Reply #4: At least he has some backbone

[Lefty Pragmatist]

I never liked him -- the protectionist populism is a failed posture from the bad old days, and he's the living, breathing embodiment of governnance by special interest fiat. But he skewered Bush when nobody else had the guts to and when it played well the others joined in and Bush's people had to actually react. Not something we've seen a lot of in the Daschle/Gore era of vacant party "leadership." So for that, bless him.

But as a Veep? God no. Other than making Kerry look dynamic by comparison, there's no upside.