Comparing Clinton, Edwards, Biden, Richardson, Kucinich, Obama & Gravel

[xultar]

Who's got the best records?

Care to list somethings and compare. This ought to be fun.

[endarkenment]

1. You first. nt.

[xultar]

16. You're cute. I like them all and I'd vote for either one. Someone mentioned to me

that Clinton didn't have as good a record as the others. I figured this would give people who care a chance to get it all down.

[sandnsea]

2. Kucinich I would guess

:shrug:

[RaleighNCDUer]

6. I don't think we can find any vote he made for political purposes

that was not in line with previously stated positions. And in cases where he's changed his positions he has clearly laid out how and why he changed. No waffling.

[mitchtv]

3. Gravel states that he WILL end the drug war

not a record, but a great position

[RaleighNCDUer]

5. Gravel was instrumental in getting the Pentagon Papers out and

in ending the draft.

Not a bad record.

[Buck Laser]

4. depends on what you mean by "record"

Richardson clearly has the best experience record, having served successfully in the legislative and executive branches, and some credible diplomatic roles. And he's a sitting gov. Of course, that didn't work too well last time, did it?

Kucinich has a solid record in the congress, and I like his ideas best.

Obama is all potential, without much of a record yet--but I think the potential is so great that he's my choice.

[HeraldSquare212]

7. Biden

Can't say I know a whole lot about Biden, but his chairmanship of the Thomas confirmation hearings still rankles me. I think he did very poorly and I just stopped caring what he did.

Edit: Um, just noticed you said best record - so I'm not sure my comment qualifies but I'm going to leave it in.

[LSparkle]

8. Kucinich definitely has the best voting/legislative record

He had the foresight not to privatize the Cleveland electrical system, too (and the city later thanked him for that). Biden voted for the bankruptcy bill so he's definitely out in my book; Hillary proposed a flag-burning bill (WTF?); haven't heard anything negative about Dodd; I respect Gravel's work to stop the Vietnam War but his tax idea scares me; Obama is still pretty much a tabula rasa (therein lies the appeal). Edwards at least "atoned" for his IWR vote and has put out specific proposals to help the poor and to make sure everyone gets healthcare.

[dmallind]

9. Richardson hands down

Successful executive experience - in a state with some dire challenges at that.

Cabinet experience.

Legislative experience.

Solid ideas and sensible positions more than soundbites.


Which of course all explains why he is going nowhere. He's my choice still and I'll waste my vote in what will be a meaningless primary by the time NE votes, but I gave up imagining that the electorate really wants what they say they want - someone who will give straight answers and tackle important issues in a nonpartisan manner - when Paul Tsongas offered them exactly that and got hammered for it.

[Rainbowreflect]

12. Hi, from a fellow Lincolnite!

I was really interested in Richardson until his comments on being gay being a "choice".

[dmallind]

13. Yeah that did bite

I can maybe rationalize that he meant being actively homosexual in behavior is a choice as opposed to being attracted to the same gender (just like being actively heterosexual in behavior is too - after all some priests/nuns etc do manage to refrain from molestation!) but assuming he really meant that he thinks you can just get out of bed one morning and say "hey I think I'll get all steamed up trying to make out with hot men today instead of hot women like I normally do" then it's a damn stupid ass thing to say. Not only wrong, but politically clueless too.

All I can (or want to) offer in his defense is that he has a decent to good record on GLBT issues policywise. I suspect he's just a bit clueless on the issue and not homophobic, but not much of an excuse I agree.

[Rainbowreflect]

14. I do like his record over all.

He is still my second choice behind Kucinich. If you had not already guessed that.
I think Richardson could get a lot of Independent and even moderate republican votes.

[Skink]

10. Richarson is on record saying he'd bring the troops home.

[xultar]

17. Did he say when? I think they are all on the record for bringing troops home.

[goodgd_yall]

18. Richardson said we should be able to get the troops home

by December if we started now. On Sunday's debate, he challenged Obama and Clinton on their statements about leaving residual troops behind.

I think Richardson is very good too. He hasn't done well in the debates, but Sunday was his best appearance in a debate or forum. I quickly forgave him his "choice" comment. Even if I felt strongly about the choice vs. biology issue, I would have because I chalk it up to ignorance about that issue and its importance in the scheme of things. He has a good record on LGBT rights and that is what is most important.

[seasat]

11. On environment, Richardson is best.

Grist has a good rundown of the candidate's proposals on global warming and some of their records on the environment. The thing that impresses me about Richardson's record is that he doesn't just put out proposals, he puts them into action. Every one of our Democratic candidates is going to be pro-environment but they have to be able to put those plans into action. Richardson has done that.

[xultar]

15. I also like Richardsons foreign policy experience. He's best in that

category though he screwed up the GLBT question.

[goodgd_yall]

19. I just really think it's a shame

some people who supported him were so ready to drop him for that. So, all the other candidates but Kucinich and Gravel oppose gay marriage, and they are still considerable acceptable candidates because MAYBE they would have been hip enough to say no it's not a choice. Doesn't wash with me.

[xultar]

20. I agree. I still support him with the same support I do the others and I'd gladly vote

for him or anyone of our candidates in 2k8.