People, I'm worried about all this Candidate 08 talk right now.

[Skidmore]

We all have our dream ticket, but we've just elected a Democratic Congress and there is much work to be done. The media is happy to be handed a shiny thing to play with and this speculation is one such thing. We need to keep our eye on the ball because the Rs are going to put rocks on the track and try to cause a train wreck. Pardon all my mixed metaphors, but you get the idea. As far as I'm concerned, it's way too early for any of these prima donna pols to be announcing anything regarding candidacy. I don't want to hear about presidential campaigns for at least another 9 months.

[WI_DEM]

1. I doubt it does any harm on a discussion forum like this

Congress will come in and do their work, but now with the midterms over and candidates either announcing or setting up exploratory committees its bound to be a topic.

[Sherman A1]

5. Agreed

The media is in the post election bordom cycle, so it's time to start the next election and build up a few candidates to be later torn down in order to keep a 24/7 news cycle going.

[sueh]

2. I agree with you, Skidmore..

and I am hoping when the 110th Congress convenes, the media will report on what the Democrats are doing to clean things up.

[starmaker]

3. Media motivated

and reflected here
all a diversion
to divide

[Sara Bradi]

4. couldn't agree more >nt

[TwilightZone]

6. Re: no talk for 9 months

You might want to find a nice deserted island to spend the next nine months on, as that's about the only way you'll avoid '08 campaign talk.

Re: "the media is happy" - I see significantly more campaign '08 talk here on DU than I do in the media. Can't blame the media for everything.

[FrenchieCat]

7. Does anyone pay attention to what the Netroots discusses? Doesn't seem like it.

Seems that if we don't "keep up" with the 2008 Candidate talk, we will be left behind on this. It's not like it ain't being discussed 24/7 by the corporate media's who audience is overwhelming compared to the Internet currently.

I just question how we, the Netroots, buy into some of what the media sells, e.g., Obama would be great to run for President...while downplaying other stuff that they push, e.g., Hillary Clinton will be the nominee. How does one choose this selective buying? :shrug:

[Lone_Star_Dem]

8. It's inevitable. Candidates are tossing their hats in like it's a fiesta.

This is going to generate conversation in the topic.

[ThomWV]

9. Chatter for children, that's all it is.

It makes me mad when I see every TV station telling me Hillary is certainly gonna be it, same thing with Obama. But in the end its just chatter for children, it has no effect on my opinion at all.

[KoKo]

10. The MSM is playing with our minds to mess us up so they can

control the issue. They are run by the Think Tanks and PTB and "we the people" are now dangerous to the system. So they mess around and play with us while not reporting the issues important to our lives and business.

It's dreadful and Dems must do something about this immediately. What they can do...I don't know but some of them were going to focus on the Media and some re-regulation. You'd think the Media would be cozying up to us...wouldn't you....but no... they know where the REAL POWER IS.

It's disgusting. I think I'm going to have to go back to turning it off like after 2004 when I couldn't stand to listen to them.

[radfringe]

11. too early to buy your tickets for the show

I know many repubs and dems are positioning themselves - but the casting director hasn't even been hired...

the issues we rank as high today, may not be the issues we rank as high two years from now.

So far the critics picks as headliners to be Hillary Clinton and Barak Obama for the dems, John McCain and Mitt Romney for the repubs

lots of others out there auditioning.

The dems have to show their stuff, and the repubs have to regroup and come up with something new. Depending on how that plays out - it's highly possible for a very credible 3rd party candidate to emerge.

I'm calling the ticket office to make reservations. My gut is saying to keep an eye out for an UNKNOWN to be discovered at the malt shop

[pnwmom]

12. We're basically on hold in Congress until January.

What sort of work do you think should be done that would be hampered by some election chatter?

[blm]

13. We need to focus on Iraq withdrawal and net neutrality - and the ohsomany domestic issues

that have been piling up neglected for the past decade.

[Crunchy Frog]

14. If you don't want to hear about presidential candidates for another 9 months

You'd probably better take a 9 month break from this site, and from the TV. Either that, or make the "hide thread" feature your best friend. It's already hot and heavy, and will just keep getting more so. That's just simple reality.

For all but the most well known, waiting to get into the race until late next summer is way too late, as Wes Clark learned last time around.

[blues90]

15. I could care less about 2008 right now

I'll tell you why . Right now we have enough problems to attempt to overcome , we need to address so many issues that my head is spinning off .

We don't even know what will come about in Jan 2007 or what will happen in the middle east or with bush right now .

I hate speculation , it is like some swelled game with nothing solid to base the outcome on and to me where we are now is far from a game .

So I pass all posts on who is best for 2008 simply because it feels insane at this time .

[RiverStone]

16. Agree...but

Folks have been betting on the "who will run" derby long before 06.

There will be another 1/2 dozen polls tomorrow no doubt. Like you said, shiny things.

My guess is once DEMS take the driver's seat in January, the focus will broaden as there will be far more compelling changes and stories then which personality is the peoples pres favorite (for that day).

But alas, some people are bored. And some people will always answer a poll.

[alfredo]

17. Three governor's races this year. Let's put our energy there. Also

let's work for human rights and spend some time keeping our newly elected reps in line.

[Shakespeare]

18. It's called multi-tasking.

We can talk about '08 candidates AND work on our agenda. Amazing!