Hey - how about a different discussion of 2008 Election?

[rosesaylavee]

I would be interested in hearing from DUers what QUALITIES they would like the democratic nominee to have in 2008. Please don't post the names of your favorite candidate - but if you have one in mind, post the qualities, the experiences, the expertise you feel strongly needs to be reflected in our next president.

Peace.

[stellanoir]

1. Honesty, ethics, humor, common sense,

and a deep comprehension and willingness to level with American people of how tragically criminal and corrupt our government has become. Someone who listens to the people rather than the pundits and consultants. Someone who's primary goal is to restore our Constitution instead of bullying the world.

[rosesaylavee]

3. An honest communicator? Yes!

And a protector the constitution - like what a president vows to do when taking office. Yes!!

[rosesaylavee]

Ok. Don't all jump in at once.

Maybe this is too nebulous for most posters - but I will start.

I would like to have a president that has gone to war and knows firsthand the hell it brings to the troops and to the country.

I would like to have a president who can see past party affiliation and choose a cabinet based on ability and expertise rather than cronyism.

I would like candidate who can and will actually talk with voters - town meetings, regularly scheduled television or internet talks about the state of the union.

[Minnesota Libra]

2. I want a candidate that ............

....has had some experience with world leaders and can talk to them as equals. I also want a candidate who has been in a war situation and knows the horrors and will, therefore, try negotiation, negotiation, and more negotiation before sending our young people off to war. I want a candidate who knows the many issues we face today and can deal with more than one of those issues at a time. I want a candidate who knows what it will take to BALANCE A BUDGET, will restore social services for the working person, and not give huge tax breaks to the richest of the rich. In other words I want a candidate who is a leader among leaders and that I can look to with pride. I want my America back!!

[Asgaya Dihi]

4. Awareness

I'm pretty sick of people on both sides trying to convince us that things are fine and will be better if we just give them control. Things aren't fine, the media is dysfunctional, the drug war and other parts of the justice system out of control, living conditions such as crowded or not and poor or not have more to do with your chances of doing time than the crime you commit does.

No, things won't be ok if we just go back to like it was with Clinton, check the rate of prison growth through those years and the racial balance in prison then tell me how good it was. Middle and upper class maybe, but the poor took a beating. We need someone who is aware how badly things are broken and who is looking for solutions. We can do what we've been doing to other nations because we've become so comfortable with doing it to our own. If we don't fix that nothing changes.

[rosesaylavee]

5. Someone not afraid to think and act about what

needs to be done for all the people.

Someone not afraid to alienate those that financed their candidacy - but will do what they think is right.

Someone to address the strong racial inequalities and our shrinking economic base that used to be the middle class.