Let's play a game: share your first two choices for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016.

[TheWraith]

Ground rule number one: you can't select Joe Biden or Hillary Clinton. Both because they've said they don't want it, and because they're going to be getting pretty up there age-wise and probably want to retire. And because those are ridiculously easy, and boring.

Ground rule number two: your choice must be a current Democratic elected Governor, Senator, or Representative, or someone who has occupied that position within the last ~5 years.

Ground rule number three: pick someone who actually stands a chance of running and winning. It becomes a boring game if everyone says Dennis Kucinich. He's a good man, but he's never going to be president. Author of a very successful dating book perhaps, his wife being a redheaded amazonian goddess, but not President.

Now, my personal selections...

Choice number one is a no-brainer: Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY). I've met her in the flesh about four times now, and talked with her people frequently, and I can tell you this much from personal experience... she is awesome. She's incredibly sharp, and more importantly she's well informed. Don't get me wrong, I like Schumer too, but you can't realistically expect him to know much about his territory outside NYC and what he hears in meetings. Gillibrand on the other hand... I have personally stood there and watched her climb into a barn stall to get a better look at a dairy cow. No kidding, and I have the cell phone photos to prove it. She's extremely good on the issues, excellent policy ideas, she's responsive, she has good people behind her, and she inspires loyalty in just about everyone who really gets to know her. She also can talk about a mile a minute when she's passionate about something.

Choice number two. This one was harder one for me, but I would tend to say Governor Brian Schweitzer (D-MT). I've never met him, but he seems to come off as smart, practical, and a guy who can really sell things on a populist level. He's got a fantastic record on civil liberties, and he's been talking up a single payer model for Montana based on the Saskatchewan model. For those who don't know, Saskatchewan was the first Canadian province to adopt single-payer healthcare, back in the 1960s. From there it spread to every other Canadian province, and thence to the federal level. He bases his stances on what's right for the situation, and I've heard he has a great deal of charm.

[Hugabear]

1. Alan Grayson

We need a true progressive, someone who isn't afraid to go toe-to-toe with the rethugs, speak truth to power, and take the message to the people.

Don't really have a 2nd choice.

[pa28]

8. Yep. Alan Grayson.

Keep playing that tune we saw on Maher's show Mr. Congressman. You struck a nerve there and it was fun watching your opponent crawl back into his shell in the face of truth.

:thumbsup:

[applegrove]

54. I like him too.

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

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

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

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

[ClassWarrior]

4. So who gets to decide who's "relevant?"

NGU.

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

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

[ClassWarrior]

11. Other than a series of arbitrary conditions. Why do you assume the electability condition is...

...my source of skepticism?

NGU.

[dkf]

5. Howard Dean.

[Snotcicles]

59. Howard Dean / Robert Wexler = watch this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_T1ojrKhp6E

[leftstreet]

6. Watch Schweitzer start getting a lot of attention after 2012

Gillibrand, I'm not really familiar with but you're right about Schweitzer

[TheWraith]

7. You should check out some of the stuff on Gillibrand.

She rocks. Plus as early as her 2006 House campaign, which was in an incredibly Republican district, she was running against the war in Iraq and in favor of Medicare for All. She has a story she tells about how she got into it, talking to a friend who was knowledgeable about politics, and who told her that running against the guy she did that it was a totally hopeless cause, even if she raised millions of dollars. Guess what: she did, and she kicked the Republican's ass.

To give you an idea how seriously it's being taken, Markos Moulitsas tweeted earlier in July "Gillibrand will be the first woman president. How's that for a fearless prediction?"

http://twitter.com/#!/markos/status/91954615645519873

[FLAprogressive]

18. Gillibrand is a Chuck Schumer student. Steer clear.

[TheWraith]

25. Why?

For one thing, Gillibrand is better on the issues than Schumer ever has been. She's the one who was first in support of gay marriage, then dragged him along afterwards. She's been leading the course for him on civil liberties and other matters. Yes, they work together on some issues... not surprising given that they represent the same state. But speaking as someone deeply involved in NYS politics, I can tell you neither Schumer nor Schumer's people have ever been one tenth as responsive or interested in what the base thought as Gillibrand has been.

[sabrina 1]

33. Yes, I agree.

And if Marcos Moulitsas is for her, you know it's a bad idea, and probably wrong. That guy flip flops so much it's hard to tell if he's still a Republican or a pretend Liberal. I don't think he's ever made a correct prediction politically and if the party tells him tomorrow they don't want her, he will say the opposite of what he said today. He's got a history of doing that.

Aside from that, I agree with you. She's part of the same old system we so badly need to change.

[TheWraith]

44. Right, the founder of Daily Kos isn't liberal enough. Pull the other one, why don't you?

Thanks for the perfect example of why some people on the left should never be listened to, because they prefer to marginalize themselves into obscurity.

Back here in Reality, Moulitsas is well thought of, and Gillibrand has a tremendous following among the netroots and the liberal wing of the party.

[sabrina 1]

47. Not only is he 'not liberal enough' he has openly stated his disdain

liberals. He is NOT well thought of except among the professional political class who also show their disdain for liberals, and in fact most people outside of his blog, have no idea who he is. Good luck to him, he has made a living from all of this, but he was never a force of any importance other than among a very small group. He is welcome as is everyone to support this movement, although I imagine he would want to limit certain voices, mostly Liberal voices, as he has on his blog. Fortunately he is not in control of this movement. As I said, the voices now being heard are the very voices he tried to silence. Sorry, but the history is well known which is why I left that blog a long time ago. Not banned, just disgusted as were so many others.

[TheWraith]

49. I do sometimes wonder what color the sky is in your world.

When you can just completely make shit up and believe it, like asserting--repeatedly, even after you had been confronted and debunked with multiple references--that Anwar Al Awlaki was in the US until two years ago, or denying that he ever claimed responsibility for terrorism. Or asserting shit pulled out of your ass like that one of the single most famous liberal bloggers in the world has "openly stated his disdain for liberals." :eyes:

[sabrina 1]

50. I made one error, regarding when Awlaki left the US, but that did not

in any way change the story. As to the rest, let's just say I would rather not be distracted anymore by childish, non-productive 'I'm right, you're wrong' nonsense. I never did like it very much. That is the reason for the failure of DK to accomplish anything worthwhile, their massive blog fights which were not even contained to their own blog, focus on internet personalities, rather than on issues with thousands of ugly comments, all of which is easily accessible and shameful imo that it was encouraged, no doubt for hits, by the owner of the blog. So, I will move on to more important issues. No hard feelings on my part. I understand what blog wars have done to people who otherwise would have gotten along and found a way to disagree respectfully, which is why I opted out of blogs like DK and don't intend to get involved in such time wasting, distracting nonsense here or anywhere else.

The focus now is on on issues and people have found a way to keep it there. I truly wish you well in your endeavors.

[Modern_Matthew]

10. Warren/Jones ticket. :-) nt

[Tx4obama]

14. A question regarding Elizabeth Warren

Besides all things 'financial' (which I've heard a lot about) what else does she have on her resume`?

Like, anything regarding foreign policy, civil rights / women's rights / human rights, defense, energy, environment, etc?

Where does she stand on the issues of abortion, gay marriage, the death penalty, and immigration?

I've seen bunches of folks say that she'd make a good president, I am just curious as to 'why'?

p.s. This is in no way a criticism - I truly would like to know so that I can be more informed.

[JDPriestly]

29. How about integrity and a lot of education and knowledge as well as common sense - far

far more than the current White House resident. And obviously more than any potential Republican contender.

Then there are the facts that she has a warm, winning personality and an inspiring personal story.

She is a winner. Just you wait and see.

Sincerity and authenticity prevail. And she's got both.

[Tx4obama]

32. Apparently you do not know much at all about Obama ....

about his character, his education, or about what was on his resume` at the time he announced his run for the presidency.

Sorry, but your comment is a huge 'fail'.


Edited to fix typo.

[JDPriestly]

35. Obama has not shown much character as president.

I really thought he could do better. These are difficult times, and they demand a great deal of a leader. Obama just has not stood the test.

In ordinary times, he would have been very successful, but he has not been up to the challenge.

Passage of three, I repeat, three, horrible trade agreements today is just one example of the misguided policies that Obama has pushed over the last few years.

These trade agreements will cost Americans a lot of jobs and will cause economic loss to ordinary working people. What a shame.

[tkmorris]

30. I hear what you're saying, and it's a fair point

But really, Obama's record was awfully thin going in as well. Besides, assuming she gets elected she will amass some experience on those issues before 2016.

Of course, having said that I have to admit that I want to know that she can handle those topics as adroitly as she handles economic affairs before I hand her the nomination. We'll see.

[Tx4obama]

34. Well ...

I disagree that Obama's record was thin (regarding experience) but let's not argue that point.

But regarding where Obama stood on issues there is quite an extensive record of that.
On the link below there are TONS of quotes (and his voting record) listed as to where he stood on many issues prior to 2008 from before he ran for president.
http://www.ontheissues.org/Barack_Obama.htm


And here's a link link for Warren: http://www.ontheissues.org/Senate/Elizabeth_Warren.htm
Pretty thin so far, look closely or else you'll miss whats there.

[FLAprogressive]

19. Jones??

[Tx4obama]

12. Grayson/Franken - or - Schweitzer/Grayson n/t

[Poll_Blind]

23. Damn, Grayson/Franken. That is POTENT.

:thumbsup:

PB

[EdMaven]

13. FDR & Lincoln.

[oh08dem]

15. My picks to click

Tim Ryan, Grayson, Feingold, Sherrod Brown, and Schweitzer.

Who I believe will win the nomination: Mark Warner, or Cuomo.

[TheWraith]

24. A friend of mine is a big Cuomo 2016 supporter...

But honestly, I really don't think he'll make it. He's a little too calculating and too lacking in authenticity to be a serious candidate. He's something more like John Edwards (not implying he has Edwards pecker problems) but that he's too slick and too planned.

[oh08dem]

27. Agreed.

If Citizens United stays intact (which I believe it will) it's going to take SERIOUS cash to win any future presidential election; hence my belief the establishment will rally around somone who either has deep pockets (Warner), or has connections to big money (Cuomo).

If someone from the progressive wing of the party wants to contend they're gonna have to start building a broad infrastructure. (i.e. Russ Feingold with Progressives United).

[FLAprogressive]

36. Plus he's in bed with Koch (believe it or not)....

[Angry Dragon]

16. ..........

:thumbsdown:

[FLAprogressive]

17. Feingold, Schweitzer, Warren, Shumlin, DeFazio, Dan Malloy, T. Udall, S. Brown, Dayton, etc.

That was more than two....but pick two. You're gonna find a winner.

[readmoreoften]

20. Who Cares and So What/Real Politics Please, Thanks.

[TheWraith]

42. Well, this is substantially more real than all the threads talking about "revolution."

So, your request is granted.

[JDPriestly]

21. Number one: Bernie Sanders (who is Independent, but caucuses with

Democrats and could surely switch if asked) and number two: Alan Grayson. We need a candidate who talks straight and who doesn't pull punches. Someone who has not sold out. Those are the two most electable candidates who meet the qualifications.

Marcy Kapture is also very good. She speaks with strength and for ordinary people.

As far as I'm concerned there aren't many others I would want.

Obama is a nice guy, but he hasn't had the strength of character to do what is right. If he finally finds it, he will have my full support. But it does not look good at this point. If he is the candidate, I'll vote for him but without much enthusiasm.

He lacks the moral compass that we need in our leadership right now.

Occupy Wall Street seems to be having to take the role of moral leadership. That is a role that our Democratic president should have the courage to take in this difficult time. This is not the time for half-measures and compromises with greed. It isn't the time to rely on old technologies, especially old energy technologies.

[Firebrand Gary]

22. O'malley/Warren or Warren/O'malley

[ClassWarrior]

26. Maxine Waters and Tammy Baldwin.

NGU.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

28. Elizabeth Warren and Keith Olberman? n/t

[Axrendale]

31. It's probably unlikely,

but if Al Gore were to make a strong run for it, I think that he would be able to secure the nomination. As far as his viability as a general election candidate goes, I must admit to mixed feelings. On the one hand he may well be the single most intelligent man that has risen to prominence in the Democratic Party in recent decades, and would be truly fantastic for ensuring that the important issues get a strong airing in the view of the public - particularly the environmental ones. On the other hand, the last time he ran he was lousy at retail politics - simply too stiff on the stump - and so he would have to tighten up on that. Still, assuming that he were to win, I still think that he'd make an excellent president.

I too have been something of a fan of Schweitzer for a while now. I haven't ever really hard at Gillibrand, but your comments about her are intruiging - I will certainly have to do so.

Most important in my view is that we not only nominate someone of progressive sympathies with a good grasp of the issues, but that whoever it is has the political ability to operate more adroitly both in Washington and on the national stage than the current President has to date.

[former9thward]

41. Gore has the same problem as Biden and Clinton - age.

Gore would be 68 in 2016 and that is too old to run for President.

[Axrendale]

56. Says who?

Ronald Reagan was 69 when he was elected President in 1980 and Dwight Eisenhower was 62. John McCain was in his 70s when he was nominated.

Gore strikes me as being far more vigorous than any those three.

[former9thward]

57. Says me obviously. I was the one who made the post.

I would think you could understand that concept on an internet posting site. McCain is certainly not a good example. He lost and many people voted against him because of age especially contrasted with a youthful Obama. Reagan was able to pull it off because he had an entire career as an actor and that certainly helped him when in front of the cameras. His mental deterioration in later age has made many Americans gun shy about older politicians. I don't know about Eisenhower. Maybe you are old enough to be able to compare Eisenhower in 1952 with Gore. I am not.

Not to dump on Gore but he has clearly gained a bunch of weight and does not look vigorous at all.

[LWolf]

37. There are a few I'd like to see.

Cautiously, Schweitzer.

Grayson, without a qualm. Feingold...cautiously. I don't know anything about Gillenbrand; I'd have to learn about her.

McKinney, if the party would take her back, and if she'd step back in.

One of my senators...maybe. Wyden, cautiously; Merkley, more enthusiastically. Boxer, cautiously.

Some reps: DeFazio; Sherrod Brown, maybe; possibly some others from the progressive caucus, if they have strong progressive credentials, including opposing Barrak Obama and any other neo-liberal Democrat when necessary.

If Bernie Sanders has a younger clone who'd be willing to be a Democrat, I'd be thrilled.

And I'd like to see them in a 2012 primary. Why wait another 4 years?

[AtomicKitten]

38. Rules. We don't need no stinkin' rules.

I'm going rogue. Here's a picture of a monkey riding a cat.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

39. Joan Baez and Susan Sarandon.

[ThomWV]

40. Feingold and Warren. Put adults in charge for a change

[HughBeaumont]

43. Sherrod Brown/Elizabeth Warren.

Progressives.

[ThomWV]

52. I could get behind that pairing.

[WI_DEM]

45. Howard Dean and whoever defeats Scott Walker in the recall next year!

[tblue37]

46. Howard Dean and Wesley Clark are the two people I have most wanted

to see as president for some time. Alan Grayson and Elizabeth Warren are excellent, too, and perhaps more "now," because I think they may be younger. Maybe Feingold, Franken, Sanders.

[ceile]

48. Howard Dean and Lloyd Doggett n/t

[Tx4obama]

51. Lloyd Doggett will be 70 years old in 2016 - too old. n/t

[PeaceNikki]

53. Feingold/Franken

[madinmaryland]

55. Martin O'Malley 2016.

[MH1]

58. O'Malley is on my short list too.

[thelordofhell]

60. Gen. Wesley Clark/Alan Grayson

Although he would be on the old side according to the rules here. A Clark/Grayson ticket or Clark/Warren ticket would be good.

[Zorra]

61. Kucinich or Schweitzer. Or soon to be Senator Warren. nt