I have come to the conclusion that none of our candidates are any good

[rurallib]

based on posts I read here. Each and every one is so fatally flawed, underhanded or unelectable that as a group they should not be considered worthy of our votes.
Kind of a shame. Back in March I was just beside myself with happiness at the fine field of candidates the Democrats had fielded. All accomplished with a vision of how this country could be turned back into the America that we and the world loved.
I looked forward to the campaign where great ideas could be put forth and debated.
I also looked forward to the debate among my fellow DUers - a group of highly committed and sensible folks.
And following the debate here on DU I have come to think we have a bunch of bums running none of whom are worthy of our votes.
I wish to thank you for opening my eyes.

[ecstatic]

1. I hear you. I think the nastiness is a result of all of them being great choices

It's too bad they're all running the same year. I think that's what brings out the anger, as any of them would make a fine president, but there can only be one.

[DS1]

2. Righteous Morans

Kills a party dead.

[BridgeTheGap]

3. All in anticipation of the repub smear machine to be faced in the general

It's almost like this: lets dig up the worst dirt we can on our own candidates because we know the repubs probably already have it any way. We'll throw the mud first and see what sticks to whom.
The least "dirty" candidate will be our nominee.

[inthebrain]

5. Nothing wrong with whacking them on the issues

A lot of these candidates deserve to have their feet held to the fire. Many of them have undermined the efforts of the base for the past seven years. The fact that they are so damn arrogant to think after all that, they deserve to run for president, is absurd.

I choose not to forget how many of these guys slapped many of us in the face throughout these last seven years. I find their excuses of "we were duped by Bush" to be completely out of left field. These guys; Cheney and Rumsfeld especially, have a long history of this shit that dats back to Nixon.

If these people dupe you time and time again I think the candidates need to reevaluate why they are in government. Perhaps they took up the wrong job.

The people that fought the good fight are the ones getting shafted.

[rurallib]

7. Agreed - but please do it without being vicious

and personal. I have learned what the ignore button is for after 4 years. Some people have been just plain nasty. No candidate is perfect. But please keep comments to the issues.

[inthebrain]

9. I primarily have

Generally, it's in response to the issue where the candidate is weak where it tends to get nasty. I'm public enemy number one at Biden central.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=404x6475

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=404x6521

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=404x6046

Never see me do any of that.

Some people are just babies and can't handle political discourse. In the same breath I wonder if they are more comfortable talking about photo ops and flag lapel pins.

[BridgeTheGap]

16. One thing that would help: public financing of campaigns

We have to get the corporate financial influence out of the political system.

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[1corona4u]

6. I think one issue voters are the ones

that can't find a candidate they like....from what I have observed.

[NoPasaran]

17. Some of those folks have found a candidate

And then concluded that anyone who doesn't meet their standards of purity cannot be a "true" Democrat.

[Flarney]

8. It's the electorate that's the problem...

The public sucks. Fuck hope. -George Carlin

:-)

[spin]

11. Reason for no NONE OF THE ABOVE box is

NONE OF THE ABOVE would win by a wide margin.

[kimjamey69]

10. none of the above BOX

We have taken tests all our life and if the choices were all wrong there was a box that said NONE of the above, We need to check that box.
I am writing in a candidate even if it just sends a message that we are not going to vote for these people anymore!

[sandnsea]

12. They actually aren't the best we have

Feingold, Kerry, Gore, Clark, Dean - any one of them would be better than what we've got this time around.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

13. Sadly, I agree

I simply can't find a candidate in the current field to get behind yet and I keep hoping that somebody else enters the race who is more palatable to my liberal values (although I have no idea who that would be at this point). My only major motivation to vote at all next year is based on my overwhelming conviction that a Democrat, ANY Democrat, needs to win the White House next year just so there is a chance that we will have the influence (which we will NEVER have with a Republican) necessary to help him/her steer the country away from the abyss at which we are currently heading (at full speed), as well as avoiding the utter chaos and destruction that another Republican (mis-)administration is undoubtedly going to wreak upon this country should another one get elected next year. My biggest fear is that our party leaders are going to end up nominating somebody who is way too milquetoast and who is NOT going to stand up for themselves and fight the still potent Republican/MSM smear machine like Gore and Kerry failed to do and that we will end up losing the general election ("snatching defeat out of the jaws of victory"). I am also concerned, judging by the posts here on DU, that many of us have become so demoralized that many of us simply won't vote in the general election and whatever joke ends up being nominated by the Republicans wins by default. No matter what anybody says, the Republican "base" is NOT going to sit any election out and will hold their noses and vote for ANYBODY with an "R" by their name and the really scary thing is that that +/-30% of this country's population could very well be the ones to shape the outcome of the next election and the future of our country (which doesn't look too bright right now).

:scared:

Of course, given the current (laughable) crop of Republican candidates and the overall POOR state of the Republican party right now, it is possible that all the eventual Democratic nominee really needs to do next year is show up and be able to string a series of sentences together in a coherent fashion (and for us to vote!), which may be our one saving grace next year. :shrug:

[kimjamey69]

14. So disappointed

It is a sad state of affairs that there is not a person out there that can represent our nation (the People) If there was a person that i felt would represent the people i would vote for them. I don't want to vote for anyone who represent big business it has gotten us NOWHERE. We need to take care of our country first, take care of the problems here. Thats my opinion.

[Renew Deal]

15. Great post

I know exactly what you're saying.

[ronnykmarshall]

18. You know how some people look at the with rose colored glasses?

DU looks at the world with ca-ca colored ones.

[Forkboy]

19. GD -P will do that to you.