The latest unsubstantiated rumor going around about Barack Obama’s pick for the Democrats’ vice presidential running mate is that Congressman Chet Edwards is on Obama’s short list. Representative Edwards was first suggested weeks ago by Nancy Pelosi, who has a lot of institutional power as Speaker of the House, but is about as popular among Democratic voters these days as a sprig of poison ivy at a dermatologists’ convention.

Personally, I think that mention of Chet Edwards as being on the short list is nothing more than a political maneuver by desperate Texas elites who are struggling with the fact that their oil-powered state is about to become a lot less relevant. It’s also possible that Barack Obama is throwing a bone to Nancy Pelosi just by arranging to have the name of Chet Edwards mentioned.

If Barack Obama actually does choose Chet Edwards as his running mate, it will be proof that Obama is a babbling idiot. As the popular bumper sticker says, Chet Edwards is a Democrat like a catfish is a cat – in name only.

Chet Edwards has voted for just about every terrible idea that has come out of the Bush White House. He’s a right wing extremist who would, anywhere else in the country but Texas, have run for office as a Republican. Even when you count the easy progressive votes, like voting for World Water Day, or voting against cockfighting, Chet Edwards has earned a right wing legislative score as high as his progressive legislative index.

Chet Edwards is pro-war, pro-Bush, anti-environment, anti-Constitution and just plain around anti-progressive. If Barack Obama chooses Chet Edwards to be his running mate, it will be a slap in the face to all the progressive Democrats who worked so hard to get the Democratic nomination for Obama.

Besides the highly objectionable right wing ideology Chet Edwards favors, there’s the problem of his lack of experience. Chet Edwards has represented a fringe congressional district in a fringe state. he doesn’t have any executive experience to balance Obama’s legislative experience. In the House of Representatives, Chet Edwards has never managed to hold anything but obscure leadership positions in minor subcommittees.

Chet Edwards is not ready to be President, and thus, he isn’t ready to be nominated as a vice presidential candidate. Heck, Chet Edwards isn’t even ready to run for the United States Senate.

Only a moron would pick Chet Edwards to be a vice presidential nominee. Please, Senator Obama, don’t be a moron. Don’t pick Chet Edwards as your Vice President.