Some Say ....Neither Hillary nor Obama will be Nominated

[Robson]

Obama had a 5 star speech today announcing his candidacy. The man is an oratorical genius. He makes Bush look like first grader. But the election is almost 2 years away and oratory while important only goes so far.

Some say neither Hillary nor Obama will be nominated as Democratic candidate for POTUS. I agree. Hillary has far too much baggage and Obama is an impressive orator but an unknown by most other measures. One by one over the next yeat the now known candidates will either knock each other off, or the media and others will do it for them. Edwards has already been attacked.

I suggest that Al Gore will receive increasing accolades throughout the year and will be drafted to run at the "last minute". He's already been vetted, he's already been VP, he's already won the Presidency!

The only thing left is to pick a VP candidate. It could be Hillary or Obama or others. Influencing that choice will depend upon whether either candidate could be replaced by a Republican.

[bdrube]

1. Never Happen.

America does not "draft" preseidents anymore.  While
I agree that Gore has the best shot to prevent Hillary from
getting the nomination, it sure doesn't look like he's going
to run.

That leaves Obama as the best hope for the ABH (Anybody But
Hillary) crowd.

[rucky]

2. I'll enter my prediction:

Bill Richardson

[skipos]

3. RIchardson has boatloads of experience, loves diplomacy, is intelligent, a good speaker, likeable...

pretty much the exact opposite of Bush. If I had to put my money on a darkhorse candidate, he'd be the one.

[David Dunham]

6. Yes, it could be Gore (if he runs), Edwards, or Richardson

[Captain Hilts]

9. Or Clark. nt

[Auntie Bush]

34. Clark's the man for the job. n/t

[Captain Hilts]

10. I agree, I really like Richardson. nt

[SaveElmer]

11. I agree with that...

I think Hillary will be the nominee...

But, if there is a darkhorse that comes out...it will be Richardson...he's got the chops...just a matter of whether he can compete financially, and in the media...

[longship]

16. I'd put hard cash on Sebelius playing a major part in 2008.

I'd even give good odds of her being the Veep nominee.

Can you imagine Gore/Sebelius?
Wow!

[skipos]

21. She would be good on any ticket (I don't think Gore is going to run)

Do you think she would win Kansas though? Bush won it by 25%, and states tend to be much more partisan in their presidential votes.

[longship]

42. Doesn't matter too much.

Dems haven't taken KS in a long, long time. The KS Republic Party is a bunch of theocratic loonies anyway. But Kathleen is such a quality person that I think she would add immense credibility to any ticket. Plus, she's a very popular Democratic governor from a very Red state.

[Honeycombe8]

54. How tall is Richardson? Anyone know?

I've seen him for a long time on TV, but I cannot get a sense of his whole person because I never see a pic of him standing next to someone famous whose size I know. I see pictures of Hillary and Obama and Edwards and Clark and others standing next to other people, so I get a sense of their size. But not Richardson. Just wondering.

[skipos]

55. A little bit over 6ft, from what I have read.

I have never seen him.

[CTyankee]

67. He's a westerner, a real plus with our emerging Dem majority in the

mountain west. I think this is a possibility, but I wonder who would be a good running mate. Obama would certainly be good for many progressives but we a woman governor (perhaps Kathy Sebalius from Kansas) would be also a good pick. Or Wes Clark for the "fix" on foreign policy and a southern military guy.

[Hippo_Tron]

13. Richardson has to find fundraising sources independent of the Clintons

Because Hillary has all of that tied up. If he can't do that then he can't succeed in the front loaded primary system.

[skipos]

17. "I do know cases where he is calling individuals who he thought were supporting Sen. Clinton"

"and they're supporting me."

Gov. Bill Richardson, in an interview with the Albuquerque Tribune, on Bill Clinton's fundraising efforts.

[Hippo_Tron]

22. I don't think that's enough to bring in the bread that he needs

Senator Clinton has a fundraising juggernaut that is going to raise $100 million for the primary alone and even if a few of her potential donors defect to Richardson it's not going to be nearly enough for him.

Richardson needs to find another source of fundraising and it's going to largely be based on his ability to break out of the second tier. If he does extremely well in the debates, particularly against Clinton, or breaks way ahead in the polls then Hillary's financial backers may decide that they've backed the wrong horse and defect to him. But for the time being, that is not going to be the case.

[Blue_In_AK]

26. Hillary's "fundraising juggernaut" is part of what

makes me so squeamish about her. Where's all that money coming from anyway?

[Blue_In_AK]

25. I like Richardson, too,

of all the ones that are running now. I think we need his diplomatic skills.

[patricia92243]

30. Agree on the diplomacy. If not Prez maybe he will be in the cabinet - Sec of State????

[Blue_In_AK]

37. I agree, he would be an exceptional sec'y. of state.

[bklyncowgirl]

35. I was talking to my brother in law from Alburqurque today--he loves the guy

Says he's forward thinking and a good administrator as well as a fine diplomat and international troubleshooter.

As a governor, he doesn't have any "I voted for the war before I voted against it" problem.

With the exception of Al Gore, he's the one best able to hit the ground running.

I don't yet have a favorite candidate but he's one I'm interested in learning more about.

[geek tragedy]

50. Richardson's running for VP. eom

[nevergiveup]

4. It will be

Obama or Richardson and my money at the moment is on Obama. The one quality that might sustain a candidate for such a long period of time is likability and Obama has it. Gore, for personal reasons, will not take on Hillary....just my opinion.

[elfin]

5. I hope Gore makes the leap

Maybe Edwards or Dodd can derail them, but Gore is the best shot.

The corporate media is giving both Obama and Clinton big publicity boosts, while ignoring or nit picking Edwards. The repugs know their best chance to win in '08 is if the Dems nominate a woman or a black. We are dreaming if we think present day America will actually vote for a woman or a black for President when it comes right down to it.

I love that Dems are optimistic about this, but am irritated when people dismiss reality and think we are "ready". I do not think we are and don't want this MOST critical election (How long can Stevens hold out? to give it a try.

[FrenchieCat]

7. A year ahead of the game, Edwards should be on his knees thanking

the media of mentioning him in the top tier in just about every story, but not keeping him in the limelight right now, but certainly not ignoring him.

John Edwards knows this, Obama knows this, Hillary knows this, and so does the media.

Google John Edwards and tell me that all of the stories are "nitpicks" or he isn't mentioned and I'll raise you 10 that you can be proven wrong.
http://news.google.com/news?q=john+edwards,+2008,+articles&hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-US&ct=title&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&start=0

[chimpymustgo]

12. The obsession with Edwards...WTF????

He must have the power....

[FrenchieCat]

15. You mean my lack of support for Edwards? yes, you are correct.

Obsession? I don't look at it way.

As a tax paying, children raising, hard working American......What is termed as an obsession to you, is of rightful interest to me.

The obsession you have is in trying to dis DU members for utilizing their right to say what they please.

You want to say I obsess over Edwards. So be it. At least I don't obsess over Democratic Underground posters, which is what you seem to be doing. :eyes:

[chimpymustgo]

18. Look, let Clark get into the ring, and they can go at each other fair and square

But this cyber-bs is tiresome.

We have great candidates...all of them better than any Rethug. Why fight GOP battlesfor them?

[FrenchieCat]

24. TITLE OF THIS THREAD THAT I DID NOT AUTHOR......SOME SAY HILLARY AND OBAMA WILL NOT BE NOMINATED

So why pick on lil 'o me?

primary season is about figuring out who's best.

The GOP will trash them all, so there's nothing that I'm providing the GOP that they don't already have, and won't already use.

During primary season, I'll be pointing out the differences between candidates to ensure that we pick the most honest, sincere, and strongest one.

There is no rule that because my candidate isn't yet running, that I should be a good little Democrat and dare not remind folks of Edwards recent past actions in reference to the main issue discussed everywhere day in, day out.

[last_texas_dem]

43. I don't see why he shouldn't be mentioned in the top tier

He's an announced candidate, and several polls show him doing as well or better in head-to-head matchups with the 'pugs than Obama or HRC do. Not to mention, he was part of the Democrats' most recent Presidential ticket, and especially with Kerry declining to run this time around, it's not particularly weird that our most recent Vice Presidential nominee would be considered to be in the top tier when he's planning another run for the White House.

And frankly, I think you give the media too much credit in assuming that they "know" much of anything. Particularly, the idea that the corporate media must somehow be working together or something to help *any* potential Democratic Presidential candidate to secure the nomination seems to be quite unrealistic to me. Gore and Kerry's recent runs for the White House should be pretty good indications of just how much the media will do to "help" any Democrat running for the White House.

[Captain Hilts]

8. Entirely possible. There's a long campaign ahead. nt

[longship]

14. The process will work out more or less as you say.

This will allow others to jump into the fray at an opportune time. The dynamics of the 2008 race will not firm up until well after the end of this year.

There's one thing of which we can be sure. Neither Obama nor Clinton will get the nomination. At this time next year, we'll be laughing at those who have been trumpeting Barack and Hillary so early. Especially we'll be laughing at the newsies who have been positively foaming at the mouth about those two, and about McCain, and Giuliani, and Romney, and the rest of the perceived front-runners.

This is what eventually happens to those perceived to be front-runners 20 months prior to the election.

[Robson]

23. May I say

BINGO!!!!

In our 24/7 news cycle and environment, time is against those who throw their hat in the ring early. The announced candidates each now have placed a media target on themselves. It will be downhill from that point on for them.

[Me.]

19. Fingers Crossed

Hope in my heart

[monmouth]

20. Al Gore is over as POTUS. Energy for this should be placed elsewhere.

[Robson]

29. Why

I see Al Gore as the man who opposed Iraq from day one, who focused relentlessly on something that the world needed (Global Warming), and who has much more experience that any of the candidates on R or L. None of the front runners have those qualifications on their resume.

Politics and people are fickle. We like ambition but not overambition (many see Hillary as overambitious) .

We prefer to chose our candidates and not have the candidates chose us. If Gore looks as though he doesn't really want the job it only makes him more desirable. We want what we don't have. If he gets an award tomorrow and if his concerts on GW this summer go well his momentum will continue upwards, while who knows about those candidates busy attacking each other.

Al Gore's downside is his speeches are too long and not as charismatic as Obamas. OBama might be a good running mate.

[Kahuna]

33. Somebody from Palm Beach in Florida saying Gore is through...

Whew! That takes brass stones.

[monmouth]

39. No brass stones here, I don't think he could be elected. I do think he

is a great person, just don't think he could get elected.. Sorry if you disagree.

[Apollo11]

60. If your avatar had stood down in February 1999

We would now be entering the 9th year of Al Gore's Presidency !!! :)

In those circumstances I would agree with you that Al Gore should not run again in 2008.

As you know - 10 years is the maximum possible Presidency under the US Constitution.

[Superman Returns]

27. This race is hard to peg

The race is truly wide open. I agree that if there is going to be one "surprise candidate" I would pick Richardson. He contains the ideal resume: exective experience in a swing state, diplomatic service and foreign policy experience, and legislative time in Congress. Additionally, he is the other history maker in this race, being the first hispanic with the chance of gaining the nomination. So, I am a bit baffled why the media ignores him. He is Presidential material with hispanic heritage to boot and of course, can put New Mexico firmly in our column. I predict Iowans will begin to notice the seriousness of his candidacy and therefore, we will have some surprises.

Edwards we are going to find out, has no where to go. He has been in a perpetual state of candidacy since 2004. People are going to begin to ask the famous Mondale question, "where's the beef?" What has he done. I'm glad he admitted to making a mistake voting for the Iraq War, but then, why do you deserve to be President? What has he done domestically?

Finally, if anyone besides Hillary gets the nomination I know Kathleen Selibius will be a top VP contender. If Senator Clinton does get it: it will definitely be Clinton/Bayh or Clinton/Richardson. The latter happening if Richardson isn't highly competitve against Clinton during the primaries.

[beaconess]

28. "Some say" lots of things . . . don't make it so

[A Simple Game]

31. "Hillary has far too much baggage"?

I hear this all the time, other than her "vote for war" what would her baggage be?

Of course her "vote for war" is enough for half of DU to vote republican instead of Democratic if Hillary is the nominee!

I am not a huge Hillary fan, but would like to know why I should dismiss her as a candidate or nominee for President.

I suspect her "baggage is made of the same material as your "Some Sayers".

[Robson]

32. Polls and another Presidential family

Hillary's baggage.
1/ Polls show that she is devisive and is polarizing. Unless you really like her, you might really dislike her. That's not necessarily a plus.
2/ Does the USA really want to establish royal Presidential families? I can't speak for all but I'd prefer not having so many family relationships in our elected government. I don't ever want to see another Bush. It's bad enough having celebrities get elected with only name recognition. IMO it's not healthy for the USA even if you liked Bill Clinton. It's actually a negative for Al Gore too (but not as substantial)as his father was a US Senator.
3/ And of course she voted to support Bushs war powers in Iraq.

[A Simple Game]

38. I tend to be skeptical of most polls.

Many polls do paint a slanted or one sided picture depending upon who is paying for the poll and what they want the poll to say.

I tend to agree with your number 2, but realize that you take the chance(probably not in this case) of automatically eliminating the best qualified person for the job.

Number 3, well, you just eliminated about half of the American population. Funny I don't remember hearing that Kerry's or Edward's vote was held against them in '04. Personally I did weight it against him in the primaries. But because I seemed to be alone in thinking this at the time, I am amused at people now holding it against Hillary.

No Hillary is not my first choice.

[oasis]

46. Hillary's "baggage": code for formidable female. No other reasonable explanation

has been put forward.

[A Simple Game]

47. It does often seem to be the case. n/t

[amandabeech]

52. When talking to non-Dems, I think it's code for Bill fatigue.

Most Dems love Bill, but even those who don't see him as ten times better than * even when Bill was battling the worst of the Monica Madness.

The independents and moderate Pubbies (who really don't like *) that I've talked to just don't want to think about Bill again.

[PresidentObama]

36. The obvious could be nominees are Hillary, Obama, Edwards& Gore.

But I think we need to watch maybe a few surprise contenders to come out of no where, and grab the parties attention. Perhaps at the debates? IMHO, Clark and Richardson could be those surprise contenders. And I hope Clark runs, so I can support him (if Gore doesn't run)

[Ninja Jordan]

40. AL GORE IS NOT RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT

[Gman]

45. AT THIS TIME

is about all that can be said with any certainty.

[Apollo11]

59. I AM NOT GOING TO BED

I have no plans to go to bed, but I haven't completely ruled out going to bed at some time in the future.

[Labors of Hercules]

61. So, are you saying that the likelihood Al will run is akin to the likelihood that you will go to bed

at some point in the future?

Them's pretty damn good odds unless you like sleeping on the floor.

[Apollo11]

65. What I'm saying is that people can change their plans

Most people change their plans several times each day.

So if Al Gore says he has no plans to run - he is talking about today.

It doesn't tell us anything about what his plans will be 6 months down the line.

In Gore We Trust :)
www.algore.com
www.algore.org
www.draftgore.com

[Labors of Hercules]

66. Either way it seems to be pointing in the right direction!

:kick: GORE/OBAMA 2008!

[Imagevision]

41. So let Gore give it his best shot, it still doesn't disqualify Obama!!

Wouols welcome Gore/Obama debate, even Hillary and Edwards. Guranteed theycwould all want Barrack to go first!

[Gman]

44. It is a political light year until the conventions

anything could happen between now and then.

[election_2004]

48. My predictions for the "D" and "R" tickets....

Clark/Sebelius vs. Hagel/Pawlenty

[EndElectoral]

49. Richardson may be a good VP candidate for western states.

[BlueIris]

51. THANK YOU.

I also feel that neither Obama nor Billary has a snowball's chance. Please, don't flame me, it's not that I have great personal dislike...for Obama, it's just that I don't think either of those candidates is going to be able to sustain enough momentum (or perceived credibility) to make it all the way to the convention.

Don't know if I see Gore getting it, but the scenario you propose (someone better and more experienced than either the senators from Illinois or New York getting tapped to run at the "last minute") is my feeling about how we'll get our nominee.

[AtomicKitten]

53. some say I'm a good driver

but I'm actually not

[MaineDem]

56. Of course some say that

Supporters of Biden, Dodd, Vilsack, Richardson, Kucinich, Clark, Gravel, Gore...have I left out anyone?

[wyldwolf]

57. you had me until you mention Gore. He has higher negatives than Hillary

[Apollo11]

58. Gore - Obama 2008

would be my dream ticket right now (although it's up to the nominee to select his or her running mate).

I start from the belief that Al Gore is the best qualified person for the job, in terms of his experience, knowledge, intelligence and judgement. This for me is the only reason why he should run. It's not about "destiny" or "payback" or "correcting mistakes" or "rewinding the clock".

As to the question of whether he will run -- I think Al Gore is keeping his options open right now, watching how the "pre-season" goes. I don't think he yet knows what he will do.

There is no hurry for Gore to enter the race for 2008. He is doing a great job raising public awareness about the climate crisis (he spoke to 10 000 people in Boise last month!). He will testify at a US Congressional Hearing in Washington on March 21st. Hopefully he might even get on stage at the Oscar ceremony on Feb 25th! :)

Gore is also busy working on his next book "The Assault on Reason" - to be published in May. The theme of this book - why we need better decision-making in government - is very timely (whether he runs or not).

Depending on how things pan out, and the reaction to his book, Gore can consider his situation over the summer and announce his decision (or if you prefer - "change his mind") sometime in the fall.

Don't forget that Bill Clinton did not kick-off his campaign until October 1991. But Al Gore already has nationwide respect and name recognition that other wannabees can only wish for! :)

Unless and until Gore endorses another candidate, we have to assume that he is keeping his options open. So it is too soon for those of us who prefer Gore to switch our allegiance.


Let's all find ways to show our support for Al Gore! :)

Read Rolling Stone magazine: WHY GORE SHOULD RUN -- AND HOW HE CAN WIN
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/13248532/why_gore_should_run__and_how_he_can_win

Get ready for Al Gore's next book - The Assault on Reason - out in May!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/16/AR2006091600877.html

Visit the following pro-Gore websites:
www.algore.com
www.algore.org
www.draftgore.com - Sign the petition! :)
www.draftgore2008.org
www.patriotsforgore.com

:kick:

[Labors of Hercules]

62. This will be the dream ticket to launch in about 8 months...

No sooner, so everybody else has plenty of time to rev up their campaigns and then WHAMMO!

It'll be like John Travolta walking in on a disco contest. :party:

[noonwitch]

63. I like all the candidates, but Richardson is the one the GOP fears

He's pro-gun, anti-illegal immigration and he can pull a lot of hispanic voters his way.

I like Hillary best, overall-Obama is too inexperienced at this point in time to top the ticket.

[mtnsnake]

64. Who are these "Some" that say this?

They wouldn't be Edwards supporters by any chance, would they?

[BenDavid]

68. On August 28th 2008

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton will give her acceptance speech to the Democrats gathered in Denver, Colorado and to the nation. All polls will show her with a 8 to 9 point lead over her republican nominee prior to her speech....Early polls taken after her speech on Friday August 29th will all be positive.
On November 4th 2008, CBS,CNN,ABC,NBC,MSNBC,FOX all declare Hillary Rodham Clinton as the 44th President Of The Uninted States.
On January 20th 2009 President Elect Hillary Rodham Clinton takes the oath of office and is declared the 44th President of the United States of America.

Accept it. This will happen!

[Capn Sunshine]

69. BZZZT! AUTOMATIC DQ

Use of the term "some say" means no sources and an agenda on whoever utters the phrase. VERY popular with the right wing.

I'm sorry, I won't be able to read anything you write on DU without it being highly suspect.