Need a break from the horror of the Alito nomination? Try this poll.

[saltpoint]

Pretend the primaries are over for 2008 and somehow, Senator Clinton has emerged as the Democrats' nominee. In need of votes, she opts for Bill Richardson as her running mate, hoping to capitalize on his appeal among Hispanic voters and pick up a few more states outwest to bolster the electoral college total.

Her nomination and increasingly conservative posturing on the issues win the disdain of many activists in the party. Reception is lukewarm.

The Republicans meanwhile nominate McCain, although George Allen, backed by the Far Right, makes a strong showing with significant delegate support at the convention. McCain names Allen as his running mate to help secure the southern base and balance the ticket with its two then-highest-profile players.

John McCain at the top is too much for some ultra-conservative Republicans. They've long distrusted his maverick image and are less than enthusiastic about supporting him.

John Edwards finishes third in delegates and is thus denied the nomination owing to well-funded campaigns by Senator Clinton and Al Gore. His recent alliance with Jack Kemp (former HUD Secretary & New York Congressman) bears fruit, and the two hold a press conference to announce that they will run as a third-party ticket to offer American voters a bi-partisan team of problem-solvers. Kemp's HUD experience and Edwards' positions on One America address the growing crisis of American public life as it relates to income, economic democracy, and citizenship. Edwards tops the ticket with Kemp as VP.

Bucking his own expectations, Ralph Nader agrees to head up the Green Party ticket, and names Julian Bond as his running mate. Bond accepts and the two stir controversy by provocative quotations in the media and their campaign receives improved coverage over past Green efforts. A large environmental endowment boosts their campaign kitty.

For which of these tickets for the 2008 presidential election will you vote?

A 5th and 6th choice is offered as well: abstention and Other.

[waiting for hope]

1. I wish Hillary was peeking into

the DU - Please, please, do not hurt the party more by attempting to run! Stay a senator because frankly, I think you'll do anything...i.e. flag burning ban to win a vote and we don't need a pandering to the right wing democrat running - we need to fix our country, not create more problems...

[saltpoint]

2. Oh yes. I agree. I think it would be useful for her to peek into this

site.

And another 'yes' as well to your citing the flag burning ban. That move by Senator Clinton really stunk to high heaven, didn't it?

[waiting for hope]

5. Oh God....it REEKED!

I totally lost any and all respect for her at that moment....total posturing to the right with that move - please, can anyone cite the last time anyone in this country burned a flag because I sure as hell can't - oh, forgot the movie with Micheal Douglas and Annette Bening - The American President, she burned a flag during the 60's and gosh darn it, the President supported it! Ooops, that was Hollywood...my bad...:blush:

[saltpoint]

6. I enjoyed the DOONESBURY series when Trudeau drew the flag

into the script of a Sunday DOONESBURY, and the characters of the strip reminded readers that they would be breaking the law and desecrating the flag if they disposed of the paper.

I don't know any other word for Senator Clinton's stunt with the flag-burning ban than 'grandstanding.' Shame on her.

[waiting for hope]

7. I looked it up - I remember seeing it

then really aged myself ...it first printed in 1989...if no one has really gotten on board with that issue since 1989, then it needs to be dropped...

[BillZBubb]

3. I would vote for the Democratic nominee---unless...

polls were showing that the Edwards ticket had a better chance to win the election. Whichever had the best chance to beat the Repugs would get my vote. I would not splinter votes away from the Democrats in any other situation. A Hillary Clinton running to the right would still be a VAST improvement over any Repug ticket--REPEAT: ANY REPUG TICKET.

[saltpoint]

4. Agree, generally, and yet I wish that she would follow a more

traditionally liberal line.

I would vote for her against any Rethug ticket, as you suggest, but only if there were not a better choice. Edwards-Kemp would make things very interesting.

[saltpoint]

8. This poll kind of assumes that GOP primary voters in the red states will

not warm to Rudy Giuliani and that the same voters in the same states won't number enough to elect dinosaur-brained Sam Brownback.

It's trickier on the Democratic Party side because Senators Feingold and Bayh are off to strong organizational starts, and Al Gore is still persuadable as a possible candidate. I think he would seriously threaten a Senator Clinton candidacy.

The Green Party will continue to grow in the United States, at least I think it will.