I had an interesting talk with other Dems today

[LittleClarkie]

We meet for breakfast every month to talk politics and hopefully, as we get closer to the mid-terms, plan. There was someone who is on a local school board, the membership chairman of the county party, another chairperson, and a couple other people who've tried off and on to run for office, plus people like me who've just gotten involved more lately. 8 in all.

One of the questions asked of us all was who we wanted in 2008.

3 Hillary
1 Feingold
1 Richardson
1 Kerry (gee, I wonder who that was)
1 looking for a dark horse, Vilsack from Iowa possibly.

The three who wanted Hillary gave their reasons thusly:
"It's time for a woman president"
"She's a strong woman"
"She will push for progressive values."

Some said that it would have to be a Governor, not a Senator. One or two thought it would be cool to have Bill in the White House again

Three voiced strong opposition to her, saying:
"She has corruption in her background. After Abramoff and Delay, people are going to be sick of that sort of thing"
"Iraq will be a big issue by then. She's too strong in her support of the war."
"I think she's too conservative to get through the primaries."

The one looking for a dark horse was a Vet for Kerry, got to meet him, got an autograph copy of his book, and was generally very involved in the Kerry campaign. But as a Vietnam vet, he feels mightily let down by the Swift Boat incident and Kerry's response. So, even though he feels much loyalty to Kerry, he's looking to Vilsack or someone like him.

The one who supported Richardson hadn't heard about the coin scandal, and so said he'd have to have a re-think.

I pumped one guy who seemed close to the Bryan Kennedy campaign for info, as I know I'm not alone in wanting to get Sensenbrenner out of the House. He seemed confident that Kennedy is within striking distance, and that Sensenbrenner was going to be damaged by his opposition to the Katrina Bill, or at least they were going to make sure people heard about it again and again during the campaign.

Otherwise, we just had a good time talking to fellow Dems, since most of us are in Sensenbrenner's district, and so don't have too many Dems in our lives. Hopefully we are forming relationships that will help us later as we campaign.

[Donkeykick]

1. I wouldn't...

be surprised to see her run as vice-president; however, president would be even better.:headbang:

[FlemingsGhost]

2. Are you sure you weren't at a DLC "strategy" meeting?

What was for breakfast ... ham and cheese on milquetoast?

[FreedomAngel82]

3. At least you got a good view in your area

:) I personally in 2008 will like Mark Warner and/or Russ Feingold. Warner is apart of the DLC but he's got a lot better record than Hillary does. Plus, he's a governor of a southern state and has an impressive resume as a governor. Go to http://www.forwardtogetherblog.com and watch the intro video to Warner. I think he will do well with people across the south and middle states. Hillary I don't think will do so well either because she's too rightwing and her support for Iraq. All the polls show people are tired of that. I haven't heard if Kerry is running again or not. Everyone is pretty focused on 2006 which is great. :) I hope Bryan Kennedy kicks some ass and takes the seat. Sennsenbrener needs to go! He's so rude and corrupt.

[reality based]

5. Trying to get the southern vote may be a bit risky

The days of Carter and Clinton have gone. States like Florida, Virginia, and North Carolina seem promising, but the Southern redneck-fundamentalist-elitist alliance reasserts itself especially in Presidential races, where Democrats seem unable to pull the populist trigger. The old Quadcali strategy (northeastern quadrant plus the west coast) seems more viable to me. It has almost worked the last two elections. We need only to add some western states (very possible if we court the Hispanic vote a little more assiduously) and redeem a midwestern/border state (Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia, Missouri, Kentucky). If we are going to go the DLC route, I would rather consider Evan Bayh, who has progressive bloodlines and seems more likely to bring his own state (Indiana) than a southern candidate. I await to see more of Feingold under fire. I would not give up on Wes Clark either but do not expect him to add southern states to the fold.

[acmejack]

4. Touche!

!

[podnoi]

6. Depressing

This just shows that even folks in our own party do not understand. Bush is just the symptom. We need deeper change. And that won't happen with people who are currently compromising for political power.

Why do we thing it is OK for Hillary to compromise to look better? We have examples that it is not necessary. Al Gore?? If the Right wing machine had been exposed as it is now he would have had a landslide.

There is no reason that we cannot have a truly progressive candidate win, and win solidly. But it will not happen with our current compromising and fearful tactics. There is a great opening and the Democrats just need to come out for true change. If the Democrats can't get it together now I am afraid they never will.