pudge's Journal: The Most Powerful Most Recent Politician You've Never Heard Of

Alben Barkley was elected Vice President in 1948, on Harry Truman's ticket. He is the most recent executive I had never heard of.

He served in Congress from 1913-1927, and the Senate from 1927-1949 (as Democratic leader for the last 12 of those), and was Vice President from 1949-1953. Forty consecutive years. Then he served in the Senate again from 1955 until his death by heart attack in April 1956.

He was 71 years old when he was elected Vice President. He got married that same age, to a woman half his age, and he ran for President himself when he was 75. His final words were, "I would rather be a servant in the House of the Lord than to sit in the seats of the mighty," which translated might mean, "I would rather die while serving in the Senate, than in the White House."

You might cry

[nocomment]

Fred Thompson. Where on earth did this guy come from?

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[pudge]

Why would I cry? I love Fred.

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[nocomment]

I do to. The part you might cry about is I didn't hear about him until about 2 days ago.

I he runs he'll get my vote.

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[pudge]

I do to. The part you might cry about is I didn't hear about him until about 2 days ago.

You mean, never heard of him at all? Or just didn't know he was running?

I've liked him a long time. He ran Howard Baker's successful Senate campaign in 1972, then was Senate co-chief-counsel (he came up with Baker's now-infamous line, "what did the President know, and when did he know it?"). He was a succeessful lobbyist after that, and that is what led to his acting career, when in the mid-80s he was tapped to play himself in a movie. In 1993 he elected to replace Al Gore as the Senator from Tennessee

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[nocomment]

Never heard of him at all. Ever. I know it's depressing. I read his wikipedia entry the other day and was like "...?"

Sounds like a killer candidate, and far more electable than Guiliani or McCain.

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[pudge]

He is what conservatives have been waiting for: an electable principled conservative (I chose each of those three words carefully, and they are loaded with meaning) who can well-defend, elucidate, and explain those conservative principles, who is capable of being an effective leader, who has strong legislative and foreign policy experience.

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[RailGunner]

If Fred Thompson runs, he'll instantly have my vote, as well.

P.S. The other Pudge (Ivan Rodriguez) drilled a Grand Slam in the bottom of the 1st tonight... Tigers lead in the bottom of the 4th, 9-2 after Carlos Guillen's solo shot. MLB Radio rules.

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[nocomment]

He is what conservatives have been waiting for: an electable principled conservative (I chose each of those three words carefully, and they are loaded with meaning)

He is EXACTLY what I have been waiting for. I've been ho-hum about Bush since I found out he was running the first time. My complaints about Bush aren't what most peoples complaints are. A lot of pork-barrels etc... The states seemed to have lost a smidge more power under him (though not nearly as much as if Gore and co. would have won). Oth

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[pudge]

I don't think Guiliani would survive the slugfest before the elction. Everyone hated him on sept, 10. Mccain I'd vote for, but I'd probably stare at the ballot for a couple minutes making sure I didn't miss someone else.

Right now I am favoring a Thompson-Giuliani ticket.

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[nocomment]

Guiliani as vice P? That's something I hadn't really thought about. I have this image in my head that one of the 3 of them, but mixing them would be good. I actually like Guiliani. I think he'd do well in the debates. I'm just not sure how he'd fair when we have to see all about his affair broadcast every 30 seconds.

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[pudge]

Guiliani as vice P? That's something I hadn't really thought about. I have this image in my head that one of the 3 of them, but mixing them would be good. I actually like Guiliani. I think he'd do well in the debates. I'm just not sure how he'd fair when we have to see all about his affair broadcast every 30 seconds.

I've thought from the beginning that Giuliani is running for VP, because I just don't see any way for him to win the nomination. Even McCain, who is well-despised among many Republicans, has a better chance, because at least they agree with McCain on most, but not all, important issues. OK, so once McCain said he wouldn't overturn Roe (although he has said many more times he wants to), but Giuliani is essentially pro-choice, and McCain has one of the most pro-life records in Congress. Etc.

So I've always

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[pudge]

I think The Rudy is a fine man, but not as a VP for Fred.

Why? I love the idea of Rudy the pitbull attorney as VP.

Although I would prefer him as AG.

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[pudge]

That whole gun thing for starters, then there is just about every other position he has had on almost anything.

Well, that is a reason for him not to be President. And since he is second in line for the Presidency, sure, that could be a problem. But most of the time, the VP goes along with the President's policy and never becomes President himself (unless elected, although admittedly, he becomes the immediate frontrunner when Thompson leaves office). So while I agree he is not the best person to take over as President, I think he would be one of the best to serve as Vice President. I admit it's a bit of gamble,

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[jdavidb]

See, if you'd been listening, you would've heard about him when Dr. Dobson gave him a drive by flaming a couple of weeks ago. :)

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[nocomment]

What did Dobson have to say?

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[pudge]

That he didn't think Thompson was a Christian. Thompson's people said "oh yes he is," and Dobson's people replied, "well, Dobson meant not an EVANGELICAL Christian" or somesuch.