last minute prediction: obama & chet edwards

thy will be done.

 

Who is this chet edwards?

 

New article on SF Chronicle website

Discussing Chet Edwards (D, TX, Congressperson representing Crawford, TX) as last-minute darkhorse.

from article:
"Edwards, whom Speaker Nancy Pelosi had touted for running mate, told The Associated Press in Waco, Texas, "I have had interactions with the Obama campaign over the last several months but I will not get into details."

One Democratic official with knowledge of the conversation said Obama told Pelosi recently that she would be pleased with the choice. Other Democratic officials said he was on the short list. All spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss Obama's selection process.

Edwards, chairman of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee, is a nine-term moderate Democrat representing the GOP-leaning Texas district. He is well-known in Texas but does not have a national profile."

 

Sounds like the guy. I would have been surprised if Obama had picked a "name" for the VP slot.

 

Okay. Final, final prediction: Sebelius.

 

anyone else checking email every five minutes?

 

I think it makes perfect sense. Edwards is a moderate that is probably even more conservative than he normally shows, because he tends to toe the party line. He has cred with the union democrats Obama seems to have trouble getting in the fold, and he has cred on foreign policy. The only downside for Obama is that it's probably a lost seat for the Dems.

 

from his house.gov site: (and... I am excited about this possibility)
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Congressman Chet Edwards proudly represents portions of North Texas, Central Texas and the Brazos Valley in Washington. Since first elected to the United States Congress in 1990, Chet has gained seniority and influence and is now one of only 8 House members to serve as a senior member on both the House Budget and the Appropriations Committees. Chet also serves on the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, co-chair of the House Army Caucus, and the USO Congressional Caucus.

As the Chairman of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee, Congressman Edwards is known as a national champion for America’s veterans, troops, and their families. In 2007, he authored the largest increase in veterans funding in the 77-year history of the Veterans Administration, an $11.8 billion increase. American Legion National Commander Marty Conatser called Edwards’ record VA Appropriations bill, “a monumental achievement.” This year, both the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars recognized Congressman Edwards’ leadership with their national awards given to only one member of Congress. In 2007, he was awarded the Disabled American Veterans' “Going to Bat for Veterans” award for authoring the historic VA funding increases. Working with Speaker Pelosi in 2005, Congressman Edwards introduced the GI Bill of Rights for the 21st Century, which dramatically improved veterans’ health care and benefits, and covered the full cost of a college education. Edwards then received the Military Order of the Purple Heart’s "Inspirational Leadership" award in 2005. In 2008, Chairman Edwards played a key role in enacting the new GI Bill of Rights into law.

During his 18 year tenure in Congress including 11 years of seniority on the powerful Appropriations Committee, Congressman Edwards has developed a reputation of working hard and effectively for his Central Texas constituents. This reputation is the result of his commitment to protecting jobs and the local economy by making vital federal investments in key education, health, transportation, and water programs in the 17th District. Securing important federal investments for Fort Hood, the Central Texas Veterans’ Health Care System, and university research programs at Baylor and Texas A&M Universities are also a primary focus of Congress Edwards’ work in Washington.

Having represented Fort Hood, the world's largest Army base, Congressman Edwards has also played a major leadership role in support of the U.S. Army, military families, and homeland defense programs. In 2007, he received the Marix Congressional Achievement Award from the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) in recognition of his work. In 2006, Congressman Edwards was honored with the Award of Merit, the highest award given by the Military Coalition, which represents 36 military and veteran groups. In 2003, the Association of the U.S. Army gave Congressman Edwards its "Legislator of the Year Award." He has been the co-chair of the House Army caucus for over a decade and served on the House Armed Services and veterans Affairs Committees for six years.

Early in his congressional career, Congressman Edwards became known as a leader in the fight against nuclear terrorism, and in 2001, strongly opposed cuts of $100 million to the nuclear non-proliferation budget proposed by the Bush Administration. Serving as a member on the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, Edwards helps to oversee key homeland defense and university research programs to protect Americans from nuclear terrorism. To inspect more cargo coming into U.S. seaports, Edwards supported the implementation of the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission and, in 2003, helped secure $84 million to the budget to install radiological detectors at the busiest foreign ports, so nuclear materials can be detected overseas before terrorists can get them to targets in America.

As a respected voice on issues facing working families, Edwards has pushed for increased access to health care for children of working families under the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP), supported middle class tax cuts, and protected Medicare and Social Security benefits for America's seniors. His pro-economic, pro-agriculture record has also earned him endorsements from both the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Farm Bureau Agfund. The U.S Chamber of Commerce has given him their "Spirit of Enterprise" Award for the past several years for his support of business.

Edwards has taken principled stands opposing the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy, protecting a woman’s right to choose, favoring a comprehensive immigration reform plan gives undocumented immigrants the opportunity to earn citizenship, and leading the fight to protect church-state separation from incursions by the Bush Administration. Congressman Edwards has also been recognized for his innovative, cooperative approaches to protecting private property rights and the environment.

Congressman Edwards is known as a fiscal conservative who believes massive federal deficits and the $9 trillion national debt are harmful to our economy and morally wrong to pass on to our children and grand children. The non-partisan Concord Coalition has given him its "Deficit Hawk" Award.

As a lifelong person of faith, Chet has been honored by the Baptist Joint Committee and earned the Walter Cronkite Award from the Interfaith Alliance for his principled stand to keep government regulations out of our churches and houses of worship. Congressman Edwards has also been honored with the T.B. Maston Christian Ethics Award.

In the 1990’s, Congressman Edwards served on the House Veterans Affairs and Armed Services Committees for six years before receiving an appointment to the Appropriations Committee. He was also appointed Democratic chief deputy whip in 1995 along with Reps. Bill Richardson, Rosa DeLauro, and John Lewis. Edwards, a moderate Democrat, was appointed to help heal the rifts between progressive and conservative members of the Democratic caucus at the time.

Congressman Edwards graduated Magna c*m Laude with a B.A. in Economics from Texas A&M University in 1974. Upon graduation, he received the Earl Rudder Award, given to two outstanding seniors. He then worked 3 years as a congressional aide to Congressman Olin E. "Tiger" Teague. At the age of 26, Edwards was encouraged by Congressman Teague to become his successor in 1978. Congressman Edwards narrowly lost in the Democratic primary to Phil Gramm, but then went on to earn an MBA from the Harvard Business School.

In the 1980’s, Congressman Edwards worked at the Trammell Crow Company in commercial real estate; and owned and was the President of Edwards Communications, a rural radio station in South Texas. From 1983 to 1989, Edwards served in the Texas Senate. As a Member of the Senate Education Committee, he played an active role in reducing class sizes in Texas' public schools and was named one of Ten Best Legislators by Texas Monthly magazine.

Congressman Edwards was born and raised in Corpus Christi where he was inspired by his neighbor, Dr. Hector Garcia, a Hispanic civil rights icon who founded the American GI Forum.

Chet is a lifelong Methodist. He and his wife, Lea Ann, along with their sons, J.T. (12) and Garrison (11) attend the Calvary Baptist Church in Waco, and the McLean Baptist Church in McLean, Virginia.

 

No, I assume Barack will call me directly to apologize for the fact that I don't meet the age limit.

 

Well, Edwards does fit the criteria Obama said he was using to select a VP.

Not looking to get his name in lights? Check.
Willing to disagree and push back? Seems like a check too, based on his voting record.

He would also be a pragmatic pick more than a splash. That's consistent with how Obama's run his campaign so far.

I'm sufficiently convinced to move him into the number two slot, just a hair behind Biden.

And I love the idea of a Texan on the ticket.

 

an aggie?!?!?

 

Not at all, but then again I'm not on his e-mail list

That being said, despite the fact that I don't want Obama to be president, it's kinda fun to watch how genuinely excited people are by this. I don't buy it....but at least some people think he represents something greater than himself. And that's fun to watch

 

On the downside, he voted for the war and for the Defense of Marriage Act. Also supports a Constitutional ban on gay marriage.

 

^^^ah man!

 

Umm not sure what to think of this if he is the VP. I guess if he can help Obama get elected then it is good, I hope he doesn't get to be the president some day.

 

This sentence keeps popping up in today's stories:

"One Democratic official with knowledge of the conversation said Obama told Pelosi recently that she would be pleased with the choice."

It's a well known fact that Pelosi's been Edwards' biggest booster. If it turns out to be him, and the above quote is true, it represents an unusual breach in an otherwise very successfully secretive campaign.

 

This strikes me as a boring pick. I would love to see Hilary just for the fireworks but unlikely that happens. Once Obama won Iowa i assumed he'd probably win the nomination and bring Joe Biden in to be his VP. I still think that is his best choice.

 

i'm still sticking with Sebelius. I should have never strayed.
The funny thing about both Chet and Sebelius is that no one has suggested they would put their home state in play. In fact, I think Richardson or Villaragosa would put Texas in play more than Edwards would.

 

I guess that would go with the whole idea of compromising some issues to advance others. The main concern for me is the constitutional amendment on gay marriage.