Top five 2008 candidates?

[PresidentObama]

Virtually a pointless thread, we're a year out from this mattering. But some of you post, and I wonder whom your candidates are. So if you've already picked your favorite candidates, please post them and any reasoning why!!

If you have no candidate at this point, thats fine. Just post you don't have any candidate yet, but speculate on whom you like so far. If you don't have FIVE candidates, and just a few...post em'

Again, pointless thread. But could be fun?!?

:evilgrin: I'M BORED, OK?!?

Mine are:

1. Former Vice President Al Gore
2. General Wesley Clark (Ret.)
3. Senator Barack Obama
4. Former Senator John Edwards
5. Senator Hillary Clinton

(one being the top candidate on your list, and five being the number five pick. Well, duh!)

Honorable mentions to Chris Dodd and Bill Richardson also!!

OK, post away. Only if your bored too, and like pointless threads ;)

[Prophet 451]

1. What the hell

I'm bored too.
1. Al Gore (for obvious reasons)
2. Barack Obama (I just like this guy. He's bright, knowledgable and articulate (and after six years of Chimpy's mumbling, that's ones important)).
3. Hillary Clinton (a little too centrist for my taste and I'd like to get away from the dynastic structure but not too bad).
4. Wesley Clark (I like him, I like his ideas but I doubt his ability to win the primary)
5. Dennis Kucinich (I love this guy, I agree with him on virtually everything and his talent for the meaningful quip is great but he hasn't got a hope in hell of winning teh primary, let alone the general).

[PresidentObama]

2. A taker?

:evilgrin: I'm not the only bored one!!

[John Q. Citizen]

9. Here's an idea for you.

In the primary vote your heart. Don't vote your head, just your heart. This could serve a very practical purpose, much more practical than voting your heart might sound at first. Hear me out.

For starters, IF Gore runs then you and I will be voting for Gore I think. For me, it's because Gore meets my 3 subjective criteria that I've selected for who I'm going to support. Those 3 criteria are; Opposed to the war before it was cool, in fact when it was brave.
Commits to fight for single payer fee for service universal health care.
Commits to fight for open, transparent citizen run and citizen auditable elections.

But if Gore doesn't run, Dennis Kucinich (who also meets my criteria)is in a unique postition to make a huge difference. Here's why.

Except for Dennis, all the current candidates, while not bad and of pretty good charisma are "status quo" kind of candidates. None has declared a social revolution and I don't expect any to. Many supported the war and voted to fund the war, none have committed to single payer, Obama has a good voter protection bill up in the Senate. So they will be splitting up the roughly 60% of the status quo votes in the races. This means that Dennis, if progressives can coalesce around him, will be getting somewhere in the neighborhood of at least 30% of the votes out of each state. This is the "change" vote, the Dem activist vote, the people who would actually vote for real change. If Dennis can pull these votes out consistently, as the only true alternative candidate, then he can go to a brokered convention in pretty good shape to effect the Dem platform, and to help decide who gets the nod. Maybe he would throw his votes to a late entering Clark, or maybe he'd endorse Obama in return for Obama endorsing single payer. Many possibilities.

It could make a big difference on American Politics.

Think about Howard Dean in 04 for a minute. He came out of no where, the consensus choice of the progressive wing of the party. He didn't get the nomination, but he changed the party for years to come. He's our Chairman, and he made a huge difference on politics in our country.

So, think (and feel) about voting your heart, by all means.

[Prophet 451]

10. Good logic n/t

[Forkboy]

3. I'm always game

Or so I've been told :)

1-Kucinich
2-Gore
3-Obama
4-Richardson
5-Clark

Early days yet though,as you mention. :)

[iamjoy]

4. Only Counting Ones Running

Al Gore has already said he's not running. If he were somehow "drafted" he'd be my first pick. But, here are my top five of the probable candidates

1) John Edwards
2) Barak Obama
3) Bill Richardson
4) Hillary Clinton
5) Wes Clark

[longship]

5. Okay! I'll play.

First, thank you so very much for beginning your post with the caveat that all intelligent DUers are thinking about when we see these 2008 threads. However, indeed, let's have some fun.

I like your basic list with some minor corrections.

1. Al Gore
2. John Edwards
3. Wesley Clark
4. Bill Richardson
5. Barack Obama

Notes:
1. Gore and only Gore belongs at the top.
2. Edwards just very well may be Gore Jr. in this race.
3. Sorry, General. I'd like to place you higher but it's a tough field.
4. Bill! He could blow them all away. He basically has everything going for him. As I said, tough field.
5. I like Obama. If he were more experienced and if he'd stop invoking the sky fairy at every opportunity, I might place him higher.

Hillary who?

How about Kathleen Sebelius?

[Monty_]

6. Ok, here we go....

1. Clark
2. Gore
3. Edwards
4. Obama
5. Richardson

[orleans]

34. (smile) i guess i'm a little tired tonight. i kept reading the words

"sky fairy" and wondering what the hell you were talking about.

sky fairy...sky fairy? what the hell is a sky fairy?

...finally....i get it.

(shakes head slowly, smiles)

[Colobo]

7. Mine are

1) Barack Obama
2) John Edwards
3) Bill Richardson
4) Wesley Clark
5) Hillary Clinton

[CPMaz]

8. Am I the only Richardson fan?

Must be a western states thing... :)

1. Richardson
2. Edwards
3. Gore
4. Obama
5. Clinton

[longship]

11. Nope, read my post (above).

:kick:

[momophile]

12. 1. Gore

2. Kucinich
3. Obama
4. Clinton
5. Edwards

I'm so full of shit. I really have no idea other than Gore.

[Tom Rinaldo]

13. Clark, Gore, Obama, Richardson, Dodd

While Clark is my clear first choice I would be very very happy to support Gore also. Obama is a step down for me due to what I feel is his too limited experience, but I like him. Next rung down is Richardson who I think I could support on foreign policy, and I like some of the stuff I hear from Dodd also. I need to learn more about everyone other than Clark and Gore before I can firmly back any one of them.

I would support any of our announced candidates if they win the nomination, some much more enthusiastically than others.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

14. Clark, Gore, Obama, Edwards, Dodd.

Dodd has no chance, but I sure appreciate what he's trying to do to restore habeas corpus. (And kudos also to Kucinich for his consistently antiwar positions.)

I think the people who are profoundly committed to doing something about the messes we're in -- as opposed to just wanting to be president -- are the ones who really should be president. For that reason I especially like Clark, whose efforts have been devoted lately to trying to stop a war with Iran, and Gore, for his tremendous work on climate change. Both of these guys care more about these issues than about being president; Gore has said he doesn't intend to run, and Clark, while not yet ruling out a run, is much more concerned about Iran.

Some other candidates, in contrast, seem to be almost entirely focused on their presidential aspirations. They do not impress me so much.

[snowbear]

15. My list is subject to change after we've had some debates...

But if I had to give my buddy Kerry2008 a rundown today, February 22, 2007.. it would be:

1) Richardson (bumped off the top spot if Clark enters )
2) Obama
3) Edwards
4) Vilsack
5) Dodd
6) Kucinich
7) Biden
8/9) Gravel and Clinton tie

I didn't include VP Gore since he sounds so adamant that he's not running..

~~~~~

** edited to add Biden. CRAP! I forgot all about him!!!

[sandnsea]

16. Clark, Obama, Edwards, Dodd, Richardson

Gore's not running.

[PresidentObama]

17. Neither was Obama, before he was.

And boy, do I like Obama!!

And Gore!!

:hi:

[jen4clark]

18. Top 3

because some I won't consider and some I don't know enough about:

#1 - CLARK
#2 - Gore
#3 - Kucinich

okay for fun, if I HAD to pick 5

#4 - Obama
#5 - Dodd

[SharonRB]

19. Gore, Richardson, Clark, Obama, Edwards

I've just moved Richardson up to my #2 spot, but I still want to learn more about him. I like his experience and he comes across as honest.

However, if Gore doesn't run, I'll have a lot of thinking to do.

[AtomicKitten]

20. This is my list and I'm sticking to it.

1. Al Gore.
2. Al Gore.
3. Al Gore.
4. Barack Obama.
5. Wesley Clark.

[ripple]

21. Ok, I'll play

1. Barack Obama
2. Wesley Clark
3. Al Gore
4. John Edwards
5. Hillary Clinton


Any one of them would make a fine president! :toast:

[ButterflyBlood]

22. I'll post only three

1. Barack Obama
2. Anyone but Hillary
3. Hillary

[CPMaz]

24. LOL, you sound like me naming my 3 favorite baseball teams -

1. Red Sox;
2. Whoever's playing against the Yankees. Or might ever play against the Yankees;
3. The Yankees.

[xkenx]

39. Hell, no! Yankees are not #3. It's not enuf if Yankees lose 162 out of 162 games.

[Geezus]

23. My picks are

1) Obama
2) Richardson
3) Vilsack
4) Dodd
5) Clinton

If Gore gets drafted he'd at the top.

[Clarkie1]

25. Clark, Obama, Richardson, Gore...there is no fifth.

I was going to say possibly Dodd, but I just looked up the list of senators who voted against the IWR and his name isn't on it.

[PhilipShore]

26. Gore, RFK Jr., General Clark, Kucinich, Al Franken

[LWolf]

27. ok.

Gore, Kucinich, Lee, Feingold, Conyers

[snowbear]

28. I guess we jinxed Governor Vilsack?

He probably read this thread and when he didn't come in first place in ANY of the responses.. he decided to bag the campaign...

[SaveElmer]

29. Well my #1 won't be a surprise...

1. Hillary
2. Richardson
3. Obama
4. Dodd
5. Edwards

[snowbear]

32. No way S/Elmer.. you're pulling our legs!

I thought Wyldwolf, Erika and MtnSnake were the only Hillary supporters here.

YOU though?

- - - - - - I had no idea!!!

Not a clue!

Zip..

Zilch..

Nada..

.
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I jokes.. ..I realize you're her biggest supporter here.

[SaveElmer]

41. But how'd you like my other four...

:-)

[flaminbats]

30. my favorities who are running..or all my favorities?

my favorities who are not now running...Russ Feingold, Al Gore, Howard Dean, Lincoln Chaffee, and Jim Jeffords.

my favorities who are currently running...John Edwards, Mike Gravel, Dennis Kucinich, Chris Dodd, and Bill Richardson.

http://www.politics1.com/p2008.htm

[bamacrat]

31. I have THE Top 3.

Obama
Kucinich
Hilliary

[Bullet1987]

33. Here's my list...

1. Obama
2. Kucinich
3. Edwards
4. Maybe Richardson (have to admit I haven't really looked into him).
5. Anybody but Hillary...

[Leilani]

35. My List:

Short but sweet

1. Clark
2. Obama
3. Gore

[Larry Allen]

36. It isn't too early.

The outrageous primary schedule means that the selection will be made on February 5, before most Americans will have thought much about it. Then the Republicans, the media and the corporations will have nine months to tear our number one apart.

Most correct on issues: Kucinich, Gore
Friendliest to ordinary Americans: Edwards, Obama
Most likely to save us from Senator Clinton: Gore, Obama
Most likely to have a successful presidency: Richardson, Gore
Most committed to peace: Kucinich, Gore
Most commited to diplomacy: Richardson, Clark
Best for U.S. image abroad: Kucinich, Obama
Friendliest to the neo-con agenda: Clinton, Biden
Best for the environment: Gore, Kucinich
Friendliest to big business: Clinton, Biden
Most likely to come from behind: Richardson, Edwards.

[bklyncowgirl]

38. I like the way you thought about this. Nice work.

I'd put Gore ahead of Richardson on the "Successful Presidency" test but both are good experienced statesmen.

[bklyncowgirl]

37. I'll play--although I'm probably dooming my top picks to defeat!

My favorite is definately Al Gore but I'll take him at his word that he's not running. Likewise until General Clark makes up his mind, he's out of the calculation. If either or both of those gentlemen enter the race the whole thing changes.

My top choices are pretty fluid at this point but if the New Jersey primary were held today and the candidates were the same I'd be struggling to decide between these two:

1. Bill Richardson -- Because experience matters, because he's been an innovative governor as well as Congressman and diplomat. I also think that a moderate western governor might have a good shot at winning some states the Democrats generally don't win. As a "stealth Hispanic" he could galvanize an increasingly important part of the population without alienating others.
Points against him: I don't agree with his conservative record on economic issues--esp NAFTA. He passes the mensch test--seems like a fun guy to hang out with but lacks large scale charisma and there are of course those nasty little rumors floating around.
How can he become my number one: Continue to show me that you've learned that NAFTA was a mistake. Start showing a little more passion and by the way get out in front of those nasty rumors.

2. Barack Obama -- Because he was against the Iraq war before it was popular, because he is a wonderful communicator and because he's shown a pretty impressive ability to take hits and throw them back hard and fast in the verbal arena. He passes the mensch test--I mean who wouldn't want to hang out with Barack Obama!
Points against him: Lack of administrative experience. I don't care so much about his short Senate career--there are plenty of long term Senators that I wouldn't vote for, I do care that he hasn't run anything bigger than local civil rights organization.
How can he become my number 1: Continue to show that you can fight. Let me know where you want to take the country. Show me you have the know how to fix this giant mess we're in.

As for the rest:

3. Dennis Kucinich -- Because I agree with him on just about every issue.
Why Not: At this point it would essentially be a protest vote against the Iraq war because he's not going to win this thing but hey, why not.
What could he do to move up: Start showing a little more humor. I'd love to see him do some "short guy" commercials or something like "If I looked like John Edwards would you vote for me".

4. John Edwards -- Because I agree with him on economic issues.
Why Not: Because like Obama, he's never run anything big and finally, I just can't see him staring down the like of Rudy Giuliani--much less Osama Bin Laden. In his debate with Dick Cheney it was like Opie vs Darth Vader.
How can he move up: First, Anyone else who did not vote for the IWR would have to be a dead duck. Second, show me that you have the savvy to fix this giant mess.

5. Chris Dodd -- He's a smart, experienced guy. He passes the mensch test and is generally right on the issues.
Why Not: Because on the most important vote of his life he showed abysmal judgement and lack of due dilegence by voting to hand the keys to the U.S. war machine to George W. Bush with no conditions or qualifications. He's a New England liberal albeit one with a bit more of the common touch than Kerry. He knows his way around Washington but to the best of my knowledge he's never run anything.
How can he become my number 1: Continue to make sense.

Now of course my track record on picking candidates is terrible. I loved Gary Hart, Bill Bradley and Jerry Brown and had a visceral dislike of Bill Clinton. At first I liked Kerry then dumped him for Dean at just about the time that Dean began to fall and Kerry recovered to win Iowa.

By the way, I don't think this thread is pointless. It made me think and that's not a bad thing.

[election_2004]

40. Here are mine....

1. Bill Richardson and/or Wes Clark
2. Barack Obama
3. John Edwards
4. Chris Dodd
5. Dennis Kucinich (only because he raises awareness of important issues; I know he hasn't got a chance in hell of being nominated)

[Comicstripper]

42. HERE ARE MINE:

1. Vice President Al Gore
2. Senator Barack Obama
3. General Wes Clark
4. Governor Bill Richardson
5. Senator Joe Biden

[Larry in KC]

43. 1. Clark, by several miles... then...

2. Gore

(big gap)

3. Obama
4. Richardson

(huge gap)

5. I just can't go for anyone else in the current buzz. Maybe a draft of Feingold.

[gulliver]

44. Clark, Gore, Levin, Edwards, Corzine

[AshevilleGuy]

45. In the order of electability in Nov 2008:

1. Al Gore
2. John Edwards
3. Gen. Wesley Clark
4. Bill Richardson (maybe, teamed with one of the above)

That's all, folks!!! I can't think of any others who could flip those crucial purple or red states, and it's possible that only President Gore could do it.

[PresidentObama]

46. After much consideration, I've decided to bump Edwards to #3

I sincerely like Obama a lot, but John Edwards is very impressive and I believe he'd be a wonderful President!!

[Apollo11]

47. GORE OBAMA 2008

With Wes Clark serving as Secretary of Defense (Congress will bend the "ten year" rule, as they already did once before).


Let's all find ways to show our support for Al Gore! :patriot:

Read Rolling Stone magazine: WHY GORE SHOULD RUN -- AND HOW HE CAN WIN
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/13248532/why_gore_should_run__and_how_he_can_win

Get ready for Al Gore's next book - The Assault on Reason - out in May!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/16/AR2006091600877.html

Visit the following websites:
www.algore.com
www.algore.org
www.draftgore.com - Sign the petition! :)

:kick: