4 years from today Iowa Democrats will begin selecting their nominee. Who would you like to see run?

[Renew Deal]

I'd like to see Maryland governor Martin O'Malley and NY Senator Gillibrand run. I don't know who I would support or even if I would support them, but I'd love to see them give it a shot.

[think]

1. Warren/Grayson 2016

[Scuba]

25. +1

[Sancho]

51. +2

We need some true progressives to run in 2016.

[Sanity Claws]

2. I'd like to see Gov. Christy run

It would be interesting to see his rolls of fat bounce up and down.


yes, I know he's a pub. Just a joke.

[Brother Buzz]

16. I think he should give Dancing with the Stars a shot for name recognition first, just like Newt

[pnwest]

3. HillaryHillaryHillary!!!!!!

[IcyPeas]

56. Hillary

[DJ13]

4. Elizabeth Warren

[Motown_Johnny]

7. +1

[Betty Karlson]

12. Warren-Gillibrand 2016. The dream ticket. (nt)

[TheWraith]

5. Gillibrand all the way.

The only two I could really see getting particularly excited about are her or Bryan Schweitzer.

[Aleric]

6. A liberal. It's been 35 years since they saw one.

I want a liberal. A real liberal. Not a Terry McAuliffe faux-progressive. No more fake "war-heros" like 2004. No more "lesser evils".

I want a liberal.

Bernie Sanders
Alan Grayson
Elizabeth Warren
Dennis Kucinich
John Conyers

[karynnj]

15. Kerry was NOT a fake war hero - the Navy gave him the silver star and a bronze star with valor and

three purple hearts. In addition, he is and was then a liberal Senator. He is likely to the left of Elizabeth Warren, who was a Republican into her thirties. She likely voted for Nixon and Reagan. That said, she is an exceptionally strong person going after corruption - a trait she will share with her Senior Senator, who investigated BCCI for 5 years against the wishes of his party because some Democratic money people were involved.

Bernie Sanders, who is great, is neither a Democrat or a liberal - he is proudly a socialist. Grayson is best known for mouthing off. His campaign ad that distorted his opponent's comment by taking part of a sentence was as ethical as Romney doing it to Obama's comment and the SBVT doing it with JK's Senate testimony. Neither Conyers or Kucinich could be elected state wide, much less nationally.

[Aleric]

20. Whatever...

I don't care what he did in Vietnam. We chose him because we believed he would fight for US and not allow another Florida. Instead he fled the field in Ohio.

As for your analysis of Sanders, Grayson, Conyers and Kucinich; I've heard this crap before. Strategy over integrity. Look at the crap it's given us.

[karynnj]

29. There was no case to be made in Ohio

Unlike in 2000, where there were ballots that could be examined and the possibility of making up the deficit, that was not the case in Ohio. The Republicans prevented many from voting by having to few machines in Democratic strongholds. The estimate of how many votes were lost to that were the majority of votes that led to the RFK jr analysis that Kerry would have won a fair race. You can't contest votes never cast.

Not to mention whether you care or not about what Kerry did in Vietnam, it doesn't make it "fake" - I know his men, who were still there supporting him at a celebration in Boston a little over a year ago and Rassmann, the marine he saved, would strongly disagree with you (Note - if that was what you meant - just say "war hero", not "fake war hero". )

Please tell me how why saying Sanders is a Socialist and who did NOT run as a Democrat is "crap". This and the Kerry comment it seems are simply facts. I strongly contest that Grayson, JUST BECAUSE of the that ad, is a beacon of integrity - while John Kerry's life has been one of integrity. All I said of Conyers, who is quite old anyway, and Kucinich is that they could not win a state wide race much less a national one.

[Aleric]

33. Ok, not fake - Corporatist

After all Vietnam was all about Corporate Interests. Sure, he proved that he could fight for corporate interests in Vietnam and in the Senate. We were foolish for thinking he might fight for citizens' interests.

The Ohio delegation contested the vote in Ohio. The Green Party and Libertarians paid for a recount. Numerous reports of irregularities were filed. They at least TRIED. Kerry fled the field.

The Ohio delegation, the Greens, the Libertarians - at least they TRY. The dems just roll over and roll over and give up before the fight even begins.

Your arguments are not about advancing liberal or progressive or citizens' interests. They are all about advancing the interests of the DLC and their corporate masters.

I'm not interested in the politics of stability. I have more honest political debates with friends & enemies who are conservative and republican than I have with Democrats.

[karynnj]

34. Kerry is not a "corporatist"

He fought for his country in Vietnam, even though he had misgivings. Kerry's 5 year fight against BCCI was one of the best examples there is a single Senator fighting the powers that be.

[stevenleser]

39. Good try, but as soon as that person repeated the Swiftboat smears, I could tell it was a lost cause

unbelievable that the Swiftboat Veterans for Lies appear to have supporters here on DU.

[Aleric]

43. You are mischaracterizing my statements

I don't deny he served in Vietnam. I don't deny he was decorated by the Navy. I don't deny that he took fire, saved lives and served honorably. I only argue that his service in 2004 was dishonorable and severely harmed the peace movement which he coopted for his campaign.

[stevenleser]

44. Understanding the history there with the Swiftboat jerks, why even make that statement where many of

us would be likely to make that connection?

[Aleric]

46. Because, when he was nominated

the buzzz was "...he's a war hero. He'll fight for US. He won't let another Florida happen."

And that's exactly what he did. So when I think of him, that's what I see - A fraud. It's one of a long line of betrayals by Dem leaders that leaves me blind with rage and I mix up my communications.

But maybe that's not a bad thing. The DP has been unable or unwilling to see the growing anger and resentment in its base. It has become increasingly arrogant in chiding us to sit down and behave lest the Republican monsters under our bed get us in the night.

[karynnj]

77. Can you always do everything you sincerely promise to do?

I remember once, years ago, when my husband and I both promised our lovely little daughter that we would go to a children's show she wanted to go to on Saturday. But, the weather did not cooperate and the snow was too high to go out in. She complained - "You promised" and was inconsolable - for an hour or so. We finally convinced her that sometimes you can't do something, no matter how much you try.

There is no one iota of doubt that Kerry worked as hard and well as he could - as did his family and many other Democrats. It was not enough against most of the media, millions in attack ads, the Catholic Church, and lukewarm support from some top Democratic pundits, like Carville and Begala. He wanted to win and ran a good race. People forget that Bush was at 60% in December 2003.

[karynnj]

76. Keep digging - the hole is getting deeper

Kerry ran a high minded campaign - and against incredible odds nearly won. Your argument that he coopted the peace movement is nonsense. He ran on his own values and he was clear that he hoped to start withdrawing troops in 2005 - as he had success in returning Iraq to the Iraqis. You might remember that it was Kerry, with Feingold, who pushed for setting a timeline to get out of Iraq. The Republican Chair of the Armed Services Committee, John Warner, was far better - he debated Kerry on the floor of the Senate. At one point, he praised the way the proposal was crafted, but he thought it was premature and therefore against it. Near the end of the Bush years, Bush was pushed to do just that. That agreement - with Iraq - was the timeline that Obama was able to use for political cover in ending that war. At the time Kerry fought for it, most of the Democrats were extremely displeased and pretty rude to Kerry.

That seems to me more substantial, more intelligent and more committed than most of what you consider the "peace movement".

[karynnj]

50. I did see it as a lost cause, but still thought he needed to be called on it

As he had few posts, I did use search on DU2 and saw that he was (or is posing as) a very far lefty, but there was at least one thread where he took it a bit far, suggesting leaving the election to the Republicans. He also seemed to NOT be a young person. As I don't think he is a troll, I thought calling him on it might (with very low probability) make him think twice before he smears a democrat again.

[DefenseLawyer]

35. There was a lot more going on in Ohio than just too few machines in Cleveland.

A lot more.

[stevenleser]

37. I agree, but was it anything firm enough to be admissible in a hearing or court?

I still believe that Ohio was stolen and have written a dozen or more articles on the subject. However, I don't think there is anything factual enough to make it through a legal process. If you dispute an election, it better be 100% solid or you and your party and backers end up looking like asses.

[karynnj]

52. Likely true, but nothing that could be claimed and examined

before the Ohio delegates to the electoral congress could be named.

Consider that it took two years to prove in court that the NH Republicans interfered with the 2002 Democratic GOTV in the Senate race. Though people went to jail there - it did not happen for at least 3 years and there was not even talk of recalling Sununu who benefited from it. Even after there was a Democratic Governor and Secretary of State, they never brought any big cases against Blackwell. (there were some minor local cases).

As you know, the recount the Greens requested showed nowhere near the numbers needed - as everyone thought to begin with. Recounts don't find 120,000 votes.

[MADem]

59. +1,000 nt

[ellisonz]

75. +2000

I supported Dean in 2004, and still do. But denying that John Kerry served his country honorably in both Vietnam and at home is ignorant.

[Ship of Fools]

8. My vote would be Warren.

[Bluzmann57]

9. The Governor of Montana

Brian Schweitzer is his name. He is a REAL man of the people as he is a farmer and eats at a local diner and so on. His policies aren't bad either.

[Ptah]

18. Keystone XL pipeline permit OK’d for Montana, Gov. Schweitzer says

Keystone XL pipeline permit OK’d for Montana, Gov. Schweitzer says
By Phil Drake on December 16, 2011

http://montana.watchdog.org/2011/12/16/keystone-xl-pipeline-permit-okd-for-montana-governor-says/

By PHIL DRAKE
HELENA –The Keystone XL pipeline will receive a permit from the state of Montana in the next
few weeks allowing it to work on a project that stretches 1,691 miles from Canada to Texas,
bringing nearly $1 billion in construction to Montana and 1,200 jobs once the project clears
federal hurdles, Gov. Brian Schweitzer said.

Schweitzer said Thursday that Keystone’s owners, TransCanada, have fulfilled their obligations
under Montana’s Major Facility Siting Act (MFSA). He said the Montana Department of Environmental
Quality will issue the company its permit for the $7 billion project.

<snio>

The pipeline has met opposition in some states as well. In November, Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman
signed a bill requiring the bill to bypass the state’s Sandhills area.

Schweitzer on Thursday criticized Nebraska for causing delays to the project.

-----------------------------

[TwilightGardener]

26. Schweitzer's state isn't sitting over a crucial water source, like Nebraska is. What an arse.

[Renew Deal]

27. I'd like to see it too

I'm not sure how he would play in a national campaign, but he'd be interesting.

[RC]

10. Someone from the way, far extreme Left. You know the actual political Center, as recognize by

the rest of the world.

This country is so far to the Right, most people in this country have lost sight of where Center really is.
For instance, Obama is not a Liberal at all. He just kinda ran as one. He never governed as one.
But because the Loony Right is defying gravity by being suspending in mid-air off the far right cliffs, anything with ground under it is taken as center or even Liberal.

All it takes anymore, is if you are not within jumping distance of the cliff, you are labeled as a Liberal. We, as a country need to get back to the real Political Center.
It will be a long journey.

[TheWraith]

36. Your statements are full of crap.

"You know the actual political Center, as recognize by the rest of the world."

And for starters, I'm really tired of this collective delusion that somehow it's only America that has a political right-wing, and the rest of the world is universally happy and liberal. It's utter and unremitting bullshit, and it's even more obvious when people here are screaming about conservative government policies in the UK (which even under the "liberals" there is a borderline police state), Italy, Greece, etcetera, when you've got right-wing parties very successfully running on anti-immigrant platforms in many European countries, etcetera. The idea that Europe is so far to the left of the US is simply wrong: their conservatism just manifests in different ways. And thus trying to redefine the left as the center is just the same sort of stupid word games that the right plays.

[RC]

48. You do not get it.

We, as a country are so far to the Right, the Right of center is describe as the Left. I suggest you get our more. You cannot go by political parties, you need to go by actions. The UK, our closest allie is where we are headed.
Don't you read and remember history? As someone else posted here on DU today, the 1956 Republican party platform is to the Left of the Current Democratic Party Platform.

[MADem]

62. Look at France, where Sarkozy was better than LePen!

Talk about "settling" for the best of a bad lot!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/06/marine-le-pen-nicolas-sarkozy

Let's not even get into the royal fucking poor Italy endured at the paws of that asshole Silvio "They're Never Too Young" Berlusconi.

People are morphing an old, no-longer-valid paradigm of Lefty Europe with the continued penchant of Europeans to shit on us while they enthusiastically support our heavy lifting and funding of NATO. We are a handy whipping boy for them, because we're big and we don't get too upset at their carping.

[fredamae]

11. Elizabeth Warren-Ideally a run w/Sanders

But I don't see Sanders as a willing candidate-but Grayson would be a great consideration...

[Renew Deal]

14. Sanders is not a Dem and will be 74 in 2011

[MADem]

64. No--will never happen. Sanders is too old and not a member of our party.

I also think there's a lot of projecting going on with regard to Elizabeth Warren, similar to what I saw when Obama first came to the fore. She's all for fairness, she's no friend to corporate pigs, but she's not going to be the screaming liberal some hope for.

She is a big picture pragmatist who understands that people are hurting, that they deserve priority, but she'll cut her cloth according to the measure.

[closeupready]

13. Andrew Cuomo, Grayson, Sanders, Marcie Kaptur.

Gillibrand, too.

[LonePirate]

19. Not Cuomo. He seems too centrist and too 1% for my tastes.

Your other selections are fine with me even though Sanders is likely too old.

[closeupready]

21. Sanders and likely Kaptur will both be too old, sadly. Cuomo is centrist, but what I like about him

is how he's a bit of a rebel and is willing to anger others in the party if he feels that what he needs to do will serve the interests of those who elected him to office.

I also forgot to name Warren - would love to see her run.

[Renew Deal]

31. I'd like to see Cuomo run

Though it would be hard to see two tough NYers running against each other.

[A Simple Game]

60. Cuomo is half Republican. Check his record.

Your the second one to mention Gillibrand, what has she done to cause the excitement?

[closeupready]

67. She's changed direction a lot since being appointed by the former governor.

A Democrat from red upstate, she's become really blue. And selfishly, she's mirrors my opinions on just about every major issue, except her disappointing support for the NDAA.

[A Simple Game]

68. Glad to hear she's doing so well, I need to pay more attention.

I live in upstate New York, we aren't all that red anymore. Certainly not a deep blue, but we are gaining.

Thanks for the info.

[yurbud]

17. any candidate progressives like will get the ''Dean Scream'' treatment or worse

much like the treatment of Ron Paul on the Republican side. In 2008, he was not invited to a debate even though Giuliani, who had less than half Paul's support, was.

The financial elite and their marketing machine and media will decide whether our choices will be Coke or Diet Coke, and it's going to take a herculean effort to get anything else.

[Aleric]

22. Giving up already?

No fight left in this party is there?

[yurbud]

49. I'm not giving up, just accurately gauging the difficulty of doing it within the party

Dean was taken out with ridicule. He was lucky he didn't get the RFK treatment.

[karynnj]

55. You do remember that the Dean scream occured after he lost by 20% to Kerry in Iowa!

Had the Dean scream NOT been manipulated to have happened, the lead stories out of Iowa would be a surprise (to the pundits) Kerry win and a very bad showing by the presumed front runner, Dean.

Dean had already lost some support in NH to Clark, who later was imploding himself - leaving a large undecided pool in NH. Most had already had a positive impression of Kerry, but the media spoke of him only when asking when he would drop out. The Iowa win gave Kerry the momentum to win NH, where he had been in high single digits behind Dean. Looking at the sequential polls, it is not because Dean hemorrhaged support, but rather that Kerry got most of the undecided.

This year, the media was not bad in its coverage of Ron Paul. Not to mention, more coverage in his case was not all positve. It put a spotlight on his bad points too.

[RandySF]

23. I think it depends on the 2012 election.

If Obama is reelected, the Democratic nominee will likely be a sacrificial lamb. If Obama is NOT, then I would like to see Brian Schweitzer, Andrew Cuomo, Sherrod Brown, John Lynch or Howard Dean.

[Renew Deal]

28. John Lynch?

Who is that?

I don't think Dean is running for any more offices. He is getting older and seems to enjoy his TV role. He's also a good candidate for a cabinet spot.

[LongTomH]

54. If Mr. Obama is NOT reelected, 2016 is a moot point.

The Republicans will have absolute control of the White House and the Supreme Court, and probably the Congress. And, they will most likely have control over the voting apparatus in enough states to guarantee them control of government for decades.

I know the Republican constituency is old, and dying out. But, they can still gain, and keep control.

2012 is the pivotal year. If we lose this year, we lose the country for the rest of our lifetimes.

[PADemD]

24. Martin O'Malley and Elizabeth Warren

[exboyfil]

30. Al Franken?

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

32. Susan Sarandon

"History has tried to teach us that we can't have good government under politicians.  Now, to go and stick one at the very head of government couldn’t be wise." - Mark Twain

[oberliner]

38. Has it come to this?

Looking ahead to four years from now?

[TheWraith]

40. It's these threads that remind me how much of DU is completely out of touch.

No offense intended, but you have to have spent far, far too much time in the internet echo chamber to believe for a split second that Grayson, Sanders, Warren, Kaptur, or the like could be a serious presidential candidate.

[Poll_Blind]

41. You know, it wasn't all that long ago that people were saying Obama wasn't a serious candidate.

And we voted him in. We can vote anyone in if we have the numbers. It's not so much about the candidate as the mood of the nation.

PB

[Renew Deal]

42. This is a positive thread about who people would like to see run.

I didn't ask "who do you think will win?" That's a much different question. I have pointed out that some candidates may be too old, but that's not really an attack.

[think]

53. I remember hearing that about some other guy. Hmm. What was his name?

Barack Obama!

[stevenleser]

45. I'd like to see someone progressive enough to unite DU behind them, but electable enough to win.

I haven't figured out who that is yet...

[Aleric]

47. To dream the impossible dream...

Ah, why not. Add it to the list.

[AtomicKitten]

57. Elizabeth Warren.

[WCGreen]

58. If he wins reelection.... Sherrod Brown

[rucky]

61. +1

[justiceischeap]

63. I'd like to see Elliot Spitzer or Rachel run but it's not gonna happen. nt

[madinmaryland]

72. Spitzer has a weiner problem. nt

[bluestate10]

65. You listed my two favorites. Also, the Governor of Washington State. nt

[Thrill]

66. I think its going to be Warner

He has the money. And he's quietly building the voting record Liberal Democrats will be okay with

[Joe the Revelator]

69. Mark Warner....For the win.

[FSogol]

70. Martin O'Malley. n/t

[madinmaryland]

71. Martin O'Malley of course.

[RBInMaine]

73. Brian Schweitzer. He's the man !

[ecstatic]

74. Dean/ Grayson (hopefully with more discipline this time around)

Don't give the RW media ammo!