President 2008 - YOUR Candidate(s)?

Bluehawk · 10-23-2005, 18:58

Okay, it is not too soon to begin thinking, and talking, about who any of us have in mind for someone who might be a decent candidate for POTUS come 2008... as things stand today.

So, list your one or more likely candidates, from either party or no party.

Here are my three most likely preferences (in no particular order):

~ Rudy Giuliani

~ Jeb Bush

~ Colin Powell

- - - - - - - -

Frist? - fuggedabowdit, he's a doctor
Rodham? - surely you jest, best way to get rednecks to vote
Obama? - when he publically disavows Jesse Rainbow Jackson and Minister Farrakhan
Bayh? - maybe
Lott? - not a chance
Rice? - she needs to return to a college campus, and find a husband (or other), nice new hairstyle
McCain? - the time has passed
Kerry? - get serious
Edwards? - cute kid, reminds me of Quayle
Jackson? - best way to give the election to the Republican party
Nader? - please retire and write more books (see also Jackson and Perot)
Sharpton? - very funny, and very scary
Lieberman? - his election would ensure more domestic terrorism
Forbes? - nice tax plan, what else ya got
Kucinich? - I'm happy he has a wife now, someone to talk to
Moseley-Braun? - see also Obama, Jackson, Sharpton and Perot, and southern etiquette
Gore? - maybe for Secretary of the Interior
Perot? - he doesn't need us anymore
Clarke? - oh yes, Vets are gonna LOVE that candidacy

DocDiggs · 10-23-2005, 20:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluehawk

Okay, it is not too soon to begin thinking, and talking, about who any of us have in mind for someone who might be a decent candidate for POTUS come 2008... as things stand today.

So, list your one or more likely candidates, from either party or no party.

Here are my three most likely preferences (in no particular order):

~ Rudy Giuliani

~ Jeb Bush

~ Colin Powell

- - - - - - - -

Frist? - fuggedabowdit, he's a doctor
Rodham? - surely you jest, best way to get rednecks to vote
Obama? - when he publically disavows Jesse Rainbow Jackson and Minister Farrakhan
Bayh? - maybe
Lott? - not a chance
Rice? - she needs to return to a college campus, and find a husband (or other), nice new hairstyle
McCain? - the time has passed
Kerry? - get serious
Edwards? - cute kid, reminds me of Quayle
Jackson? - best way to give the election to the Republican party
Nader? - please retire and write more books (see also Jackson and Perot)
Sharpton? - very funny, and very scary
Lieberman? - his election would ensure more domestic terrorism
Forbes? - nice tax plan, what else ya got
Kucinich? - I'm happy he has a wife now, someone to talk to
Moseley-Braun? - see also Obama, Jackson, Sharpton and Perot, and southern etiquette
Gore? - maybe for Secretary of the Interior
Perot? - he doesn't need us anymore
Clarke? - oh yes, Vets are gonna LOVE that candidacy

Baby Bush???!! NO WAY! Pullllleeze....

I'm curious as to why you lump Obama in w/ Jackson and Sharpton. Those two are true foul balls, but Obama has the potential to be a presidential great, but like a good bottle of wine, he needs to age a bit. There aren't many politicians I have any respect for, but he's an exception with a whole lotta potential. My Q is...is he native born? I know his dad is an immigrant. If Obama is not native born, he can't be pres anyhow.

Snowden · 10-23-2005, 20:47

I think I could vote for Rudy Giuliani. Or Colin Powell, but I doubt he will run.

McCain? Why has the time passed?

Bluehawk · 10-24-2005, 06:46

- I put Obama in with other Black activists because he would be hard pressed to denounce the Black Caucus, for any reason, ever. He is welcome to prove me wrong, at any time now or in the future. I agree that he is very bright, exceptionally so. Time will tell.

- McCain... this is a sadder story, that did not need to happen. There are about 20,000,000 veterans in America today... quite possibly the largest single voting bloc in existence, should they ever care to vote as one.

What defeated Kerry was not George Bush, it was Kerry's military record and conduct following his service... rightly or wrongly perceived.

For similar reasons, Wesley Clarke will never get closer than he already has to the White House... veterans, especially officers who served with him, in a very large percentage cannot stand the sight of him; to say nothing of his politics.

For better or worse, there is an extremely strong sentiment that Senator McCain has not been as devoted to the war effort as he could and might have been expected to be, given his family and military history. That sentiment will work against him in primary elections, and could cost him the presidency. I regret having to say that because I had a lot of hope lodged in him for a long time... and I do not necessarily agree with those other opinions, but they exist and are not isolated. However, if the election comes down to McCain vs Rodham, then McCain will win.

DocDiggs · 10-24-2005, 13:18

Let me relate a bit of an experience that I had back when Bush/McCain were heading for the primaries back, lo those many years ago. I am a political Centrist, no more enamored by the far Left than I am by the far Right. While I have not voted Repub for awhile, I was very seriously considering McCain as a viable candidate for me. I was staying in Myrtle Beach, SC, over that late Winter and Spring and got two "phone list" calls from Bush campaign people trying to pump folks up on Bush's behalf for the SC primary. Both were women.

I told the first caller that I did not live in SC and that I was likely to go McCain anyhow. After a momentary pause, she angrily called me a bas*ard and shouted for me to go to h*ell.

Two or three days later I got a second call re the same primary stuff...vote for Bush, etc. Again I simply told the woman that if I voted Repub, it would be for McCain. This fine Southern Lady then informed me that I was a sonuvabit*h and a bas*ard. I guess illegitimate birth must be fairly common in SC.

Needless to say, I could in no way justifyto myself voting for Bush. While I realized that these two women probably (hopefully?) did not represent the general Bush stance and attitude toward those that were not going to vote for him, they very definitely further soured my feelings about the man.

I still believe that McCain was the most viable candidate at the time. I also think it quite probable that had McCain been the Repub candidate that there would have been no Florida episode and the national vote would have quite possibly been resoundingly Republican. I also firmly believe, with no "proof" of course as we will never know...that under McCain there would be no Iraq war, or if there were, it would have been fought by a knowledgable pres with a military background. I don't believe for a second that we would still be dribbling about in there now w/o the personnel required to do the job effectively. Nor do I believe that we would be spazing about on the choices of SC judges and so on.

When 9/11 happened, I told Snow that despite the fact that I did not like Bush and didn't believe he had any idea of what he was doing, that I would support him in the effort that our nation needed to make as a result. My comment was that I would give him my support unless he showed that he was incapable of dealing with it in a constructive, efficient manner. I will leave it with this.... He, in my opinion and evaluation, failed at the job, not only as a fighter of terrorists and all that entails, he has involved us in a war he falsely declared over when it had actually just begun. We are losing our military and destroying our various state's Nat'l Guard units. The admin has proven incapable not only of carring out disaster relief, but also of even planning for it. I'm not talking of the local/state/fed response chain, I';m speaking of basic planning...the same planning that would be required if we did get hit with a suitcase nuke, or a massive subway bombing or whatever. A monster weather disaster certainly ranks at that same level whether it be Katrina or a 7 foot blizzard of snow across 8 states in the Mid-west.

No, I cannot support Bush and quite honestly, I no longer see anything that actracts me toward the political right-of-center. I am aware that these comments would prove incendiary to many here in TP, but that's what I believe at this point in time. It might have been different. ...and for moi, it's non-negotiable just as dedicated Bush support is to many here.

As to the '08 election, Obama is too young and needs more experience in the Senate. Yes he is Black as are Jackson and that other dude, Shartpton, but what does it accomplish if these men are ignored by those who may actually have the power and authority to influence them? We cannot eliminate problems simply by criticising or ignoring them. Sharpton was born rabid. You may recall the incident quite a number of years ago that he contrived about a Black girl being raped in the restroom of a train. It never happened and the truth of that came out several years later. He's a shameless, racist radical.

On the otherhand, back when Jackson was being considered for the Dem presidential primaries many years ago, he gave one of the most powerful and inspiriring speeches I have ever heard. Sadly, he has been on a slide since then. He's chosen the wrong road in his quest for history.

For 2008? I don't see much out there that is viable at tis time. It would be wrong for the Dems to run Clinton then, and it would be wrong for the Repubs to run Rice. It is my feeling that Clinton would be sliced, diced, and fried simply because she is Bill Clinton's wife. She would actually quite likely be a good pres and I don't believe she is the rad she is often made out to be altho' I would not be surprised if there were at least some residue of ill-feelings toward the neo-cons that attempted to deep-six her husband. I see her as a strong, intelligent woman who can get things done. ...and that's NOT a politically based assessment. I could not vote for Rice because of the nature of her relationship with Bush. I simply do not trust her, and to me, trust is very important. McClain? Dunno. He's getting up there in years and has earned his kudos in the Senate.

It is apparent to me as an individual that whomever is our next pres must bring the nation back on keel...back from the far right end of the political continuum and closer to the center...a bit to one side or the other...of American life and expectations. We need a return to a strong peace, a return from war and destruction. It's time to deal with our own nation...our own people...a time to meet the very real needs of our poor and under educated...a time to restablish pride in the People and caring for each other.

Woodmonkey · 10-24-2005, 13:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by DocDiggs

While I realized that these two women probably (hopefully?) did not represent the general Bush stance and attitude toward those that were not going to vote for him, they very definitely further soured my feelings about the man.

Of course they didn't. They were either fanactical Bush supporters (and fanatics don't think whether liberal or conservative). That would turn anyone off.

Quote:

I am aware that these comments would prove incendiary to many here in TP, but that's what I believe at this point in time.

You don't understand us in here, Doc or you wouldn't say this. That statement of your beliefs, stated in that manner is in no way incendiary in Pads.

I agree with much of what you said, and disagree with other parts.

McCain is the man I wanted for President.