Can we please put 2008 on the back burner?

[Norquist Nemesis]

Just for a little bit, please!?!?

Okay, go ahead and flame me. But it seems to me that 2006 is what we should be focusing on. Let's get the local and state elections in place and add to our strength...in advance and preparation for 2008.

IMO, if we focus on 2006, a clear front-runner for 2008 will emerge that we can be proud of and get behind.

So...Which seats are in jeopardy? Which seats need support? Which seats need strong opposition?

While I recognize an individual's enthusiasm for a candidate and a need for validation, I'm just tiring of the "<fill in my candidates name> in 2008!!" Yes, I'll continue to ignore them for now.

Carry on. *sigh*

[kentuck]

1. Yes, please...

It would be better for all and also prevent some division that will only hurt the Dem candidate in 2008, whomever it may be.

[Norquist Nemesis]

10. That's certainly one aspect

My biggest concern is that if we're not focusing on the next step (which is 2006) we can kiss 2008 goodbye now.

[theboss]

2. Thinking about '08 is extremely stupid

It's done by people who don't understand politics, imo.

Get back control of the House and Senate and the presidency doesn't matter that much. It's that simple.

[Norquist Nemesis]

11. One step at a time

I'm certainly not advocating that 2008 be forgotten or not discussed. We always have to be looking at the future. I think we agree on how to make foward progress...one step at a time. :) :hi:

[Catchawave]

3. Nah......

Since most of the Dems with the most money have already kicked off the 2008 primary season and starting PACS, why shouldn't we be able to put our cards on the table too?

Not that this has anything to do with my just starting another :sigh: 2008 poll

:hi:

[Norquist Nemesis]

12. Don't take offense, please

No one is a target with my OP. :)

I understand what where you're coming from about the heavy hitters. Hell, even Biden's out there smelling the cow pasture for land mines now.

But note: I purposefully used the term "back burner" for a reason vs. "off the table" or some other term of omission. In other words, mind the pot that's simmering on the back but the one on the front needs immediate tending. :)

[Catchawave]

23. Oh, I didn't take it offensively.....

Sorry if I came across that way :hug:

Here in Virginia, we have a Governor Election in 2005, and even that is speculating how it will affect Virginia's voters in 2006 AND 2008.

You better believe I believe in the DU mojo :) Look what happened with Hackett in Ohio....Dems are circling the wagons for 2006 and 2008. EVERY election is important now to the Dems, AND we need to start reaching out to those 50+ million who DIDN'T vote in 2004 !

Hope I made sense? It's all about framing the debate now !

Edit: Spell check didn't notice "offensely" for "offensively"

[JNelson6563]

4. It's really telling

While I truly hate to see the time and energy wasted on those useless threads, they do serve a purpose. They reveal who the game-playing, nothing-to-do-but-speculate, pretend activists are. You could also include those who are staunch members of a cult of some personality or other in this category of poster. Those who are actually doing anything in real life for the Democratic cause don't have the time to waste on such tripe.

Kinda like a wheat & chaffe seperatin' thing. ;-)

Julie

[Norquist Nemesis]

16. Thanks, Julie

Good analysis :)

[LandOLincoln]

36. Nelson, you're

a sanctimonious hypocrite. You claim to be an activist, yet you're here as much as anyone else, spewing your judgmental tripe.

Do you have any shame? Really, do you?

[dogman]

39. You've noticed that too?

Isn't it amazing that we should leave this forum to those that no what's best for us?

[chimpymustgo]

45. Some people have forgotten the rabid bullying that went on here in 2003.

I haven't. Nor the worst offenders.

[Crunchy Frog]

46. I haven't either, but I'm willing to forgive and move on,

especially when they are not continuing on in the same vein.

Many people got carried away in 2003 by their enthusiasm for their preferred candidate. Many of the same people are now very reasonable and polite posters.

[chimpymustgo]

49. Ah yes. The Veep defamations as well. No problem, move on.

But I have learned to believe people when they reveal themselves to me.

[Adelante]

40. woOT!!

Nice bitchslap there. :D

[WildEyedLiberal]

41. I second that w00t

Hey WesDem, how ya doin'? :hi:

[Adelante]

42. Hi, WEL

Busy, busy, busy, and not posting here as much, but doing very well, thanks. Hope you're the same :hi:

[WildEyedLiberal]

43. Yeah. busy here too

Just finished summer class, :woohoo: and looking forward to a relaxing three weeks before fall semester starts. :P

[Le Taz Hot]

50. Bingo!

:applause:

[Adelante]

5. I agree, focus on 2006

Sen. Byrd needs immediate support, as the GOP is already (yes, already!) running TV ads against him. There may not be a real threat yet, but they are getting in there early with questioning his patriotism.

http://wvgazette.com/section/News/2005080310?pt=0


I would like to see Hackett run for Senate. I really hope he decides to do it.

Eric Massa's running in NY-29 as a Dem. He was a Republican House Armed Services Committee staff member when Rove had him fired for saying hello to Wes Clark in 2003. Massa had worked for Clark at NATO. The Rethugs pretended to the press he hadn't been fired, so Eric quit. He then joined the Clark '04 campaign. He's running against freshman Randy Kuhl (R), who is thought to be vulnerable.

http://www.massaforcongress.com



As for 2008, human nature is what it is. You're right to stay out of 2008 threads if you don't like them. I don't see any other way around it except censorship, which I hope is off the table at DU.

[Norquist Nemesis]

17. Great info here!

This is exactly what I was referring to!

I had missed the info on Massa's firing. Will he be vulnerable in a 'sour grapes' attack? Hopefully, he was well-schooled in the tactics and prepared for battle.

[Adelante]

44. They're all going to be vulnerable

Ya know what I mean? We're getting too close for comfort. I think Eric will draw heat, but he seems like the kind of guy who can handle it. I think he'll peel some moderate Repub votes away and being a veteran doesn't seem to hurt nowadays.

[Crunchy Frog]

47. Now that I'm here in NY State

I'm looking forward to working on helping to elect Eliot Spitzer for Governer, helping on Eric Massa's campaign, and helping Hillary to get reelected to the Senate.

I'm not too familiar with this state, but it seems like we've got alot of important races coming up.

I really liked Eric Massa when I saw him in Little Rock last month. I really hope he's able to take that seat.

[Eloriel]

6. No flame here

And I'll say this: I'm gonna stop hiding threads and start hiding people!

I'm sick up to here with it.

[Norquist Nemesis]

18. I'm not at that point

but I say have at it! :)

Unfortunately, some get easily distracted and it often throws things into another pissing match at best...but gives ammunition to the lurkers seeking chinks at worst.

[Eloriel]

32. I think you're right & that's all it is, a distraction n/t

[southpaw]

7. Since nothing succeeds like success...

working to make congressional and state-level gains in 2006 is the absolute best way to work toward a victory in 2008.

...don'tcha think?

[Norquist Nemesis]

19. Absolutely! n/t

[tokenlib]

8. Not possible...

2006 is most important right now, and none of us would argue with you on that. However with Hillary, Bayh, and others working behind the scenes on 2008--it really isn't possible to not talk about it. These races all start too early now--

But hopefully we can all keep perspective and do first things first.
I understand the frustration, but sadly the 2008 race has already begun.

[Norquist Nemesis]

21. Again, not suggesting it shouldn't be talked about

In fact, within threads it might even be suggested and supported. I'd welcome comments such as "so and so's very smart about saying this in this way...I think he/she can gain support for their 2008 POTUS campaign by taking this position".

I'm certainly NOT advocating censorship. I just want to see us focus and get mobilized.

[AlGore-08.com]

9. The only problem is that the shadow 2008 primary is already taking place

Folks who are thinking of running for President in 2008 are already lining up financial and political support. By the end of the 2006 elections, some of the candidates will have decided not to run, because they haven't been able to generate enough enthusiasm in the grassroots.

If folks already have a preference, or if they feel that it's important for the grassroots to have a say in who the nominee is, then they need to speak up and act up now.

The Paul Hackett campaign is the best recent example of how important the grassroots can be in the 2008 primary, even though it was not a primary campaign. Before the grassroots got involved in Hackett's campaign, nobody paid any attention to him, because the CW in the media and the beltway was "Democrats can't be competitive in the 2nd Congressional District of Ohio". And there was a lot of good, common sense in that CW, because Democrats had been getting 35% or less in that district for 20 years. But enough folks in the grassroots got involved that they persuaded both the party establishment and the media to become involved in the race. And because of that, Hackett almost beat a Republican in a safe district. That is something no one would have thought possible when the special election was announced.

And the idea that primaries cause division in the party is, IMNSHO, a misunderstanding of the entire process. A primary is when people are supposed to be opinionated about who would be the best candidate. They are supposed to have in depth discussions about the pluses and minuses of each primary candidate (or potential primary candidate). That doesn't cause differences of opinion. The differences of opinion are already there.

To return to Hackett as an example, there are folks here who have always contended that an anti-war candidate cannot win elections. And there are also folks here who think that only anti-war candidates can win elections. That divide was here long before Paul Hackett ran. It was here in 2004, when some folks supported candidates other than John Kerry for that reason - - and these same folks who did not support Kerry in the primary came together in the general in harmony. The idea that we can't have discussions about potential 2008 candidates without destroying the support for the eventual nominee is not supported by facts.

[Norquist Nemesis]

22. I didn't say primaries cause division

Yes, the shadow campaign has begun. And hopefully, we won't have a repeat of 9 candidates on the Democratic side eating each other vs. eating the opposing party when things hit the spotlight.

But you example of Hackett is what I'm referring to. There was support and focus. Yes, he lost the race but beat all the expectations. Imagine if he had won! That would be a huge boost and powerful support as a stepping stone to the 2006 races. 2006 wins are the next step toward 2008, etc.

I did not state we can't have discussions about potential 2008 candidates withouth destroying the support for the eventual nominee.

[AlGore-08.com]

28. If we can have discussions about potential 08 candidates what's the prob?

We can all walk and chew gum at the same time.

We all helped Hackett in the 2005 race while looking ahead to the 2006 races and protesting Roberts and Plame-gate and checking out the panda cams showing the baby pandas born in the National Zoo and the San Diego Zoo and even work our day jobs and have private lives.

Maybe the problem is that one person's "not on the back burner" is another person's "on the back burner". But if we can all discuss 2008 without it harming the 2008 nominee, and if we can all walk and chew gum at the same time, what's the rush to be in lockstep all about?

[Norquist Nemesis]

29. Round and round and round we go

If you just want to argue, enjoy talking with yourself.

For today, I have some things I need to attend to and it's a beautiful day here to boot! Have a good weekend.

[Strawman]

31. I agree with you

It's as if the party elitists want to say, go stick your head in the sand and pretend like their are no substantive differences within the party and when we're ready, you can all come out and rally behind the candidate we've selected.

There's nothing wrong with having discussions about who we like and don't like at the head of our party as it's candidate in the next presidential election.

But I think the point is well taken that it can be easy to obsess over the Presidential race and ignore 2006. Still, I can have thoughts about both years' campaigns in my head at once, as I suspect everyone else here can. When I talk about 2008, it's less about the specific candidate and more about what I think the party should stand for and that's always relevant. The candidate just embodies those values.

[Skidmore]

13. Thank you. I've been

saying this for some time. Let's take care of 06 first.

[Norquist Nemesis]

26. In just a short six months we'll be voting

(give or take) in elections selection candidates for November elections. It's closer than just around the corner.

We need to be mobilized...now! On the up-side, if we get active on our local and state elections now, we'll be able to take some time off during Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays! :evilgrin:

[magnolia]

14. I'm with you!

Everybody should use this time to work locally to elect as many democrats as possible IN YOUR STATE.

The 2008 presidential election is light years away...anything can happen. We have no idea what kind of person we will need to run.

Who knows...maybe Ohio will turn around and we'll be running encumbants Kerry/Edwards!

[Norquist Nemesis]

27. Yes!!

Many people think "locally" is exclusive to the town or city they live in. They often set aside the county spots (election boards!!!) and forget about the importance of State offices. I have to admit, I don't think much about my House Representative in DC...but then again she's an ATAD (All Things Against Democrats) in a good ole boy controlled ATAD district.

[Niccolo_Macchiavelli]

15. i think by 2006 the pretense of democracy will be dropped entirely.

Some MIHOP^2 will have triggered martial law and the frontside governing will be somewhere with FEMA/NSC/Military/Taliborn Cults.

Just my optimistic take on this.

(A less optimistic vision would allow people to cross the states without having the needle of the geigerteller leave the right edge.)

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ClarkUSA]

24. How did I know someone would turn this thread into an attack on Clarkies?

Some people just can't quit grinding their axes, can they? Like Bush, some
people do not base their opinions on facts.

Now let's see, on the GDP homepage right now I see two topics in the top 10:

We need John Kerry in 2008!
Kucinich 2008

I don't have a problem with Kerry and Kucinich supporters creating the above threads. It's funny how often some people do.

Many of us are working damn hard in the real world working for campaigns in our states as well as others across the country with our time and money though we also have time to have fun at DU. Those who live to attack Clark supporters at DU need to get a life and support the Party instead of tearing down dedicated Democrats and their grassroots supporters.

[Norquist Nemesis]

25. The OP wasn't intended to be nor did it need to be

and attack on anyone or any group.

[QC]

30. Well, the obsessed Clark-haters will always find something to bitch about.

No reason to worry about that.

[blondeatlast]

48. There's enough spew to go around. I'm not on board with any of them

and I don't see one potential candidate's fans being worse than any other.

[FreeStateDemocrat]

33. Agreed, it is all about 2006 right now.

[LittleClarkie]

34. Amen, preach it.

Yeah, me too.

I've got to pry WI-5 loose from a Congressman so entrenched he doesn't even bother to campaign any more. My only good news came just today. Someone in my county party things that MAYBE Sensenbrenner doesn't want to run this next time. Oh please, let it be true. But just a rumor, so I can't get excited.

[rniel]

35. I'd like a majority in the house and senate

Over the presidency any day.

[Jai4WKC08]

37. Not me, not now

While we have troops in harm's way, who sits in the WH is more important that who controls Congress. Especially when the current thugs are all too happy to start a new war in whatever country suits their fancy. You think even a Democratic Congress wouldn't pay for it? Think again.

That said, I agree we need to focus on the elections in 05 and 06. Just not to the exclusion of 2008 as some here (not the OP) have suggested. Heck, we need to be thinking about 2012, 2016 and beyond. The Repubs achieved the stranglehold they have on our govt by thinking and working MANY years ahead. What are WE doing in our schools, churches (etc) and youth groups to grow the next generation of Democrats?

[bvar22]

38. Completely agree.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1988239