posted on March 5, 2003 02:55:15 PM new
In November 2004, I will be voting ABB (Anybody But Bush.) But I'd really like the Democratic party to get its %$@# act together and nominate someone who is worth voting for. Of the nine that have announced, I personally like our own Bob Graham the most, but it's going to take a lot to boost him out in front of the pack. I'm not really sure he'll be able to do it and I'd frankly rather see him hang on to Florida's Senate seat. If he vacates it, the two odds-on favorites to replace him are both pretty-faced GOP whackadoos.
Dean's intriguing - gutsy as all get-out - but I'm not sure I like his fiscal policies. Lieberman scares the heck out of me from a civil libertarian standpoint - he's awful. With the exception of Sharpton (a joke) the others are so terribly bland. Of the current pack, I guess I like Mosely-Braun the best (after Graham.) But I'm afraid she doesn't have much more of a shot than my dear Sen. Bob.
There are a few people who aren't in the race that could come in with enough steam to power them ahead. Love her or hate her, Hillary Clinton is definitely blessed with name recognition. And I really like Gary Locke, the governor of Washington.
Anybody else out there worth a look?
[ edited by msincognito on Mar 5, 2003 02:55 PM ]
posted on March 5, 2003 04:09:20 PM new
General Wesley K. Clark is often mentioned. I don't know enough about him, beyond his military experience, to form an opinion. The last I knew he was still non-commital and his chances of getting sufficient backing early-on would be a long-shot. If I watched CNN much, I might have been able to form a more definite opinion of him, but I don't.
posted on March 5, 2003 04:44:18 PM new
They should ask John McCain
"Beware the leader who bangs the drums of war in order to whip the citizenry into a patriotic fervor, for patriotism is indeed a double-edged sword. It both emboldens the blood, just as it narrows the mind. And when the drums of war have reached a fever pitch and the blood boils with hate and the mind has closed, the leader will have no need in seizing the rights of the citizenry. Rather, the citizenry, infused with fear and blinded by patriotism, will offer up all of their rights unto the leader and gladly so. How do I know? For this is what I have done. And I am Caesar."
- Julius Caesar
[ edited by mlecher on Mar 5, 2003 04:48 PM ]
[ edited by mlecher on Mar 5, 2003 04:48 PM ]
posted on March 5, 2003 05:23:14 PM new
Last I heard, he wasn't a Democrat, and thus would not be eligible for Democratic Party nomination. Alas. (Not!)
Actually, I want Josiah Bartlet - and so do a lot of other people, apparently. I got a "Bartlet for America" T-shirt for Christmas, and I always get so many comments (all positive, most quite wistful) when I wear it.
And before anyone asks, no, I have no idea where to find another one. My brother got it in a D.C. store, and it looks nothing like any of the ones I've seen on the Web, so it's probably a bootleg.
I've lived in Cleveland all my life and he's been a great "for the people" Congressman. He squashed the oil companies gouging gasoline prices after 911. So far, as Congressman, he's done exactly as he said he'd do. When he became Mayor of Cleveland, he didn't stand a chance. He was replacing a corrupt office and had to work with the former mayor's staff who were anything but cooperative.
But, he lacks the funds to run right now. We're hoping to raise some so that he can.
posted on March 6, 2003 09:58:22 AM newCheryl, I had forgotten about him. Anyone who puts links to polka, bowling (with a carefully compiled list of all the alleys in the 10th Congressional District) and kielbasa (despite the fact that he's a vegan) on their official Congressional web page has gotta be reasonably cool.
posted on March 6, 2003 11:24:55 AM new
What I like about him is that he is very down to earth. He understands what the homeless endure (he's been there himself), he strongly believes in human rights issues, and he actually answers my emails (or at least someone does). I've gotten letters in the mail actually signed by him in response to emails I have sent. I reported a gas station for price gouging during 911 and he actually worked to get them to either cease or he would close them down. He works hard for PEOPLE. Seeing that he has no money, he's not in anyone's back pocket and I can't picture him letting himself get to that point. He is cool. AND he opposes the war! Read this:
posted on March 6, 2003 11:53:33 AM new
Certainly McCain or most of the Democrats would be much, much better than this inept clown that we currently have ruining things. I oppose any of those far-Right Democrats, Like Leiberman who supports school vouchers and other cockamamie schemes thought up by the Republicans. The Democratic Party has a Grass Roots problem, that is, they need to figure who they are and just what they are there to accomplish -- besides having a career taking bribes (notice how short that's becoming for them?)
