Which candidate would, as prez, do the best job of herding the cats?

[Doctor_J]

Which of the three main candidates would have the best chance of getting his/her agenda passed, assuming slim (D) majorities in the house and Senate? We need to not only take the WH, but use the next four years to purge the government of everything that's happened over the last 8. Which one is likely to get the backing of the yellow dogs, blue dogs, AND the base?

[plusfiftyfive]

1. Obama

No question....sense and sensibility, compassion, and command for the speaker's podium......

Romney, (yeeucch) has those skills, too, but sadly he has no brain nor any conscience.

Obama, inspired speaker, compassionate liberal, sensible economist, and brave sensible leader of armed forces.

No one else projects what Obama does when he opens his mouth........my opinion only!

[mentalsolstice]

2. Well, I know Hillary was good at keeping Socks in line!

We stood at the iron fence behind the WH one evening, and called for Socks for about an hour. He never came, however, some SS told us to move on. So, I'll credit HRC with keeping the kitty in his place.

[aquart]

5. A gratuitous sneer of no value whatsoever.

[mentalsolstice]

8. Actually, I like her

I'm towards HRC, if Gore doesn't jump in (and I don't think he will). My comment wasn't gratuitous, just funny...you need to lighten up.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted sub-thread

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[illinoisprogressive]

4. Obama has coattails and support of indies and disillussioned moderate republicans.

he brings the broad based appeal that encompasses many unlikely groups and is bringing in new democrats away from the gop. the old reagan dems are coming back with Obama.
he has energized the young like no one since jfk.
and he would have the coattails that hillary does not.
Alot of democratic prospects are turning down running in purple and red districts because they cannot win if Hillary is the nominee.
he also doesn't have alllllllll those skeletons that Hillary does and all that baggage. Nor would his spouse be on a bimbo exoplosion watch like her husband is with the press.
So, republicans would be willing to work to pass Obama's agenda with all of this following him into the white house.
Plus he is already very well liked by both sides in the senate now. republicans have helped him get legislation in and passed in the gop held senate.

[plusfiftyfive]

7. Can't do much better than that ...

for only so few yrs in the US Senate!

I agree, and I am particularly impressed by the independents and moderate Repubs who support Obama, or at least look at him favorably!

[TwilightGardener]

6. Obama--he'll get the most cooperation from both sides of the aisle.

[seasat]

9. Richardson, He's got executive experience and legislative experience

He was deputy whip while in the house and was credited with helping get Clinton's tax increase on the wealthy through the house. He's negotiated with some pretty rough characters but has never had to give up the farm to get his diplomatic objectives met. He's a governor of a former red state that got a medical marijuana bill through the legislature and passed several civil rights bills for GLBT. He also got through an extremely progressive green house gas reduction act in a state that has major oil and gas businesses.

He has real strong appeal to independents. He's draws much of his support from the independent vote in some of the polls in NH and Iowa. That means that he has cross over appeal.

After Richardson, I'd rank Obama and Clinton next as far as getting an agenda passed. They both have strong records of working with the opposition. Obama especially has a great way of expressing liberal ideas in a manner that appeals to even conservatives. Clinton has some of the best political skills and is great at networking. However, I worry that she would compromise too much and dilute progressive goals.

[jillan]

10. Both Biden and Dodd have track records of getting legislation

passed through a divided Congress.

What legislation has Obama, Hillary or Edwards gotten passed?

[AtomicKitten]

11. Obama -- and he's got a record to back it up.

[jillan]

12. what legislation has he proposed and gotten passed?

educate me!

[AtomicKitten]

14. While in the Illinois State Senate --

edited for link: http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2007/07/29/us/politics/20070730_OBAMA_GRAPHIC.html

[AtomicKitten]

15. a synopsis of his entire legislative record --

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post_group/1000AmericansforObama/CHjY

[jillan]

16. The only 2 bills I saw that he got passed were ones he signed onto.

One with Lugar and one with Coburn.

Your link also talks about a bill that he signed onto that was sponsored by McCain that even the Repugs voted against.

Still waiting to be impressed

[AtomicKitten]

17. you're moving the goalposts

It isn't my brief to impress you; better look to someone else for that fetch quest.

Obama works well with others -- that was the point of the OP.

[jillan]

18. It's not you that I am waiting to impress me - lol -

I'm waiting for Obama.

[AtomicKitten]

19. there seems to be a lot of that kind of malaise going around

I could say that I'm waiting to be impressed by YOUR CANDIDATE, but that would be snarky.

Tit-for-tat isn't all it's cracked up to be.

[dorktv]

13. Hillary manages to make everyone mad and still get support from

people so I would say her.