Mario Cuomo on Presidential Race: Who Needs Dems Like This?

[babylonsister]

http://www.tpmcafe.com/blog/coffeehouse/2007/sep/29/mario_cuomo_on_presidential_race_who_needs_dems_like_this

Mario Cuomo on Presidential Race: Who Needs Dems Like This?
mjrosenberg's picture
By M.J. Rosenberg | bio

Mario Cuomo watched our Presidential candidates up at Dartmouth the other day and was clearly disgusted.

And why not? Imagine that our major candidates refuse to commit to being out of Iraq by 2013. Unbelievable.

Here's Cuomo:

"Let’s not do what we did before and wind up apologizing for our resolutions and saying we’re sorry. Now remember, the Founding Fathers gave the powers to declare war to the Congress. That power cannot be delegated to the President. You can’t adopt a resolution and say well, the Founding Fathers wanted us to do it, but it’s too heavy a lift for us, so we empower you, Mr. President, if you feel like doing it, to do it.

"And my goodness, the President you’re talking about is the president who started a war with a mistaken context...he was wrong about the reason for it, he was wrong about complicity, he was wrong about how many troops we needed, he was wrong about how we would be greeted when we got there, he was wrong about the civil war, wrong about how much it would cost, wrong about how long it would last and now you’re saying maybe he can start another war. It’s a mistake; this an opportunity for Democrats to show real leadership. And the presidential candidates should lead the way. And if they don’t, then the question is going to be when it comes to improvident war-making, why are you any better than Bush?"

Exactly. Would you bet your house, or your kid, that the next Democratic President will not attack Iran or will withdraw from Iraq?

I wouldn't. I can imagine a situation where the only difference between 2007 and 2009 is that in 2009 the Democratic majorities in both Houses will vocally support war (in Iraq, Iran or both) because they will be supporting a Democratic President. And that will be a worse situation than we have now.

I'm not predicting.

I'm just saying.

[Captain Hilts]

1. I like Cuomo, but he's never waged a nationwide campaign for anything.

It's not like running for governor of NY.

[Cha]

3. It's not like you need

experience to be intrinsically honest, fortrightand with a conscience.

I'm not voting for the damn "Campaign".

[hedgehog]

15. There was always something odd about the way he dropped out of the campaign in 1992.

I can't help but feel that he was blackmailed by threats to expose a friend or family member. The saddest part? I've always thought those threats came from within the Democratic Party. This is sheer speculation of course, worth at least three hats on the tin hat scale.

[mediaman007]

2. Can we get an "amen?" Amen!

Cuomo must be the last of the liberal Democrats. He is so thoughtful and eloquent. He should have been our candidate any number of times.

[Skidmore]

4. Amen!

[TahitiNut]

8. Amen.

Cuomo has been a wasted treasure.

[defendandprotect]

11. Ironically, Cumo is NOT a "Liberal" Democrat . . .. he's a conservative . . ..

but I don't know if he would be standing with the DLC now -- I doubt it!!!

In other words, when conservatives meant something less like neo-cons, he was a conservative --
now everything has been pushed to the right.

I remember once listening to a news report on the radio and the announcer said something about Governor Mario Cuomo and then he said, "Excuse me" . . . and then he reread it saying, "liberal Governor Mario Cuomo" -- it was a shock to me to hear the re-read. It helped wake me up.
And, I think the announcer may have done it purposely....just got that feeling.

I also remember seeing Cuomo on C-span about 15+ years ago in a speech from somewhere and he was commenting on the right wing and the fact that they are the "destroyers" -- and that if we wanted to bring corporation taxation back to more reasonable levels, we'd have to call out the militia!!!
Think where we are now on those taxes!!!

[never_get_over_it]

17. Mario Cuomo is conservative?

huh?

If Mario Cuomo is conservative who in the hell do you think is liberal....

[defendandprotect]

19. Yep -- you have to understdand how much we have been shifted to the right ---

[never_get_over_it]

20. Ok you did not answer my question

and frankly I think your statement that Mario Cuomo is not a LIBERAL Democrat and in fact is conservative is RIDICULOUS -

SO PLEASE give me some examples of how Mario Cuomo is a conservative because you just can't make a statement and not back it up.....

[defendandprotect]

22. Look up Cuomo's record if you have time . . .. that's a long time ago --

But at the most Cuomo would have been a conservative-moderate at that time --

[Totally Committed]

18. Jeezuss... I'll have whatever you're smoking, please!

Cuomo is an archetypal "Liberal".

TC

[never_get_over_it]

21. THANK YOU!!!! eom

[Skink]

5. Richardson's calling for them out this year.

[Me.]

6. My God Where Has He Been, His Voice Has Ben Sorely Missed

K & R

[marmar]

7. I must admit, I'm feeling pretty disgusted myself.....

I'm finding it very hard to get excited about 2008 right now. It's almost as if it won't matter all that much. My hope is for larger Senate and House majorities, with more progressives occupying the seats. That's how we'll push the Democratic Party.

[defendandprotect]

12. You'll "push the Democrats" . . .. HOW? You have no leverage on them ---

[defendandprotect]

9. First, how about Democrats calling for a condemnation of PNAC -- ???

[charlie]

13. What, and make Will Marshall pout?

Now's not the time to go wobbly. Dems need to prove they're better and smarter at "muscular foreign policy" than Republicans. That's the Dee Ell Cee guar-ran-teed ticket to electoral success. Iran HO, onward!!

[stlsaxman]

10. Mario, oh Mario- wherefore art thou, Mario?

I love Mario Cuomo.

hasn't he stated some time ago that none of the candidates were as worthy of the job as Al Gore is?

:shrug:

[The Count]

14. I'd appreciate it more if he didn't praise Newtie so much

he's been bashing Democrats way before the latest votes - and not for the right reasons either.
I have my frustrations too - but Cuomo has zero credibility with me now.

[Gregorian]

16. JFK, RFK, MLK. Get in line behind us or we'll kill you.

And so here we are. Right in line with the authoritarians.

There is at least one candidate who practices what Mr. King preached. But I think there is much fear in stepping out of line.

It's time for Democrats to step out of line. Just listen to the people's needs. Not just American people. But people of the world. Novel concept, huh?