I hope Al Franken runs against Obama next presidential election

[Cronus Protagonist]

Al Franken for President 2012!

[xultar]

1. No Dem will run against Obama in 2012. I hope he runs in 2016.

[DJ13]

4. That depends on how weak Obama looks by then

No one expected a serious challenger to Carter in 1980, then Kennedy ran.

And yes I know the common wisdom is it weakened Carter for November against Reagan, but it can happen again depending on Obama'a effectiveness.

[Ken Burch]

5. Carter was already behind in the polls coming in to 1980, thus already doomed to defeat

While Teddy's campaign had problems, there was clearly no good REASON for Carter to run for a second term. He should just have got out of the way and let us make it easy to beat Reagan.

[suzie]

14. And which Democrat would have done better than Carter?

I love the hindsight of the ifs and then ifs almost as much as the projections of "If Obama, then..."

But it seems like the same thing, campaigning against Obama.

[Ken Burch]

44. Teddy would have, had he not faced an ugly primary like the one with Carter

(with Carter out, Teddy wouldn't have faced having somebody arrange crowds along his motorcade route in Chicago shouting "murderer! murderer!"-this in a town that had always loved the Kennedys)

Brown might have done better.

There were other Democrats who could have made a credible run at that time-even Mondale, since he hadn't yet made the choice he made in 1984 to present himself as The Walking Dead on the stump.)

Carter, while an admirable man, was far from our best hope that year. The Iran situation had already doomed him to defeat by the time the 1980 campaign started. He was never going to recover from that before the elections. And his insistence on conservative economic and spending policies was always going to make it difficult, if not impossible, to convince voters that there was a real difference between him and Reagan ON THE ISSUES. If given a choice between a gloomy-sounding conservative and a happy-sounding conservative(which Carter's campaign choices unfortunately made the choice look like)the happy-sounding conservative was always going to win.

[suzie]

60. As much as I admired Ted Kennedy for his legislative commitment, I was never under any illusion

that he had any chance in 1980. But I do remember being shouted down once when I still lived in Washington, DC, and mildly mentioned that I thought Chappaquidick would doom a Kennedy run for the presidency.

And Mondale, ROFLMAO.

Carter was doomed by the hostage situation, but so would any Democrat have been.

But as always, your historical revisionism is hysterical.

[Ken Burch]

71. in 1980, Mondale still sounded like he was alive

He didn't turn into a zombie until '84. And I still don't understand what it was that totally sucked the life out of the guy in just four years.

[suzie]

81. Possibly no Democrat had a chance in 1980, but certainly not Mondale.

Muskie might have had a decent chance.

Given that the Washington establishment hated him from the moment of his inauguration and spent as much time as possible ridiculing him, and given the numerous crises he faced, even without the hostage situation, Carter might have had a difficult time.

[BlueMTexpat]

88. Much as I loved him, Teddy was "toast" as Presidential material

after Chappaquiddick.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chappaquiddick_incident

And the primary battle against Carter certainly did NOT help with Carter's re-election efforts. Not at all. But there were a lot of other things at play in 1980 as well.

[Mickeyc1004]

29. Reagan was an actor...

Which is the ONLY reason he won. He was the first one to go on live television and talk directly to the viewers. Everyone was in awe of this at the time.

Reagan was a skilled orator and liar.

Carter did a lot of good at the time, but the republicans have succeeded in demonizing him, and Carter was not equipped to deal with a skilled illusionist like Reagan.

[PSzymeczek]

50. Reagan was not really a skilled orator,

but, as an actor, he could learn lines.

[The Wizard]

56. Reagan was an expert at

playing deaf when he didn't want to answer a question. He'd point to his ear and shake his head in a NO gesture.

[Mickeyc1004]

67. He was an actor/orator

Apart of it if not most of being a skilled orator is knowing when to time phases, read the audience, and respond using body languae and sigals to keep your audience engaged.

Just about any good actor can do that.

[KBlagburn]

51. NOT TRUE

President Carter was either leading or tied going into the last week of the campaign. The debate on Oct 29 was the turning point in the polls.

[Cronus Protagonist]

7. He's looking worse by the day

Al, however, is looking better by the day. :P

[ProSense]

18. That's because some people pay more attention to the noise than reality.

Has anyone given a thought to whether or not Al Franken or any other elected Dem strongly supports the President?

Here, let Senator Franken explain why "September is a very important month for the implementation of the Affordable Care Act."

There is a reason the President's numbers are hovering between 45 percent and 50 percent, not in the low 30s. The recovery is struggling, but that doesn't mean all Democrats have lost their minds.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

21. Yeah, being at +/- 50% is definitely "looking worse"

:sarcasm: :eyes:


Fail.

I love Al and would vote for him in 2016 (if he's in the running) but Obama's not doing bad enough that I think we should dump Obama and run Al or anybody else in 2012. If we didn't dump Clinton in 1996- and he was in a much more dire situation in 1994- then there's no reason why we should dump Obama, who is a much stronger position (and with a rather significant list of accomplishments as well), in 2012. The hysteria and doom and gloom around here is getting nuts IMHO. It's a good thing that the Republican Party wasn't similarly eager to dump Reagan in 1984 when he was doing far worse in 1982. You're also fooling yourself if you honestly believe that the Republican Party has somebody worthwhile to throw up against Obama in 2012 or that their political "rebound" is anything more than corporate mediawhore-driven delusion and fantasy.
:banghead:

Next, please......

[Cronus Protagonist]

42. I post my opinion

You can post yours.



I am, however, right.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

47. How can we BOTH be right?

;-)

[dionysus]

52. not really. fail.

[WI_DEM]

74. actually you're wrong Obama's ratings have gone up in the Fox and CNN polls just out

[karynnj]

70. Franken is not Kennedy --- and Kennedy did not succeed

I like Franken, but he BARELY defeated Coleman and he has been in office about 1 year. Had he not been on SNL, I doubt he would be mentioned in this context. Kennedy was someone the party pushed to consider the presidency in 1968. In 1980, he had been a Senator for 18 years and was considered to be a leader of the then biggest faction of the Democratic party. In addition, Carter was to the extreme right of the Democratic party. There was far more "room" for a challenge from the left. But, it didn't work.

[elocs]

22. Well shame on you for being in touch with reality!

That's not very Du-like.

[xultar]

24. That's why I don't post much anymore.

[babylonsister]

2. Good luck with that. nt

[blue neen]

3. I love Al Franken. I think the place that he can be most effective is in the Senate.

IMHO, Democrats should fight the good fight together in 2012.

[harun]

84. I agree, we only have a few Senators on the right side of things. He is needed

in the Senate.

[Bitwit1234]

6. I hope he doesn't and I love him. Like the other poster

I hope he waits til 2016. Dann with Grayson as his VP wouldn't that be a hell of a ticket.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

8. I'd vote for him over Obama; but he *ain't* running. (n/t)

[jaxx]

9. I think Al has better sense than to run against a sitting president.

He's a very bright man.

[peoli]

90. +1

[Hawkowl]

10. Obama won't run for re election. nt

[WI_DEM]

76. Why? He's at 50% in CNN polls, beats the GOP in trial heats and is more popular than

Reagan or Clinton at this time and the recovery is picking up according to latest data. By 2012 there will be nothing to stop Obama. It's wishful thinking on your part.

[ProSense]

11. Hope?

As in the "audacity of"?

[left is right]

12. please believe me that the following is not anti-Semitic

but is America ready for a Jewish president? Hear me out before flaming me. Every year we suffer through the war on Christmas; every year the war seems to get more irrational and starts earlier. How many people would go completely bonkers if there was a Jew lighting up the National Christmas Tree? Think of all the insane comments that we would hear about the Hanukah Bush. Having typed the above, I will now go wash my hands as they smell like anti-Semitism—not a very nice smell.

[Politicalboi]

13. Well this Atheist would vote for him in 2016

I don't think I will ever see what I want in the WH so it wouldn't bother me that he was Jewish. But I know what you mean.

[left is right]

16. So would I

and I am a Christian believing that the WOC is a fake used to divert our attention from many more important issues but I know a whole lot of people that buy into the diversion in a very serious way

[HomerRamone]

25. America obviously WASN'T ready for a black president nt

[Steely_Dan]

30. Bingo! n/t

[bkozumplik]

48. oh please.

The enthusiasm gap among dems isnt about race. Your comment is lame.

[impik]

59. It *is* about race. No white president would have gone through

the crap Obama have to deal with every day, and no white president who has done so much good in 19 months, would be treated like a failure.

[suzie]

61. We have a winner on aisle I.

There was a thread the other day about the Progressive Caucus and how Grijalva was trying to talk about Social Security.

If the article had been about Grayson or Kucinich, there would have been a dozen replies, saying, "Put Grijalva on the ticket, primary Obama with him."

Instead, there were a number of posters knocking the Progressive Caucus. It seems that even on DU, the "whites only" sign is often visible.

Seems like many Democrats don't want to see that a minority president is a good thing overall for this nation and that we have to slog through some of the opposition that is opposition only because he's minority.

My impression sometimes is that a lot of people feel that a white president could do more to quickly satisfy the agenda that's important to them, and that's all that counts.

[polmaven]

63. No white president

would (STILL) be constantly hounded by birthers....."I think he was born in Norway" would not likely be heard every day.

[Rebubula]

83. Seriously...

...do any of the 'it is because he is black' crowd even remember the Clinton Years??????

Bill Clinton was accused of Rape (dogged him the whole 8 years), treason (protesting abroad during the Vietnam war), draft dodging, financial misdeeds, lying to Congress as well as a host of other random deeds.

Hillary has been accused of an affair with Vince Foster as well as having a hand in his death. She was maligned as an ambitious Jezebel that was working behind the scenes to stage her own run.


Sometimes, I am amazed at the lack of historical hindsight around here.

[PSzymeczek]

49. Article VI, Paragraph 3,

of the Constitution - "...no religious shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the Untied States."
The question shouldn't even come up.

[polmaven]

64. "Shouldn't"

does not mean won't. Of course it would come up.

[southernyankeebelle]

15. I think he would make an intelligent president but I guess he won't have a chance in hell to win.

[movonne]

20. Yes the corporate media will do everything to bring him down..just

like dean...

[Hekate]

38. You mean just like Obama? It's been fricking nonstop in the MSM--and on the left-left

I don't know and I don't care who on the left thinks of themselves as "professional" but the constant drumbeat of how Obama is teh evil (pick a reason) is a weird counterpoint to the drumbeat in the corporate media about how he's teh fail (pick a reason).

Dean (although I worked for him) is history. Obama has the office. The MSM has moved on and so should we.

Hekate

[stray cat]

17. Franken is smarter than some of his supporters!

[proteus_lives]

55. +1000

[mzmolly]

19. Franken is great, and he supports

The President.

[Name removed]

23. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[AlinPA]

26. He is not stupid.

[Mickeyc1004]

27. Don't care either way.

I'm still voting for Obama.

I like Al, he has *****, but I like Obama better and I think Obama is doing a good job.

[denimgirly]

28. Might be tough since he's Jewish -- Grayson might have a better chance

Alan Grayson is STRONG and is repsected progressive.
America will not vote in a Jewish president even though Frankin and Weiner are great choices.

[ProSense]

32. So you're certain America will not vote for a Jewish Presidential candidate, but they'll

vote for Grayson, who is Jewish?

Interesting.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

58. Not That It Matters But Grayson Is Jewish Too

And he has to beat Daniel Webster first.

[geek tragedy]

91. Grayson is Jewish. nt

[Hekate]

31. Why would a man as intelligent as Franken take Obama down like Ted Kennedy did to Carter?

Franken doesn't strike me as a self-aggrandizing idiot -- nor is he the last scion of a family driven by its founder (Old Joe Kennedy) to attempt to have all of its sons achieve the US Presidency.

So I guess the real question is why would all the posters here who want someone, anyone, to challenge Obama in '12 be willing to guarantee a Republican the office that year. Anyone over the age of a college sophomore knows that is exactly what would happen, and knowing that -- why?

Hekate

[jefferson_dem]

34. I have a feeling that...

many of those who would claim to support an inter-party challege to Obama in 2012 would be totally thrilled with a Republican in office.

[suzie]

62. Seems like a pretty accurate feeling.

[jefferson_dem]

33. Posts like this make us all look un-serious.

Just sayin...

[jenmito]

35. Well, I don't think it makes US look un-serious. The OP, yes, but not those of us who disagree with

it.

[jefferson_dem]

36. Of course, I did not mean to disparage the sensible among us...

But the reality is...

It doesn't reflect well on the entire DU community when casual surfers who stumble upon this site see this ridiculosity at the top of the "Presidential" forum.

[jenmito]

37. Well...

at least it's not on the "Greatest" page.

[Cronus Protagonist]

46. So?

Did you read my sig line? It's for you.

[polmaven]

65. OH NO!!!!!!!

You are forever lost now, jeff-dem......You are being IGNORED by the OP!!!!! How will you ever recover?

[Tarheel_Dem]

39. Starting "Operation Chaos" a bit early, aren't you?

Not only will Pres. Obama be the party's unchallenged nominee in '12, but he will go on to win a second term. Bank on it! :hi:

[dionysus]

53. them's fightin' woids!! put up yer dukes!!eleven

:hi:

[Tarheel_Dem]

77. Dude...where've you been? Glad you're still around. And I'm too tired & too old...

to put up much of a fight. :rofl: You'd win hands down. I miss banky. :-(

[dionysus]

79. been so busy lately, haven't had time... quick, make sure Bea ain't lookin;

:hi:

[Tarheel_Dem]

80. You're still nuts. Some things never change.....

:rofl:

[akbacchus_BC]

40. keep wishing!

[Forkboy]

41. No way does he run in 2012.

He's so humble I doubt he'll ever run. It's one of the things I like about him.

[CTLawGuy]

43. but he voted for the health insurance corporate profit protection act

or whatever the fuck you people call the HCR law.

He is clearly owned by the corporations too.

regardless, bring it on. I've never seen a challenger lose 90% - 10% before and I'm morbidly curious.

[dionysus]

54. well, there you have it then.

:rofl:
:thumbsup:

[nmbluesky]

45. you moron?

Do you want to Obama lost? like happen in 1980 Kennedy against Carter and lost to Reagan.. Do you want to like that??
NO WAY!!!

[slackmaster]

57. Unrec for bad idea

What do you want, a freak show?

[Peacetrain]

66. He would not get my vote.. and would never get my vote from that day forward

I guess that says how I would react

[totodeinhere]

68. I would definitely support Al Franken.

And if things keep going the way they are now and Obama appears to be beatable in 2012, I think it might happen. It's too early to tell yet, but when 2012 rolls around we will need to do whatever is necessary to keep the GOP from returning to the White House, and if that means replacing Obama with another candidate like Franken who has a better chance, then so be it.

[scheming daemons]

69. Unlike you, Al Franken loves Obama and will support him 100%

..

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

72. Fortunately, Sen .Franken is smarter than his supporters

No way he would do such a thing.

[WI_DEM]

73. He won't and Obama will be easily renominated and re-elected.

[TBF]

82. Re-nominated yes, re-elected - we'll see. nt

[donheld]

75. Isn't going to happen - unrecommend

[angee_is_mad]

78. WTF(?)!

get the hell out of here with that nonsense.
Haters will hate!

[blogslut]

85. Thank you

Threads like this allow me to configure my DU viewing options in a manner that eliminates the ridiculous and pointless. :hi:

[BlueMTexpat]

87. +1! n/t

[BlueMTexpat]

86. He won't.

I LOVE Al and wish that there were at least 59 other Senators exactly like him!

But Al is, first and foremost, a Democrat. He will NOT run against President Obama, an incumbent Democrat. He is not one to join in a circular firing squad. He understands the consequences of doing that all too well.

[saltpoint]

89. Franken is a hell of a good guy and, I suspect, deeply

loyal to Barack Obama, and will heartily endorse his re-election.

Were Franken to do so, he would be doing the right thing.