Jon Stewart in 2008 (if we still have a country).

[RollergirlVT]

Think about it. He is a really smart guy with a solid understanding of the hopes and problems facing our nation. He's cute as a button and very personable. He's a shoe in. He's NOT one of them. He is... a father concerned for the future of his children and he's already loved by millions!
Jon Stewart '08

[Elise]

1. He would NEVER run!

Let's brainstorm on some serious possibilities here ... thanks.

[Ian David]

2. I nominate Dr. Michael Shermer for President in 2008

Michael Shermer/Al Franken 2008:

Dr. Shermer received his B.A. in psychology from Pepperdine University, M.A. in experimental psychology from California State Univesity, Fullerton, and his Ph.D. in the history of science from Claremont Graduate School. Since his creation of the Skeptics Society, Skeptic magazine, and the Skeptics Lecture Series at Caltech, he has appeared on such shows as 20/20, Dateline, Charlie Rose, Tom Snyder, Donahue, Oprah, Sally, Lezza, Unsolved Mysteries, and other shows as a skeptic of weird and extraordinary claims, as well as on documentaries aired on A & E, Discovery, and The Learning Channel.

Dr. Michael Shermer is the Founding Publisher of Skeptic magazine, the Director of the Skeptics Society, a monthly columnist for Scientific American, the host of the Skeptics Lecture Series at Caltech, and the co-host and producer of the 13-hour Fox Family television series, Exploring the Unknown. He is the author of In Darwin's Shadow, about the life and science of the co-discoverer of natural selection, Alfred Russel Wallace. He also wrote The Borderlands of Science, about the fuzzy land between science and pseudoscience, and Denying History, on Holocaust denial and other forms of historical distortion. His book How We Believe: Science, Skepticism, and the Search for God, presents his theory on the origins of religion and why people believe in God. He is also the author of Why People Believe Weird Things, a book that was widely and positively reviewed and landed on the Los Angeles Times bestseller list as well as the New Sciences science books bestseller list in England. Dr. Shermer is also the author of Teach Your Child Science and co-authored Teach Your Child Math and Mathemagics.

According to Stephen Jay Gould (from his Foreword to Why People Believe Weird Things): "Michael Shermer, as head of one of America's leading skeptic organizations, and as a powerful activist and essayist in the service of this operational form of reason, is an important figure in American public life."

* Author:
The Science of Good and Evil (Times Books);
In Darwin's Shadow: The Life and Science of Alfred Russel Wallace (Oxford University Press);
The Borderlands of Science:
Where Sense Meets Nonsense (Oxford University Press),
Denying History (Univ. of Ca Press),
How We Believe: Science, Skepticism, and the Search for God (W. H. Freeman),
Why People Believe Weird Things (W. H. Freeman).
* Founding Publisher Skeptic Magazine; Director, Skeptics Society
* Contributing Editor and Monthly Columnist, Scientific American
* Host, Skeptics Caltech Lecture Series
* Co-Producer and Co-Host, Exploring the Unknown, 13-Hour Series on the Fox Family Channel, aired in 2000.
* Science Correspondent, KPCC radio, NPR affiliate for Southern California
* Fellow, Linnean Society of London
* Ph.D., History of Science, Claremont Graduate School
* M.S., Experimental Psychology, California State University, Fullerton
* Featured interviews on 20/20, Dateline, Charlie Rose, Tom Snyder, Politically Incorrect, Donahue, Oprah, Sally, Lezza, Unsolved Mysteries, A & E, Discovery, The History Channel, and The Learning Channel.



http://www.skeptic.com/director.html

[Elise]

4. Shermer looks wonderful!

Please get real, however.

In order to win, we need someone who will not alienate the not-so-nutzo religious people. Recall the US is a very religious country.

[lonestarnot]

3. WTF? Jon Stewart... He's good for a laugh, but President? LOL

[Orsino]

12. That's still better than Shrub...

...and maybe better than any career politician.

Right now, mere incompetence sounds pretty darned good--and I'm not sure Stewart would be all that incompetent. That he wouldn't *want* to be President is only a mark in his favor, as far as I'm concerned.

That he couldn't possibly be elected without tons of money from donors who would want special consideration is the whole problem. It's a Catch-22, and is the reason I believe American democracy's days are numbered (or already over).

[lonestarnot]

14. bushitler great for laughs! F.....g numbass nuts!

[Elise]

5. Check out this poll!

http://www.misterpoll.com/results.mpl?id=1860606498


(Common thread for Democrats, Repugs and Independents is:

Wesley Clarke!)

[Ian David]

6. Coretta Scott King for President?

[Amaryllis]

7. If he isn't smart enough to figure out the election was stolen he's not

smart enough to be president. last I heard, he thought it was a conspiracy theory.

[mordarlar]

8. after seeing him on Crossfire,I'd vote for him ; ) n/t

[akwapez]

9. Chris Rock for running mate

[SicTransit]

10. Might as well nominate

Howard Stern for president.

[ScreamingMeemie]

20. Right...

:hi:

[roseBudd]

11. I nominate Sean Penn, Michael Moore is right we need a star and

Penn's smart and a bad boy, an irresistable combination. Baggage from his past? No problem GWB proved that doesn't matter.

[AmerDem]

13. what does this have to do with

"2004 Election Results and Discussion"?

[Elise]

16. nothing

but it's a funny topic for THE LOUNGE

[catbert836]

15. He turned down the chance to be Kerry's running mate

He said "There are some pictures of me... doing some things that I would prefer never see the light of day. They would if I ran for public office."
He would make an awesome president, though.

[Georgia_Dem]

17. Um, no.

He's a comedian, not a politician. He's insightful, but I don't think he'd be a good president. Maybe he could be a campaign strategist.

Besides, he's not a true Democrat at all. He's a moderate. And I don't mean that in a center left sense. He's an anti-Bush, anti-religious right comedian who is otherwise very moderate, despite how many Democrats appear on his show. And I don't think he's exactly their favorite media sponsor. Since he's criticized not only their media allies, but the Kerry campaign and Bill Clinton as well, I suspect that as soon Air America can compete with Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity and Al Gore's channel is launched, the Democrats will rely on Stewart a lot less.

[catbert836]

18. *JOKING*

You were supposed to laugh. Comedians shouldn't be presidents, although most of them could do a better job than the current leadership. I wouldn't want him to run for president, bevause that would mean he would stop doing his show, which I can't get enough of.
As for his politics, once again HE'S A COMEDIAN. It's his job to make fun of everyone. He wouldn't be a true comedian if he didn't do it.

[TexNExile]

19. 2008 Presidential Candidate

Before the DEM'S can put up a viable national candidate the DEM'S are going to have to decide who they are. Is the Democratic Party striving to be Repugnican light? This is certainly a losing strategy which has been prove in the last two presidential elections.

Progressive Democrats MUST stop acting like Repugnicans. DEM'S must decide who they are and what principles and values they represent. Then the DEM'S must create talking points on each of these values and principles and give all DEM'S the playbook so that everyone is on the same page, so to speak, when dealing with the media or in debate with Repugnicans or when asked their view on a subject. We must show a unified front. We must decide to NOT attack each other. We must move as far from the RIGHT as we possibly can simply because anyone interested in Evangelical-Christo fascism will not be interested in being a progressive DEM.

We have 200 million people who are of voting age in the USA. Only a little more than 1/2 of them voted. Could it be that neither party could mobilize the 90 million who did not vote because the message was too closely aligned?

Lets go out there and take LIBERALISM back and move the country forward as PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS!

Tex N Exile

[Elise]

21. Agreed

This is no small feat, however. Those in top spots (the party hacks) won't let go w/o a fight.

I say we watch who is elected next DNC Chair, watch the repercussions and/or results; then decide.

If the Democrats remain Repug Lite, I honestly believe it's time to start a MASSIVE 3rd party movement of disaffected liberal/progressive thinkers. We are the real 'silent majority'................ so far!

[ElectGore2008]

22. www.ElectGore2008.com

New web site for Al Gore

http://www.electgore2008.com

[Elise]

23. Is Gore

aware and/or supporting this movement?

[Rhiannon12866]

24. Nice idea, my friend, but there's no way he'd go for it

I'd follow him anywhere, as well, but he's made it very clear that he's only interested in reporting "fake news," despite his appearance on "Crossfire." He doesn't have kids, but just one baby, and has signed to do his show until 2008. He may be free, but I think he has made it clear that prefers doing comedy.:shrug:

[anti-fundie]

25. Excellent idea!!!

Likewise, I, too, am sure that tens of millions of people would instantaneously vote for someone who has absolutely no experience running a large organization, never held an elective office, speaks primarily in satire, and would no doubt gladly give up his million-dollar plus career as a COMEDIAN to run for the presidency of the United States. Afterall, Jon Stewart understands the "hopes" and "problems" facing out nation. I'm sure Stewart would respond that although he has never served in a professional leadership capacity, he's read many books on it.

Just look at Stewart on the now-defunct CNN Crossfire--boy, did that ever make me comfortable with him leading my party! Tucker Carleson is easily comparable to the armies of repubs that are out there waiting to tear into what would be perceived as a "joke" candidate.

No doubt Jon Stewart is one of those rare fathers concerned about the future of his children. Afterall, we all know that most everyone else couldn't give a rat's ass about their own kids. Oh, but wait, "he's already loved by millions!" Nevermind my foregoing comments, because this last statement would definitely qualify Stewart to be a "shoe in" for the presidency.

Don't quit your day job, noexcuseforgeorge.

[Rhiannon12866]

26. Take it easy! We all like Jon Stewart

And noexcuseforgeorge is no exception. He does have the right values and a lot of political savvy, even though he is a comedian. And I thought he was excellent on Crossfire, giving them a taste of their own biased, bitter medicine. More serious guests should do more of this. noexcuseforgeorge has made a good point. We need fresh leadership, since we don't seem to be doing so well. Ideas?:shrug: