NYT/AP: Vilsack to Seek 2008 Democratic Nomination

[DeepModem Mom]

Vilsack to Seek 2008 Dem. Nomination
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: November 30, 2006

MOUNT PLEASANT, Iowa (AP) -- Democratic Gov. Tom Vilsack chose the small town where his political career began to open his long-shot presidential campaign, pledging to make the U.S. ''a beacon of hope'' for all the world.

''I am running for president to replace the America of today with the hope of tomorrow and guarantee every American their birthright -- opportunity,'' Vilsack said in remarks prepared for delivery Thursday.

Thirteen months before the first votes in the nomination process, the wide-open race for the White House already has drawn the interest of nearly two dozen potential candidates. Aides to Vilsack said he needed to move quickly to begin building name identification; the two-term governor is little known outside Iowa.

After his announcement, Vilsack planned a five-state tour of several early voting states, including New Hampshire and South Carolina.

''America needs a president who builds and creates, who makes our country more secure,'' according to the planned speech. ''Our country needs bold leadership if we are to be more secure here at home and throughout the world.''...

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Vilsack-2008.html

[Guaranteed]

1. Ugh. nt

[Kindigger]

2. Too funny

The dork makes his announcement in the reddest town in the bluest part of Iowa. I just moved to the next county over to get away from those stuck up a-holes.

Whatever...he isn't running to far or too long.

[robcon]

3. He's running for VP, IMO

I suspect he knows he hasn't got a chance, and he is looking for a balanced-ticket (Midwest) VP nomination with Clinton or Clark.

[PassingFair]

4. He controls the primary scam in Iowa

He was on the short lists for VP in '04, too.

Everything filters through him during the caucuses.

I have heard that the states of Iowa and New Hampshire
are so desirous of having the first primaries, that
they are willing to GIVE UP THEIR DELEGATES to do it.
No amount of negotiations will budge them from their
power trips.

[Hardrada]

5. We have been disappointed with this guy here in IA.

He has done very little for the constituencies who elected him (though the legislature was GOP controlled for most of his time). He took a trip to Israel sponsored by AIPAC and has been heading the DLC (Vilsack is actually a biz friendly moderate republican) and this is bothersome. Also he has a stubborn streak and will not change his mind when he's decided on something (sound familiar?) But he (and his wife especially) are shrewd and it could be he is just tying down IA so Hillary won't have to come here and face the tough questions from small groups she would have to meet with. Vilsack would then be compensated by Hill with VP or cabinet post. Lou Susman, a Chicago investment banker, is thinking of doing fund raising for Vilsack to give him enough leverage, perhaps, to seem like a plausible candidate while, I think, mainly serving as a catspaw for Hill.

[Pyrzqxgl]

6. I suppose its not politicly correct to point out whats in a name, but

Vilsack seems a name ripe for the brunt of political humor. It just, and I know its bigoted to say so, doesn't seem as Presidential as Edwards, Clark, Kerry, Clinton, or Gore. Even as a running mate (Clinton-Vilsack, Vilsack what). Do they talk about this stuff in those smoke filled rooms. You bet they do.

[bluedogyellowdog]

7. What stood out about today's MSM coverage

The AP, Reuters and CNN reports on Vilsack's announcement all had a glaring inaccuracy: every one of them incorrectly said Vilsack is the "first" Democrat to officially enter the race.

This is wrong - he's the second. The first is Mike Gravel, former U.S. Senator from Alaska.

I smell a media shutout in the making. The MSM whined incessantly in 2004 that they had to desecrate their precious airtime with Kucinich, Sharpton and Moseley-Braun, and even made offensive comments that the three should have been excluded from the debates. The MSM is only interested in horse races, not in an open and democratic electoral process. This time around the media may try to shut out people who are serious candidates but don't fit their "horse race" criteria unless we raise our voices.

This is a matter of principle whether or not you support Mike Gravel for President. To be honest he isn't my first choice (I'm leaning hard toward Edwards, Clark, or Obama). To be honest, he's a longshot and I don't give him much chance of winning. But this is a matter of principle and a matter of whether we are going to truly have a democratic process in this country or just meaningless horse races dictated by the mainstream media. We're the big tent party. We have every right to exclude joke candidates, cranks who only get on the primary ballot in New Hampshire, and nuts like Larouche, but sitting U.S. Congressmen (i.e. Kucinich), former U.S. Senators (i.e. Gravel, Moseley-Braun, the late Eugene McCarthy, etc.), and nationally notable figures (Sharpton) are by definition serious candidates, and should be covered by the media as such.

I don't believe this inaccurate reporting today was an oversight. It was deliberate, and we need to correct the media anytime they make these kinds of inaccurate statements.

[itsmesgd]

8. One scary thing

I saw a "Vilsac" sign in the background that looked a lot like the VINGSOC signs from 1984. I'll keep looking for the graphic online.