Seems like the blogosphere is at the early stages of what will be an epic meltdown if Senator Obama chooses fellow Senator Evan Bayh as his running mate.
Frankly, I think that much of this is overblown. Evan Bayh just ain't that bad. For one, he's pretty much genetically incapable of being extreme in any light. Sure that rules out "extremely good" but it also rules out "extremely bad," too. In fact, a strong case could be made that Evan Bayh is Goldilocks.
I find the most common-cited criticism of Bayh ("He's so boring!") curious to say the least. The single most exciting president of my lifetime has been George W. Bush. The most interesting (Being both exciting and being VP violates the US Constitution) vice-president of my lifetime has been Dick Cheney (villains always are). Exciting is overrated.
Believe it or not, there is a case for choosing Evan Bayh. It's central argument is not electability, although that can be cited in his support. It is not that he's a cultural ambassador to Middle America for Obama, although, too, that is a credible argument in Bayh's favor. Nor is it that he's sell-able to Washington press elites as a chaperone for Obama and his Legions of Change, although it is a reasonable point.
The reason you want Evan Bayh to be your and Barack Obama's Vice President is because he would be a good President. If Bayh's career has shown anything it is that while he won't fire you up, he is ready to go.
He has dealt with and succeeded with the problem of trying to create an equitable economic growth during a national economic downturn. He's created nearly 350,000 jobs.
He succeeded at convincing a conservative, tight-fisted electorate in Indiana to support a Great Society-style education program in his 21st Century Scholars initiative.
He's successfully handled a state budget crisis without destructive cuts to entitlements.
He generated a billion-dollar budget surplus. Then, he massively cut taxes.
He's fought a massive crime and drug epidemic -- and won .
He's stood by labor, stood up to China, and against unfair trade.
He's stood against Don Rumsfeld.
He wants to get rid of earmarks.
He doesn't think the US military should take its orders from Osama Bin Laden.
He wants to abolish the electoral college.
He doesn't think Barack Obama is an elitist.
The greatest mistake people make about Evan Bayh is thinking that he's an ideologue. He's not a conservative Democrat. His view of the political center is not fixed. It's relative to the public and the atmosphere of the times. He's sure-footed and sure-handed.He may not be liberal Democrat either, but he certainly wants to use government to implement progressive policy goals. His greatest flaw and virtue is that he's content to take whatever the political environment gives him. And do it well.
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