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May 25, 2012

Rabbi Yonason Goldson: Thinking About Faith
Mark Clayton: Is Hillary's State Dept. hacking Al Qaeda? Not quite
David G. Savage: Supreme Court limits protection against double jeopardy
Ashley Powers: A nightmare, then conviction is tossed
Erika Bolstad: Temple cancels Wasserman Schultz speech
Deroy Murdock: WWII hero Karski to receive U.S. Medal of Freedom
Kimberly Lankford: Health Coverage for College Grads
The Kosher Gourmet by Ethel G. Hofman: The former president of the International Association of Culinary Professionals, whose members included the likes of Julia Child, is back with contemporary Shavous cuisine: Ruby Fruit Soup, Sweet Noodle Kugel with Cheese, Key Lime Curd, Calsone Casserole Frittata with Wild Mushrooms, Sun-dried tomatoes and Olives, Baked Tilapia with Pepper Cheese Cream and Brown Sugar Shortbread
May 24, 2012
Jeff Jacoby: The peace process battered Israel's reputation
Clifford D. May: What Iran's Rulers Want
Michael Muskal: 'Pro-choice' position hits record low, according to poll
Chris Farrell: Are We in a Tech Bubble?
Kimberly Lankford: Switching Medicare Advantage Plans Mid-Year
Bryan McIver, M.B., Ch.B., Ph.D.: Mayo Clinic Medical Edge: Understanding hyperthyroidism and its variety of treatment options
The Kosher Gourmet by Penelope Wall: PHILLY CHEESE STEAKS --- hold the steak!
May 23, 2012
Ex-CIA spy in Iran's Revolutionary Guard: Baghdad talks highlight Western naivete
Tony Pugh: More private colleges offering tuition discounts
Lisa Gerstner: 4 Money-Etiquette Questions Answered
Mary Beth Franklin: How to Choose the Right Annuity for You
Art Markman, Ph.D.: Get smart: How to bulk up your creativity muscles
Tina Susman: The wig wasn't enough: Man gets 13 years for posing as his dead mom
The Kosher Gourmet by Emma Christensen:A simple way to do fish right
May 22, 2012
David S. Cloud and Kathleen Hennessey: Obama changes mind on Pakistan invite to NATO summit --- and then gets dissed by country's president
Warren Richey: Can US group challenge overseas surveillance act? Supreme Court to decide
Thomas M. Anderson: Walking Away From a Mortgage
Environmental Nutrition editors: The lowdown on a low-acid diet
The Kosher Gourmet by Megan Gordon: Enjoy a celebration of the most rich and layered flavors: Black bean, sweet potato and quinoa chili
May 21, 2012
Mark Clayton: Cybersecurity: How US utilities passed up chance to protect their networks
Howard LaFranchi: NATO summit: Who will foot the bill for long-term Afghanistan security?
Chris Farrell : Earn Dividends in Emerging Markets with This WisdomTree ETF
James K. Glassman: 5 Stock Picks Among Online Retailers
Stephen Whiteside, Ph.D. : Mayo Clinic Medical Edge: Social anxiety disorder --- or just shy?
Guy Jackson : Victim's father regrets death of Lockerbie bomber
The Kosher Gourmet by Mario Batali: Famed chef's veal shoulder farsumagru: A festive meat course for late spring
May 18, 2012
Rabbi Berel Wein: Striving: The People of the Book's Book for (All of) the People
Caroline B. Glick: Embracing dangerous delusions and not our friends
Steven Goldberg: 5 Great Stock Picks and the Exchange-Traded Fund that Owns Them
Janet Bodnar: How to Teach Kids to Handle Credit Cards
Mary Pickett, M.D.: Ask the Harvard Experts: Don't be forced into gluten-free lifestyle based merely on a doctor's false-positive test
The Kosher Gourmet by Carolyn Malcoun: DIY healthy lunchbox treats: HOMEMADE FRUIT BARS for kids and brown-bagging adults alike
May 17, 2012
Warren Richey: Teacher fired for being unwed and pregnant can sue religious school, court rules
Josh Mitnick: Netanyahu's 'centrist' coalition is already proving it's anything but
Steven Goldberg: Earn Dividends in Emerging Markets with This WisdomTree ETF
Mary Beth Franklin: Retirement Savings Tips for New Grads
Amina Khan: Research links coffee to lower death rates
Chelsea Sheasley: Social media: Is it too feminine?
The Kosher Gourmet by Faith Duran : Cheesy Potato Breakfast Casserole with Cheddar and Sun-Dried Tomatoes
May 16, 2012
Jackson Holahan: The Aleppo Codex
Jonathan Tobin : Iran Declares Victory in Nuclear Talks
Anne Kates Smith: 7 Stocks That Let You Sleep Tight
Carmen Terzic, M.D., Ph.D. : Mayo Clinic Medical Edge: A variety of exercises can help improve balance
Melissa Healy: National strategy on Alzheimer's disease aims to halt it by 2025
The Kosher Gourmet by Joyce White : GOODNESS GRACIOUS: GREENS! 4 winning recipes that are no longer just for down-home folks (Includes expert tips & techniques)
May 15, 2012
Dennis Prager: God and Man at (and for) Liberty
Kristen Chick: Obama administration resumes arms sales to Bahrain despite serious unresolved human rights issues. Activists feel abandoned
Pat Mertz Esswein: Homes are now affordable again and mortgage rates are low. What you need to know before you buy
Kathy Kristof: Our Practical Investor Fights Inflation with These 6 Investments
Sue Hubbard, M.D.: The Kid's Doctor: Lactose intolerant young child? Check again
Environmental Nutrition Editors: Get the facts on palm sugar sweetening
The Kosher Gourmet by Kathy Hunt: Spread a Little Excitement with EXOTIC CONDIMENTS (4 RECIPES)
May 14, 2012
Richard Simon: Purple Hearts for domestic terror victims?
Nando Pelusi, Ph.D.: The privacy paradox: Surrounded by strangers, we risk isolation, anxiety
Chris Farrell: Investing Lessons from the Great Recession
Lisa Gerstner: How to Protect Your Identity, Finances If You Lose Your Phone
Harvard Health Letters: Heart disease and dementia
Tiffany O'Callaghan: New hormone mimics effects of exercise without the sweat
The Kosher Gourmet by Megan Gordon: MANGO COCONUT OAT MORNING MUFFINS are a bright but hearty delight
May 11, 2012
Rabbi B. Shafier: Why happiness will always be elusive
Charles Krauthammer: Echoes of '67: Israel unites
Howard LaFranchi: With G8 snub, US-Putin 'reset' off to stumbling start
Jeremy J. Siegel: Investors, Relax About Rising Interest Rates
Jessica L. Anderson: Get the Best Deal on a Used Car
Jett Stone: Forget face-lifts and fake knees. Scientists have seen the fountain of youth --- and it's broccoli
The Kosher Gourmet by Chef Mario Batali: The famed chef's vegetable dish that tastes true to the season: FAVAS AND SUGAR SNAP PEAS WITH POTATOES AND TARRAGON
May 10, 2012
Clifford D. May: The Real Palestinian Refugee Problem
Sergei L. Loiko: Putin sends warning to U.S., NATO in Victory Day speech at Red Square
Mary Rourke: How being a 'mentch' got Vidal Sasoon his start and fighting in Israel's War of Independence provided him with confidence and a strong sense of his own identity
Harvard Health Letters: Palliative care: Underused therapy yields surprising benefits
Jeff Bertolucci: Get Home Phone Service for Less Than $10 a Month
Rachel L. Sheedy and Susan B. Garland : Make the Right Moves to Boost Benefits
The Kosher Gourmet by Betty Rosbottom: Gleaming with its golden, crimson, and snowy white hues, this silken smooth and creamy STRAWBERRY ORANGE TRIFLE looks impressive, but is easy to prepare
May 9, 2012
John Rosemond: Parents, stop destroying the American male
Valerie J. Nelson: Maurice Sendak, author of 'Where the Wild Things Are,' dies at 83
Bob Frick: Angst Over Annuities
Sharon Palmer, R.D. How you can reduce your risk -- or delay -- chronic diseases associated with aging
Howard LeWine, M.D.: Ask the Harvard Experts: Why did my blood pressure suddenly shoot up?
Lisa Gerstner: Lower the Rate on All Your Loans
The Kosher Gourmet by Emily Ho : Springtime soba with miso sauce offers a coloful mix of fresh textures and flavors
May 8, 2012
Edmund Sanders: Netanyahu suddenly cancels new elections, forms unity government
Frank J. Gaffney Jr.: Farewell to European superstate
Anne Kates Smith: 4 Stocks That Mimic Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway
Gaia Vince and Clare Wilson The Rise of Miniature Medical Robots: Fantasy Fast Becoming Reality
Paul Takahashi, M.D.: Mayo Clinic Medical Edge: Never suffer night leg cramps
Jessica L. Anderson: Extended-Warranty Warning
The Kosher Gourmet by Diane Rossen Worthington: Celebrate National Chocolate Chip Day with the Best Cookie Ever (Includes techniques)
May 7, 2012
Mark Clayton: Homeland Security warns major cyber attack aimed at gas pipeline industry underway
Angus Roxburgh: Putin Decoded: World view of a Russian feeling dissed
Kimberly Lankford: Navigate a Course for Long-Term Care
Kevin McCormally How to Adjust Your Tax Withholding
Celeste Robb-Nicholson, M.D.: Harvard Health Letters: How do you treat a Baker's cyst?
Joanne Capano: Healthy Snacks for Children: The Choices May Surprise You
The Kosher Gourmet by Penelope Wall: Classic Creamy Spinach Dip with a Fraction of the Calories and Fat
May 4, 2012
Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo: Holy 'trivialities'
Jonathan Tobin: Bibi v. Barak will be no contest this time around
Steven Goldberg: Blue Chip Stocks On Sale Worldwide
Art Pine Slow Productivity Growth a Blessing --- For Now
Sue Hubbard, M.D. : The Kid's Doctor: Are Kids Too Wired?
Kerri-Ann Jennings, M.S., R.D: Foods that are good for your smile
Amy Paturel, M.S., M.P.H.: Eating Well: Foods that are good for your smile
The Kosher Gourmet by Betty Rosbottom: Strawberry rhubarb parfaits are elegant yet simple to assemble
May 3, 2012
Michael Freund: Who's Afraid of the Messiah?
Clifford D. May: The Foggiest War
Susan B. Garland: Insurance to Cover Old Old Age
Steven Goldberg 6 Reasons to Bet on a Big Bull Market
Harvard Health Letters: Treating prostate cancer --- no rush to judgment
Larry Gordon: Harvard, MIT partner to offer free online courses
Naomi Nix : Man gets free trip to Chicago after postcard sent by mother in 1957 finally reaches him
The Kosher Gourmet by Diane Rossen Worthington: Intensely Italian vegetable frittata is a seriously simple standby


Jewish World Review June 8, 2008 / 5 Sivan 5768

How McCain and Obama Should Choose Their Vice Presidents

By Michael Barone


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http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | Was Hillary Clinton trying to muscle her way into the vice presidential nomination? That was the widely held assumption when she made her nonconcession speech on the night of the South Dakota and Montana primaries. Last month, longtime Democratic consultant Bob Beckel argued that Clinton could force her way onto the ticket by holding her own delegates and appealing to superdelegates who had endorsed Obama (or endorsed neither candidate) and who owed the Clintons. It seemed unrealistic to me, but it was a tantalizing suggestion, and Clinton's statement earlier that day on a conference call that she would consider accepting the No. 2 slot seemed consistent with Beckel's scenario.


My own view is that Clinton hadn't decided what to do. "I will be making no decisions tonight," as she said, and I think she simply was too shellshocked to do anything but leave her options open. As longtime Democratic leader (he's managed the last several Democratic national conventions) Michael Berman was quoted by Jackie Calmes in the Wall Street Journal, "Major candidates for president are by definition great dreamers. When their dreams are quashed they should be given the courtesy of a little time to internalize their loss."


But Obama gave her only a little time—less than 24 hours, as indicated in the lead of Calmes's story:


Supporters of Sen. Hillary Clinton suggested she would like to be Sen. Barack Obama's running mate, but close advisers to Sen ator Obama are signaling that an Obama-Clinton ticket is highly unlikely.


Some in the Clinton camp also noted a possible deal-breaker for a party-unity ticket: Bill Clinton may balk at releasing records of his business dealings and big donors to his presidential library.


Senator Clinton scheduled a gathering for her staff at her house Saturday, where she will en d her campaign and concede the nomination, three advisers said.


Plainly Obama didn't want her on the ticket. And he took command by muscling Bill Clinton. Other Democrats insisted that Clinton end her campaign and endorse Obama. According to Fox News's Major Garrett, that point was made insistently in a conference call with House members by Reps. Barney Frank of Massachusetts, Charles Rangel of New York, and Norman Dicks of Washington—all Clinton supporters to that point.


In pushing Clinton to withdraw and quashing any effort to force her on the ticket, these Democrats were upholding one of the traditional rules of American politics, one which no one questions, except me. That rule is that the choice of the vice presidential nominee is the sole prerogative of the presidential nominee. This rule is usually invoked in the same hushed tones in which it is noted that the president is commander in chief or that the candidate with a majority of electoral votes becomes president.


Yet it seems to me an anomaly. Some 36 million Americans took part in selecting the Democratic nominee for president. And yet only one person chooses the nominee for vice president, who may turn out to be (as John Tyler was) president for three years and 11 months.


Defenders of the rule may reasonably ask, How else can it be done? Theoretically, you could throw the choice of vice president to the party's national convention, as Adlai Stevenson did in 1956. That resulted in a fascinating floor fight between John F. Kennedy, Albert Gore Sr., and (the ultimate winner) Estes Kefauver. But ever since 1972, the presidential nominee has been in absolute control of a majority of votes at both parties' conventions. Delegates expect direction and will seek it out if it is not given. You can't very well have a second round of primaries and caucuses to choose the vice presidential nominee. And the idea of casting one vote for president and another for vice president in our current primaries and caucuses is also a nonstarter. We once chose the president and vice president that way, but scrapped it by constitutional amendment after the tumultuous election of 1800, most recently described in Edward Larson's vivid A Magnificent Catastrophe.


Nonetheless, I do have to admit that the process for selecting vice presidents has been improved, and by the man who also did more than anyone else to make the vice presidency a useful office in the conduct of government, Walter Mondale. Before Mondale was nominated by the Democratic Party in 1984, vice presidents were usually picked at the last minute at parties' national conventions. In 1976 Bob Dole was selected by Gerald Ford in the wee hours of the morning, and Mondale was selected by Jimmy Carter during convention week. In 1980 Ronald Reagan picked George H. W. Bush only after some hours of negotiation by Gerald Ford for a "co-presidency."


Mondale wanted to do it differently. When he was vice president, Jimmy Carter had delegated important government responsibilities to him, had given him an office in the West Wing (and offices there for his top staffers) and had had regularly scheduled meetings with him. This was a considerable change from previous practice, for which Carter deserves credit. In the three months Harry Truman was vice president, he meet with President Franklin Roosevelt exactly once; when he was summoned to the White House on April 12, 1945, he did not know whether Roosevelt was in Washington. Richard Nixon was never invited to the president's private quarters in the eight years he was vice president. Lyndon Johnson was treated more respectfully by John Kennedy, but not by some Kennedy staffers. Hubert Humphrey was repeatedly humiliated by Johnson. Spiro Agnew was assigned a role as speechgiver by Richard Nixon, and nothing else.


Mondale, drawing on his experience, wanted to follow the example Carter set. This was complicated by the pressure he was under to seek a female nominee at a time when the Democrats (and Republicans) had few female officeholders with plausible credentials. So he had his staff (including Michael Berman and Jim Johnson, on whom more anon) spend some time vetting possible nominees, and ended up choosing Rep. Geraldine Ferraro over then San Francisco Mayor Dianne Feinstein. (I was at a dinner party the night Feinstein learned she was not the choice; she kept a stiff upper lip.) This may not have been the best choice, but in my view Ferraro performed credibly, and more so than one might have expected from her thin resume—three terms in the House, a job handling domestic cases in the Queens County district attorney's office.


In the meantime, Reagan was giving the first President Bush significant responsibilities as vice president. In 1988 Bush as Republican nominee and Michael Dukakis as the Democratic nominee spent time interviewing and examining the credentials of candidates and came up with Dan Quayle, who I believe performed competently in office, and Lloyd Bentsen, who I believe would have done so if he had been elected. In 1992 Bill Clinton spent considerable time before choosing Al Gore, who had significant accomplishments as vice president. Ditto with George W. Bush in 2000 and with Al Gore with Joseph Lieberman. In 2004 John Kerry asked former Mondale aide (and Fannie Mae CEO) Jim Johnson to supervise his selection process, and decided on John Edwards—a choice that his speechwriter Bob Shrum says he came to regret.


So what we have is a deliberative process in which, if one person still makes the decision, at least others are involved and they all have a considerable period of time in which to make the decision. The vice presidency has become a useful office and its occupant is determined in a less haphazard way than has been the case in most of the 19th and 20th centuries. For which thanks are due first to Walter Mondale and to Jimmy Carter, and secondarily to their successors in both parties who have followed their examples. Now let's see how Barack Obama and John McCain do.

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