Why are we starting the '08 campaign a YEAR early?

[jus_the_facts]

...by this time next year when the actual time comes..won't the majority of us be all burned out and divided all the more...I can't believe all this is starting a whole YEAR before it should be?! :nopity:

[originalpckelly]

1. Yes, I think we are going to see horrible things happen because of this too...

people can barely stand a single year let alone two full years.

[jus_the_facts]

4. I'm already gettin' sick of it and it's only just begun....

...the infighting and flamebait....blah! :(

[MADem]

2. Because the jousting always starts early...

This is the cash-grabbing phase, then we enter into the debate and primary phase. It costs a lot to run these campaigns.

[jus_the_facts]

5. It's starting WAY too early this go 'round....

....and the money will be long dried up by Nov. '08 at this rate...

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

3. They gotta raise all that dough from the money guys.

Not that they would ever make any promises in return for the "donations".

[jus_the_facts]

7. Naw o'course not....

:sarcasm:

....as much changes...so much stays the same. :(

[butterfly77]

6. Thats what they are hoping...

that we will be fighting each other and they can the MSM can pick our candidates...

[jus_the_facts]

10. No need to hope...that's what's been happening.....

....and talk of primaries really chaps my ass because last time Kerry'd already gotten the nomination before our primary took place. :grr:

[butterfly77]

23. That happened in my area...

and I voted for clark...

[Neecy]

8. ...and just to think

Didn't Robert Kennedy announce his bid for the '68 nomination in March of 1968?

Oh, for the days when our candidates weren't bought and paid for by big business.

[jus_the_facts]

13. for the people...by the people...doesn't even apply anymore...

....they're all out of touch with the common folk IMHO.

[blues90]

9. All this does is

Distract people from the urgent issues we already have , that's my take on it .

[jus_the_facts]

16. Yep....sad and true...

:(

[kath]

11. Our election system is so utterly fokked up, and in SO many ways.

[jus_the_facts]

17. You can say that again.....

...and again and again!!!

[bobbolink]

12. Because arguing and fighting are so much FUN!

:hi:

[jus_the_facts]

20. Arrrrgh..

:argh:

:silly:

[BlueJac]

14. We should......

Stick to the tasks at hand, the war, health care, oil independence, the Bush crime family. There is a lot of business to take care of before the '08 elections.


Just say no to any DLCer.....no more same names in the White House.


This country deserves a break from Bush, Clinton anyway!!!

[jus_the_facts]

21. Hear HEAR....

:thumbsup:

[sandnsea]

15. Dean did in 2003

He had formed an exploratory committee by this point. I think Edwards and Kerry had too, maybe a few others as well. This is how it works.

[jus_the_facts]

22. I haven't actually seen it *work* yet....

:shrug:

[sandnsea]

31. I don't know what people want

They didn't like how the primary process drug out so far in 2000 that Al Gore didn't have time to launch an effective campaign. They didn't like IA & NH having so much influence in 2004 because it felt front-loaded. So now they want MORE primaries early, which will only mean money will have a bigger influence. If we shorten the primary season, that'll only give the people with money MORE of an edge. I think we've got a bunch of chronic malcontents.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

18. I'm getting phone calls from the DNC and the local party already.

I know they need to raise funds, but jeebers, can't they give me a little break, just for awhile? My damn phone was ringing off the hook before the election, and I was kinda hoping for a reprieve from nonstop solicitation. Not that I answer it anymore...

[jus_the_facts]

25. No reprive...

....non stop solicitations...bah!! :argh:

[rocktivity]

19. I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about.

:evilgrin:

[jus_the_facts]

26. Oh well ...take this then...

:spank:

[DURHAM D]

24. The biggest fights will be right here on the DU.

I am already tired of the number of posts related to the primary candidates.

I wish that for the next 18 months we could have the Regular DU and an Alternate DU for those bullies and flamers who need attention. Already when I get here I have to scroll forever to find something interesting.

Not one word anyone says on DU will help me make a decision about a candidate because 99.9% of the posts are from thoughtless candidate promoters.

[jus_the_facts]

27. I wholeheartedly agree with you.....

....my cynicism doesn't need exacerbating this soon. :argh:

[sandnsea]

29. GDP used to be for the primaries

Candidate threads weren't allowed in GD. There were also penalties assigned, to keep it from going too far overboard. I imagine the rules will be reinstated at some point in the next few months.

[scarletwoman]

28. I just hope the admins open a GD-Primary forum soon. I'm already sick of candidate threads.

I don't give a rip about who might be president in 2008 if we don't get some major changes made in 2007 -- like stopping a war on Iran and restoring our Constitution, for example. I'd REALLY rather be discussing stuff like that.

sw

[DURHAM D]

32. Amen. A big AMEN. n/t

[politicasista]

34. I am too n/t

[Rosemary2205]

30. Money. nt

[politicasista]

33. Cause the corporate media bosses love it when Dems are infighting

and that's why they are still failing to hold Bush accountable and covering up Iraq and other serious issues that matter. Speaking of serious issues, what happened to Katrina? :shrug:

[kevsand]

35. You say it's a year early.

That implies that you think the campaign shouldn't start until after the Iowa caucuses have already been held. That's obviously absurd, so I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you meant no one should campaign until the actual day of the caucuses.

Now how exactly would that work?

[necso]

36. Apparently,

the presidential "race" is getting a lot of play in the media.

And things that get play (lots of play, anyway) in the media show up here, often in direct proportion to how much media-play they're getting -- and especially for political topics, the degree to which they infest the punditocracy.

...

The presidential race is almost perfect for the media-mediocracy. It's like having the playoffs, the Superbowl, the Oscars, a horserace, a gossip-fest, a gutter-wallowing party, a reality show, a "talent"-show (with "critics"), endless street-brawls between fan-clubs, and an emotion-charged soap-opera/horror-movie -- all rolled up into one.

It's familiar ground; banal, yet full of consequences; and none of it taking any thinking or originality on the part of the media (who largely just repeat talking points anyway, knowingly or not -- heaven forfend that the people pay attention to the important issues or the actual state of our world and country).

Again, it's almost perfect for the media-mediocracy, who, if they had anything worth saying, would be trying to get paid extra for it.

...

As for so many entering the fray so early -- it's what's happening; one follows another.

[pitohui]

37. because people need some hope

i'd rather look at this fine field of many talented candidates than just sit here and cry about * for 2 more years

when i see he is planning to pick our pockets to the bitter end it just makes me want to go drown myself, when i see that the future could hold such fine leaders as obama, hillary, or edwards, it's something better to think about

[InvisibleTouch]

39. I like that attitude!

It does seem early to me as well, but I don't think it's necessarily bad. I feel like we have such an important election coming up this next time around, that they have to get started early. Lay the groundwork, and then full steam ahead. By the time the actual Primaries come up, all our candidates will be household names, even to those who don't usually follow politics (keep in mind that not everyone is a junkie for this stuff like we are on DU ;) ). Informed voters cannot be a bad thing.

[Kat45]

38. I was wondering the same thing. I thought it seemed awfully early.

[Zhade]

40. I guess it beats talking about holding this criminal administration accountable.

:sarcasm: