So why isn't Sherrod Brown ever mentioned when progressives are mentioned for President?

[dsc]

Sherrod Brown is a very progressive Senator who has been in the Congress for over 20 years. At 61 he is younger than Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders. He is a down the line progressive, pro choice, pro gay rights including marriage equality, pro union, fair trade, opposed the war in Iraq. He is bad on coal admittedly but apart from that he is a progressive dream and he has won state wide in Ohio four times (Sec of state in 82 and 86, Senator in 06 and 12) he did lose one time in 90. So where is the love?

[TwilightGardener]

1. Has he signaled interest in running?

Usually you raise your profile and make the usual moves/noises to get attention.

[madokie]

2. He is one of my favorite congress critters

[LuvNewcastle]

16. Mine too.

I'd love to see him in the White House. He might not want the job, though. You almost have to be insane to want that job. You and your poor family live under a microscope all the time and people are constantly bad-mouthing you. And that's just what happens at home. Just think of all the bullshit you have to put up with from other countries. Sherrod Brown doesn't seem to be stupid, insane, or evil, so he'll probably never run.

[madokie]

19. I'm not sure

but I think that Sherrod Brown and Ron Wyden might just make a good ticket too. At least Wyden is on top of the NSA and constantly trying to make sense of that bed of worms. At any rate Brown would be on my dream ticket without a doubt. Even teamed up with Bernie would be good. I really don't think Warren will run but if she would Brown would be a good pick there too. Anywhere I look I see a Brown ticket that would make me happy

[Manifestor_of_Light]

3. He has good hair too!

And "he's very cute" according to his wife.

Yes, he is a good liberal. I wonder if he's interested in running for President?

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. There is plenty of love for him.

I believe he's not interested. The other story I heard was his wife threatened to divorce him if he ran for higher office............she wouldn't, but she doesn't want him to run.

[dsc]

5. I don't blame her

that said I hope he at least considers VP.

[jaysunb]

8. +1 n/t

[antiquie]

6. Does he have particular baggage?

From my search results, it appears some groups oppose him because he is supported by J Street. It looks like he is his own man and not an AIPAC tool.

[dsc]

7. His opponent in 12 tried to bring up his divorce

other than that, I don't know of any baggage.

[onehandle]

9. Million percent better chance of being nominated than Bernie too. nt

[TheKentuckian]

10. Not a shiny object for identity politics and as such can't be used as a cudgel to keep the

dissatisfied in line when and if the policy stinks. It is easier than actually working for the people for all involved.

Some say it is because he hasn't expressed interest but it doesn't stop anyone else from be considered so that is weak.

I also believe that some don't even want to talk about Brown and I mean at all and ever because he is a frame buster for all the viability of liberals bullshit, Ohio ain't Massachusetts, New York, or Vermont and the idea might get out that an awful lot of stuff told about getting elected isn't all it is cracked up to be.
If you can win with those policies in Ohio with consistency, they can be received in a lot more places than the Turd Way wants out for sure and some of their clowns will be looked at much more cynically.

Whether he ever runs or not, there are some important clues to a winning model to be gleaned from the example that certain folks don't want you coming anywhere near seeing because they and their toxic charade would fray.

[LuvNewcastle]

17. Good observation.

The people in control of the party right now don't want someone like him in the White House. 'Moderate' Republicans have been running the Democratic Party ever since the Clinton administration. We only get to vote for people they approve, and they only approve of people they can influence or control.

[notgoinback]

11. I figured it out 6 months ago

Brown won't run for President because Democrats desperately need to hang on their Senate majority status. If he got the nomination, corporate "fat cats" like the Kochs would spend millions, financing Republican candidates eager to take his place - in a state that has never been "solidly blue". Imagine the campaign ads: SHERROD BROWN DOESN'T CARE ABOUT OHIO ANYMORE!
At least we can feel confident Brown's loyal constituents back home will keep sending him back to Washinton until he decides to retire.
In any case, every political strategist knows that fair or not, members of Congress who've served for more than 16 years have a dismal track record as Presidential candidates. Remember John Kerry and good old John McCain?

[jwirr]

12. I think this may be a big part of it. I really respect him and he would make a good president but at

the moment we need to keep the Senate in our hands.

[dsc]

14. He wouldn't be up until 18

but if he won the Presidency and we didn't win the governorship in 14 then his seat would be GOP for two years.

[Rowdyboy]

13. He's been on my personal "short list" for a long time. I truely wish he would run

[Old Codger]

15. Fact is

Any time I make a list of people I would like to see run he right in the top 3 of the list...

[emulatorloo]

18. He's great, one of the best public servants we have.

[Jim Lane]

20. I'd happily support him, but here are a couple things I've heard.

One, stated elsewhere on this thread, is that he's really not interested in the enormous hassle of running for President.

The other, which I saw mentioned on DU some time ago, is that his voice is a problem. Sure, this is trivial, but if you ignore the substance and react only to the atmospherics (as many voters will!), he admittedly doesn't sound all that good. Some clips:

* The first, on Thom Hartmann (start listening at around 1:50, after Thom plays a clip of JFK to start the discussion)

* This one on TYT, about breaking up the big banks:

Here's a Media Matters collection of clips about ACORN, where Brown (starting at 0:40) mocks the Republicans on the subject. In this one he sounds somewhat better, but still below average for a politician.

Years ago I read the comment that, because of the advent of television, Lyndon Johnson would prove to be our last ugly President. It may be that, in addition to an irrelevant standard for physical appearance, there's also an irrelevant standard for a candidate's voice.

It's really sad, especially when you do consider the substance of what he's saying, because in all three of these clips he says what I'd like to hear a candidate say.

[Enthusiast]

21. He has my love.

He is too valuable as a senator. I want him right where he is. Unless Elizabeth Warren or Bernie Sanders wants him as a running mate.

[jen63]

22. He's my Senator,

I love Sherrod Brown. He seems to maintain a low profile, which in my book is a good thing. He doesn't love the camera. His wife is a journalist, which may be part of the reason for the "divorce" comment. I doubt that she would want to give up her career. She's sharp too.