Dear Desperate Democrats-Run Bill Moyers For President: Molly Ivins

[kpete]

Molly Ivins

Reality-based candidate
July 24, 2006

AUSTIN, Texas -- Dear desperate Democrats,

Here's what we do. We run Bill Moyers for president. I am serious as a stroke about this. It's simple, cheap and effective, and it will move the entire spectrum of political discussion in this country. Moyers is the only public figure who can take the entire discussion and shove it toward moral clarity just by being there.

............................

Bill Moyers has been grappling with how to fit moral issues to political issues ever since he left Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and went to work for Lyndon Johnson in the teeth of the Vietnam War. Moyers worked for years in television, seriously addressing the most difficult issues of our day. He has studied all different kinds of religions and different approaches to spirituality. He's no Holy Joe, but he is a serious man. He opens minds -- he doesn't scare people. He includes people in, not out. And he sees through the dark search for a temporary political advantage to the clear ground of the Founders. He listens and he respects others.

Do I think Bill Moyers can win the presidency? No, that seems like a very long shot to me. The nomination? No, that seems like a very long shot to me.

Then why run him? Think, imagine, if seven or eight other Democratic candidates, all beautifully coiffed and triangulated and carefully coached to say nothing that will offend anyone, stand on stage with Bill Moyers in front of cameras for a national debate . what would happen? Bill Moyers would win, would walk away with it, just because he doesn't triangulate or calculate or trim or try to straddle the issues. Bill Moyers doesn't have to endorse a constitutional amendment against flag burning or whatever wedge issue du jour Republicans have come up with. He is not afraid of being called "unpatriotic." And besides, he is a wise and a kind man who knows how to talk on TV.

more at:
http://www.freepress.org/columns/display/1/2006/1409

[mopinko]

1. that's my girl

that is a great idea. i would love it. she is so right on target, as usual.
put up the bat bill, my wallet is open.

[madokie]

8. the most inspiring speach I have ever heard was Bill Moyers

[snappyturtle]

2. What a logical choice however,

logic doesn't seem to count anymore. I will write to Bill Moyers to suggest he run for president. We'd all be a lot safer with Moyers as our leader. Even when I disagree with him (seldom) I could live with his decisions. He just may well be the man to light the way! K&R

[itzamirakul]

3. Moyers and Ivins...

I love 'em both!

And don't kid yourself...Moyers just. could. win.

He's got the religious background that could satisfy both the hardline rw and the independent religious lefties.

He's got the political savvy for both domestic and international relations.

He has the moral background to silence dissenters.

He has the familiarity of over 40 years of television.

He would be a perfect candidate to me.

[MH1]

4. Yes, but....

whenever I watched NOW, I was quite impressed with the nuance and sensitivity Bill Moyers was able to bring to any topic.

Yes, nuance. And long, intelligent sentences. Kind of like the guy we nominated last time, just with more journalistic flair and less senate-speak. Still, the intelligence, nuance, and sensitivity will kill him with the rabid wing of the so-called netroots.

[BlooInBloo]

6. Yup. The American public LIKES idiots....

... the public won't accept an intelligent person - unless s/he hides the his or her intelligence.

[mopinko]

10. yeah,

read my journal if you have any doubts.

[Armstead]

5. That would be great

[electron_blue]

7. I'd vote for him. enthusiastically.

[nancyr]

9. Me, too!

I don't think he'd be interested, though. He is a man of too much integrity to lower himself into the cesspool of political discourse currently going on. What an excellent thought, however!

[memory]

11. YES! YES! YES!

I would vote for him over ANYBODY else. He is a man with true courage and wisdom and would be an excellent President.

It would be terribly difficult on him though. How old is he?

[Warpy]

12. Alas, Moyers is too old and far too intelligent

to want the job. He would, however, supply a fine ethical conscience for anyone who does get the job.

It would be wonderful to see him get the kind of posiition enjoyed by charlatans like LaHaye and Franklin Graham in the current administration.

[MelissaB]

13. He'd get my vote.

[ThomCat]

14. This is a damned good idea.

:7 I think this would have a chance of injecting some actual issues into debates and discussions.

Of course, I could be wrong. I thought Kucinich would do the same thing last time and he was very thoroughly ignored by everybody.

[Gregorian]

15. Yes. And how about this--------Moyers/Conyers

No. She's right. Moyers would alter the canvas dramatically.

But then, so would Conyers. But I think Conyers is too busy doing some important things. Wink wink, nod nod. Say no more...

[knitter4democracy]

16. Someone should call him.

I wonder if he would run. He really should--he not only has the gravitas, he also has the charm and the humor and the knowledge of whom to get to work for him. That's a freakin' good idea.

[Jacobin]

17. works for me

better than the "beautifully coiffed and triangulated and carefully coached to say nothing that will offend anyone" crowd.

I am utterly sick of them.

[knitter4democracy]

18. I called the DNC and got to Dean's office. They liked it!

The gentleman I finally spoke with (after the third transfer) in Dean's office loved the idea. The more he thought about it, the more sense it made to him, and the more he liked it. I had to run to get the kids, so I don't know if he's going to do anything, but he sure sounded like he would.

[Roland99]

20. Sure would be WAY better than Bilderberger Warner and DLC-dandy Hillary

Some HARD choices are ahead for this nation that MUST be made but no Bilderberger or DLC corporatist will ever choose the ones that will keep America solvent.

[The Count]

19. When will Molly stop picking candidates for president?

There are a lor of things she gets right. This one, not so much.