What are people thinking when determining who is most qualified to win?

[ginchinchili]

One could very well argue that the world depends on the outcome of this election and nominating the wrong candidate will elect a republican (that's the redundant part). We can't allow the Party to get sucked into focusing on the latest trendy flavor. This election is for keeps.

Obama? Great guy, very intelligent, gave one of the best speeches during the 2004 Democratic Convention, tons of potential, but he doesn't have the experience to be president. He hasn't proved himself yet. We gambled on Iraq and lost. We simply can't afford to take another high-stakes gamble on the future of our country. He may win the nomination. He won't win the presidency.

Half the country doesn't like Hillary now, and in my opinion that's mostly for the wrong reasons. Come election day, she'll be very lucky if 45% of the voting population still likes her. That's not enough to win the election. Given a choice between her and Rudy, or her and an actor who allows voters to pretend he's the 2nd coming of Ronald Reagan, the independents and disillusioned moderate republicans will vote republican. She may win the nomination. Hillary will never be POTUS, though she makes a fine senator.

It will be a brutal battle for any of the other Democratic candidates, but an objective analysis of the field will best favor the chances of Joe Biden. To look at it another way, Biden would have the advantage in the general election because of his thorough understanding of Iraq and the only feasible plan to get us out of there while minimizing the fallout. He also has the honesty and personality that appeals to independents and enough moderate republicans to take the election from the republicans, no matter who they nominate.

It's the Democratic Party faithful who are the problem. They want change so bad that they're ready to throw out the baby with the bath water. What they need to do is want change bad enough to do what it takes to win, or there will be no change.

Democrats are better with ideas; republicans are better at pushing the electorate's emotional buttons primarily using fear. Right now, probably because of 9/11, fear is trumping ideas. It is why Rudy Giuliani will probably win the Republican nomination, because of his perceived roll on 9/11. The Democratic candidate has to convince the voting public that they can keep us safe at least as well as the republican contender, and then take the election from him on ideas, like a viable plan for getting us out of Iraq. The Dems have to be able to look at the big picture and do what it takes to win. For example, there are a lot of voters who support Hillary because they like Bill so much. It would almost be like having Bill Clinton back as president. The problem is, it won't happen. Forget Bill Clinton, or say hello to at least 4 more years with a republican president and at least 4 more years in Iraq.

We've got a winner in Senator Joe Biden. Democrats need to take another look at the Senator and give him the serious consideration he has earned. He's a smart guy, and he's tough. And that's what we need.

[PatSeg]

1. Well said as always

I would try to add to it, but I'd only be redundant.

[jcrew2001]

2. Hillary's 8 years of Senate failure prove she doesn't have the

"experience" to be president in my opinion. She's gone lock-step with Bush's policies. I don't know who she's trying to fool - Democrats or right-wingers. Or maybe both. Isn't it too early for her to triangulate in the primaries.