Reply #25: Gore, Dean, None of the Above...

[neoblues]

Gore, if he could simply be aggressive about correcting others when they decide to misquote him (you can't counter an intentional misquote with "I'm sorry you misunderstood me" or "Perhaps I wasn't clear..."). He's made to "look the fool" too often and too easily--and very much wrongly.

Dean, if only to shake things up and/or antagonize the powers that be. Though even he doesn't back up all his promises of action (then again, perhaps no one could under today's conditions).

Hillary, simply has no chance--and given her willingness to embrace centrism, perhaps it's best that way.

Kerry, well, he was an all but absurd choice in the first place. A significant percentage of Americans may be shallow (in that looks, personality and mannerisms count) and they may be uneducated (in that they don't even understand the difference in decision making styles between the two distinctly different offices of President and Senator), but besides the charisma-vacuum, Kerry simply lacks the requisite backbone for the job.

Wes Clark, seems like an honorable guy and is probably pretty sharp, but he's never been anything but a guy who's really good at following orders. Just too one-dimensional in his military mystique; a little stiff and doesn't get his message out very well.

Obama, well, there's just something shady about him; I don't trust him. He seems to take the stage and then butterfly all over the issue without really making a real stand. Then again, that's a terrific skill for a poly-tician.

None of the Above, plainly this is the best answer yet. We need somebody who has "Presidential" looks, a "real" personality, personal integrity/honesty, a quick wit and sharp mind and some solid, unadulterated and inalienable Democratic/Left/Progressive values. Add to that a little charisma and passion and a decent amount of relevant experience and we have it. Even if the person wasn't exceptional in all such areas it would be enough. Alas, there seemes to be a real vacuum when it comes to "leadership"** in our party.

**psychological studies have noted that people who are the better/more natural "liars" (capable of deception without guilt) when judged by numbers of people, tend to score highly in the measure entitled "Leadership". That says something about people in general, and it's not particularly flattering. So, if we lack leadership, in a way, that's a good thing. Still, we not only crave inspired leadership, but we really do need it.