Should RFK Jr. "wait his turn" or run for President NOW?

[RFKJrNews]

"The most important thing about John F. Kennedy is that he always thought he was going to die young. He could not wait his turn. And he didn't wait his turn. He got the presidency at a very young age. He didn't think he was going to be around at an old age."

-- Richard Reeves, JFK Biographer
__________________________________________________________________

Just curious what DU'ers think on this...

Should Bobby Jr. "wait his turn" and bide a few years of his time in the Senate or the governor's seat of NY before attempting a presidential bid? Or should he go for it now?

How important is congressional experience to you in choosing a presidential candidate?

Given the public's low opinion of our Congress, is being a Senator or Representative still considered a plus to voters? Or a minus?

Do you think of our elected representatives as Washington insiders and do you trust them?

Or do you think it is time to elect a President who is *not* a Washington insider?

If RFK Jr. were appointed (in 2009), then elected (in 2010) Senator from New York, do you believe that he could get much accomplished, given the lack of a majority for many of the key issues he would try to push legislation for?

How about Governor of NY State? Do you believe that gubernatorial experience makes for a more effective president? (Remember, George W. Bush was governor of Texas for 6 years. This didn't seem to improve his governing skills, however.):)

Do you think that Bobby should wait four more years to run for the White House? Or do you think his time is NOW? If so, why?

Please share your wisdom. Am very interested to know your thoughts.




* SIGN THE PETITION to draft Robert F. Kennedy Jr. into the race for the White House!
http://RFKin2008.com

[dailykoff]

1. The time is now

for all these reasons and more. Hillary will get ugly but who cares. Neither of the top contenders have completed a single term in the senate so it's not like he'd be outgunned on experience.

[MADem]

2. He shouldn't run. He's got plenty on his plate as is.

Frankly, if he had the stomach for elective politics, he'd be a second or third term senator by now.

He doesn't have the taste. And you do need it to do it.

[DaveinMD]

3. I think

he's going to run for the Senate very soon.

[aquart]

4. Gosh. This is becoming ridiculous.

We have magnificent candidates. Pick one.

It's the Republicans who should be talking like this.

[dailykoff]

5. Magnificent veep candidates.

Sorry, that's just my impression. I don't think any of them can win.

[DaveinMD]

7. most of them

can win and one of them should if they run a good campaign.

[silverweb]

6. Does he WANT to run?

I have not seen any indication whatsoever that he is even inclined to want the job.

Why would you push an unwilling person?

Maybe he'd be happier and more effective as EPA head or something similar in a Democratic administration. Maybe he's happy with his life just as it is.

Why not ask HIM what HE wants to do instead of trying to "draft" him?

[RFKJrNews]

11. Yes, he does

Silverweb, he *has* expressed interest in running.

Headline; "At This Point, I Would Run" Says Bobby Kennedy Jr.

See story here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3445543&mesg_id=3445543

Nobody has any interest in making Bobby do anything he does not want to do. As if we could...he is man with an iron will of his own.

However, we *can* show our support with a petition drive.

So can you.

* Please SIGN THE PETITION to draft RFK Jr. into the race for the White house at http://RFKin2008.com

[silverweb]

14. Thanks for the update.

I'll read the other thread you provided the link for after work, since I missed that one somehow.

:thumbsup:

[MuseRider]

8. Whatever he wants to do.

I could never imagine taking on something like that unless you really really wanted it.

If he wants to run now then he should jump on in. It would be nice to have a couple of actual liberals running. God knows we need them.

[splat]

9. That old heroin guilty plea could be a problem n/t

[Ninja Jordan]

10. RFK Jr.'s voice condition prevents him from ever becoming a realistic presidential candidate.

[RFKJrNews]

13. Folks, you're not answering the question

The question (re-read the OP) is:

"Should Bobby Kennedy Jr. "wait his turn" as a Senator or Governor, or should he run for the Presidency NOW?"

I asked some thought-provoking questions above in the OP and was hoping for some thoughtful answers. Presumably because there are so many thoughtful, savvy and wise political observers here at DU.

so where are the thinking people tonight? Can ANYONE give honest and thoughtful replies to the question?

If he should wait, WHY should he wait?
If he should run now, WHY should he run now?

So far few of the answers here have *anything* to do with the original question I'm asking.

Again, I'm not asking what you think of his voice or his past. I want to know what you think of his future political possibilities.




* Please SIGN THE PETITION to draft RFK Jr. into the race for the White House! http://RFKin2008.com

[Ninja Jordan]

18. But "his future political possibilities" are directly related to his "voice."

[RFKJrNews]

24. NinjaJordan, you're still not answering the question

His voice would likely be an obstacle to overcome in ANY race, whether for NY Governor, Senator, or President of the United States.

Again, I'm not asking what you think of his voice. We can start another thread about that some time if it is a big deal.

Right now the question is "should he run for Senator, Governor, or President" and WHY?

I think it's safe to say he is seriously thinking about running for one of the above, so which should it be?



* Please SIGN THE PETITION to draft Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to run for President. http://RFKin2008.com

[ben_meyers]

12. Whether he should or shouldn't is up to him

But I see 2 major problems

1. Right or wrong he will be visited with the "sins" of the entire Kennedy clan, including his own.

2. Again Right or wrong, his spasmodic dysphonia will hurt him in this media driven environment. His voice disorder is incurable and can become even worse with the stress and fatigue of a campaign.

Please don't tell me that it shouldn't make any difference, I know that, but it would.

[RFKJrNews]

15. Duly noted, but would you mind answering the original question, please?

Of course Bobby will ultimately decide what is best for him. But I also know he is interested in what the people think.

Just doing a bit of market research here at DU...

Now if somebody, anybody will *please* answer the original question, maybe we'd get somewhere...




* please SIGN THE PETITION to draft RFK Jr. into the race for the White House. http://RFKin2008.com

[ben_meyers]

16. Okay, He should "wait his turn"

until the factors I cited are no longer relevant.

[WCGreen]

17. Put him in chanrge of the EPA....

That is what he is known fore...

That is where he can excell...

[Colobo]

19. President Obama should have RFK in his Cabinet.

[dailykoff]

20. I think he should run NOW as the peace candidate.

I don't see anyone besides Kucinich taking on the war directly and nobody making it their main issue.

Second, environment, third, labor, fourth, salvaging the economy.

Advantages: no compromised track record of sucking up to corporations and other special interests, distinguished family including Ted who could campaign for him.

Let's go already! :thumbsup:

[Manifestor_of_Light]

21. And he's an expert on election fraud.

He's one of the counsel on the cui bono lawsuit (sealed by the gov't) over election fraud and Diebold and such.

[dailykoff]

29. Absolutely! He should hammer that one home

and hard. As an outsider he has the advantage on all these issues because he hasn't compromised himself with bad votes. Also he has his own money so he won't be groveling before every PAC on the pike like a certain ex-president's wife.

[RFKJrNews]

32. RFK would fight like hell if the election were stolen again

Required reading for every informed voter:

"WAS THE 2004 ELECTION STOLEN?"
By Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/10432334/was_the_2004_election_stolen


* Please SIGN THE PETITION to draft RFK Jr. for President!
http://RFKin2008.com

[Yukari Yakumo]

22. No way, not now.

He'd get royally stomped on by nearly everyone. He's never held a political office of any kind. If he wants the job, he should at least try for a House seat or a mayorship first. Maybe a Governorship or a Senate job a little later.

[RFKJrNews]

25. can you do a little better than that, please?

Ok, so your feeling is that he should "wait his turn" and go for Senate seat or governorship first.

Could you please tell us why you feel that way?

After all, isn't he going to get "stomped royally" for ANY elected office he runs for, in your opinion?







* Please SIGN THE PETITION to draft RFK Jr. into the race for the White House! http://RFKin2008.com

[MonkeyFunk]

23. he should run now

and get trounced in the primaries so we can put an end to this silly notion that he's presidential material.

[smalll]

26. No he shouldn't. What makes you assume he HAS some kind of "turn" coming to him?

Talk about your knee-jerk dynasticism. (And I'm a Hillary supporter here!)

[RFKJrNews]

27. No assumption, just reporting the facts

Bobby Kennedy has already said he is seriously considering a run for either NY Senate, the Governorship of NY State, or perhaps even the presidency someday. Perhaps sooner than we think.

That has been reported widely and discussed at some length here on DU as of late. (see link to thread above)

The question, AGAIN (whew, how many times do I have to ask this?)is:
"Which office should he run for and why?"

It's fairly simple, really. But it is not multiple choice or a Y/N. It is an essay question, meaning you have to think a little and be able to articulate an intelligent, reasoned answer.

If that is difficult for you, I do sympathize. But if you are unable to contribute something meaningful to the discussion or answer the question, perhaps your time would be better served posting on one of the many "I love Hillary" threads here at DU...:)

[orleans]

28. i've changed my mind--i don't think he could ever be president & here's why

i just looked him up on wikipedia and found this:
"In 1983, he was arrested in a Rapid City South Dakota Airport for heroin possession. A search of his carry-on bag uncovered 183 milligrams of heroin.<2> Upon entering a plea of guilty, Kennedy, then 30 years old, was sentenced to two years probation, periodic tests for drug use, treatment by joining Narcotics Anonymous, and 1,500 hours of community service by Presiding Judge Marshall P. Young.<3>"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_F._Kennedy,_Jr.#_note-1

busted for heroin? pled guilty?

forget it.

i hate to say it because a couple months ago i posted something here about him, wishing he and gore would share a ticket.

but i didn't recall this little tidbit.

it'll never happen now. (too bad)

[RFKJrNews]

30. Maybe I should try talking a bit slower...

OK, one more time...the original question was not about his heroin bust 25 years ago. (Incidentally, that was *cleared* from his record after he completed the community service/rehab).

If you are interested in talking about that, here's an open thread which goes into that subject at some length. You can post there:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3445543&mesg_id=3445543

The past drug issue will be a factor in ANY race he runs, whether for Governor, Senator or President. That being said and understood...

The question posed in *this* thread is: "do you think RFK Jr. should run for NY Governor, Senator, or President, and why/why not?"

Please re-read the original post if you are unclear on the question.

Anybody out there able to articulate an informed, honest answer?



* Please SIGN THE PETITION to draft Robert F. Kennedy Jr. into the race for the White House!
http://RFKin2008.com

[orleans]

38. maybe ... i ... should ... write ... a ... bit ... slower ... for ... you...

since you're being so condescending in your response to me

i gave you the answer as to whether or not i think he should run -- especially for the white house. maybe...i...need...to...repeat...it...?

busted for heroin? pled guilty?

forget it.

i hate to say it because a couple months ago i posted something here about him, wishing he and gore would share a ticket.

but i didn't recall this little tidbit.

it'll never happen now. (too bad)


why do you feel you have to be so condescending in your response to my post JUST BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T LIKE IT? OR YOU DISAGREE?

if you don't want other people's opinions, don't start a thread asking for them.

and welcome to du.

[Name removed]

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[DU GrovelBot]

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[RFKJrNews]

34. I'd love to help DU

and am seriously considering donating during the pledge drive.

But I must say I've been stunned by the lack of replies responsive to the original question. Still searching for signs of intelligent life in the DU universe to convince me that DU is the "thinking Democrat's" place to be on the web, before shelling out my hard earned cash...

I know there are a lot of smart people here at DU. Would love to hear their input on an important and earnest question, which is:

Of the 3 offices mentioned (NY governor, NY senator or president), which one should RFK Jr. run for, and why?

[H2O Man]

35. Zero chance

of his running. Zero.

[Totally Committed]

36. I think Bobby should run, naysayers and skeptics be damned!

He is the perfect antidote to the wishy-washy, corrupted-by-special-interests, mealy-mouthed, middle-of-the-road, "bi-partisan" bullsh*t Democrats we mostly have running now. At present, only Kucinich and Gravel are the only ones not cow-towing to the sacred cow of Centrism. Bobby would be a fresh voice!

He says what he means and means what he says -- and he does it with fire and passion. It's far more important to me than what his voice SOUNDS like, fercripessake. If you want to elect a candidate on sheer superficiality, Mitt Romney is you man! ------ perfect hair, good voice, handsome face, expensive clothes --- perfection like a Ken Doll. But, if you care more about the message and the integrity of the man than a lilttle scratchiness in his voice --- Bobby Kennedy is great.

He also, I won't lie, could have a problem with the drug thing in his past. His record has been expunged, but the Repubs will bring it up. So what? Bush had a Coke problem, and was an active drunk until (he says) he was 40. I'm willing to go nose-to-nose with any Republicans on that. We should ALL be prepared, no matter who we support, to defend them agains these character attacks. None of them is perfect, but the Republicans are even LESS perfect, and we need to have the clarity of purpose it will take to be ready.

But, those things aside, Bobby speaks about the corruption of both Parties. He is an anti-corporatist. He is an environmentalist. He's an honest-to-God LIBERAL. And he seems to be fearless about it. His absolute honesty is refreshing.

No candidate is perfect. Some are absolutely no-gos for me. Bobby is an excellent fit, and I would welcome his run. WELCOME IT. We need him, and those like him if we are ever going to take this Party back from the ooshy-gooshy center.

TC

[Totally Committed]

37. Kick for the morning crowd

:kick:

TC