Kathleen Sebelius as Possible VP, Cont'd

"Hi, I'm here to measure the drapes for Vice President Sebelius' office."

--me, because I think she's the cat's meow

We MOMocrats are front and center in our affection for current Governor of Kansas Kathleen Sebelius. Some of us got to meet her in person, others have a Kansas connection and have followed her transformation of that state's politics or cite her unequivocal pushback to the coal industry (vetoed a coal energy bill three times!) with admiration.

It fans my flames o' burning hope that there'll be an Obama-Sebelius '08 ticket when I read items like this little tidbit: a HuffPo snippet where Obama says he "loves Kathleen" and heaps her with praise for her executive ability, but goes on to add

I promised that I am not going to say anything about my vice president until I actually introduce my vice president.

Hmmm. That was inscrutable, just as he intended.

I'm not the only one vibe-ing on Sebelius' calm, coolly efficient demeanor, and quietly, fiercely-competent political resume. Bradford Plumer's article in The Atlantic Monthly, argues that Sebelius is the "iPod Veep" who's temperamentally well-suited and has the executive experience as governor--of a red state no less--to help Obama make government user-friendly again.

And for those who find her "too nice" to be VP, I'd argue, what takes more skill, to leave no fingerprints when stiff-arming your opponent and still come out on top, or to leave clumps of fur and your dignity shredded everywhere on the way to winning? I'd submit it's the former, not the latter, that shows true mad ninja skillz.

Consider the Democratic Party nominee Obama who won the primary by playing all 50 states, and will proceed to move McCain around the map like a capoeira mestre schooling a lindy-hop shuffling neophyte by forcing McCain to fight for Nebraska, Colorado, and even McCain's home state of Arizona--where his own party finds him a pain and he only just opened a southwest HQ.

This recent profile of Sebelius in Salon just fans the flames further. Walter Shapiro notes of Sebelius' bipartisan governing style:

She has prospered, romping home with 58 percent of the vote in 2006, by taking advantage of the ideological warfare in the Republican Party. "Kansas has evolved into a weird third-party system with the rise of the social conservatives," explains Alan Ehrenhalt, the executive editor of Governing magazine, which covers state and local government. "If Sebelius allies herself with the suburban moderate Republicans, they can't beat her."

A resolute pro-choice advocate (and also Roman Catholic), Sebelius is also popping up in the most interesting places--like a recent discussion of the economics of wind power in Business Week magazine. It's heartening to know that in addition to rejecting coal plants for Kansas, Sebelius is a strong proponent of wind power and has started tackling the obstacles that prevent this Wind Belt state from produce ten times the energy it could (or as much as the state of Texas does now). This is absolutely in keeping with Obama's vision of a green economy revitalizing the heartland (think windmill dotted farms) and by extension, the entire country.

And as this article argues, with Sebelius on the ticket, she just might help bring in a big Ohio city or two, given her family connections (political and personal) there, possibly helping to swing Ohio to the Blue side. The pros of her presence on the ticket are easy to identify. The cons, a little harder to argue against--she'll never be Hillary, she's not known for her foreign policy chops, lacks Obama' silver-tongued oratorical skills... Well, aside from not being Hillary (she makes a fine Sebelius), the others are areas where it's possible to improve with effort and application. Easier to put style to substance than to try, as with the GOP's futile efforts with Dan Quayle, to add substance to superficial style.

At the very least, Sebelius has mentioned that she might make a good head of the EPA. So, if not VP, then a key spot in the Obama cabinet where she can keep pushing wind energy all the way west of the Mississippi, across the mountain states, and to the Left Coast.

Picture credit of drapes: Craig Toron, StockXchange. Sebelius photo credit: Chuck France, AP Photo.

Cynematic is ready for the DNC to rock her world, the current silly season to be over, and for the general election to begin in earnest. She blogs at P i l l o w b o o k.

Comments

[Summer]

I'll help you measure for the curtains. I've been crossing my fingers for a Sebelius VP confirmation also. The more I learn about her the more I think she's perfect for the role.

[April]

And she would be nothing more than a big ol' slap in the face to Hillary supporters. I just highly doubt this will happen. And I'd be willing to put money on that statement.

[cynematic]

April, I don't understand why having Sebelius on the ticket would be any kind of commentary on Hillary Clinton or her supporters. Sebelius came out in support of Obama in January, 2008. If anything, it would be a statement of support that indeed, "18 million cracks in the glass ceiling" made by Clinton means Americans are ready for women at the highest levels of government.

There are excellent women in politics besides Clinton--among governors, who are often seen as a "farm team" for presidential and vice presidential candidates, there are five strong Democratic governors who are women. They have demonstrable executive experience at the state level. To my mind that's a compelling and valid qualification for governing from the White House.

[Gunfighter]

A slap to Hillary supporters? Not really. Not that it will change anything one way or the other... Sebelius has as much chance of getting on the ticket as I do... which ain't much, despite the speculation.

Having said the above, I look forward to seeing what she'll do next.

[Sarah Granger]

I think Sebelius has a good chance at the post. Don't count her out yet.