The Democratic presidential field--a few thoughts from someone still looking for a candidate

[bklyncowgirl]

Our country is in deep trouble. Our next president is going to have to be someone who has both an inspiring vision and who knows how to work the levers of power. I would like to see a candidate who has shown good judgment throughout his or her career and demonstrated an ability to get things done.

Barack Obama has an inspiring vision and is a natural born politician but is light in experience both in running for and holding office. John Edwards also has an inspiring vision but little experience.

Hillary Clinton is an experienced political manipulator (with a decidedly mixed record) but lacks an inspiring vision and has shown abysmal judgment first in voting for the Iraq War and in continuing to support it well after things went south. Joe Bidden--the king of the tv talk shows--is overexposed and while a serious foreign policy pro, fails to excite any passion except from those who actively dislike him. John Kerry is a good experienced man who would have been a fine president but he is, sadly, finished.

Of the dark horses Wes Clark has a wealth of foreign policy and military experience and a dedicated following but has, to date, shown little gift for politics. Bill Richardson is the most experienced of those planning to run but has something of a charisma deficit as does Senator Chris Dodd. Maybe Richardson's diplomatic mission to Darfur will put some shine on his resume--most likely not--people will still remember him most for exaggerating his baseball career. Dennis Kucinich is in it to keep the others honest.

The one Democrat who combines political experience, and a compelling--albeit challenging vision of the future--is Al Gore. Gore was right on the war from the getgo and has become a compelling speaker. He is battle tested and seems to have learned from his mistakes. Sadly, it doesn't seem like he's going to run.

This leaves Democrats with a choice between two green but inspiring youngish orators, a former first lady with enough baggage to sink the Titanic, a retired general and a couple of old party hacks.

Democrats could be in worse shape, of course, they could be Republicans. Imagine having to choose between McCain, Guiliani, Romney and the rest.

The good news is that it's early in the game and frankly, I don't HAVE to pick anyone. It will be interesting.

[aquart]

1. You may want to rethink your standards.

God is not running on either ticket.

[bklyncowgirl]

3. You're right of course--and frankly the Republicans are in worse shape.

Still, the situation we face today calls out for a certain sort of person.

If I was hiring a CEO I'd want someone with a deep knowledge of the field and a record of achievement combined with a winning personality. With all of the millions of people in this country, why do we always end up having to choose someone who you have the feeling could not get an executive job in your own company?

Oh well, that's politics.

[lapfog_1]

2. Very good summary.

My bet is still on the once and future President, Al Gore.

He has NOT said that he wouldn't run, despite many who would attempt to write him off early with such pronouncements.

I believe that he is waiting on Democratic power brokers to come to the same conclusions that you have, and for them to ask him to run. This time, no handlers, no holding back, no stiff personality and no "lock box" phrases.

I hope the money guys behind the Dems figure this out, quit betting on the DLC types and listen to what is happening, and go to him and beg him to run. Or that a massive "draft Gore" movement catches up so many people that they HAVE to ask him to run. And, unlike Hillary, Gore will not have the ego so tied up in things that he would refuse to ask a better public speaker to be his running mate (Obama). And he then pre-announces (just like Bush did with Powell) his picks for Sec-Def (Clark), and Sec-State (Clark or Richardson or Dean).

Anyway, I keep signing petitions and sending Gore email. As soon as there is a good place to send contributions, I send Gore money (I gave him money in 2000 as well).

Gore/Obama beats any combination of candidates the Repukes can come up with, especially if this current "surge" strategy (the McCain doctrine) fails miserably (which I believe that it will).

Gore/Obama beats the crap out of McCain/Joementum or McCain/Guiliani or Brownback/X or McCain/Hunter or even McCain/Bush (jeb).

[brazos121200]

4. I think Al Gore, as the 'elder statesman' is waiting for a

Draft Gore movement as you say. I agree with your post except that I'm afraid Obama might be a focus point for Republican spin doctors who would paint "Hussein" Obama as an inexperienced visionary. I think a Gore/Clark ticket might be our best bet in '08.

[salin]

5. I will take our group of candidates - over the clowns that

keep 'expressing' interest on the GOP side. Tancredo - isn't he the big immigrant basher who had to admit that he hired illegals to work on his house - because it was cheaper to do so? Brownback - for real? I would be seriously depressed were I a GOP who was not a far rightwing religious nutjob.

[karynnj]

6. I think we may need grassroots that pushback

against the status quo. Looking at that list - I agree with you that the only two people who I see on it who could be good strong Presidents are Kerry and Gore and perhaps Clark, if his political skills (needed to deal with Congress as well as get elected) have improved.

If the party would have given Gore and Kerry the support they routinely gave Bill Clinton, both of these serious, hard working good men could have had convincing (unstealable)wins. Compare what happened when Clinton was accused of draft dodging and writing a letter to a military person who helped him saying he "loathed" the military when he was no longer at risk - everyone in the party defended him yet think how few expressed any outrage when the Republicans at their convention mocked the purple hearts of a real decorated war hero.

We need to make the case that these are serious times and we need very serious leadership. We don't need to be entertained.

[Le Taz Hot]

7. Excellent analysis.

And right on for many on this board, including myself. I look at the field so far and think, "Is that IT?" Unfortunately, I see no indication from Gore that he intends to run and IMO, he really is the only one that can bring us out of this national nightmare IF we're going to make it out at all.

[bklyncowgirl]

8. If Gore doesn't get in I'm hoping to see some signs of improvement in some of the others.

Right now I'm looking at Richardson who certainly has experience and if his recent diplomatic mission to Darfur helps to end the suffering there, could gain some new found respect. I've heard mixed reviews about his record as governor and would like to learn more. The fact that he's Hispanic (albeit with an Anglo name)and a westerner could create some excitement.

[ray of light]

9. You may have intentionally left off John Kerry but I wouldn't do that.

First, other than Gore, he's an incredible statesman and he's responsible for many of the wins in 06. Before Webb won the primary and before any other Democrat supported Webb, Kerry was out there supporting him and helping him fundraise. Without that initial support, Webb would not have made it past the primary.

Then there's Joe Sestak. He was getting swiftied by the opposition party. But Kerry held press conference after press conference with him. He travelled the state giving speaches for him and fundraising for him. Here's the long list of candidates who he helped. It's longer than even John Edwards who ran second to Kerry and he has the most wins as well. http://www.johnkerry.com/ His pac was also "the friendliest" http://blog.johnkerry.com/2007/01/hotline_kerry_the_friendliest.html#comments

And of course when you look at issues John Kerry is top-knotch! How many people are regretting their Alito vote now? And yet Senator Kerry wasn't even on the Judicial committee but because nobody there was willing to risk their name, he ran the filibuster. Now, I personally am fairly 'undecided' about the wedge issue abortion, but I am against everything else Alito stood for--corporatism, strip searches of minors, etc...Even though the filibuster eventually lost, it was a tremendous boost to the power and respect that the netroots achieved.

And on issues like national security and handling the Iraq mess--Kerry was spot on correct in 04. He was right in 04 about Bush trying to dismantle social security. He was right about the environment and about healthcare. He was right about taxes and the economy and jobs.

Kerry may be battle-worn from 04, but the guy is skinnier, sharper, and much more prepared to duke-it-out with the right-winged smear machine.

He and Gore and Edwards are the only ones who have the battlescars to return to the ring with a tougher mindset. And even though Hillary Clinton is battlescarred too, she unfortunately has a few more major 'negatives' (rightly or wrongly) such as being married to Bill, being a woman, and being loathed by people who don't even want to learn more about what she has done.

Regardless--the Democratic field is rich with potential! All of us should be so proud because I believe it's our hard work that convinced them that our causes were worth fighting for. We can finally point to liberalism as a good thing instead of the smear that it was two years before. For that, we owe Bush and the Republicans a huge thank you.

And my hope on DU is to see us use our activism to spread the truth about the Republican candidates and the Republican agenda, instead of trying to take down the opponents of 'our favorite' in 08. We are here in 06. The top headlines are the war, torture, hearings, and the firing of prosecutors. We can not take our eyes off the current legislative process and bicker about 08.

The Republicans never rest or take their eyes off the prize, nor should we. The prize is a Democratic controlled house and Senate. And maybe just maybe if we work hard enough, we can get a few Republicans to vote with Democrats frequently enough to take away Lieberman's pathetic version of neo-conservatism-independent-Democrat-Republican slime.

[bklyncowgirl]

11. No I didn't leave him off--please read the end of my third paragraph

Hillary Clinton is an experienced political manipulator (with a decidedly mixed record) but lacks an inspiring vision and has shown abysmal judgment first in voting for the Iraq War and in continuing to support it well after things went south. Joe Bidden--the king of the tv talk shows--is overexposed and while a serious foreign policy pro, fails to excite any passion except from those who actively dislike him. John Kerry is a good experienced man who would have been a fine president but he is, sadly, finished.

I may be too harsh on his chances but right now it's not looking good. The man should have won in 2004 and I have no doubt he would have been a good president. He could turn it around, people have written his obituary before, but I doubt it.

[ray of light]

12. Oh...I see why I missed it. You have him inside the third paragraph

whereas with the others, you had a separate paragraph for each. Actually, I missed Joe Bidden too. Sorry. (I guess that told you I stopped reading that paragraph after "abysmal judgement in first voting for Iraq...."

[bklyncowgirl]

14. I was actually referring to Clinton's judgement.

Kerry is now a strong voice against the Iraq war despite having (unfortunately) voted for it. He's a good man, I just don't see how it happens for him this time.

[papau]

10. I like Gore a lot - but his charisma deficit is major and I know many moderate left folks that

will not vote for him on the superficial reason the 4 years of Gore on TV would bore and annoy.

It appears that race is Obama's to lose, but that post his announcement in February he and the media will frame him as the under-dog (an excellent position in terms of the media).

Clinton's CBS interview this morning showed why many many folks are in favor of her candidacy. She was clear, concise (took only 120 seconds) detailing a plan to put a troop cap on our forces in Iraq into the next funding bill, and to re-deploy soon - sooner if Iraq does not go after Shia death squads, and pointing out the need for more troops in Afghanistan to take on the resurgent Taliban - not fewer troops by taking them out to send to Iraq, the way Bush is planning.

Edward's "2 Americas" still rings true, as does Edwards himself. If Obama implodes, Edwards becomes the not-Clinton.

It should be an interesting race - we have a good selection - in my opinion.

[bklyncowgirl]

13. Let's look at that charisma deficit thing.

The Academy Awards are coming up. Let's say that"An Inconvenient Truth" wins the Oscar for best documentary. Al Gore makes a sparkling thank you speech--not to mention interviews with various reporters.

All of a sudden people who don't follow politics are thinking "Who IS that guy--that CAN'T be Al Gore."

Besides, Bush won--or came close enough to steal--the 200 election because of "charisma". Americans for the most part are sick of Bush and may be unwilling to vote for another inexperienced albeit charming politician especially if the Republicans nominate a seasoned old hand.

I think that Gore, if he remains true to himself, is the Democrats best chance.

[papau]

15. That may be true - more so since the no votes because of no "charisma" in 2000 will

remember how that turned out.

[elocs]

16. Why, pray tell, do I need to be looking for a candidate for 2008 in Jan. 2007? n/t

[Pyrzqxgl]

17. What About JOHN EDWARDS?

[bklyncowgirl]

19. Read my second paragraph.

Barack Obama has an inspiring vision and is a natural born politician but is light in experience both in running for and holding office. John Edwards also has an inspiring vision but little experience.

Let me elaborate.

I like Edwards. like Obama he's a natural born polician in the best sense of the word. I like his two Americas message and his policies which favor the middle and working class.

He has, however, only a single term in the Senate and no executive experience that I am aware of. I could certainly vote for him but prefer someone with a strong record of achievement.

[janx]

18. Gore--

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped


But when one friend asked him recently about another campaign, Gore didn't dismiss the question out of hand. "We'll see how things go," he replied.

Another Democratic source says that in recent weeks, the former vice president's camp has quietly put out feelers to presidential politicos, asking whether they are committed for 2008.