Why didn't GORE Consider DURBIN for his running mate in 2000?

[liberalpragmatist]

I don't remember ever seeing Sen. Dick Durbin's name on the Veep shortlists for Gore. Afterwards, it emerged that his final 4 were Sens. Evan Bayh (IN), John Edwards, John Kerry, and Lieberman.

He ultimately picked Lieberman, of course, with Edwards close behind.

Personally, I think Kerry or Durbin would have been better picks (I like Edwards a lot and am likely to support him in '08, but in '00 he'd have had a grand total of 1 1/2 years in government). So I understand Kerry on the list, but why no Durbin?

[AtomicKitten]

1. Why not Jesus?

As valid a question in retrospect. Probably would have really kicked ass.

[yurbud]

2. Bayh and Lieberman are two turds from the same dump

[Bucky]

6. Bayh is missing on that smarm factor you get with Opie Lieberman.

He also is pol enough to take care of his base, which Joe never seemed to right.

[everythingsxen]

7. oook....

Would you say you oppose everything Lieberman stands for?

[yurbud]

12. even a boot-lick can be right once in a while (if it doesn't upset his master)

I would have more respect for him if he had just switched parties instead of calling himself a Democrat AND saying things like "Those who criticize our president do so at our peril."

[everythingsxen]

13. So then, Lieberman is only right once in a while?

When his master allows him to...

Please do go on. Please list all of the issues that you oppose Lieberman on, versus those "few" times you might agree.

[yurbud]

14. do you think the Iraq War, War on Terror, and Bush assault on checks and balances are minor issues?

like what color table cloth senators like in the cafeteria?

In this forum, given Lieberman's well earned reputation, the burden is on you to prove that he has done some incredible good that outweighs the deaths of hundreds of thousands and the near-death of our democracy.

[everythingsxen]

17. Ah yes...

the same Iraq War/War on Terror that other Democrats have supported/do support. Maria Cantwell come to mind immediately.

The same assault on checks and balances that other Democrats voted for?

His record of consistently supporting the rights of minorities and gays? His support of pretty much every liberal cause?

If you honestly want to play the who voted for what game, Lieberman wins on most counts. If you are saying that supporting the Iraq War because he believes (and apparently his constituents believe, which is of course more important) outweighs everything else he has done, then I would appreciate hearing you denounce every other Democrat who has done the same as him.

As for his "well earned reputation" I have yet to see any real evidence provided by any of the "I hate Joe Lieberman" camp provide any real proof that he has done anything worse than the rest of the Democratic Party. Your real objection to him, apparently, is that Democracy won the day because he was elected over the Democrat nominee and won as an Independent.

[yurbud]

3. a theory: to avoid character (or literal) assassination, he throws a sop to Chamber of Commerce

with DLC corporate whores like Bayh and Lieberman, just in case they actually believed all the propaganda they paid for on Fox.

[everythingsxen]

4. What is your point?

He had his reasons for picking Lieberman I would assume. I think he chose Lieberman because he has fewer corporate ties than Kerry. I am not sure about Durbin's connections, though I will do a little digging. Also Lieberman is known for working with both sides of the aisle for compromises, that may have been a deciding factor as well.

[liberalpragmatist]

8. I'm just curious

I don't have any agenda here - I'm just wondering if Gore considered Durbin because I don't remember his name being bandied about at the time.

[everythingsxen]

10. I dunno really..

it was like a million years ago now seemingly. As I said above though, I am sure Gore had his reasons. It's even possible that he talked to Durbin and he didn't want it or perhaps Gore and Durbin had a run in at some point earlier in their careers and there was some personal dislike between them. :shrug:

[John Q. Citizen]

5. Gore picked Liebermann for 2 reasons; To help win Florida, which he did, and

to help counter the fallout from Clinton's picadillo.

Why would Durbin have been a more pragmatic choice? Is Durbin popular in Florida?

[liberalpragmatist]

9. That's true

I was just wondering if Durbin was considered, because I don't remember his name being bandied about.

[yurbud]

15. probably would have got illinois anyway...so using traditional logic, needed a swing state

VP.

I don't think people were as upset about Clinton's personal issues as everyone in Washington thought. Those people are like a bunch of gossipy junior high girls.

[John Q. Citizen]

16. I agree. That's a good way to put it.

[uncertainty1999]

11. IL had a republican gov at the time...

...which would have meant Durbin in VP => replaced by a republican appointee
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_H._Ryan

[greenbriar]

18. he wanted to secure the jewish votes

that is why

[NewYorkerfromMass]

19. I'd have paid good money to see Kerry

clean Cheney's clock in that one debate. Kerry would have owned Cheney and then some.
I have heard claims that Bush only first pulled ahead of Gore in the polls after the Cheney-Lieberman debate.
Gore NOT picking Kerry for VP puts him on my shit list I'm afraid.

[kentuck]

20. he didn't need help in Illinois

he needed help in Florida. He figured that if he could win Florida, he could win the election.