I have to say that I'm seeing a lot of political dynamism emerging in our party leadership, folks.

[Guaranteed]

Our individual leaders each have their drawbacks, but I feel like, as a party, we're really starting to come together.

There's Barack Obama, the fresh face, the new kid on the block, with his charismatic speaking style and poise. He's going to be great in motivating minorities to vote, and he's already showing much of the Big Dawg's political instinct.

Then we have Gen. Wesley Clark, whose military and foreign policy experience is invaluable in addressing the mess that we now find ourselves in, thanks to the Bush Administration. Also a Southerner, he will be a great asset in making inroads against the Repuke southern strategy.

There's also John Edwards, the economic populist. Much like Obama and Clark, his charisma and Southern charm are great for motivating the grassroots and bringing new people into the party.

We also have John Kerry, who has been there for us for so long, a solid, proven progressive, a renewed fighter, with the intelligence and political experience to move our country and party forward.

Even Charlie Rangel is coming onto the scene now, injecting a fresh and badly needed perspective into the ongoing Iraq travesty.

And who could forget Al Gore, the rogue non-politician- at least for now- with his executive experience and imagination and courage to speak on it.

And Howard Dean, his personal strength and will always so reliable, and with his common sense policies and personal sincerity.

Hillary Clinton is not without her strengths, either- she is a clear leader, a familiar face, the wife of a well-loved man who has taken on much of his political cageyness. Even she will bring positive things to the table.

That's not all of them, either.

Looking at these leaders together, I have an awful lot of hope. We've weathered the storm. I think that if we can only work together, the future of our party and country is bright, indeed.

It's Morning in America.

[waiting for hope]

1. Bravo!

Thanks - we all tend to get caught up on who are our favorites. BTW - don't forget Jim Webb! He rocked the other day and it's refreshing to hear him described as not going to be your usual politician.

[Guaranteed]

2. Absolutely. I'm impressed with him already.

It's great to see someone come right out of the block- he's not even sworn in yet!- with such courage and energy.

I think that if we put forward a bold, visionary agenda, the American people could really get behind our party's leadership.

[waiting for hope]

4. I can't wait to see

what Tester does - he also seems to be a "not the usual" politician either.

[Guaranteed]

7. And McCaskill- all new blood, ready to go.

Our party has learned quite a bit, and adjusted.

I think we were, in fact, given a mandate of sorts this electoin, by virtue of the fact that there is just a lot of work we need to do. We have a real opportunity here. I don't think the Dems should sit back and wait for things to happen. We have a very weak opposing President. We could make serious progress if we put in the energy. The people are just waiting.

[More Than A Feeling]

3. Meanwhile, the Republican Party has a sorry lot.

McCain's too old, not to mention a two-faced elitist.

Giuliani has a ton of baggage, of the kind that social conservatives will hate.

Willard Romney is a opportunistic flip-flopper, not to mention a lot of evangelicals won't vote for a Mormon. He couldn't even install his lieutenant governor as his successor.

The rest are even more pathetic.

[Guaranteed]

8. They certainly do. Stale, and beholden to interests that have been thoroughly

rebuked.

[carolinayellowdog]

5. Don't forget Jim Webb!

He has already shown his mettle and will do so many times between now and the end of Bushco.

[janx]

6. Heavy hitters, for sure! n/t

[AtomicKitten]

9. The Rs are scared, claiming the Dems have nothing.

They sound like girlie-men to me.

[Guaranteed]

10. The country has just shaken them off. It's our turn now.

There is really a lot of good that we could do, now- starting with a REAL alternative energy plan to retool our society and wean ourselves off of foreign oil once and for all. If the Dems took that up as a rallying cry, I think the voters would appreciate it.

[AtomicKitten]

11. this could be perfect timing for Al Gore -- and combating global warming

:)

[Guaranteed]

12. Jerry McNerney could help, as well- Richard Pombo's replacement.

He was in the alternative energy business.

[ripple]

13. Well said! Let's keep a few intact, shall we?

I think the thing that bothers me most is that some seem to be impervious to the fact that the person they are trashing might very well wind up on the same ticket with the person they support.

You make a great point and that is indeed a fine list of candidates!

Definitely worth a recommendation!

:yourock:

[Guaranteed]

14. Yeah, you know I'm not even really talking about 2008 so much.

I'm really talking about how our party is evolving, and, oddly, I'm thinking about what we could do in the next two years. If we get going on this and start addressing some real issues, and allow the voters to get behind our party's leadership, they'll be more likely to reward us in 2008.

[ripple]

15. Well, that's a good mesage, too

Because your post mentioned most of the field of potential candidates for 2008, I assumed it was directed at the negativity we've seen here about possible 2008 candidates.

I'm a regular CSPAN viewer and I have no qualms with contacting a legislator to ask them why they voted a certain way, request that they reconsider a position, investigate a questionable activity, etc. I support the leadership you mentioned and I'm exhilarated and optimistic about the next couple of years- that's definitely a refreshing feeling after the dark tunnel of the past six years! Sorry I misinterpreted your point, as it is indeed an excellent one. We need to support and communicate with the people who are representing us right now, rather than assuming it will all take care of itself while we wait for the rest of our nation's future to happen.

Ok, now that we have that all straightened out, who do you like for 2008? :P

[The Magistrate]

16. People With Power, Sir, Behave Differently Than People Without It

It si the circumstance, not the person, who is changed.

A great deal of the criticism levelled at Democratic political figures over the past few years has really been little but demands they behave as if they had power when they did not, and complaints that they would not do what they could not do.

[Guaranteed]

17. They certainly do, and I understand your point, but I don't think

it does justice to how the Democrats have adapted to the changing political circumstances over the past few years. Whereas their approach for so long was timid, I think that they have now tempered themselves, so to speak, mentally, to be much more aggressive. The political climate subsequently changed, in large part, due to that adaptation. Yes, I agree that we had high expectations of them way back when in demanding that they mount a stronger opposition to the Bush Administration, but I'm not even sure that we expected them to produce immediately results. We only wanted them to open up a political dialogue to create an atmosphere much like the one we saw in the election.

But your point is valid in that the fruits of that adaptation have led to further- circumstantial- opportunities. Perhaps not so oddly, those opportunities really are yet more opportunities for growth on the Democrats' part. Before, due to their lack of power, they were forced to yell from the sidelines. Now, given new power, they can make positive changes. This gives a new light with which to view the Democrats, but it will also require further mental adaptation on their part.

My hope is that, mandate or not (which I happen to believe that we do have, despite the fact that we didn't run on many of these ideas), the Dems will take a good look around, pick out some of those very serious problems confronting our country and address them. I have a lot of hope that they will.

[lyonn]

24. Timid Dems not showing stronger opposition to repub

legislation and Judicial nominees. Alito for one. If there was ever a time to filibuster he was reason enough! Those were truly dark days. Sept. 11th did something to the American psychic that is hard to truly understand, so many crumpled under bush's rants and irrational statements about the risk to America. The first few months after we had reason to be a bit radical and had a reason to march into Afghanistan. Bush was pumped with power, the supreme bully and way too many fell for it.

What a thrill to know that America woke up and realized they had been snookered.

[Guaranteed]

18. Kick nt

[BrotherBuzz]

19. Don't forget the quiet ones in the background making the magic happen, too

Henry Waxman comes to mind...

[Doctor_J]

20. The Cabal News/Hate Radio era has ended, and the GOP is

left with nothing but a bunch of lying, hypocritical cowards with nowhere to hide. We may have cut out this cancer in time to make The American Century last another 50 years or so.

[Withywindle]

21. Kick - thank you for saying this!

We have a damn deep talent pool.

I know you're talking in a much broader sense than just the '08 race - but one thing I hate about the pre-primary sniping is I don't can't stand this shouting about how some people "shouldn't run" for whatever reason. Too old, too young. Too inexperienced/too overexposed and washed out. Too obscure. Too rich/not enough money. Too Southern/too Yankee. Too slick/not slick enough. Too conservative, too far left. Too black/female/Jewish/Christian/whitebread. Feh to all of that! I think whoever wants to run should. I think we'll hash it out in the primaries, and every single person has something to contribute to the debate. That's democracy!

I also think there's a way to fight passionately for the candidate one prefers without buying into or perpetrating vicious soundbite smears of other candidates.

[JNelson6563]

22. We've got a lot going for us!

Nice post! :toast: :hi:

Julie

[Guaranteed]

23. Kick nt

[calimary]

25. Yep. We do INDEED have bench strength.

And I hope we make use of it.

[seabeyond]

26. yup yup yup ... i like your thinking. and you are right, not even close

to being all of them. i am excited. and i heard kerry in an interview with wolfie today, and he let kerry talk somewhat (when e interupted was like he wanted to say, see i know too) and it was not aggressive attack style questions. kerry was allowed to show and express our plans as democrats for iraq. then when another dem was brought up to contradict kerry, kerry was able to not beat up the dem, but express it in a way that though he may see another way, what biden says is not out there or wrong per se.

all in all, ... i like what i am seeing

[CTyankee]

27. "Even she will bring positive things to the table."

The only woman on the list and you treat her with such a left handed compliment! WOW. I didn't think I would see such mysogny on a progressive website.

Where are the other women? Where's Nancy Pelosi and Barbara Boxer?

It's amazing to me that no one else has picked up on this. I am very disappointed (but, sadly, not completely surprised).

[happydreams]

28. Diversity is cool, not divisive.

Goosestepping is out of fashion.

You gotta admit that the Simian King has helped them with his utter lunacy. Most people, except 40 year old Cheetos eating zipperheads living with their parents, don't like a lunatic for president.

[tsuki]

29. I can't wait for John Conyers to snatch the gavel from ol' Tex

Senselessbrenner.