Keynote Speakers for the Conventions

[YRABNNRM]

Who do you think they should be and who do you think they will be?

For the Democrats, the natural pick for me would be Newark Mayor Cory Booker. He's done a great job in the past year of his administration. He has endorsed Obama so perhaps if Obama is the nominee he will get it, setting him up to be a big player on the national stage as Obama's speech did for him. The problem, I suppose, is that he also endorsed Lieberman if I remember correctly.

For the GOP, Sarah Palin would be a great choice. I would say maybe Crist but he's pretty much already set himself up on the national stage and is seen as a potential VP pick.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

He's also black.

[Ben.]

Somone we havent heard of probably (like Obama in '04).

[YRABNNRM]

He's also black.

I was considering mentioning that but decided to overlook it on purpose.

[Meeker]

Won't Palin be rather pregnant at that point?

[YRABNNRM]

Won't Palin be rather pregnant at that point?

Oh yea, I forgot about that.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Sebelius (sp?) for the Dems.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

I would love to see the Republicans feature Senator Demint.  No one really knows him but he is a very eloquent spokesman for conservative values.  Maybe we can get another democrat to come over and speak like Zell Miller.  Joe Lieberman would be okay. 

I can think of a democrat officeholder I would want to hear EXCEPT Miller or Lieberman.  Maybe Senator Nelson of Nebraska.  The democrat party would be smart to let Nelson speak to their convention but you know they won't,  What a shame.

I've seen DeMint speak on the Senate floor; he would be good.  Lieberman is still very much a Democrat, except on the War.  He will not speak at the RNC.

As for the Democratic Party, Nelson would be nice.  I'm partial to Mark Pryor or Blanche Lincoln, but it would also serve their interests to have a supporter of the losing candidate to speak, or have the actual loser speak, to try and reconcile with each other.

[YRABNNRM]

Maybe we can get another democrat to come over and speak like Zell Miller.  Joe Lieberman would be okay. 

hmmm I suppose Lieberman could be a possibility; he did endorse McCain after all.

The democrat party would be smart to let Nelson speak to their convention but you know they won't,  What a shame.

I don't think it would be too smart for the Democrats to pick someone who would turn off most of their base to be their keynote speaker.

[Bay Ridge, Bklyn! Born and Bred]

Mark Warner, for the Dems.   Perhaps then he can get the national exposure amongst Dems to set him up for a 2012 run.   

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Mark Warner, for the Dems.   Perhaps then he can get the national exposure amongst Dems to set him up for a 2012 run.   

That'd be great, Virginians need more exposure on the national stage.

[WalterMitty]

im personally hoping the republicans recruit star parker.

horatrio alger stories and moralizing never gets old!

[Bay Ridge, Bklyn! Born and Bred]

I don't think it would be too smart for the Democrats to pick someone who would turn off most of their base to be their keynote speaker.

Unlike the Republican Party, Democrats can--and should--afford ignoring their base.     Thats how we got Bill Clinton.   When they listen to their base, we get McGovern...and Hillary / Obama.

[politicaltipster]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Because obviously having an unpopular mayor who supports drug legalisation as the face of the Democratic party is really going to appeal to middle America. Why not have go the whole hog and have Elliott Spitzer up on the podium as well?

In a more serious vein I would suggest (for the Dems)

Sen James Webb
Fmr Rep Harold Ford Jr
Sen Ken Salazar
Fmr Gov Mark Warner
Fmr Vice Pres. Al Gore

(for the GOP)

Fmr Rep Charlie Wilson (if possible)
Fmr Gov Mike Huckbaee (for the VP nominating speech)
Joe Lieberman (if he isn't on the ticket itself)
Michael Medved  (if Lieberman is on the ticket)
Bill Kristol
Lynn Savage

[YRABNNRM]

I don't think it would be too smart for the Democrats to pick someone who would turn off most of their base to be their keynote speaker.

Unlike the Republican Party, Democrats can--and should--afford ignoring their base.     Thats how we got Bill Clinton.   When they listen to their base, we get McGovern...and Hillary / Obama.

Bill Clinton and Ben Nelson are hardly comparable.

Because obviously having an unpopular mayor who supports drug legalisation as the face of the Democratic party is really going to appeal to middle America. Why not have go the whole hog and have Elliott Spitzer up on the podium as well?

Because having a candidate who is black and named Barack Hussein Obama is really going to appeal to middle America. Who would ever let THAT guy give the keynote address?!?!? He wouldn't stand a chance!

To imply that Cory Booker is in any way similar to Eliot Spitzer is ridiculous and a pretty uneducated statement to make. Booker stands for everything that Spitzer is not.

Booker has made it clear that he believes that certain drug penalties are filling up prisons that should be filled with murderers, something that he knows all too well living in Newark. Booker is also pretty moderate and has views that would be more in line with middle America than some views that some Democratic politicians endorse.

He's a rising star in politics today and to simply write him off as out of touch is foolish.

[elcorazon]

If Obama is the nominee, it will NOT be a black man.  If Hillary is the nominee, it WILL be a black man.

[Bay Ridge, Bklyn! Born and Bred]

If Obama is the nominee, it will NOT be a black man.  If Hillary is the nominee, it WILL be a black man.

Either way, Dems are pretty much screwed with the white male vote.    Hopefully saner heads will prevail at the DNC and get a WASP-y looking white man with nice hair to deliver the keynote.

[Lief 🗽]

If Obama is the nominee, it will NOT be a black man.  If Hillary is the nominee, it WILL be a black man.

Either way, Dems are pretty much screwed with the white male vote.    Hopefully saner heads will prevail at the DNC and get a WASP-y looking white man with nice hair to deliver the keynote.

Er... Democrats are always screwed with the white male vote. Clinton won by 9% in 1996 and he still lost the white male vote to Bob Dole.

[Bay Ridge, Bklyn! Born and Bred]

If Obama is the nominee, it will NOT be a black man.  If Hillary is the nominee, it WILL be a black man.

Either way, Dems are pretty much screwed with the white male vote.    Hopefully saner heads will prevail at the DNC and get a WASP-y looking white man with nice hair to deliver the keynote.

Er... Democrats are always screwed with the white male vote. Clinton won by 9% in 1996 and he still lost the white male vote to Bob Dole.

They key here is to get just enough of the white male vote to prevent the Republicans from taking power, and not have a nominee who will make all the joe-sixpacks come out in droves to vote against the Democratic candidate.