Your opinions on Democratic contenders for 2008

**Don Corleone** · 08-24-2006, 21:30

To my conservative brethren... this is meant to be an open, honest and frank assessment on the folks that are seeking (or hinting that they might) the Democratic nomination in 2008. Please, if you already despise any and all Democrats as liberal, left-wing hippies that want terrorists to win, let's go find another thread to visit, eh? Though please note, that might be a valid criticism of a particular candidate(s). Make sure you specify which candidate and why.

I'm just looking for an open dialogue on the men and women that will make a go of it from the Democratic side. I'll start a similar one for the Republican ones.

According to http://www.politics1.com/p2008.htm (PLEASE! SOMEBODY TELL ME WHY ALL MY HTML buttons and smilies quit working!), these are the most likely candidates: For the record, Barrack Obama has already publicly ruled himself out:

US Senator Evan Bayh (D-Indiana)
US Senator Joe Biden (D-Delaware)
Governor Phil Bredesen (D-Tennessee)
Former Army General Wes Clark (D-Arkansas)
US Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-New York)
Former US Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-South Dakota)
US Senator Chris Dodd (D-Connecitcut)
Former US Senator John Edwards (D-North Carolina)
US Senator Russ Feingold (D-WIsconsin)
Former US Senator Mike Gravel (D-Alaska)
US Senator John Kerry (D-Massachusetts)
Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio)
Governor Janet Napolitano (D-Arizona)
US Senator Ben Nelson (D-Nebraska)
Governor Ed Rendell (D-Pennsylvania)
Governor Bill Richardson (D-New Mexico)
Governor Brian Schweitzer (D-Montana)
Governor Tom Vilsack (D-Iowa)
Former Governor Mark Warner (D-Virginia)

What are everyone's thoughts on the above and their chances? Is there anyone in the above list that anybody has any opinions on?

I'm not certain he's committed to running, but Ed Rendell pulled of a large miracle in Philadelphia's turnaround. He's a fiscal conservative that understands the need to keep taxes reaonable (he lowered property taxes in PA 30% according to Wiki). I also like some of what Evan Bayh has said and done, but he's too given over to farm subsidies, a form of welfare that I say has seen it's time come and gone.

**Lemur** · 08-24-2006, 21:41

Just say no to Senators. Governors are the way to go.

**Louis VI the Fat** · 08-24-2006, 22:16

Few of those choices are familiar to me, and the ones that are - clark, Clinton, Daschle, Edwards, Kerry - well, Meh.

It's not relevant, but Madeleine Albright would've been my dream Democratic candidate. Unfortunately, she can't run.

**Don Corleone** · 08-24-2006, 22:21

Well, as a European, I can totally understand why you'd like her. But she's got an atrocious record on personal liberties here at home (it was she that announced to a Democratic audience that the UN small arms convention would silence the NRA once and for all).

You know, forget the 'new Hillary' that wants to get elected, I don't even think the one she was before everyone was watching was all that bad. I can't stand her smugness and condescencion, especially when she's discussing a single-payer health care system, but here ideas in and of themselves aren't all that radical. They come right out of the Democratic Leadership Council playbook, which for the most part is relatively centrist. The biggest problem I have with Hillary (other than the aforementioned disdain she has for us commoners) is her galpals Donna Shalayla and Janet Reno.

**drone** · 08-24-2006, 22:39

Warner might have a chance in a national election, he is fairly centrist and I would think he has a good chance of breaking the GOP stranglehold on the South. Can't really see any of these other yahoos being successful down here. This would be key to winning the presidency, but probably puts him behind some of the other contenders for the nomination.

**GeneralHankerchief** · 08-25-2006, 00:17

I would love it if Rendell ran - he did great in Phila. and is doing fairly decent in PA right now. Of course, I'm biased since I'm from the Phila. area.

Other than that, I can't see Bayh surviving the primaries, especially after Lamont. Nobody will be too interested in Kerry after all the other candidates that are running. Same with Edwards and Clark.

It'll probably come down to Warner and Hillary, in which case I'd hope Warner wins because I want to see somebody not with the name Bush or Clinton taking office in 2009.

**Al Khalifah** · 08-25-2006, 00:32

Not very good are they?

I suspect it won't matter who of that list they run - if McCain gets the Republican nomination he'll win.

Clinton would be a fairly novelty gesture of defeat for the Democrats. Might get a reasonable share of the popular vote, but would ultimately get crushed in terms of states won.

Warner might be the best bet for a good performance in the nationals but I don't think he'll get the nomination.

**scooter_the_shooter** · 08-25-2006, 01:21

If clinton became president we would be....europe

(no offense)

**Divinus Arma** · 08-25-2006, 03:37

Originally Posted by Don Corleone

Please, if you already despise any and all Democrats as liberal, left-wing hippies that want terrorists to win, let's go find another thread to visit, eh?

I wonder who this could be directed at?

I can play nice. Of all the liberal, left-wing, pinko, dirty hippy Democrats, I have respect for Lieberman.

But of course, he isn't liberal enough for Conneticut anymore so adios bagel-boy.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

**Reverend Joe** · 08-25-2006, 03:38

Originally Posted by ceasar010

If clinton became president we would be....europe

(no offense)

We would be an extremely disunified yet culturally rich region with thousands of years' worth of history and subtleties, rather than a shallow, 200-odd-year-old nation with the cultural identity of a Manila folder? Count me in!

**Divinus Arma** · 08-25-2006, 03:50

McCain for GOP? I hate his position on immigration, but he's better than Jeb.

I think Al Khalifa is right on this one. John Stewart likes McCain.

All I want is another Republican in the White house for the next eight. Then we can pack the supreme court when Ginsburg and Stevens retire. YES!!!

**Xiahou** · 08-25-2006, 04:51

Originally Posted by Don Corleone

I'm not certain he's committed to running, but Ed Rendell pulled of a large miracle in Philadelphia's turnaround. He's a fiscal conservative that understands the need to keep taxes reaonable (he lowered property taxes in PA 30% according to Wiki). I also like some of what Evan Bayh has said and done, but he's too given over to farm subsidies, a form of welfare that I say has seen it's time come and gone.

Pfft, nah- Rendell is sleaze. First, he's no fiscal conservative- he proposed a balanced budget as he was Constitutionally obligated to do and then asked the legislature to vote it down so he could take more time and craft a budget that included large tax increases and growth in spending. The legislature passed his original slashed budget anyhow- so Rendell went on to veto his own budget proposal enabling him to submit a new budget with tax and spending increases.

The legalization of slot gambling was supposed to fund a 30% property tax increase. Well, we have slot gambling.... years later and we're still waiting for the property tax relief.

Finally, he signed the blatantly illegal midnight payraise the the legislature tried to slip by with no debate, literally in the middle of the night.

Sorry for the tirade, I but I wanted to set the record straight. As for the slate of potential Democratic candidates... well it's tough to get excited about any of them- but then Id say the same for the Republican potentials at this point as well.