Best Candidate For Prez in 08

[Lost Texan in NC]

:smoke:

Everyone I hear talking about the 08 election, is saying how Hillary can beat anyone the republibots put forth. In my opinion this will just be a replay of the 04 election. This will bring out the right wing religious nut freaks and make that election to close to call. Another opportunity for the master, Karl Rove, to steal another one.

What we have to do, is demand that the Democratic Party, nominate someone that can attract ALL Dems, Indies, and moderate Repubs, so that 08 will be a landslide in our favor. They may try to steal that one too, but we can make it real hard for them.

This person must be able to strike a balance between big business and workers rights, have a much different foreign policy than "your either with us, or your against us", and be truly a uniter not a divider. (what a joke, like read my lips. Like daada, like son). They should be able to keep their penis in their pants, not and interns mouth, if it's a dude. If they did :smoke: pot in their youth, make that part of their campaign promise, not, I didn't inhale.

Lets put our collective noggins together, and come up with this person, then scream to the tops of our lungs to Howard Dean to fight for his life for this person.

[GOPBasher]

1. Clark can win. Richardson can win.

We have plenty of good possible candidates. But I don't think we have to strike a balance between big business and worker's rights. We have to strike a balance on social issues to peel off some evangelical voters, yet keep our secular, liberal base. That will be tough.

[Lost Texan in NC]

2. I disagree with you on Clark

:smoke:

Although, he is a good man, what was his performance in 04. We need someone that the vast majority of Americans will back. As far as the big business thing, try someone that is just workers right, and loose those corporate loyalist, you know, their jobs depend on how they vote in some cases.

Is that better

[Clarkie1]

5. The grammatical errors in your post make it difficult to comprehend.

What exactly are you trying to say?

[Lost Texan in NC]

7. Sorry I'm Tired

:smoke:

Clark didn't do to good in 04, We need someone that the moderate repubs can say, he is a centrist, I can vote for him.

[Clark2008]

9. Yes he did - until he dropped out.

He won OK, came in second in NM, AZ, ND and one other (I've forgotten) and third in NH, TN and VA. I don't think that's too shabby for someone who was in the race for only four months.

[Clarkie1]

12. You are wrong on both points.

Clark is a liberal who moderate republicans and those with particular cultural values and concerns will feel comfortable voting for in 08'. At this point, however, we need to focus on what is happening with the democratic party now and how to win elections in 06, primarily.

[ktowntennesseedem]

28. Yes, focus on '06 for now; '08 will take care of itself.

We need to set our sights on solidifying the base and strengthening our support among those who dislike the current pResident. His support was soft in '04 (that's one chief reason his poll numbers are so abysmal right now), but they believed the propeganda about how terrible and unpatriotic and unAmerican Democrats are and voted Republican the way good Americans who love their country and support the troops should.

We don't need to alter our message or soften our rhetoric to woo a few moderates. We simply need to speak the truth about traditional, bedrock Democratic principles and ideals, and those who still have a mind capable of thinking for themselves will listen and gladly give their support.

If we take care of business between now and '08, and take back control of at least one congressional chamber (or at least take the wind out of the Republican's sails), some candidate will emerge to carry the banner for us, and lead us back into the White House. It could well be a candidate already well-known, but I predict it will be a person that no one has thought of yet, perhaps never even heard of yet. Whoever it is, let's make sure his or her task is simpler by taking care of the party in the meantime.

[Lost Texan in NC]

31. Interesting Poll on Cnn

:smoke:

the other day. 15% of those who voted for Bu$h, wish they haddent. It was not because of the war though, it was the social security issue.

[ktowntennesseedem]

36. Welcome, Lost Texan! Thanks for the very interesting poll numbers.

I missed that poll, but then I don't look at MSM that much anymore. I just glance at it to get the gist of what is going on, then look for more detailed news from other, more-reliable and less-biased sources.

The Social Security issue is a big one, and it's having some immediate repercussions for the Republicans. Iraq and terrorism have been out of the spotlight for some time now, in part due to the MSM's over-emphasis on Martha Stewart/Michael Jackson/baseball steroids/etc, but also in part to Republicans' own spotlighting of SS reforms. I hope that the war and its toll will somehow start to register in the minds of those who have blindly wrapped themselves in the flag, and that more eyes will finally be opened on this issue as well.

Some here are convinced that some good news will come out or Iraq, or Osama will poke his head out again, or some new terrorist threat (or God forbid an actual terrorist event) will occur, and as a result everyone will rally around our fearless leader and his poll numbers will climb out of the basement again. But I'm not so sure that following a defeat of SS reform (and we better stop that mess from becoming a reality!), the war in Iraq and the war on terror that are still going on, and many will now blame this administration for bringing back what they had forgotten about and assumed had been taken care of. (At least I hope that's how it plays out!)

[Boo Boo]

45. Actually

I have no worries at all about Clark's appeal to centrist Repubs. That was Kerry's problem, not Clark's.

Clark's problem was lack of political experience, a late entry (Iowa was a place that he could do well), and a Dem establishment that wasn't really ready for this "unknown" General. That is, lefties didn't trust him, insiders didn't think he'd earned it... and so forth.

I think Clark's appeal to disaffected Republicans is pretty well established. He's strong on national security issues and all that stuff, but he's also a moderate which appeals a great deal to centrist Repubs right about now.

What the left wing of the Dem party needs to figure out is that Clark is willing to stand a lot further to the left than most Dems these days, who bend over backwards to prove they're not a "Liberal." That's his advantage.

He doesn't have to posture in order to appeal to moderate Repubs, which will only seem phony anyway, and he can take them farther to the left than any other Dem ever could.

IMO. :-)

[Lost Texan in NC]

6. Maybe Richardson

:smoke:

This will probably get a large % of the Latino vote, and he is pro cannabis.

[WI_DEM]

3. Heavens, I haven't heard hardly anyone say Hillary can win

Most people on DU seem to think that she is a sure loser. I'm not so sure. At this point, I think she can be nominated, but not sure she could win a national election.

[Lost Texan in NC]

4. Your right

:smoke:

She will win the nomination, unless we put someone that the Evangelicals can have no problems with. Not necessarily a religious person, but a moral person.

[Chomskyite]

35. She will not survive the primaries

. . . once they get into Southern states. She'll have some good initial success but after that a quick nosedive.

[pstans]

8. Russ Feingold

Feingold has the voting record and is able to explain his votes (unlike Kerry) because Feingold always votes on principle, not on the way the political winds are blowing. This aspect is similar to Bu$h saying,"you might not like where I stand, but at least you know where I stand." With Feingold you know where he stands and he holds good positions.

http://www.russforpresident.com/
http://www.draftruss.com/

[Clark2008]

11. Do you think his filing for divorce will hurt him?

I, personally, don't care about that - but I'm not politically uneducated.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

56. oh,the GOP would never be so petty as to dig nto his divorce

they're much better than that. you have to give them credit. why, look at the squeaky clean 2004 campaign!

[ClarkUSA]

62. Well...

can he explain voting for John Ashcroft for AG? What was the principle in that?

Am I missing something?

[OzarkDem]

10. Not sure it matters

Unless Dems can turn the party around by 2006 midterms, you can forget 2008. It doesn't seem to get us anywhere fantasizing about 2008 when the odds are so much against Dems at this point.

One step at a time...

[Nashyra]

13. Clark was the only Democrat

in my highly republican area that the moderates would have gone for. He was and still is very popular in Nevada, especially Northern Nevada.

[Lost Texan in NC]

14. We need more Barrack Obama's

:smoke:

I think thats the spelling. Anyway, look at the response he recieved in Ill
I do agree that unless we do something in 06, we don't have a chance in 08.

[Clarkie1]

15. I like Obama a lot.

I was very impressed with his speech at the convention, but haven't heard much about his doings lately.

And he's a constitutional scholar to boot.

Can't go wrong with that.

[AmericanDream]

20. Obama lost too....

he ran for congress a few years ago and lost. My point being... I like the guy but he's given too much credit and too much celebrity too soon... his convention speech was great but he had virtually no opposition in Illinois. First, Jack Ryan had to get out and then Alan keyes stepped in with little time... and regardless of the time limit, Keyes is so extreme in his beliefs that even a lot of republicans are turned off by him. So, the win was a given and let's see what he has to do before we crown him the future king.

Personally I think that John Thune should probably be the most prominent freshman because his win was truly memorable (for good or bad). Defeating the majority leader is no small feat, and he did it. But the media has somehow been more focused on obama than thune, which I'm not complaining about but still....

[Lost Texan in NC]

26. I didn't mean

:smoke:

Obama for prez, I meant, as you said his recognition

[FrenchieCat]

21. Illinois

does not the 50 states make. When your opponent is from Maryland and an extremist nutjob, your chances of winning are greatly increased. I give Barack credit for his win, but I don't lose touch with reality.

In reference to Clark, who spent exactly 4 months on the campaign trail prior to the first vote (and didn't contest Iowa...which would be why he missed the momentum that the two winners there got) did awfully well considering the facts I have just cited. Coming in 1 in one state that was not his own....was something that only Kerry accomplished besides Clark. Clark won 2nd place in the southwest on Mini tuesday....a great accomplishment considering that he received very little free media publicity...as it was all a Kerry, Kerry, Edwards, Dean's scream fest.

No, I must disagree with you. Clark did damn well...when one looks at the facts and not just at the results.

Also remember that Clark cashed in his chip when he saw the writing on the wall. Just because Edwards stayed in (although his chances of winning were just so slim...and no, he won no primaries by staying in....just the VP spot) longer than Clark, doesn't mean Clark didn't do well. Edwards, even with all of the publicity (positive at that) he received after Iowa...still couldn't best Clark in New Hampshire. It was close, but Edwards had the advantage of just having come out of Iowa in 2nd place.

Those are eventual facts that cannot be lost in any analysis made about Clark's results during the primaries.

[Catchawave]

16. My Candidate of the Day (4-11-05) is:

John R. Edwards

[Clarkie1]

17. I'm glad his wife is doing better.

What is he doing with his poverty institute? I've heard he is starting an institute to research the causes of a solutions to poverty. A very worthy cause indeed.

[Lost Texan in NC]

I can help him with that

:smoke:

The cause: not enough money, low paying jobs
The cure: more jobs, higher pay

[Clarkie1]

25. How to create more jobs and better opportunities for education.

That's the challenge. Can't leave educational opportunities out of the mix.

[Lost Texan in NC]

30. I like what another poster said

:smoke:
in another thread. Two years mandatory service to the country, for two years Junior college. Military, peace corp, job corp, many different ways. Although I wouldn't require that service on their 18 birthday. Give them the education first, then the service. This makes for a more mature service.

[billbuckhead]

19. Wes Clark started very late and had not run before at any level, but

what a quick study. I thought his speech at the Democratic Convention was excellent and will always admire him for his courageous stand against the NRA and unregulated assault weapons.

[Clarkie1]

23. Clark and Obama gave the two best speeches, in my opinion. n/t

[Lost Texan in NC]

22. As a NCen

:smoke:

He would be a good one, if he can get past the whole lawyer thing. It doesn't matter to me, in fact, that makes him more qualified than W was in 2000.

[Clarkie1]

24. Any democrat would be more qualified than W! n/t

[AmericanDream]

29. You bet....

It's a relief to see a clark supporter not trashing every other democrat! I think the general would be proud of you ;)

[Crunchy Frog]

38. I'm curious as to where you see Clark supporters

trashing all the other Democrats. I don't do it myself and I guess I probably avoid threads where others are doing it. I'd like to see some evidence that Clark supporters are doing it any more than anyone else.

[kerrygoddess]

18. Let's work on '06 first ...

Taking back some seats in the Senate and the House takes precedence! Even Dean says that.

[Lost Texan in NC]

27. Strategies for taking back the Senate, anyone,anyone, Farris

:smoke:

Sorry, like I said I'm tired. Does anyone know any good NC candidates. Edwards isn't hear anymore for us. This is such a Republibot state, practically everyone in this state has their kool-aid ready and waiting.

[cestpaspossible]

32. If you want to win in 2008, forget about 2008 and work on 2006.

Seriously.

[unkachuck]

33. My candidate of the Day (4-11-05) is:

....Unknown....bushco will continue to do extreme things, low poll numbers ensure that....our Dems will gently fight back, but in general, will remain limp-wristed and lose....the fight for the soul of the Democratic Party between corporatists and non-corporatists, will continue....

....meanwhile, the search for a unifying leader on the Left, with greater zeal and ideas than Repugs have on the Right, will also continue....IMO, that person is not anyone we know right now....

[Chomskyite]

34. Wesley Clark, right now

Unless some charismatic Southern governor nobody has heard of comes out and goes after it, which has happened before.

[xkenx]

37. Wes Clark because

he has the power to inspire people. Despite the media ignoring him in '04, when people do get to know his character and policies, they become committed "Clarkies." For myself, not since Bobby Kennedy have I been so inspired by a public figure.

[Crunchy Frog]

40. I've heard that exact same sentiment from other Bobby Kennedy fans.

I'm too young to remember those days myself. He must have been very inspiring though and the pain of losing him must have been terrible.

[Tom Rinaldo]

52. I'm one of them. Bobby spoke to my High School

He was an amazing man who never stopped growing as a person and a leader until he was gunned down. He closed gaps between blacks and whites, rural and urban, the middle class and the destitute that no one else could bridge. Some of his support left the Democratic Party, veered hard left, and never looked back after RFK was killed, but some of those who were drawn to Bobby later turned toward George Wallace. Those were the right wing populists types, sometimes racists, but they got that Bobby would never sell them out to wealthy special interests. Not since RFK have I felt this strongly about a National candidate. It's not hero worship, simply the truth.

[ztn]

39. Al Gore. I wish he would change his mind!

[Crunchy Frog]

41. I believe that Wes Clark is the closest you're going to come to

that set of criteria. Of course other people, including yourself, may have different ideas. That is of course why we have primaries, and why we don't all just unite behind one person 3 years before the primaries begin.

I'm happy to offer my opinion though.:)

[StevieM]

42. Russ Feingold (eom)

x

[usregimechange]

43. russ

[zann725]

44. Boxer's gaining ground.

n/t

[demokatgurrl]

46. Absolutely the toughest and best able to fight: Boxer-

but I'm sure the country would be too skeered to vote for a strong woman. So, I say Kerry again, maybe with Boxer for Veep.

[wallock]

47. Russ Feingold - The big fat Jew

Get a Jew to run because everyone knows it's not kosher to remark on the religion of a Jew in a campaign :)

[lurker5]

51. not to mention....

Not to mention that he was the ONLY Senator to stand against the Patriot Act. He wouldn't have a prayer of winning, but at least he has the guts to stand up for what's right.

[ClarkUSA]

59. He also voted to confirm Ashcroft, unfortunately

[ClarkUSA]

60. Your argument is interesting...

not remarking about being Jewish does not equal voting for one, however.

[dragonkeep]

48. Right now, I lean towards Wes Clark.

He was a relative unknown in the 2004 election but that run gave him some name-recognition and that familiarity will make it easier for people to vote for him. There is a large group of disenchanted military folks who are looking to cast their votes elsewhere but it feels uncomfortable to vote Democratic and Clark can act as a safe bridge for them to vote. I think we have a better chance attracting the military than the evangelicals. After all, they are the ones who have been personally betrayed, injured, and killed by this administration. His 2004 run opened him up to investigations and he came out pretty clean, he's level-headed and presents himself well.

I personally like Hillary; she's very smart, analytical and pragmatic. That said, I do not think she is electable and that is America's loss. The reaction that the right has to the Clintons is visceral and I do not think it can be overcome.

Obama is too young and inexperienced at this point. I think he has the potential to become a great candidate in 12-20 years. He needs seasoning before he can convince me and others that he is the one.

Boxer would be fun but I think she would only carry the Democrat vote. If it were a throw-away election, I would love to see it and would vote for her in a heartbeat. She's blunt, honest, doesn't run from a fight and had the integrity to stand up for the challenge to the election. For that alone, I owe her big time. I think the MSM under the guidance of the "vast right-wing conspiracy" would frame her the way they did Dean (my choice for candidate last time).

I am disappointed in Kerry. I thought he had a lot to offer and with the war-hero background thought he might carry it off. He didn't fight back the way I expected him to against the character assasination and folded completely after the election, in spite of the lawyers in place to challenge the shady, slimy aspects of the 2004 election. I would vote for him again if he was the candidate, but not happily.

I still like John Edwards. I love the importance he places on his family. While he is a millionaire now, he came from the same place that most Americans live in. He personally knows the challenges the common folk face and what they are up against. That quick and easy smile of his appeals to me but it puts off some people (even Dems) who think it's phony. If he can overcome that negative reaction, I think he could win.

Dean says he isn't running. I respect that and am grateful that he is working where he is. I don't think his wife wants the Presidency in the family. Her priorities are not his and I think they have found a way of fulfilling both of their career aims.

[mrgorth]

49. Governor of Montana

sounds good.

[lurker5]

50. Richardson!

Hillary could win. Clarke could win. Obama could win. Richardson WILL win if he gets the chance.

Persoanlly, I like Obama but why rush him? He'll still be around in 2012 or 2016 so I'd just assume let him keep building reputation/momentum.

Forget Hillary. I for one am sick of seeing the Whitehouse handed down through families like some kind of heirloom. I like my candidates to have something more than a last name to set them apart. Just imagine: Hillary Clinton vs. Jeb Bush, 2008. I think I just threw up in my mouth a little....

I liked Clarke ok when I've heard him speak, but he doesn't really excite me. Being the best potential president doesn't neccesarily make you the best presidential candidate as sad as that is.

Now Richardson. He'll carry New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado by default, which is something no other candidate can do. He's solid in every way: moderate enough to win, but no Zell Miller. Also, isn't a solid dem in the office better than watching a Kerry type get smoked in november? I'm sick of losing and he's a winner.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

57. he WAS my guy-but now I say fuck him

he totally kissed hannity's ass and then went on to say that bush "deserves ceredit" for the so-called emergence of so-called "freedom" in the mideast

i crossed his name out shortly thereafter

[Patiod]

53. The MSM has already decided on Hillary, haven't they?

It drives me crazy - my non-political friends assume it's just a done deal, and Dems are 100% behind this.

I'm 100% for Wes Clark. Gave him money before and will do so again.

[bobthedrummer]

54. Russ Feingold.

[manly]

55. best candidate for 2008

from what i can see, there is a very strong possibility that Gov. Schweitzer of Montana might have the intelligence, independence, courage, to be the next prez. he justs needs a lot of exposure.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

58. Feingold or maybe Durbin

who cares as long as it's not that walking rw fundraising letter and "centrist" corporate whore, Hillary Clinton?

[ClarkUSA]

61. Wes Clark, especially if we are still at war and there is a draft

Let's not kid ourselves that Americans will not looking for a strong leader after
seven years of witless warmongering by neocons.

The GOP will be playing up their "strong on the war on terrorism" card more than ever and the Democrats will need a liberal populist four-star General in a moderate military man's clothing.

Too bad C-SPAN isn't going to cover his and Pelosi's 21st century G.I. Bill of Rights bill introduction today.

Of course, without election reform, it doesn't matter who we run as the Democratic nominee.

[mtnsnake]

63. By your own guidelines in your OP, the person most likely to fit them is

Hillary Clinton!

[bobthedrummer]

64. I would consider voting for her if Feingold doesn't run.