Either Hillary or Obama will inherit a real mess...

[kentuck]

A real big mess. Even worse than what Jimmy Carter inherited in 1976. And who can argue that Jimmy Carter did not inherit a mess after Watergate, the resignation of a disgraced Nixon, the appointment of Gerald Ford, the retreat from Vietnam, the divisiveness? Hillary or Obama will inherit a mess worse than that which Jimmy Carter inherited.

Unfortunately, unless they do something dramatically different, even radically different from what Carter did, they will be portrayed in a very similar manner. A failure. A weak presidency. Etc.
Once again, the Repubs have stacked the deck.

What can the Democrats do to prevent that from happening? First of all, they need to keep the Repubs from defining their presidency. They need to explain clearly to the American people the mess that we have been left with, i.e., Stuck in a quagmire in Iraq which we can no longer afford, a severe recession on the horizon, problems with the huge debt and lack of faith in the dollar abroad, sub-prime mortgages and housing bubble problems at home, etc. These are problems that cannot be fixed in 4 short years. These are generational problems mostly created by the politics of the last seven years.

[Lerkfish]

1. unfortunately, its also possible that no democrat will inherit this mess

and that a batmoon crazy republican will take over the reins and make it worse.

I pray that doesn't happen, but I also think its wrong to be overconfident. The scorched earth campaign tactics BETWEEN democrats can make what should be a slam dunk a squandered opportunity.

[kentuck]

2. That is a possibility...

But I think the Repubs are simply paying off McCain and that few expect him to win. He is the "moderate" answer in their Party just as Barry Goldwater was the "conservative" answer in 1964. They expect to return to power after the next failed Democratic presidency - which they have already put into place.

[DFW]

5. Maybe not

If enough self-righteous Democrats stay home or write in someone else
because "their" woman or man wasn't the nominee, McCain could squeak in,
all logic to the contrary.

It's amazing how many people are willing to risk a NcCain presidency because
they are too pure to vote Democratic this year. Hell, MY first choice for
the Democratic nomination has actually won the nomination only twice (1996 and 2000)
since I could vote (1972). I have never failed to vote the Democratic party
ticket, however, as I saw the Republican choice as being far worse, and every
time that a Republican won, they proved me right. If McCain wins, they'll prove
me right this time, too. You heard it here first.

[liberalnurse]

3. They both will............

Hillary as president, Obama as VP and Young Prince to be crowned in 8 years.

I believe the deal is in.............

[Ravy]

4. Boy, howdy! nt

[MH1]

6. That's why we need to increase the Democratic margin in Congress as much as possible.

Being able to get measures passed in Congress that bear some resemblance to sanity will be a key factor in whether either an Obama or Clinton presidency can be successful.

House and Senate races are crucial this year.