Bob Graham, at U of South FL, was asked about being a running mate in '08. (Interesting reply)

[seafan]

Bob Graham visits the Suncoast

January 11, 2008

He's a former two-term governor and a three-term U.S. senator from Florida. Yes, Bob Graham was on the Suncoast Friday night, speaking at the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee Campus.

Graham was here with a message on how to make our lives better. He says we have to make politicians behave. The former governor says he very concerned about what's going on in this country right now. He says the worse things get in the political arena, the worse our lives are going to be.
He called it his state of the union...you might call it depressing. He talked about health care costs being through the roof, the lack of an energy policy, our military being stretched way too thin, levees breaking, bridges collapsing...a free fall if you will of life unfolding in America. "I told you this was going to be a fairly dour commencement."

.....

Graham says he feels passionate about his message, but we wanted to know what else he feels strongly about.

How about the reaction to Florida moving its primary up? "The original purpose of this was to get property insurance - to get the federal government to recognize it had to have a role in this. What I think is absurd is the way in which the parties have responded to this, and are punishing the soon-to-be 3rd largest state in America. It's nonsense."
Graham says he tried to help the situation. He made phone calls, to no avail. "I have talked to the chair of the Republican and Democratic party and their party would be adversely affected in November by shutting Florida out of the process."

Graham says in all he does, his goal is to create more involved and motivated voters. That the state of the union can only improve if people care about the process of politics.

It proves he may be out of public office, but he's still acting as a public servant.

A few other things we asked Graham about: he says he hasn't been approached by any candidate yet about being a running mate, but he says he's not losing any sleep over it. He says he's not ready to endorse any candidate yet...maybe soon, but not yet.

.....

V-e-r-y I-n-t-e-r-e-s-t-i-n-g.




:bounce:

[mia]

1. Edwards/Graham 2008 !

:kick:

[SammyWinstonJack]

7. Kucinich/Edwards or Edwards/Kucinich 2008. Either or, works for me.

[madfloridian]

2. I think he was at that meeting with Bloomberg and buddies.

And he is talking like a typical Florida Democrat who thinks our state is more important than the other 49 states. He is wrong.

He is tied up that Bloomberg bunch, I think.

I have always liked Graham, but I he is wrong about the primary, and he is wrong if he backs Bloomberg.

[karlrschneider]

6. I still consider him one of the good guys. I knew him casually when I lived in FL

back in the late 80s. We could do a lot worse.

[madfloridian]

10. He's a great guy, and I've known him for years....but he's wrong about the primary

And that angers me greatly. I have seen the media lie and lie and the Democrats not speak up that they were on board with the Republicans forever with the earlier date.

It infuriates me. The vote was 115 to 1....and they did a media blast against Dean. They have forever ruined his reputation in Florida if he did ever want to run again.

It makes me bitter and angry, and I am not forgiving.

[tnlefty]

9. I remember and was incensed when the rightwing lunatics

were making fun of him for keeping a journal, per se, and writing down every meeting, phone call, etc. that he had. I remember one day when Mr. lefty came home and. asked me about it and my response was 'considering the committees that he sits on, hell I'd write everything down, too, if just for insurance with these thugs.' I just wish that more democrats would've taken notice of his voting no on the IWR.

His meeting with the Bloomberg bunch is a little unsettling to me though.

[OHdem10]

3. jYes he was part of the panel, I saw on C-Span Bloomberg

I respect BoB Graham. He stood up against the War in Iraq.
He was on all the important committee. He had the courage
to stand up in the Senate and make a long speech telling
us the Intelligence did not warrant the war. Since the
people were in their Nationalistic Mood, he lost his Senate
Seat. Probably one of the best Senators we have had.

However, that Group has some Hawks too.

[seafan]

4. Actually, he decided not to run again for 2004. But we did lose a great Senator nonetheless.

How we would have prospered if his candidacy for president had been successful... but the lack of money trumped it all. And, Big Media loved to ignore him. That surely hasn't changed.

[bonito]

5. K&R! n/t

[KaryninMiami]

8. I like him and miss him. It was a comfort knowing he was in that Bloomberg group-

I have faith in his judgement and do not believe that he would support a Bloomberg run if it would mean risking a GOP win.

[book_worm]

11. Gore should have picked him in 2000 and he would be president today

he would have guranteed Florida by a margin that even the GOP couldn't steal. Instead he put Lieberman on the ticket.

[JCMach1]

12. Exactly, Graham was gold...

[JCMach1]

13. Graham quit largely for health reasons... I can't see him

on the ticket with anyone.

[flashl]

14. I have warm regards for Bob Graham and believe he is sincere. n/t