Do You Think The Best Man Will Win The Nomination?

[THUNDER HANDS]

You know the old saying, "may the best man win", well I was wondering if that applies to this primary.

Do you think the best Democrat is going to come out on top in this race.

Do you trust the footsoldier Democrats who brave snow, rain, cold and other obstacles to show up at the polls and actually pick the best person to lead our party.

Yes or No?

[in_cog_ni_to]

1. The Media will choose. n/t

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

yup

Anyone they don't want will be trashed mercilessly, and half of the trashing will be utter lies.

[tridim]

2. It depends who wins

I'll give you my answer in a few weeks. "Best man" is also a bit subjective.

[THUNDER HANDS]

5. so what you're saying is 'no'

basically what I was looking for was if people are thinking that if they're candidate didn't win, then their candidate wasn't the best man.

I wonder what the supporters of those who ran against Clinton in 1991 thought of their candidates. I'm sure they thought 'their guy' was the best man for the job.

Turns out Clinton was.

And at this point in 1991, Clinton sure wasn't many people's pick as the best man.

So, to me, even though I'm for Kerry, if Edwards wins the nomination I think he's the best man for the job.

Or Dean, or Clark.

Ect, ect.

I have faith in the democratic party and it's base.

[mohc]

3. No...

...I chose not to run ;)

[jmaier]

4. Possibly not.

The best positioned primary candidate isn't inherently the best opposition to Bush.

I think that as a general rule, the media is going to favor the polished professional, Washington politicians because, to some extent, they belong to the same club. They co-mingle at the same events, dine in the same restaurants, feed each other's careers with news leaks for positive coverage, etc.

An outsider campaign is good for some short-term press buzz but it doesn't bode well for the long-term co-dependent, power relationship.

[HazMat]

18. that makes no sense

since it wasn't the media that took down Dean, it was the people of Iowa.

If it was up to the media Dean would've been the nominee: it would've given them a more 'wacky', 'colorful', 'fiery' candidate who would've been more interesting to cover. Beating Bush is not their concern - ratings are. Kerry is boring for them so they buried him alive. Thank goodness the people of Iowa decided on what was important to them -- unseating the chimp.

[rtassi]

22. Which brings us to

a point, that I feel has been often lacking in these threads that I have been reading for weeks. (I without a doubt think Bush should be gone) however; How compromised is even the best democrat? Won't he have the same special interests to repay for the campaign funding? Won't he have the same military industrial complex to contend with? Won't he be relegated to being an agent to big business like his predecessors? You could make a "Won't he" list a mile long. The emotional loyalties to one candidate or another, and the in-fighting that ensues would indicate to me at least, that the entire process is not being viewed objectively. It's flaws lie in our belief that one man is significantly better, and then able to do something the other can't.

[OneBlueSky]

6. to me, the best man we could have run has always been . . .

Gary Hart . . . unfortunately, he chose not to go for it, and I think that was an unfortunate decision . . . were he in the race, I think he'd be at or near the top right now, and a real contender for the nomination . . .

of the declared candidates, I'm putting my support behind John Kerry, primarily because of his sterling voting record . . . I'll support whomever the nominee is, however, and wouldn't be at all displeased if it was Wesley Clark . . . as for the other, I just don't see any of them beating Bush . . . national security is just too important an issue following 9/11, and candidates without significant foreign policy and/or military experience will be at a disadvantage, imo . . . Kerry's 19 years on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee establish his bona fides in this area; the military service is just a nice ancillary asset . . .

[Democrats unite]

7. If it is Kerry, we will be dead in the water

& it will be time to move to canada.

[BootinUp]

9. Unfortunately I agree

I see no reason for anyone to believe Kerry can defeat Bush other than blind loyalism.

[LBJBestEver]

12. The Newsweek poll for one thing

Have any Dem candidates ever been polled actually BEATING Bush? Kerry is the first. And it's JANUARY.

[BootinUp]

13. Before he is a target of the bushies

and really before Bush is actively campaigning. Besides this is not strong evidence of anything. It is one poll only.

Instead I rely on election history and other signs of the political climate. If there are many polls in agreement then of course I take that into consideration as well.

[LBJBestEver]

14. To say "you see no reason why Kerry has any chance" is just ignorant.

It's sour grapes. Grow up.

[BootinUp]

16. Sorry

I simply do not see anything special about John Kerry that would enable him to defeat the incumbent.

[LBJBestEver]

20. I like all the candidates until I come to this message board

Then I tend to dislike candidates like Clark and Dean, because of their supporters. I hope you don't continue to bash Kerry if he is the nominee.

[in_cog_ni_to]

23. THIS is why he won't win.

He's a member of the Skull and Bones.

He voted FOR the IWR.

He voted for "The Patriot Act.

He's a member of the Skull and Bones.

He voted FOR the IWR.

He voted for "The Patriot Act.

He's a member of the Skull and Bones.

He voted FOR the IWR.

He voted for "The Patriot Act.

He's a member of the Skull and Bones.

He voted FOR the IWR.

He voted for "The Patriot Act.

He's a member of the Skull and Bones.

He voted FOR the IWR.

He voted for "The Patriot Act.

He's a member of the Skull and Bones.

He voted FOR the IWR.

He voted for "The Patriot Act.

[THUNDER HANDS]

10. you know it's not really necessary

To attack someone out of the blue. All our candidates are fine and we should all be thankful our crop is strong this year.

[CWebster]

8. Probably not

but hey, that'll mean that the best man won't win in the general either.

[democratreformed]

11. I hear too much about the "best campaign" and the "best organization"

More and more, I am coming to see this as a contest to find out who plays the game better. To me, that does not indicate that the best man will win.

Edit: Oh yeah, and I forgot this one: "the most money".

[Rowdyboy]

15. No, Bob Graham already dropped out

[pinto]

17. there's an argument to be made that the 1st - 2nd delegate counts would

make a good "ticket" and have broad support to defeat the evil empire...


ed spell

[ThirdWheelLegend]

19. Will polls money and media coverage win? Or integrity and vision?

TWL

[diamondsoul]

21. No, and may you cry the tears I cry

today because you asked me to say that. I trust ONE man. There aren't enough of us who do to make it count, and for that....I am truly sick, physically and figuratively. I'm ashamed of my country.