Obama's First Supreme Court Appointment? Souter May be Retiring

Supreme Court justice David Souter is rumored to be planning his retirement starting in the next judicial session (which kicks off in October). That means Obama will have the chance to make his first Supreme Court appointment.

Souter, though appointed by a Republican President - George HW Bush - has evolved into one of the more reliably liberal voices on the bench. Therefore his retirement is unlikely to tip the balance of the judiciary, since Obama will presumably appoint a fellow liberal to replace him. But it does give the President an opportunity to shape the bench - a task which, as a former Consititutional Law professor, he should be well qualified for.

Vice President Joe Biden is said to be drawing up a list of prospective names. Fabulous. I love Joe to bits, but I think this week has proven that heh is stupendously effective when doing that type of hard work behind the scenes, but not so much maybe with the going on television.

Welcome Joe

I can't say enough good things about our new Vice Presidential candidate - he's a smart, accomplished, straight talking man who shares Barack's core belief that we need to cut through the Washington games to make a real change for the American people. As Barack said in his welcome speech, Joe Biden is a man who has changed Washington without allowing Washington to change him. He's the real deal, and together this is as exceptionally inspiring and talented political team.

Seems We Won't Get Jim Webb to Kick Around After All...

Jim Webb, touted by the media hordes - and by, well, ME - as a potential Obama VP has bowed out of the race.

"Last week I communicated to Senator Obama and his presidential campaign my firm intention to remain in the United States Senate, where I believe I am best
equipped to serve the people of Virginia and this country. Under no circumstances will I be a candidate for Vice President."

This comes as the Obama campaign has apparently begun the formal vetting process of its shortlisted candidates.

It's a little mysterious why Webb would choose to step aside at this point, but possible explanations include:

1) He felt he could be more effective in the Senate - considering we are likely to pick up the other VA Senate seat and a stronger majority this year, he may be looking forward to getting through some of his favorite legislation.

2) He didn't want to be vetted, for whatever reason.

3) Having run in 2006 he didn't relish returning to the heat of a campaign at this point (he's hinted at this himself).

4) The campaign may have signalled that he's not at the top of their list, and offered him this graceful exit.

Whatever the reasons, it leaves us with a slightly shorter list of VP prospects, but no more idea who the ultimate choice will be! The suspence builds...

VP Selection

So I had an e-mail today from someone called David Price touting a new online discussion tool , in which he highlights a page on which you can add comments and arguments relating to Obama's VP selection. Whether you like this tool or not, I suppose will be somewhat related to how much of a geek you are. Personally, I think the interface could be made a lot more attractive but the basic concept is kinda neat.



If you've been following Obama's selection process so far, you may have seen that his vetters have been meeting with leading Democrats to get their input. Apparently about 20 names have been mentioned in these meetings - names notable by including some surprises (James Jones, Retired General and former Supreme Allied Commender) and some perhaps surprisingly left off (where have you gone Bill Richardson?). Below is an updated list of names discussed. Comments, thoughts? Do let me know.

• Hillary Clinton


• James Jones


• John Kerry


• John Edwards


• Evan Bayh


• Kathleen Sebelius


• Ted Strickland


• Mark Warner


• Tim Kaine


• Jim Webb


• Bill Nelson


• Jack Reed


• Joe Biden


• Chris Dodd


• Tom Daschle


• Sam Nunn

Pick Your Veep

The Obama campaign is not officially commenting on the subject of a possible Vice Presidential pick, out of respect for Hillary's ongoing campaign.

While I, too, wish to respect the primary process until the very last voter has voted - there's nothing to stop us from a Irresponsibly Speculating. I mean come on, without irresponsible speculation we couldn't HAVE a 24 hour cable new media. And what a tragedy that would be (sarcasm alert).

So here's a by-no-means definitive list of potential Obama Vice Presidential candidates - what are your thoughts? Please write into comments with your best arguments in FAVOR of any of these people. Note, however, that I am moderating the comments and I don't want to see anything that insults any member of our party (you know what I mean) - I want to hear your best case argument for why any one or more of the people below would make a great VP, either from a political, symbolic or policy point of view.

In no particular order:

• Kathleen Sebelius
• Jim Webb
• Ed Rendell
• Hillary Clinton
• Tim Kaine
• Claire McCaskill
• Tom Daschle
• John Edwards
• Chris Dodd
• Joe Biden
• Wesley Clark
• Janet Napolitano
• Bill Richardson
• and (just for fun)... Mike Bloomberg

Obama Ahead By 9 Points In Ohio

In HUGE news for Democrats everywhere, Obama leads John McCain by nearly 10 points in the latest Survey USA poll of Ohio. If we can lock down Ohio as well as Pennsylvania, where Obama was also favored in the latest Survey USA poll, and Virginia, we'll be in very good shape for the general.

The poll also tested various different Vice Presidential picks for both candidates and found that Obama would beat McCain in this state with almost any VP he would select. Only a Chuck Hagel / Mike Huckabee pairing and, bizarrely enough, an Ed Rendell / Mike Huckabee match up couldn't secure Obama the victory. What have these folks got against Ed Rendell?

Anyway, the poll has Obama ahead in every age group except the over 55s and winning a helathy 57% of those who identify as politically "moderate".

Here's what will possibly be the biggest headline of the piece - after all the hand wringing about whether he could win "hard working voters, white voters" in this crucial state, he is ahead among whites by 45 to 41.

Say it ain't so Jim!

So if I had to create out of whole cloth my ideal Barack Obama Vice Presidential running mate, in many ways he would look a lot like Senator Jim Webb of Virginia.

A popular southern populist and former Republican from a state Obama might switch over to the Democratic column, plus a strong national security and foreign policy background as Secretary of the Navy under Ronald Reagan - I mean, what's not to like?

So I'm really hoping that the comments he made on Meet the Press are just an "aw shucks" political disclaimer and not an ACTUAL statement of disinterest:

MR. RUSSERT: In the press release which accompanied your book, sent out by your publisher, it describes you this way: "Now, in `A Time to Fight': the celebrated junior senator from Virginia, who is already being mentioned as a possible vice presidential candidate..."

SEN. WEBB: I, I didn't write that, and I didn't read it. So I know there's, there's all--you know, you have even asked me about that. But I'm not interested in doing that. I think we've done some incredibly productive things in the last year and a half in the Senate, and I've been able to do some things--you know, we just saw what John McCain said he wanted to see done. I think we've, from our office, been able to work across party lines and to really work to develop a formula where we can govern.

MR. RUSSERT: But if Senator Obama or Senator Clinton asked you, you'd be open?

SEN. WEBB: I would, I would highly discourage them is probably the best way to say it.

MR. RUSSERT: But you wouldn't be General Sherman and say no?

SEN. WEBB: You know, I--at this--at this point, no one's asking, no one's talking, and I'm not that interested, so.