On the vice president.

I believe I might’ve said that the VP could be useless besides as a political gimmick.  Don’t remember whether or not I did.  If he goes with an Evan Bayh or someone, then Obama could really be finished.  That’s about as staid a ticket as you can conjure up.  Ironically, choosing the older, firmly-Washington senator from Delaware will add some spice, lol.  But especially liked what David Brooks said about the VP being the one with the backbone to step up and say no.  If nothing else, that’s what a VP or a senior advisor or heck anyone in upper echelons of the administration must be able to do.  And it’s no small matter.  The office of the presidency has a gravitas separate from the man in office.  I don’t believe that a state governor will be able to come in and serve such a function.

To be honest, I have yet to conduct thorough research on the individual candidates, both for the presidency and for the vice presidency.  Neither presidential candidates I find especially inspirational.  But then again, I’ve never been easily drawn to people.  Yes, inspiration is great and all, but the reason a candidates character matters is the same as why his/her experience matters.  Whether I think the candidate is a nice guy with whom I want to sit down and have coffee is irrelevant.  I won’t be sitting down having coffee with said candidate, Monsieur Sarkozy, Prime Minister Putin, and Chancellor Merkel will.

What matters far more is the decision-making.  Not a new thought, but one that seems oft drowned-out by essentially gossip.  Of late, I’ve paid little attention to the election because I can find little more than speculation and political gossip.  Obama has more potential than did Clinton, certainly more than McCain.  As evinced by his grand tour, he’s got international capital.  Ironically, considering how his lack of foreign policy experience has been dredged up and repeatedly hammered.  As the executive powers stand on firmest ground when it comes to foreign affairs.  As with most, his head-of-state and commander-in-chief hats will, I imagine, ultimately prove more important than his domestic roles.  Chief administrator Chief policy wonk Head of party Top economist Agenda-setter.  Great stuff, that’s what the Leo McGarry’s, Josh Lymans, Toby Zieglers and Sam Seaborns are for, shrug.

He could also crash and burn spectacularly, but he’s no political novice so with fingers-crossed I say that that’s unlikely.  Missteps, certainly.  His numbers will start their inevitable decline soon as he enters office, alright, if he enters office.  If he can capitalize on the political high he’ll have in the first 6 months or so, that would be impressive.  An administration that can combine left-central policies with Republican efficiency…onwards to November!