellow....

You must have someone in mind....

"Why, lad? Because we're here, and nobody else."

[Dem4Life1102]

131. Sure

Keisha Lance Bottoms, Mayor of Atlanta
Catherine Cortez Masto, US Senator from Nevada
Val Demings of Florida
Stacy Abrams of Georgia

So now will you prove any of the claims you made.

[ismnotwasm]

133. Stacy Abrams is already on the short list

Aside from her, explain why these are good choices, as only one has name recognition. What do they bring? What are their benefits? Who do they bring in?

[Dem4Life1102]

135. All come from swing states

And accused Biden of being a racist on National Television.

[ismnotwasm]

140. I think you meant "didn't accuse"

At any rate, Harris was pointing out her experience. I’m the same age as her, and I remember desegregation bussing.

My Mom converted to Catholicism and sent my sibling and tried to send me, to Catholic school to avoid her kids going to school with black kids.

[Dem4Life1102]

141. Yes none of them accused Biden of racism

and might help flip a swing state.

[The Magistrate]

134. The Nearest Thing To A Useful Statement You Have Made In Days, Sir

"Cheer up, lads! Same time tomorrow. We must get a winner one day."

[Dem4Life1102]

136. Yet you still can't prove anything that you claimed.

[The Magistrate]

138. And You Are Back To Providing Insufficient Entertainment To Engage My Attention, Fella

You must bore yourself awfully by now....

[Dem4Life1102]

139. Nice dodge

because you can’t prove anything that you claimed.

[ismnotwasm]

132. She augments more than brings in, I think

As a good VP does. In truth, I’m not convinced she is interested, or that Biden will offer.

She is a good choice. So, answer me a question. What candidate do YOU think would be the best choice ?

[Dem4Life1102]

137. I don't know who the best choice

It may be Harris. It may be someone else. The campaign will have to determine that.

[BlueLucy]

36. Biden left us a hint.

He said the woman he picks would have to agree with his values as far as US involvement around the world.

[Dem4Life1102]

38. So?

Harris is the only person who agrees with him?

[BlueLucy]

47. Think US world involvement.

I always saw Warren more of an isolationist. Am I wrong?

[Dem4Life1102]

49. Warren is a poor pick as well

She is also from a blue state and won’t energize the African American vote.

[OnDoutside]

105. With a Republican Governor choosing the replacement.

[MontanaMama]

27. Kamala is my first pick.

Badass woman of color. Prosecutorial experience could come in handy. Oh yes.

[sheshe2]

16. Always the gentleman.

Then a slam dunk.

[mcar]

19. He's a classy guy, our Joe

[BidenBacker]

29. There's our Joe

Liking that Biden scarf snap...I'll have to practice that for next winter so I'll look cool like our new Prez.

[sheshe2]

30. ;)

[yaesu]

21. I think historically that is a good move to announce a VP choice before the primary ends

if its a popular choice like Warren or ? I think Biden is in a position to do that now but he may wait until more states vote, if that even happens.

[Bucky]

50. I supported Warren all the way to the bitter end. However...

I don't think picking her would help Biden very much with his demographic appeal. He does well among female voters and among the well-educated. His weak spot is youth turnout. He needs someone who can bring out the millennials and the X'ers.

If he's really serious about fixing the mess in Washington, he needs someone with outsider cred too. I'd prefer Ayanna Pressley. She has some downsides, like she's a first-term congresswoman (so maybe too much an outsider) and from Massachusetts--a region we don't have to worry about.

On the other hand, I can only think of one VP nominee in the last 40 years who has a claim to helping the ticket with geographic appeal. It's a thing people say, but there's zero evidence that it works that way. The far more important challenge is activating and expanding the base of core voters. She will do both of those as a Justice Democrat and as a 40 something woman of color. And more importantly, her experience in politics runs deep, she's connected to the Kennedy family and has plenty of grassroots experience in running a district office that helped implement Federal support policies for individual citizens. She knows how government we can work for community, and more importantly, she's seeing how it can be managed poorly.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

24. This is what dignity and decency looks like. Miss it

[PatrickforO]

25. Good. n/t

[SheltieLover]

26. Yaaaay!

What a class act. Nice way to say gtf out of race!

[ramen]

53. Good on all fronts. I'm eager to hear who Biden puts forward.

And it is a classy way to start that process to let Sanders know that they are moving forward. Sanders lacks a path to the nomination and it is good and timely to act as such.

[The Magistrate]

62. Well Said, Sir

"When things are not called by their right names, what is said cannot make sense. When what is said does not make sense, what is planned cannot succeed. When plans do not succeed, people become uneasy. When people are uneasy, punishments do not fit crimes. When punishments do not fit crimes, people cannot know where to put hand or foot."

[ibegurpard]

71. Good

I like the way Biden has been handling this since he essentially won the nomination. Respectfully and deferentially but without any question as to the real lay of the land. Thankfully he's not following the advice some here wish he would.

[Tarheel_Dem]

72. It's time.

[redstatebluegirl]

76. Good.

[gibraltar72]

102. He needs to roll out his whole upper echelon. Right Now.

[Hortensis]

110. :) That's for the experts to decide. Our time

to do what we need to comes on our voting days. At least those are sorta scheduled, so we can put them on our calendars.

[Vivienne235729]

121. Biden didn't have to do that. That was classy of him.Too bad some of the classiness hasn't rubbed on

Bernie.