It is too bad that Bayh and Warner decided not to run

[question everything]

I don't know that I would be voting for either in the primaries, but with prospective candidates dropping right and left because they cannot see themselves compete with Clinton or Obama - we will end up with selecting our candidates by default.

The more candidates there are, the more we can have real debates about the issues that are important, the issues that we want the voters to face, to realize that there are important questions besides abortion and gay marriage.

Neither Clinton nor Obama has declared a candidacy, yet. And we really do not know why they want to be a president and why either should be the one to run this country.

It is too bad that we are being reduced to selecting our candidate based on charisma and on the ability to draw crowds.

[iamjoy]

1. Charisma Matters

like it or not. The candidate will have to reach millions of Americans who will see him (or her) on television and form an impression in mere moments. The voters will not analyze why they like some one, just go with their "gut"

That was Gore's problem. That was Kerry's problem.

People just didn't like them.

[Cha]

7. I liked them..I thought they

had charisma to burn. I'm people.

[question everything]

13. Yes it does. But ideas and track record matter too

at least, I hope so.

Can you see a candidate, say, Obama, wins by charisma alone and then gets the national exposure and have nothing to say except that he loves America?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. Don't worry; Joe Biden is about to throw his hair plugs into the ring.

[Captain Hilts]

6. And his MBNA card. nt

[napi21]

3. Warner is supposed to be reconsidering. n/t

[wisteria]

4. They may have dropped out for other reasons. Not HRC and Obama. n/t

[Captain Hilts]

5. Yes, it is. I like them both. We have a great crop and they would have been good. nt

[Laura PourMeADrink]

8. Not. who needs milquetoast??? Besides, I remember hearing

Bayh on C-Span. A little old lady stood up and said, "What does it matter
if the voting machines are rigged. Democrats can not win."

He replied that he didn't believe that anything nefarious happened. Idiot.

[pstans]

9. What about Feingold?

:shrug:

[question everything]

14. I admit, I am biased toward governors and against senators

at least, in theory.

This is why these are the legislative branch and the executive branch. You need different skills to be one or the other.

And if you were a governor, or a mayor of a big city, a CEO of a company or a general, you have at least had a chance to demonstrate how you set goals, select your resources and utilize them efficiently to achieve your goals. Also, how you react when conditions have changed.

[unkachuck]

10. exactly....

....we need as many candidates as possible all competing for our love and affection....potential money shouldn't be drying up now, it should flowing....

[BluegrassDem]

11. I wish we had many more running

I don't care if they're conservative or progressive Dems. I like to hear ideas. I like to hear the candidates challenge each other on points and debate. I would love to see HRC, Gore, Obama, Clark, Warner, Edwards, Bayh, Vilsack, Richardson and others in the race. I'm probably learning towards Obama right now, but I would love to see others get in and debate ideas back and forth whether I agree with them or not.

[question everything]

15. Thank you. This is the point I was trying to raise (nt)

[Clarkie1]

12. They would not have been competitive with Edwards, Obama, or Hillary.

as well as certain others who have not yet decided.

[FrenchieCat]

16. The media narrows the field to however many "they" feel we should have.....

and this time "they" feel like 4 is more than enough.

These things are too complicated for the mere people to decide......and so "they" are only trying to help us make it easier for us, doncha know? :sarcasm:

[talk hard]

17. they probably just thought they couldn't win

makes sense