If Hillary is our candidate in '08, we MUST support her

[BushOut06]

I know many of us don't care for her too much, because of her stance on Iraq and other issues. I know we'd all much rather see Gore run for office. And while there's that slim, outside chance that Gore will change his mind and run, I think he's content to remain an "outside" political force. Thus, it looks like we'll be looking at a Hillary '08 candidacy.

In this case, we simply must set aside our differences and support her. She may not be exactly what we want, but she's a helluva lot better than the alternative! We cannot allow the BFEE to continue, the very survival of this country could depend on it. The gophers are chomping at the bit, just hoping that the Democratic Party will split, and defeat itself through infighting. As attractive as a truly progressive 3rd party candidate might be, we can't allow that to siphon off our votes. You know the Rove machine will be working in full gear to try to ensure their victory, which is why it's essential that whoever gets the nomination gets our full support.

[Warren Stupidity]

1. OK. (yawn)

[zippy890]

*yaawwn* -

:boring:

[Lone_Star_Dem]

2. This is painfully premature

Cross that bridge when/if we get there. Until then there are many important things to be dealing with in the present.

I suggest you redirect your attention to something constructive.

[Junkdrawer]

7. ..but remember, Republicans count the votes in the Primaries too...

and who do you think they would LOVE to have as their opponent? :shrug:

[Lone_Star_Dem]

22. As I said

There are many more important things to be dealing with in the present. I consider verifiable voting to be top on that list.

I'm not disagreeing with your point, I'm just saying we have important work to be done right now.

[Junkdrawer]

24. I made a suggestion a while back that whomever the Progressive...

candidate is in the primaries begin advocating Hand Counted Paper Ballots in the primaries. And now would be the time for that.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

26. No time like the present

If a potential candidate were to start spreading that message I sure wouldn't complain! :)

[BushOut06]

33. which is why I'm supporting Gore

There's still time to convince Gore to run again.

[NoPasaran]

41. I think most crossover comes

I think most crossover comes when one's own primary is a done deal. In 2008, the repubs will be choosing their own presidential candidate... a chance for us to play with them if it looks like HRC (or anybody) has it all wrapped up on our side early on.

[BushOut06]

23. Never too early

As I said in response to another reply, it's not too early to think about '08. True, we have to focus on '06 first and foremost, but if you think the BFEE isn't thinking about who they want to succeed *, you're fooling yourself.

I think Hillary does have a fairly wide support base in this country. Sure, the gophers are going to go all-out to destroy her, but don't you think they would do that to whomever is the candidate? Look at what they did to Kerry with the SwiftBoat campaign.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

25. Knock yourself out then

Far be it from me to alienate a person by telling them what they must do. ;)

[BushOut06]

27. LOL

Sorry, still somewhat new to the board. I'd just hate to think of a President Condaleeza Rice because a lot of Dem voters decided to stay home that day. One of my problems is I tend to think ahead a lot ;)

[Lone_Star_Dem]

32. Honestly, I don't see a real reason to get too concerned over Rice

If they were to choose her, which I highly doubt, then either the south would be a no show for them at the polls or they would vote for another party out of spite. This is one time when those small minded bigots work to our advantage.

[Cobalt Violet]

3. I don'r know about that.

I may not.

[Catch22Dem]

4. As far as I'm concerned, 2008 isn't even on the radar

I'm devoting full attention to 2006. This election will help determine what is needed for 2008.

[BiggJawn]

5. Sure, tie our wagon to a falling star.

Hillary '08...That's not a campaign slogan, that's the battle cry of Ditto-Head Nation. Great way to hand Mehlman a slam-dumk for '08.

If the DNC picks Hill as the candidate in '08, they should be committed to a mental hospital for throwing up a no-win candidate.

Hillary for Prez will galvanize the GOP Base, the Religious Right, and every listener of Gush Pfleghmball and Savage Wiener.

You think I'm a wet blanket? OK, so tell me how much love you feel for the "Klintoons" in your part of the country. Here, the GOP could run Bill the Cat against Hill and win.

[threadkillaz]

6. "he heh heeh, he said the gophers are chomping"

(in butthead's voice)

[laruemtt]

8. nobody's automatically getting my support

just because they have a "D" after their name. that includes hillary, liarberman, and anybody else who doesn't support what i consider critical points. zell miller anybody?

[rodeodance]

9. I need a Dem is the WH--no more FL, 2000

[LWolf]

10. I know something.

I know something many people, here at DU and elsewhere, REALLY don't like.

Some really don't like being told what they "must" do. I'd bet that any disagreement you get will have as much to do with that as dislike of Hillary.

We MUST pay taxes and die, but the rest? Choices. We all make our choices based on our own set of standards. Hillary doesn't fit some of them. For some, a vote for Hillary IS their choice. For others, an uncomfortable compromise. For others, it would be selling out their vote.

:popcorn:

[acmejack]

13. Nicely put

[cali]

11. You may have a crystal ball

but I don't, and I don't trust yours. As another poster stated, "this is painfully premature". Focus on this year and the congressional races. I don't know where you live, but in Vermont we have an open house seat, and I'm going to be working for the very good dem candidate. And although I'm not nearly ready to circle the wagons around Hillary, and thought her plantation remark was stupid, I did write LTTE stating that Newt used the same language a decade or so ago. That's about all we can do.

[Jacobin]

12. What a rousing statement for your candidate

"I know everyone can't stand her, but let's support her anyway"

If those are her SUPPORTERS, how in the fork do you think she has a chance to win?

[bigscott]

14. Bingo

why do Dems keep feeling that Candidate XYZ is OK, and he/she IS a dem, so we MUST support him/her. Please don't tell me I have to support a sell-out. I don't and I won't

[BushOut06]

16. I think she has a wide base of support

And no, I don't think it's too early to start thinking about '08, you know damned well the gophers are already thinking about who they want to run (Condi, anyone?).

[dapper]

15. Support...

I think we should support whichever Democratic candidate runs. I will not be able to stand another republican led govt.

Dap

[Mass]

17. If she is the nominee, sure, but she is not, at this point.

Can we focus on 06 right now?

[ScreamingMeemie]

18. Welcome to 2006...that's 6. Let's get through the Midterms first, kay?

:eyes:

and no, I'd have a Hell of a hard time supporting a woman I find myself at complete odds with.

[Cooley Hurd]

19. If she wins the nomination, I'll support her...

Call me a party hack, but the reality is that we still have a 2 party system and, regardless of who gets the nod, I will support the Democratic nominee.:thumbsup:

[Apollo11]

20. Don't expect our support ... earn it.

Message to Hillary from Al Gore:

"Democrats as well as Republicans in the Congress must share the blame for not taking sufficient action to protest and seek to prevent what they consider a grossly unconstitutional program.
<...> in the Congress as a whole, both House and Senate, the enhanced role of money in the re-election process, coupled with the sharply diminished role for reasoned deliberation and debate, has produced an atmosphere conducive to pervasive institutionalized corruption that some have fallen vulnerable to. The Abramoff scandal is but the tip of a giant iceberg threatening the integrity of our legislative branch of government.

"And it is the pitiful state of our legislative state which primarily explains the failure of our vaunted checks and balances to prevent the dangerous overreach by the executive branch now threatening a radical transformation of the American system. I call upon members of Congress in both parties to uphold your oath of office and defend the Constitution. Stop going along to get along. Start acting like the independent and co-equal branch of American government that you are supposed to be under the Constitution of our country."

President Al Gore, 1-16, 2006

www.algore.org :)

[rooboy]

21. Will bookmark your post and come back to it in two years. n/t

[LoZoccolo]

28. I wouldn't be too distracted by whiners.

I figure they already know your logic, and may even secretly agree with it, while seeking attention here with their threats of secession. It may be useful to bring up the difference between parties at points where it's especially pronounced though (for instance, Gore would have never nominated Roberts or Alito for the Supreme Court despite the fact that Nader voters claimed there was little difference between the parties). I guess I would confront occasionally, but don't beg. They like it when you beg.

[LoZoccolo]

29. Oh, and remember every clown needs an audience.

I often single out people for ignore based on the fact that they're willing to hang around a message boards for Democrats and spend time there trashing Democrats. I don't come here to listen to that, so I get rid of many of them.

[LizW]

30. I don't think so.

While there is much I like about Hillary, she has a LONG way to go before she gets my support for a Presidential run.

She doesn't get to be "our" candidate in 2008 without some serious examination of her position on preemptive war and our involvement in the Middle East. And that included a full and honest examination and explaination of her vote for the Iraq war during the Bush administration.

Just because she has a "D" after her name doesn't mean she gets to continue disastrous foreign policy.

[purji]

31. I believe that Hillary will put repubs back in office.

I don't think she can win against the spin machine.

[lzbth]

34. Next President

The next Democratic presidential candidate must be a self-identified Bible-quoting Christian, a sensible moderate Christian who believes in separation of church and state. Face it, this is a predominantly Christian country right now. Our candidate must be able to fight fire with fire. Personally, I'm an antheist, but let's be realistic. We need to win. We need a man of the people, a regular guy type (I'm a feminist too, but this is not the time to run a woman). Look at the past Democratic winners. Clinton and Carter had the popular folksy touch and could thump the bible when necessary. Who is this man? Who is the man who can WIN? That's what we should be talking about, not quibbling over candidates with baggage from the past.

[Crunchy Frog]

35. Yeah, but Jimmy Carter's getting up there in years

and anyway, he'd only be able to serve one term.

[xiamiam]

36. if Hillary gets the nomination the repubs will keep the presidency

and I just cant stand the thought of that....this is my opinion only and my instinct...nominating and supporting her would be like rolling a million ton boulder up a mountain..its just not gonna happen ...imo

[Village Idiot]

37. BAH. Who in their right mind would vote for her?

And if the 'Thugs run McCain against her, she's TOAST.

[Stuckinthebush]

38. Of course we all will

Sure there will be a small percentage that won't, but the vast majority will. Even those here who say "Hell no!" will end up voting for her. The alternative is much much worse, and in the end, all Dems will realize that.

However, I must point out, I have no plans of supporting her in the primary. But as another poster said above, it is way too early to even speculate about this.

[donheld]

39. Can we just worry about 2006 for now?

we have to survive it to even get to 2008.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

40. Sorry, but I don't vote for Republicans(D).

Unless Hillary is miraculously transformed from an opportunistic, pro-war, DLC moderate Republican into a decent human being, I'll be voting Green.

"If you run a Republican against a Republican, the Republican will win every time." - Harry S. Truman

[porphyrian]

42. She's not yet, and hopefully won't be. - n/t

[iconoclastNYC]

43. *Yawn*

Give it up.