Unity Challenge - say something nice about all 9 candidates

[Feanorcurufinwe]

This is a challenge to everyone to lay aside your differences for a moment and find something nice to say about each of the candidates. You will have a harder time with some than others, but you can do it! Try not to be smarmy or sarcastic. If you go negative here it will really stand out like a sore thumb.

We can stay united as a party and take back our country in 2004!

I'll go first:

Carol Moseley Braun - long and varied experience in public service, smart, compassionate, idealistic - and today is her birthday. Happy Birthday Carol!

Howard Dean - spoke out early and forcefully against the Iraqi war. As a former governor, has experience in administering government. Excellent campaigner.

John Edwards - self-made man, bright, good looking, has the Southern advantage. Good fundraiser. Detailed policy positions.

Dick Gephardt - Great name recognition. Strong labor ties. Long government experience.

Bob Graham - Not afraid to challenge Bush. Home state of Florida an obvious advantage. Has run successful campaigns.

John Kerry - inspiring biography. Long government experience. Excellent campaigner. Smart and highly articulate.

Dennis Kucinich - passionate, willing to stand up for his ideals. Can energize the progressive base.

Joe Lieberman - Great name recognition. Experience with national campaign.

Al Sharpton - smart, highly articulate. Long history of really fighting for the causes he believes in.

[Ohio Dem]

1. Also, none of them are Republicans.

See how easy it is to say something nice about all nine?

[DrFunkenstein]

2. I'll Take That Challenge

Carol Moseley Braun - nice smile.
Howard Dean - looks good with a guitar.
John Edwards - great hair.
Dick Gephardt - cool-looking daughter.
Bob Graham - looks pleasant.
John Kerry - looks good in a wetsuit.
Dennis Kucinich - can rock a polka.
Joe Lieberman - gets Saturdays off.
Al Sharpton - funnier than Leno.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

3. Great!

Carol Moseley Braun - Insightful with great perspective that crosses the lines of race, class and also has a good handle on international issues due to her work abroad.


Howard Dean - adept at generating grass roots support, something ALL candidates could take a lesson about.


John Edwards - Tireless advocate for the underdog with a charming appeal that many would appreciate. Speaks clearly for everyone.

Dick Gephardt - Experience and ability to form consensus due to his leadership roles.

Bob Graham - Has experience running a LARGE economy due to the sheer size of the population of Florida. Experience with matters concerning intelligence.

John Kerry - On matters relating to Senate hearings there is no one more adept at backing his opponent into a corner and getting his point across regarding the errors of their approach and the unintended consequences (i.e. hearings regarding abandoned Kyoto approach) Understands that business does NOT act voluntarily on matters regualtory and only acts when compelled to do so.

Dennis Kucinich - Excellent at making his case for the rush to war and has the courage to speak out in the face of disagreement without backing off. Passionate.

Joe Lieberman - Solid voting record on civil rights. Willing to think outside the confines of definitions. able to strike consensus.

Al Sharpton - Doesn't mince words. Knows that underneath race issues are class issues and isn't afraid to tread on those forbidden ideas on a national platform. Plain spoken.

[genius]

12. I think that was a typo. Kucinich made the case against the rush to

war. He's the one that led the opposition.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

13. That is what I meant. Thanks.

I was on my first cup of coffee when I posted ;-)

[Vikingking66]

4. ok, here goes

Carol Moseley Braun - compassionate, experienced, articulate
Howard Dean - inspiring, tough, honest
John Edwards - did very well in the Senate impeachment trial, handsome and "good old boy" charm.
Dick Gephardt - Stands up for labor, experienced.
Bob Graham - fights Bush hard on 9/11 and Iraq.
John Kerry - long-time progressive, fought against Vietnam war,
good on environment.
Dennis Kucinich - absolutely committed to progressive cause.
Joe Lieberman - affable, wants to create jobs, doesn't like tax cuts.
Al Sharpton - Brilliant orator, I like his haircut. SLAP THE DONKEY!

[LWolf]

5. ok

I have some positives for all the candidates here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=108&topic_id=15636&mesg_id=15636

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=108&topic_id=19702&mesg_id=19702

[arcane1]

6. they are ALL preferable to Georgw W Bush!

:-)

[UrbScotty]

7. Okay!

Dean: Proven track record of improving healthcare, education, and the environment; goes after Bush head-on

Edwards: Has that 'down-home' style when he speaks; he also won an upset race in 1998 for the Senate, when he was just a trial lawyer!

Gephardt: Strongly pro-labor; despite vote on war, has a liberal record.

Graham: Solid on national security issues; probably the most popular living public official in Florida; 36 1/2 years as an elected official.

Kerry: Knows first hand that war is hell; also goes after Bush.

Kucinich: Speaks eloquently; has a lot of great ideas.

Lieberman: Has a great environmental track record; was elected the 46th Vice President of the United States in 2000.

Moseley Braun: Also has passion; respected as a Senator.

Sharpton: Energizes crowds; also has some pretty good ideas.

[Ediacara]

8. all of em are good

Dean: Has challeneged Bush early on, is a doctor so can remove wind from the sails of anti-abortion rhetoric, and has the most fantastic campaign I've ever seen with grassroots and money-raising.

Edwards: Has Bill Clinton's biography only better. Successful carreer as a trial lawyer working for the little guy, and he's aparently sexy, although personally, I don't see it.

Gephardt: Has fantastic labor ties, and will work for workers. He also has about 30x as much charisma as most DUers seem to think.

Graham: Tons of foreign policy know-how, and a deep distrust of Bush. He's also from Florida, which remember, we aparently lost by 237 votes....

Kerry: he's a Viet-Nam veteran amd has been a fantastic orator ever since. He sounds presidential, he looks presidential, and he acts presidential. He also doesn't have a Boston accent, which will be good in reducing the "Taxachussetts Liberal" bias.

Kucinich: Dennis embodies the anger of the left, and doesn't compromise when the issues that matter are at stake.

Lieberman: He has name recognition, and despite what most DUers say, he's liberal and with us on almost every issue that matters.

Mosely-Braun: She's smart and articulate, and she's on the right side of all the issues.

Sharpton: Absolutely the best orator, he knows how to get the crowd working.

[virtualobserver]

9. that is easy

Carol Moseley Braun - isn't Bush
Howard Dean - isn't Bush
John Edwards - isn't Bush
Dick Gephardt - isn't Bush
Bob Graham - isn't Bush
John Kerry - isn't Bush
Dennis Kucinich - isn't Bush
Joe Lieberman - isn't Bush
Al Sharpton - isn't Bush

[CMT]

10. ok

Dean--excellent record as Gov of Vermont and deserves credit for opposing an unjust war.

Kerry--A good liberal senator who fought bravely in Vietnam and came home and opposed an unjust war.

Kucinich--A good man who believes in what he stands for.

Sharpton--an excellent public speaker

Mosley-Braun--A first--the first African-American Woman in the US Senate who was unjustly defeated for a second term.

Lieberman--his record is better than his rhetoric

Edwards--true American success story

Gephardt--a true prairie liberal in the Humphrey tradition

Graham--has been relentless in taking on Bush on Iraq and Security issues.

They all are much better than George W. Bush.

[dsc]

11. Ok

First they all would make vastly better Presidents than Bush.

Now for some specifics.

Carol Mosley Braun did what many thought was the impossible in 92. She ran against Alan Dixon who had won a massive reelection bid in 86. He had won in nearly every county in the state. She was one of three candidates in the primary, spent the least money, and won that race. Her one term in the Senate had her standing up to Helms and ending government support of a Confederate symbol. Her low key style belies a sharp political mind.

Dennis Kucinich almost destroyed his political career over public power and was right as could be. One of the best retail politicians imaginable. Is positively brilliant. Passionite on the issues.

Al Sharpton has done well at every debate. He is well prepared and has a terrific ability to produce soundbites. He seems to have grown into a different role than the race baiter he was in the 1980's. He has been a pleasent surprise.

Dick Gephardt has a terrific health care plan. It is the best one I have seen in terms of combining an ability to pass with delivering insurance to all. He did right by his daughter.

Joe Lieberman has guts. To go to debates and tell people what they don't want to hear is gutsy. He also has an admirable record on civil, women, gay rights and the enviroment. His work in the 60's made this country a better place.

John Edwards is a self made man. He also is unbelievably good looking. He took out that awful toad Faircloth. With some seasoning he will be a terrific President some day.

Robert Graham is sharp. He has experience depth and seriousness. His Osama Bin Forgotten line is tremendous. Florida seems to do very well with electing substantive politicians and not flashy ones. He and Chiles show that.

John Kerry has been a consistent liberal. He has a compelling bio. He has served his state incredibly well over a long period of time. He has an ability to think deeply about public problems.

Howard Dean has gone further, faster, than anyone could have guessed. He also nearly sacrificed his career for a just cause. He has been proven right on the war, right on the tax cuts, and right on how to campaign to beat Bush. I will prouldly vote for him in March and again in November.

[GOPBasher]

14. I can do it

Carol Moseley-Braun:
Very progressive and left-wing; very intelligent, compassionate, articulate; strong backbone, always stands up for what she believes in; name not Bush, not a Republican.

Howard Dean:
Very intelligent, articulate, compassionate; strong stand against war; will roll back tax cuts; will get universal health care, fund all our social services, and still cut the deficit; strong on gay rights; firing up the base; excellent grassroots support; fundraising going well from grassroots organization; name not Bush, not a Republican.

John Edwards:
Charasmatic and very likeable; very intelligent, compassionate; self-made man; articulate and Clintonesque way of communicating to the middle voters; centrist and populist; southern; good policy ideas; great fundraiser; name not Bush, not a Repuke.

Dick Gephardt:
Very likeable; very intelligent, compassionate, self-made man (still paying off college loans); phenomenal record on labor, will get great union support; fiscal and social leftist; would roll back tax cuts and fund healthcare; name not Bush, not a Rethug.

Bob Graham:
Likeable and always gets crossover votes; intelligent; against Iraq War; centrism can attract middle voters; FLORIDA; name not Bush, not a Repugnantan.

John Kerry:
Very intelligent, articulate, compassionate; long-time fiscal and social leftist; great war record to run on; opposed Vietnam after serving in it; would roll back tax cuts; great debater; great fundraiser; name not Bush, not a you-know-what.

Dennis Kucinich:
Very passionate fiscal/economic left-winger; committed to international peace; great on labor issue; intelligent, compassionate, likeable, articulate; not Bush, not -- you know the drill.

Joe Lieberman:
Intelligent; socially very liberal; economic centrism can attract middle voters; excellent environmental record; against tax cuts; good fundraiser; elected Vice President of United States; not Bush, not one of the bad guys.

Al Sharpton:
Incredibly articulate and funny, excellent one-liners; Reverend; history of fighting for civil rights and other causes; not Bush and not them.

[burr]

15. Does it have to be all nine?

Howard Dean - great at presenting voters with a choice, you must either pick this or that...but you cannot have both.

John Kerry - his Navy service record makes it next to impossible to label him as unpatriotic.

Dennis Kucinich - has the best healthcare plan of the candidates.

Dick Gephardt - knows better than the other candidates that a Democratic President needs a Democratic Congress.

Bob Graham - the only southern Democrat in the Senate to vote against the Iraqi War Resolution.

John Edwards - a great trial lawyer, the most friendly of the candidates.

Carol Mosley Braun - outspoken on how the patriot act has been abused, and has destroyed our basic liberities in this country.

Joe Lieberman - friendly wife, croaky voice can be used to inspire feelings of sorrow and sympathy.

Al Sharpton - his campaign to make basic Democratic principles into constitutional rights will win him far more votes in the primaries than the pundits yet recognize.