Do you think that Harold Ford Jr. is feeling neglected today?

[Bombtrack]

Everybody is now talking about Obama as the first black president now and nobody has even mentioned Ford as being worthy of that consideration as well. Also, Ford was one of the first people to endorse Kerry and worked hard to help get him nominated. I'm sure he didn't mind Obama being chosen as keynote speaker because Ford did in 2000, but you've got to wonder if the complete absence of any media chatter about Ford is maybe irking him.

I really like Ford and Obama and I don't want to start an argument about 1 being better than the other I'm just trying to give Ford his fair dues when everybodies fallen in love with Obama(as have I as far as liking/respecting politicians go).

[CatWoman]

1. Relax, Harold

you're much, much cuter :D

[Justice]

2. Why Didn't Harold Ford Run for Senate?

For the seat Lamar won?

[WI_DEM]

3. he didn't think he would win it

and he is probably right.

[Bombtrack]

14. He's running in 06 for Frists seat

Frist is retiring. It'll be Ford against Zach Wamp

[SoFlaJet]

4. he's gone down a notch in my eyes

when he was challenging Nancy Pelosi for leader after Gephardt announced his quitting.He-like Gep(IMHO)played politics with the Iraq war vote and that turned this liberal off.I have been a longtime Randi Rhodes listener and knew too much to be fooled by tyheir playing politics with war bullshit.RR has done a great job

[jobycom]

18. I think you're right

I think his centrist role against Pelosi hurt him in a few ways. It pitted him against the leadership of the party-- those who feel they have paid their dues-- and it made him look weaker, since he lost weakly. It also alienated the heart of the party-- exactly the segment that is most activist right now.

He's not dead, he just has to recover from his fumble.

[SoFlaJet]

21. yea Joby

and all we hear is how the dems are NOT unified.This assessment is of course given by the SCLM hacks

[Ms. Clio]

22. He slipped another dozen notches after participating in the "coronation"

of Reverend Moon.

[The Backlash Cometh]

5. Why does it have to be one or the other?

?

[Feanorcurufinwe]

7. Maybe the primary someday will be Ford vs Obama

we could do worse.

[jobycom]

17. Well, you can't have TWO first black presidents. nt.

[WI_DEM]

6. they both are up and comers

but I frankly think Obama has an edge. He will be a Senator from a big state and I think he is better spoken than Harold Ford, Jr. I can see Obama being John Edwards' running mate in 2012.

[vi5]

8. To be honest I like Ford but find him rather bland....

My appreciation of Obama has nothing to do with race or color. He's just a dynamic speaker who distills salient points into simple, yet passionate and articulate terms. He balances things well and is just a captivating speaker.

Ford, while a great guy has always seemed very safe and middle of the road to me. I've seen him speak and he never rises to any level of passion.

[Sparrow]

9. he needs to learn

Democrats do not want to hear his DLC crap.
He would be in the limelight if he was in touch.

[JI7]

10. we should be happy more minorities are seen as

being future leaders for ALL not just as black leaders.

[JI7]

11. Ford could also be the next Bill Clinton

Ford isn't even old enough to be president right now and he gave a not so great keynote address as clinton did. he has time to prove himself. obama could end up being like cuomo, a great keynote and always loved but never becoming president.

the fact is we just don't know the future.

[Bryan]

12. I'm sure Ford feels neglected

...but then, I imagine that a lot of the elected Dems at the convention feel neglected in the wake of Obama's star turn; it's the nature of a performer's ego.

[w13rd0]

13. Isn't Ford speaking today?

He'll have his opportunity to shine. Of course, the media isn't chattering about Ford because a) the media are a bunch of whores. But with Obama, they risk looking massively stupid because he IS the keynote. He's also, I believe, younger than Obama. While we can consider an Obama run at the WH in 4,8,12 years, it's probably more like 8,12,16 for Ford. I myself would feel odd voting for a guy for President only 2yrs my senior (Ford).

They are both "rising stars" according to Ndol 2004 (me ducking flying veggies), but Obama's timing is better. When Ford gave his keynote, he was 31. Obama is 43.

[Bombtrack]

15. Yeah, that's also what I was wondering. I should have included that

he wasn't even given a speaking role at the convention. I assume he would have taken one. I'm not trying to create a rivalry. I just wonder if one is going to be created(by the media, or others).

[geek tragedy]

16. Why pit the young, rising African-American leadership against each other?

There's no token slot for African-Americans.

Maybe Obama can name him as his running mate in 2012 to balance the ticket. He is from the South, after all.

[jobycom]

19. Oh, very good. Obama/Ford

It works geographically and ideologically in terms of balance. Let's hope that by 2012 America has advanced enough in terms of race to consider it. We are going backwards nowadays, in all areas of equality.

[Radical Activist]

20. I hope so

Ford is from a solidly Democratic district. There's no good reason for him to be such a moderate except for his ambition to run statewide in Tennessee.