Because we need a lift.

lynchburg, virginia

Welcome back for more speculation! Today continues the new final series of possibilities for Obama's v.p.

This series began with a new top 14 list of names I considered most likely to be named Obama's v.p. running mate, and we'll eliminate the bottom vote-getter each day until there is a winner, or a real-life winner is named by Obama. Starting today, candidates will be listed in order of votes from the previous poll, from most to least, so we'll have some idea of preference in this thread's voting should Obama decide before there is a series winner. Sens. Evan Bayh (IN) and Jack Reed (RI) were eliminated in the previous round.

Please discuss any v.p. candidates in the comments. The most correct format would be to state their name, unless you have further comments. I'm happy to hear all ideas in this open thread, and I'm no official gatekeeper, so play nice.

(continued below the fold)

Welcome back for more speculation! Today continues the new final series of possibilities for Obama's v.p.

This series began with a new top 14 list of names I considered most likely to be named Obama's v.p. running mate, and we'll eliminate the bottom vote-getter each day until there is a winner, or a real-life winner is named by Obama. Starting today, candidates will be listed in order of votes from the previous poll, from most to least, so we'll have some idea of preference in this thread's voting should Obama decide before there is a series winner. Gov. Tim Kaine (VA) was eliminated in the previous round.

Please discuss any v.p. candidates in the comments. The most correct format would be to state their name, unless you have further comments. I'm happy to hear all ideas in this open thread, and I'm no official gatekeeper, so play nice.

(continued below the fold)

Since Virginia is in play this year and has 13, possibly deciding, electoral votes it may not be a bad idea for Obama to announce his running mate there. Speculation is running rampant with the convention just a week away and thus far Obama's last announced appearance this week is in Martinsville, Virginia.

Since he'll be there Wednesday everyone has been speculating about Tim Kaine getting the nod. But there are a few other possibilities with Virginia relations.

Not a substantial diary here but I just wanted to give the none of the above voters in the poll by BarbinMD's poll a chance to vote.

I knew it was to good to be true, Senator James Webb spent almost 2 years building up a coalition of Senators from both sides of the ailse and getting enough votes to make the new GI Bill veto proof.

So to make the entire thing a farce the Bush Administration has had Secretary of the Veterans Administration James Peake make the decision to "outsource" the administration of the new GI Bill to a private company, since the VA does not have the personnel to handle such a large new entitlement program. Except VA employees in the education department are the only people who know how to administer federal veterans education benefits, and it would be easier to expland the VA workforce than to hire a private company that would be required to train all new employees on the laws that govern the VA education benefits.

(Cross-posted from "LethalWeaponism.org")

    Especially after the shellacking McCain gave him last night (in many minds), Barack Obama could use a little toughness on his team. Someone a little like McCain, but without the "ev-l" parts. Kucinich? Edwards? ...
    Hey, where's Jim Webb?

    (lethally more)

Welcome back for more speculation! Today continues the new final series of possibilities for Obama's v.p.

This series began with a new top 14 list of names I considered most likely to be named Obama's v.p. running mate, and we'll eliminate the bottom vote-getter each day until there is a winner, or a real-life winner is named by Obama. Starting today, candidates will be listed in order of votes from the previous poll, from most to least, so we'll have some idea of preference in this thread's voting should Obama decide before there is a series winner. Fmr. Sen. Bob Graham (FL) was eliminated in the previous round.

Please discuss any v.p. candidates in the comments. The most correct format would be to state their name, unless you have further comments. I'm happy to hear all ideas in this open thread, and I'm no official gatekeeper, so play nice.

(continued below the fold)

Welcome back for more speculation! Today continues the new final series of possibilities for Obama's v.p.

This series began with a new top 14 list of names I consider most likely to be named Obama's v.p. running mate, and we'll eliminate the bottom vote-getter each day until there is a winner, or a real-life winner is named by Obama. Starting today, candidates will be listed in order of votes from the previous poll, from most to least, so we'll have some idea of preference in this thread's voting should Obama decide before there is a series winner. Sen. Claire McCaskill (MO) was eliminated in the previous round.

Please discuss any v.p. candidates in the comments. The most correct format would be to state their name, unless you have further comments. I'm happy to hear all ideas in this open thread, and I'm no official gatekeeper, so play nice.

(continued below the fold)

Cross posted on RK

It's great to see Jim Webb, a man with a great deal more foreign policy knowledge and wisdom than John McSame, call out Hothead McSame for his bellicose comments on the Russia-Georgia situation:

Welcome back for more speculation! Today continues the new final series of possibilities for Obama's v.p.

This series began with a new top 14 list of names I consider most likely to be named Obama's v.p. running mate, and we'll eliminate the bottom vote-getter each day until there is a winner, or a real-life winner is named by Obama. Starting today, candidates will be listed in order of votes from the previous poll, from most to least, so we'll have some idea of preference in this thread's voting should Obama decide before there is a series winner. Sen. Sherrod Brown (OH) and Fmr. Sen. Sam Nunn (GA) were eliminated in the previous round.

Please discuss any v.p. candidates in the comments. The most correct format would be to state their name, unless you have further comments. I'm happy to hear all ideas in this open thread, and I'm no official gatekeeper, so play nice.

(continued below the fold)

Welcome back for more speculation! Today continues the new final series of possibilities for Obama's v.p.

This series began last time with a new top 14 list of names I consider most likely to be named Obama's v.p. running mate, and we'll eliminate the bottom vote-getter each day until there is a winner, or a real-life winner is named by Obama. Starting today, candidates will be listed in order of votes from the previous poll, from most to least, so we'll have some idea of preference in this thread's voting should Obama decide before there is a series winner. Sen. Jeff Bingaman (NM) was eliminated in the first round.

Please discuss any v.p. candidates in the comments. The most correct format would be to state their name, unless you have further comments. I'm happy to hear all ideas in this open thread, and I'm no official gatekeeper, so play nice.

(continued below the fold)

When it was announced that Mark Warner was the Keynote Speaker for the Democratic convention, a spot that I had expected would go to Jim Webb, it suddenly hit me that Webb just may be the VP candidate.

Everyone automatically assumes that because the VP night is themed on Security and Veterans that this points to Wes Clark. Then there is the added speculation that Colin Powell will endorse Obama at the convention as well.

And then I keep hearing Senator Obama's words in my head that he wants someone who will challenge him, not be a yes man, and it clicked: Jim Webb.

Webb stayed neutral during the primary. Webb recently released another book, just before Obama is to release his next book. And though Webb has said he is not interested in the role, he has not said categorically he would not serve if asked. He is after all a Marine and a man who will serve his country when called upon.

And who better than Jim Webb to crush McCain's "Country First" meme?

In something of a surprise, the investigation into the death by gunshot of a "rising star" aide to Virginia Sen. Jim Webb (which I detailed yesterday) seems to be continuing, not winding down.  A day ago, suicide seemed the likely cause -- a handgun was found under his body by the side of the road near his vehcile -- and that may still be the case, but police have now searched Fred Hutchins' apartment, taken his computer and various documents,  cellphone and bank records, and failed to come to any conclusion so far.

The Roanoke Times story today is headline: "Questions linger in death of Webb aide."

Meanwhile, some friends of the young man, who was 26, have mentioned that he had been suffering from severe migraines, but others question this as any sort of cause of anything.  I got an email from a friend who had been set to see Hutchins early this week for a meeting that never took place.  He writes:  "Great guy. We're all shocked and puzzled. He was universally liked. Fred was a great Democrat who was funny, witty and passionate about politics."

The first report was posted here yesterday evening but much more is now known.

Fred Hutchins, Jr., an aide to Sen. Jim Webb -- and described as a "rising star" in Virginia Democratic politics --  was found shot dead on Tuesday beside a Botetourt County road. A gun was found beneath his body but the medical examiner has not ruled it suicide or murder yet.  He was 26 and a longtime political activist.

Sheriff Ronnie Sprinkle said Hutchins' body was found outside his SUV-type vehicle,  on an embankment along U.S. 220 north of the town of Fincastle.   He had a single gunshot wound in  the head.

According to the Roanoke Times and WDBJ-TV Roanoke, 26 year old Fred Hutchins Jr. was found at the shoulder of a local road in Botetourt County.

Authorities in Botetourt County this morning discovered the body of a well-known Democratic operative and U.S. Senate aide along U.S. 220, dead from an apparent gunshot wound.

   The body of Frederick W. Hutchins Jr., 26, of Roanoke was found shortly after 7 a.m. along southbound U.S. 220 by a Botetourt County deputy who had stopped to check on a vehicle parked on the highway’s shoulder, according to the sheriff’s office.

[UPDATE: 1841EDT Thanks to Masked Cat, who caught the part of the article I missed. Fred Hutchins was found with a gun under his body, according to the link for the Roanoke Times.]

Folks, McCain just made a major boo-boo.  What did he do?  He has unleashed an ad that's so false and despicable, that it's going to backlash on him.  Big time.  Sheesh, even Chuck Hagel has condemned the ad.

How do I know there's going to be a backlash?  Because we're going to make it happen.  And because I speak with the benefit of knowing some recent history in Virginia.

In Virginia, we recently saw two straight state-wide elections where the Republican candidate hurled scurrilous charges at the Democrat that were so slimy that it hurt the hurler.  And, in large part, the backlash was rightly fueled by the Virginia blogosphere.

A little trip down memory lane on the flip....

This is just a simple observation, but I've seen two diaries posted in the past few days that attack John Edwards for infidelity, based on some right-wing smear. The first diary I saw stated that Edwards was wearing a "blue dress" as he tried to enter the hotel secretly. The second diary, entitled "I am STUNNED" referred to John Edwards as "Jon Edward" in one sentence. Both were based on a recent article in "The National Enquirer," which as everyone knows is factually based and a trusted source of political information. Both reported having previously been fans of John Edwards, but because of the article they had lost faith in Edwards, and simply wanted to point out to us all what a douchebag Edwards truly is.