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Obama And Pelosi: That's The Ticket

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By JOHN NASH

Of Cabbages and Kings

Published: May 24, 2008

Well the news is out: The very junior senator from the state that made "politics" a dirty word is officially looking for a running mate that would help in his race to the White House.
Barack Hussein Obama may not want — let alone need — my advice in that pivotal matter, but here that is, anyway.
It is clear to me that Obama's choice for Veep must be a white female: one capable of not only attracting and inspiring Hillary-Three-Name's mindless followers, but perhaps also of gathering the votes of less liberal women and even a significant number of men whom would not normally pull the lever for a black candidate. Now, just whom might that be?
Condoleezza Rice undoubtedly would be a loyal and supportive V.P. (just as she's faithfully supported President Bush's foreign policies — no matter what), but "nah": as personable, attractive and well-educated as she is, Condi would likely not enhance Obama's chances of taking out a lease on the Oval Office.
Jeane Kirpatrick's name leaps to mind, but that extraordinarily talented woman has, sadly, passed on to her reward. Were she Obama's choice, even I would vote for him.
Ellen DeGeneres seems like a pregnant possibility (no pun intended). She's more popular than any politician and would certainly attract undecided voters of both sexes. I might even vote for Ellen: She's likely a better choice than Obama will end up with, but I don't see the senator's closest adviser, Michelle, approving of an "unprofessional" female.
Considering how so many youngsters are mindlessly swinging along on the Obama bandwagon, perhaps Miley Cyrus (aka "Hannah Montana") might be a good choice. Heck, they encourage illegal immigrants to vote, why not teeny boppers?
Then there's the most obvious choice: Sen. Hillary Clinton. Sure, Hillary could bring enough votes to ensure victory in November, but could Barack and Michelle live happily ever after with her in that position? I think not!
Neither one of them would be able to work with a strong, ambitious and determined woman, who knows the White House and politics better than they. Then there's Bill! I can imagine him barging into "his" oval office without knocking, storming through the president's living quarters without invitation, and chasing interns through White House corridors and kitchens.
No, Hillary's out.
There's also that dynamic duo of superwomen from, where else, kooky California. Sens. Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein have considerable experience as (cover the children's ears) "politicians." Both have been doing their darndest to inflate their public images, but no matter how many unnecessary committees they sit on or how many seemingly important comments they make, they'll never be popular outside of California (which may, anyway, be ceded to Mexico in the not-so-distant future).
But there is one politician from the Land of Liberals (California, Hillary) that just might be a perfect fit for Obama. Nancy Pelosi (aka "San Fran Nan") is female, reasonably physically attractive and a very effective and highly experienced politician. Those are all major qualities, which would significantly enhance an "Obama for President" ticket.
Mrs. Pelosi laughs as she discounts accepting an invitation to join the Obama team, saying that she's already got the most important job in the world, so why would she want to be "No. 2" to Obama? But her actions, over the past year, suggest that she has long had ambitions far beyond the House of Representatives.
Although I believe that she evidenced seriously flawed judgment when she traveled to the world's hot spots, acting as though she was an official representative of the United States, she was thereby getting a lot of press, making her name almost as well known as Hannah Montana.
I choose Mrs. Pelosi as the optimum choice for Obama's running mate. I think that team would be unbeatable — although I'd rather vote for Alfred E. Neuman.

John G. Nash, a regular columnist for Hernando Today, moved to Florida in 1985. He welcomes rational comment to him at john@have-eye.com.

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