I think that Mark Warner is the dark horse of '08

[WI_DEM]

(Yes, I know that we should be concentrating on '06--but just taking a five minute break from stratagizing about '06 to write this).

I think that Former Governor Mark Warner of Virginia will be the dark horse candidate of 2008--or the Jimmy Carter of '08--a one term (constitutionally barred from seeking a second term) Southern Governor who will come out of nowhere to seriously compete for our parties nomination. I say this not as an endorsement of Warner, but as an observation. He was a very popular governor in a red state which seems to be trending purple. He turned the states finances around and from what I understand invested a great deal in education.

He isn't getting as much ink as Hillary or some of the others running for '08 are, but neither did Jimmy Carter in 1974-1975. If Warner scores well in Iowa and New Hampshire, not necessarily win both--he could go into the Southern primaries as a very potent force and then make his stand in the mid-west.

As a General election candidate I think he actually, along with Gen. Clark, would be our best chance because both of them probably could take some "red" states in the south away from the Republicans. I think Warner would be a cinch to win Virginia's 15 electoral votes and possibly another state or two (or more depending on who the GOP nominates) in Dixie and still carry most of the blue states.

Of course it's a long way away and a long road, but I definitely see Warner as one of the key player for '08 and believe he probably will have a place on the '08 ticket.

[Idioteque]

1. Did somebody say dark horse?

Like James K. Polk?

[iconoclastNYC]

2. LOL!!!! Dark horse! Please.

More like Prize Pony.

He's a total DLC tool.

The only way we'll win is to pick a candidate who fires up our base and has cross over appeal to independants. Who builds a huge grass roots movement that generates a groundswell of support. Who will not roll over when they try to steal it again.

This is not Mark Warner. Mark warner appeals to the corporate elements of our party who are the minority and to the people who think that geography trumps all other factors. He'd roll over just like Kerry did.

[WI_DEM]

7. It's just an observation not an endorsement

Actually some feel that he would have more appeal to independents than an out and out liberal would--but you are correct it would remain to be seen if the "grass roots" or progressive left of the party would get enthusiastic about him.

[iconoclastNYC]

10. Ok... but he's not a dark horse.

When you have the DLC backing you your whole career you can hardly be considered a dark horse.

[WI_DEM]

11. I'm not so sure about that

Isn't Hillary the DLC candidate?

[iconoclastNYC]

14. They have 3.

Hillary

Mark Warner

Tom Vilsack

That way if there is no chance that Hillary can win leading up to Iowa and NH and there is a "dangerous" "noisy populist" candidate who doesn't plege fealty to the DLC corporations-first agenda they can get the media push one of thier alternates as the "safe" "electable" anti-(insert populist candidate here) candidate.

This is what happened in 2004. They wanted to stop Dean and they pushed for Kerry. Kerry was DLC at one time tho he isn't anymore probably because anti-DLC sentiment took hold in liberal Mass.

[IndyOp]

3. I do not like Warner at all - he is getting attention for '08, though

Al Franken interviewed him last week and he expressed 'mock surprise' when Franken asked if he was thinking about running in '08.

Warner is not a Democrat, he is Republican-Light --

On Franken, he said that he thought everyone should have health insurance, but rejected a single-payer system (which is the ONLY way to provide insurance to everyone because if we pay the rates of private insurers for health care we will wreck the economy).

Warner -> :thumbsdown: :thumbsdown: :thumbsdown: :thumbsdown: :thumbsdown:

[iconoclastNYC]

5. That was Tim Kaine who responded to the '06 (last) SOTU

[depakid]

9. Warner doesn't sound all that different

We're not talking Mr. charisma here.

[iconoclastNYC]

12. I agree.

Time Kaine came off creepy (that sinister eyebrow! botox that shit into submission), weak, and oddly effeminate in his response. No charisma at all. And he made a big showy gesture of mentioning his religion which came off to me disingenuous.

Dean or Feingold should have done the response.

[IndyOp]

15. Thank you - I've corrected my post...

I don't like Kaine either - Republican-Lite doofus...

[Horse with no Name]

13. I don't like him either

More of the same.
We need a change in DC and the DLC isn't a change.

[Protagoras]

4. Why is he the dark horse? What are his positions?

I see a lot of vague posts about him here and there but I'm always wondering how much is flash and how much is policy substance.

[iconoclastNYC]

8. Go to the DLC's home page

He's one of the DLC's blessed candidates for 2008.... thier Hillary backup. Along with a few others.

He's a corporate agenda ass kisser.

[blm]

6. We'll see during the debates - if he can outdebate the others then he has

a good chance. I just wouldn't personally place money on him outdebating some of the others.

[Avalux]

16. Ugh. I can't stand Warner.

Sorry, but I really can't and I haven't seen anything from him to make me change my mind. :shrug:

[iconoclastNYC]

18. Warner -- the walking epitome of triangulation.

It's the idea that the way to beat the competition is to emulate the competition - move to the center - become Republican lite.

It's the easy way out. Split the difference. Short term gain and long term damage to the brand via alienating your base.

Clinton's triangulation is one of the reasons we lost in 2000. A lot of people didn't vote or voted Green becuase they thought the Democratic party had abandoned them.

It's a hard thing to be brave, stick up for your convictions but maybe if we return to our roots and run a candidate who's not business as usual we'll motivate the 40% of the country that doesn't vote to show up and vote Democratic.

We need to run on the politics of contrast. Nominating a DLC corporations-first candidate is not going to motivate people.

[Avalux]

19. Feingold.

:hi:

[Pithy Cherub]

17. He's a one term technocrat that doesn't endorse:

A single payer health care plan but wants it privatized and turned over to corporations. :puke:

Investigating the reasons or rationale for going into Iraq by the bush administration. :puke:

Censure at the very least for bush & cronies. How very Joementum Lieberman like. :puke:

Warner has a passport and some international business experience. So do I and many other good Americans. He is horribly ill-equipped to discuss the main issues of the day on foreign policy, national security, health care, and a host of other items. But hey, he's more than welcome to try - besides he is going to get special national security tutors and everything. Paging Jon Stewart...