Ride a Dark Horse.

[saltpoint]

Poll question: Ride a Dark Horse.

Imagine that all announced or likely Democratic candidates for our 08 nomination withdraw.

Who among possible dark horses would get your vote at the convention?

[skipos]

1. Schweitzer!!! !!! !!! !!! !!! !!!

1. Good guy
2. Speaks in a way that progressives and moderates can relate to
3. Not a senator (those have had trouble getting elected in the last 40 years)
4. From a red state that he would win

[saltpoint]

3. Hi, skipos. Love Schweitzer, but I think he's formidable enough to

be considered on our national ticket, so I put him in the "likely" or "possible" group.

Can't say for sure, but my impression is that he would be VERY palatable to many Democratic voters and would be great on our national ticket.

[sonroadera]

31. I like Schweitzer as well.

[Totally Committed]

2. Without a doubt...

Mario Cuomo. I have loved and respected this man for as long as I can remember knowing him and his views. I wouldn't have a moment's qualm or hesitation in voting for him. Not one.

TC

[saltpoint]

4. Mario Cuomo is my idea of a Democrat.

He's also one of the big reasons I volunteer and stay in the party.

A genius of heart and mind.

[calico1]

7. Yes. Too bad he never ran. n/t

[saltpoint]

9. Agreed. He almost did. His private plane was fueling and ready

on the tarmac in Albany just ahead of the registration deadline in New Hampshire in 1992, and after a phone call to Bill Clinton, an already-announced contender, Cuomo told the pilot to turn the plane off and put it away.

I have no idea what that phone call entailed.

But it may have resulted in our not having Mario Cuomo for president.

[calico1]

10. Wow, interesting.

I never knew that. I just thought his family was not too keen on it and that that is why he didn't run. He is so intelligent and so articulate. I have always liked him.

[Totally Committed]

14. If you remember, in the film "Primary Colors", the character,

who was supposed to be Clinton, went to his opponent with some damaging information his team had come up with about the opponent. The opponent withdrew, even though the Clinton character was going to give him the file. I know so much of that book was fiction, and I know the subject of the "information" in that file was to make the movie more exciting, but I've always wondered if that character that withdrew wasn't, in real life, Mario Cuomo.

Mario would have made an extraordinary President. I can't help but feel he was strong-armned out by Clinton, especially after I saw the pro-corporate Clinton agenda unfold.

TC

[saltpoint]

15. Your theory is plausible. I'm a romantic, at least most of the time,

and I wonder if Cuomo phoned Clinton, told him he'd deliver the fiercest challenge to him ever recorded in American political history, but offered to withdraw if in Clinton's second term a Cabinet spot could be found for Andrew Cuomo, Mario's son.

And Andrew Cuomo became HUD Secretary under Bill Clinton.

That's just one other possibility.

I hope I live long enough to know what really transpired during the telephone call.

[Totally Committed]

17. That's also very good as a theory...

The Cuomos and the Clintons are worlds apart as far as social policy goes, and less so on issues of war and peace, but there still is a gulf. I always wondered how on earth a Cuomo got into the Clinton Cabinet. Your theory explains it.

TC

[calico1]

26. I never saw that movie.

I will have to rent it sometime. But it wouldn't surprise me if that was close to the truth. Cuomo was popular enough. I agree. He would have been extraordinary. :)

[saltpoint]

27. calico, it is a fine film. I generally dislike John Travolta but as

Bill Clinton he is very, very good. As First Lady, Emma Thompson is just about perfect.

And if you can't enjoy Kathy Bates in her role, you may be legally dead. She's a riot.

Great film for political junkies.

[calico1]

29. Love Kathy Bates!

Thanks for the review. I will put it in my netflix queue. :hi:

[primative1]

30. Greatest speaker I have ever heard ...

The keynote address he gave at the 88 convention was probably the greatest speach ever given.

[saltpoint]

32. It would be impossible for me to agree with you more on that one.

What a speech. What an address. I hardly ever use the word 'stupendous' but it belongs attached to that address to the convention by Mario Cuomo.

I will never forget it.

[Totally Committed]

33. I have to agree on that!

That speech was outstanding. In the mid 90's I went to hear him speak at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, and his lecture then was wonderful as well.

He is the archetypal Democrat for me. I would have loved for him to have been POTUS!

btw, I highly recommend "Primary Colors" to anyone who hasn't seen it. As spot-on as Travolta and Thompson were, Kathy Bates stole that movie! Political junkies will love it.

TC

[saltpoint]

34. I think you're right on all counts, TC.

:thumbsup: :hi: :dem: :yourock:

[thatsrightimirish]

5. Alexis Herman WTF?

Cumo got my vote

[thatsrightimirish]

6. oops cuomo

[saltpoint]

8. I'd personally beat up anyone who knocked you for either vote,

that'srighti'mirish.

I like 'em both really well.

I'll count your vote for Mario Cuomo, as you request.

[saltpoint]

11. With abou 35 votes in, it's Max Cleland in the lead,

followed by Dick Durbin, Carolyn Kennedy Scholsberg, and Mario Cuomo.

[Captain Hilts]

12. Carolyn Kennedy, the smartest of the K Kids. nt

[saltpoint]

13. Yes. She definitely has it all together. Just love 'er.

The greater the profile she can lend to us for 06 and 08, the better.

She's a peach.

[Stinky The Clown]

16. This is the ONLY way I can ever get the guy I wanted way back when .......

Mario Cuomo

[saltpoint]

18. You and me both. Cuomo is the cat's pajamas as far as I was

concerned.

[LincolnMcGrath]

19. Other

[saltpoint]

20. Am i looking at Senator Harkin there?

He's a good man.

I'd have no trouble with him in the White House.

[LincolnMcGrath]

21. That's my Tom!

[saltpoint]

22. He's smart, tough, folksy, farmer-savvy, labor-supporting.

An excellent Democrat.

[LincolnMcGrath]

23. You said it!

An excellent Democrat.



He has a spine also, something in short supply at times in DC.

[saltpoint]

24. I could certainly see Harkin at the helm, or on the ticket in any case.

I think he would do us proud. While I wish Vilsack no ill will, I think Harkin is Iowa's best Democrat.

[LincolnMcGrath]

25. I wish Vilsack a happy retirement.

And I do mean retirement! lol

[saltpoint]

28. In that recent Des Moines REGISTER poll, Vilsack did an ok 10% was it?

--but not enough to be a sweeping, unchallengeable presence. I'm not knocking him. I'm just saying that Harkin is better known and more widely supported -- especially among labor groups.

And Vilsack would have to compete against some powerful opponents just to survive the Iowa caucuses. I'm not seeing him as a first-tier contender, at least not at the moment.

But Harkin is available, and draftable, and has the kind of energy the ticket could use. It could definitely happen.