The 2008 Presidential Election

[sophia jane]

It's a rare day that I start a political thread, but the election possibilities have been on my mind lately, and I'm dying for some discussion on it.
Who do you think will run for each party? Who do you think is the best candidate for each, regardless of electability? And what kind of outcome do you think we're looking at?

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

It's a rare day that I start a political thread, but the election possibilities have been on my mind lately, and I'm dying for some discussion on it.
Who do you think will run for each party? Who do you think is the best candidate for each, regardless of electability? And what kind of outcome do you think we're looking at?

It's really too early to tell. The front runners are, of course, Hillary Clinton and John McCain. But a lot can happen in two years so my money is still in my hip pocket.

 

[arienette]

I want Hillary, but that is only based on the sole fact that I am a Feminist and think that it would be a monumental step in the right direction regarding females as well as African Americans stepping into the White House.

 

[sophia jane]

It's really too early to tell. The front runners are, of course, Hillary Clinton and John McCain. But a lot can happen in two years so my money is still in my hip pocket.

Oh, I know it's way too early, but any viable candidate is going to look like an option early on, just for the sake of name recognition.

Ari-I'd love Hilary, too, but I don't think she could win. And the smear campaign against her would be brutal.

Personally, I think the most winnable Republican candidate is Guiliani. Anyone at all associated with the current presidency doesn't stand a chance, in my opinion anyway. So, of course, I'd love it if they ran Cheney. He's sure to lose.

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

Oh, I know it's way too early, but any viable candidate is going to look like an option early on, just for the sake of name recognition.

Ari-I'd love Hilary, too, but I don't think she could win. And the smear campaign against her would be brutal.

Personally, I think the most winnable Republican candidate is Guiliani. Anyone at all associated with the current presidency doesn't stand a chance, in my opinion anyway. So, of course, I'd love it if they ran Cheney. He's sure to lose.

Chaney won't run. He has a fat job waiting for him at Haliburton and he's too old to do the campaign thing.

Guilani is not a member of the "in crowd". I do think he would be a good candidate, but wouldn't win.

Hillary has two insurmountable problems: Bill and Sex. On the other hand, it appears she will have the money to run - $300 millions was the last I heard.

Al Gore isn't really a viable candidate, in my opinion. He's already a three time loser.

John Kerry is already running but he just doesn't look presidential.

I'm thinking someone will come up from a State Governor's mansion - unfortunately another Regan or some such.

 

[arienette]

Chaney won't run. He has a fat job waiting for him at Haliburton and he's too old to do the campaign thing.

Guilani is not a member of the "in crowd". I do think he would be a good candidate, but wouldn't win.

Hillary has two insurmountable problems: Bill and Sex. On the other hand, it appears she will have the money to run - $300 millions was the last I heard.

Al Gore isn't really a viable candidate, in my opinion. He's already a three time loser.

John Kerry is already running but he just doesn't look presidential.

I'm thinking someone will come up from a State Governor's mansion - unfortunately another Regan or some such.

I voted for John Kerry in the last one. I was so happy because I turned 18 on Election Day and it was my birthday wish to vote. I'm a nerd, I know this. Haha. So I registered in advance and got to vote and I was a happy girl. In fact, I still wear my Kerry/Edwards shirt. However, I won't vote for him again, the whole reason I did was because it was a lesser of two evils thing. I do really want Hillary, though...

 

[Guest]

I think Jenny is right. The 2008 candidates are not yet household names.

Sophia's right about Hilary. It would galvanize the Right too much.

McCain might have been acceptable once to both sides. But he started losing his trademarked backbone when he let Rove & Company's whisper campaign go unchecked after he beat W in the 2000 New Hampshire primaries. To then carry water for W and curry favor from the Conservative Christians he once regarded as dangerous, sealed his fate. He's now just another politician. He showed signs recently of reversing course when he stood up on the torture issue, then he caved completely.

Gore & Kerry--the Rovian smear machine has forever neutered them. Too bad.

Has Rovian Politics lowered politics to a level no competent, intelligent person would want to serve the nation?

 

[Zeb_Carter]

But Hillary doesn't care about America except as a way to gain power.

 

[Guest]

But Hillary doesn't care about America except as a way to gain power.

As opposed to the warm, fuzzy feelings of public service engendered by Cheney/Bush/Rove?

 

[Zeb_Carter]

As opposed to the warm, fuzzy feelings of public service engendered by Cheney/Bush/Rove?

That's not what I said.

 

[Guest]

That's not what I said.

Note the question mark.

Politics has always been about power. You just hope you get someone wanting to wield power for the greater good, and not desiring to suck power totally away from everyone else.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Note the question mark.

Politics has always been about power. You just hope you get someone wanting to wield power for the greater good, and not desiring to suck power totally away from everyone else.

And all I know is SHE could give a crap about the greater good!

 

[Guest]

And all I know is SHE could give a crap about the greater good!

I disagree, but I'm not going to get into a yelling match over it. The Clinton's inspire incredible pavlovian responses from some. There's no reasoning on the topic.

I hoping the Dem's can find someone other than Hilary. She has too many who already hate her. This country desperately needs someone to bring them together. Half this country thinks the other half are idiots. That isn't healthy.

I'm not including you in this, but for the Limbaugh's of the world, I think Hilary and Bill represent the kids at the popular table that used to stuff them into lockers.

 

[sophia jane]

And all I know is SHE could give a crap about the greater good!

And you know this, how??

The candidate I want most for the Dems would never win, and that's Russ Feingold. Of all the politicians I've paid attention to in recent years, he's the most focused on the greater good you guys are talking about. He doesn't toe the line for popularity's sake.

 

[kbate]

The Democrats have a good option in former Virginia Governor Mark Warner - Rich as a lord, not too controversial, decent looking and not yet owned by George Soros - as are too many of the Democrats. Weakness is that he isn't nationally known as of yet.

Hillary has a massive campaign bank account - nearly 50 million. But she loses any woman who listened to her lying during the Lewinsky scandal - she loses every single republican and near republican vote and she loses most moderates (and anyone who read her books).

Kerry will run - but going back to a loser is never a great idea. The war is the only thing that can turn Kerry from a loser into a potential winner.

**

The Republicans have a worse problem.

McCain can't hope to carry the right - he has sold out too many times (campaign finance etc...) He is bought and paid for by Andrew McKelvey and George Soros - and that makes him less than viable. He can run a good starter campaign, but when his backers come into scrutiny - he loses his appeal to the mainstream conservative.

Rice - has a shot - but America is not ready for a woman president, much less a black woman president. She would be a good running mate for any ticket.

Rudy - I look for him to be the leader into the primaries. Just a good image and can possibly carry a few eastern states otherwise forfeited to the Democrats. He can probably survive most of the scandal and come out appearing leaderly.

****

Independents/Libertarians:

Hopefully will not run Michael Badnarik again - and choose someone with an American/Anglo sounding name. We are not ready for a president with a foreign name.

Hopefully, they will choose someone whose ears are not 8 feet wide also - Perot? give me a break.

anyway - look for a better showing - but still no hope here.

***

that's all...

 

[CharleyH]

It's really too early to tell. The front runners are, of course, Hillary Clinton and John McCain. But a lot can happen in two years so my money is still in my hip pocket.

I follow a little American politics and think Hillary Clinton could save the US in many ways. I had NO IDEA she was on or even close to a ticket? Tell me more?

 

[cantdog]

Hillary hasaptained an entire wing of the Dems for years, Charley. She has enormous clout. No Dem can go on the ticket without her people's support. I think you all underestimate the Chairman. He has been consolidating. He has a better record on Iraq by a factor of two than that ass Kerry, who backs it.

 

[jeninflorida]

It's really too early to tell. The front runners are, of course, Hillary Clinton and John McCain. But a lot can happen in two years so my money is still in my hip pocket.

If hillary doesn't win in the states, i hear that she will try to run in France...

 

[Guest]

The Democrats have a good option in former Virginia Governor Mark Warner - Rich as a lord, not too controversial, decent looking and not yet owned by George Soros - as are too many of the Democrats. Weakness is that he isn't nationally known as of yet.

Warner might not even win his relection as Senator. He's been hamstringed by some charges of racism. He's in quite a fight. If he loses his reelection, it may just hamstring his Presidential ambitions.

 

[jeninflorida]

I agree, on the dem side they have mastered the spin....i.e. all the troubles with billie.....need someone that can bring poeple together. with kerry and bush, america was torn...go with the devil you know or the flake you dont know.

as you can see, i have zero respect for anyone in washington

here is what cracks me up, kerry's wife was running around talking about car pooling and all that crap, yet she has some 3 suv's, a jet, and some five homes. i'm fine with the fact she has all those things, but it drives me nuts with her and most politions being hypocrites.

I disagree, but I'm not going to get into a yelling match over it. The Clinton's inspire incredible pavlovian responses from some. There's no reasoning on the topic.

I hoping the Dem's can find someone other than Hilary. She has too many who already hate her. This country desperately needs someone to bring them together. Half this country thinks the other half are idiots. That isn't healthy.

I'm not including you in this, but for the Limbaugh's of the world, I think Hilary and Bill represent the kids at the popular table that used to stuff them into lockers.

 

[CharleyH]

Hillary hasaptained an entire wing of the Dems for years, Charley. She has enormous clout. No Dem can go on the ticket without her people's support. I think you all underestimate the Chairman. He has been consolidating. He has a better record on Iraq by a factor of two than that ass Kerry, who backs it.

I am not sure I understand my friend. I know she has a lot of clout, what do you mean about the chairman? EDIT TO ADD: What is your feeling about Hillary Clinton FOR President?

 

[jeninflorida]

As opposed to the warm, fuzzy feelings of public service engendered by Cheney/Bush/Rove?

well, buish and boys could alwasy invade america next.....

 

[rgraham666]

well, buish and boys could alwasy invade america next.....

Why invade a country you already control?

I have no idea who the candidates will be. I just hope it is someone who can calm things down and draw the majority of the American people, most of whom are quite moderate and balanced in their political stance, back together.

I don't want the history I'm writing of the Second American Civil War to come true.

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

I am not sure I understand my friend. I know she has a lot of clout, what do you mean about the chairman? EDIT TO ADD: What is your feeling about Hillary Clinton FOR President?

Charley,

Hillary Clinton is a big time U.S. Senator from New York State. She has a lot of friends in high places and currently about $50 millions in the bank to run. With Bill raising money for her like he's doing now, the estimate is she will have something like $300 millions by the 2008 primary elections.

As a candidate, Hillary has inherited Bill Clinton's entire political machine. She has funding, backing from the Democratic aristocracy and friends on the inside in Washington.

She appears to be a viable candidate, assuming she can team with a viable running mate. However, I still remember the Farro race. That raises the question - is the U.S. Ready for a woman president? I have my doubts.

Edit: What's really needed in the U.S. right now is a candidate that can pull the two sides together. This country is so divided/polarized that will take someone with the carisma of JFK and the dollars to back him up.

 

[jeninflorida]

okay the invasion thing was a bad joke on my part, i do wonder how close we came to taking on Iran or south korea (before iraq went to hell)? what a mess...

will the main topics be who is the bigger scum bag or someone with good ideas?

i.e. paying less taxes
moving to a new fuel source and not purchasing oil from the middle east
creating some form of immigration - make borrow an idea from canada as they have a good plan for labor workers.

terrorism....

Why invade a country you already control?

I have no idea who the candidates will be. I just hope it is someone who can calm things down and draw the majority of the American people, most of whom are quite moderate and balanced in their political stance, back together.

I don't want the history I'm writing of the Second American Civil War to come true.