As of now, what is your primary action plan, other than Hillary?

[merrily]

Last edited Mon Apr 27, 2015, 02:54 AM - Edit history (3)

1. Sanders


He says he will run if he sees support. Some are posting that they will support him if declares. That is circular. If someone wants to support him, this seems to be the time.

Also, supporting him now may help him raise money with larger donors. Borrowing a truth from EMILY's List, Early Money Is Like Yeast. It makes the dough rise.

His website gives you a way to contribute and ways to take action.

https://berniesanders.com/

If you imagine any scenario under which you might support Sanders, this is the time to start.


2. O'Malley.


Pretty much the same thing as Bernie. He seems willing to run, if his "exploration" gives him the notion he can manage it.

Early Money Is Like Yeast. It makes the dough rise.

His website: http://martinomalley.com/

O'Malley has some strong supporters on this site. However, there are also some who see him as corporatist and/or a stalking horse or potential Vice Presidential candidate for Hillary. Or someone who is getting himself known nationally for a future run. On the bright side, he has seen the populist movement (the one that supposedly doesn't exist outside DU) and he will feel the pressure of it as he runs, just as Hillary obviously does. He is already a Democrat and does not have to fight the Democratic Socialist label. I have no clue what his chances are of defeating Hillary in a primary. I don't think they are either zero or 100%, though.


3. Warren.


Unlike Sanders and O'Malley, Warren has not announced even exploration. She has no website of her own at which to donate. Other websites are collecting money for her for the purpose of getting her to run. If they fail in that effort, they can keep the money. In fact, if they succeed in that effort, they can keep the money.

By this point, I feel confident in saying that she knows she has enough support among voters to run. I think she may have been convinced that, if she runs, she will help pave the way for a Republican President. Whether I am correct or not, I don't think donating to a draft Warren effort or volunteering for one at this juncture serves any productive purpose for me or for Warren.



I will go with Bernie, at least at this point. It may not be a practical choice, but I've made very practical primary choices in the past. I think his voice is important and, for me, right now, that is enough. If he drops out, that will be the time for me to re-calibrate.


How about you? Any response is fine, of course, but I will greatly appreciate at least a sentence or two beyond a name--and "I can't say yet" is a perfectly fine answer. It would have been mine this morning.



Chafee

Recently turned Democratic, then announced he might run. Backed by Obama (kinda sorta) when he ran for Governor. Voted against the Iraq War while a US Senator and makes an anti-Iraq war case, which appeals to me. I'm still going with Bernie, though.



Jim Webb

Another one I forgot in the first version of this OP. I cannot even pretend to be neutral about this one. Reagan. Sexism. On the plus side, he's good on the veterans issue. I hate war, but I also hate using up people in wars and then leaving them to cope with their physical and psychological wounds on their own. (I believe in a war tax, which tax should include every cost of war, including caring for veterans, as every society should. Then, maybe we'd have fewer wars.)