My forecast for 2008 : Richardson Vs Romney

[dugggy]

When is the last time any senator won the presidency?
It was JFK. LBJ was VP and promoted to president.

JFK had charisma coming out of his ears and his opponent
was a sweaty & nervous Nixon. SO that was an exception.

I think both parties have recognized that only people with
executive experience are popular with voters. All others
running have ZERO experience actually running something,
even a small county. They have never had to make the final
decisions, never had to balance the budget, never had to
meet a payroll and expenses.

But I am still voting HRC!!

p.s. it just dawned on me Rudy was a mayor, so has some "executive"
experience.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

1. Richardson? Ain't gonna happen.

Romney, perhaps, if the fundies decide to bless him.

[dugggy]

6. My point is we would be smart to nominate a governor.

They seem to win more elections. But you may be right,
Richardson has not caught much traction yet.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

11. Trust me...

as a Deaniac, I know all about the governor v. congressperson strategy.

Yeaaargh.

[dugggy]

13. and I will always believe gov Dean woulda done better in GE

Senator John kerry just kept the history going...senators or
HR's just are not popular with voters in GE. Voters seem to
trust a person with actual executive experience, time and again.

[bklyncowgirl]

41. At the very least Dean would have gone down swinging..but let's not go there.

[Carrieyazel]

30. Back in '91, they said: Clinton had no shot. In '75 they said Carter was dreaming.

We have a history of dark horses breaking out. I wouldn't count Richardson out.

[Orangepeel]

2. you're half right.

It will probably be Romney and Richardson might be VP.

[smalll]

3. Hope not! A "fattie" vs. a "hottie"? We could lose that one! /NT

[dugggy]

9. By fall of 2008, Jenny Craig or LA Weight Loss will do wonders

on fatiie's waist line.

[bklyncowgirl]

42. Rudy Giuliani hot! eeeewwww. Romney looks like a freakin' Ken doll.

I'll take a few love handles over bad tempered (Rudy) or plastic (Mittens) any day.

[TwilightGardener]

4. Romney or Rudy vs. Hillary or Obama. I just don't see it shaping up any other way.

Richardson can't leapfrog over 3 other (well-funded) people at this point.

[mwb970]

5. I like Richardson, but you are probably right. /nt

[dugggy]

10. Did'nt governor Jimmy Carter leapfrog over initial front runners?

[TwilightGardener]

17. I don't know, but for Richardson to advance, the front-runners have to display

fatal weaknesses or stumble badly. All three, however, are good-to-excellent campaigners and have not really stumbled in a damaging way. That's why the poll numbers are so stagnant. I just don't see that changing.

[Carrieyazel]

32. He did. He leapt over Birch Bayh and Morris Udall, both Senators who were

the establishment's "can't miss" picks. There were also others who were way ahead of Carter in early polls.

[karynnj]

43. Didn't Bayh opt not to run because his wife was

diagnosed with cancer? Can't remember why Udall faded. Like you said, they were the early favorites.

[bluestateguy]

7. In that matchup, we'd have the NRA on our side

Against a gun-grabber like Romney, Richardson's pro-gun record would be enough for the NRA to endorse a Democrat.

[dugggy]

8. Yes, everyone will be surprised how good Richardson will

do in the GE. Voters will actually like his performance history
in New Mexico. He pulls in the fast gaining Latino block besides.
He has few scandals or negatives, atleast I don't know of any.

[mitchtv]

12. Except he disappoints at every debate

I'd hate to see him get roughed up by Romney. Every time Richardson opens his mouth , he goofs

[dugggy]

16. I am not aware of any gaffe's by Richardson,

but do doubt, he needs to polish his style of speaking.
I think in most debates the "front runners" get the most
face time on camera.

[mitchtv]

20. "being Gay is a choice"?

the debate on Logo. Now we know he didn't mean it but the MSM woud work wonders with an idiot statement like that. The first debate, he looked constipated, and I am a fan , he has the resume, but he's dropped in my list owing to the debates

[dugggy]

23. well......the jury may be out on the gay issue

and Richardson certainly needs to look better in debates

[mitchtv]

27. There was very little damage with Gays

I think, it was a friendly crowd, and corrected immediately after the event. He shot his mouth off, that's all. This is the big leagues,stay alert!. I still like him.

[dugggy]

28. I certainly won't be heart broken if Richardson gets the nod

even though I am voting for Hillary. It's based on how well I did
during Bill Clinton years more than anything else.

[Carrieyazel]

29. In the three debates SINCE YouTube, he's done quite well.

You must be focusing on those early debates, where he did not do well.

[TwilightGardener]

18. Is Romney the gun-grabber? Thought that was Rooody. Mittens

was the varmint-hunter--not especially attractive to the NRA, but not antagonistic towards them either.

[bklyncowgirl]

40. I think Mittens was pro gun control too. He's pretty easy to figure out

Just listen to what he's saying now and you can pretty much bet the farm that he was saying the opposite a few years ago.

But you're right--he is the varmint hunter.

[Faryn Balyncd]

14. Richardson is the best candidate on the occupation, and would run better than the frontrunners.

Only Dodd, Kucinich, and Gravel would also end the occupation.

Only Edwards could come close to how Richardson would bring in votes in the purple states.

And only Biden has anywhere near Richardson's experience in foreign policy.

Richardson is the real deal.

[dugggy]

15. Yes, I agree, once you get past the superficials such as

smooth talking politicians.

[TwilightGardener]

19. Well, looks matter, sad to say. That's what holds him back. Looks and charisma.

[bellasgrams]

21. What's wrong with Richardson's looks?

Edwards is the only pretty boy running. And he works at it.

[TwilightGardener]

22. Well, I happen to find Obama to be a hottie myself...

;-) --Edwards ain't bad either. Hillary is a fine-lookin' lady. Richardson? Uhhh...not a looker. Sorry.

[dugggy]

26. Hillary looks better and has more poise than previous year n/t

[Carrieyazel]

31. Hillary looked a lot better when she was First Lady. Of course, she was younger.

[dugggy]

33. I do not mean in a sexy way, rather a dignified ladylike way

[WorseBeforeBetter]

37. Sexy, dignified and ladylike are mutually exclusive? (n/t)

[dugggy]

44. Depends on the context..

If you are addressing a joint session of congress for example,
it is paramount to be dignified.

If you are at a wedding reception, it is nice if you can look sexy.

If you are at a church mass, it is best to be lady like.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

45. Thank you, Miss Manners. (n/t)

[dugggy]

46. Nope, it is Mr. Manners

:D

[dugggy]

25. $600 haircuts don't hurt either n/t

[dugggy]

24. Certainly some truth to that, sadly n/t

[shimmergal]

35. Actually, his looks might help clinch

the votes of some wavering Republicans. His rumpled look and extra weight might be something those good ole boys could identify with.

[bklyncowgirl]

39. I think you're right, see my post #38 below

What do Mittens or Rudy G have in common with most Americans?

[Carrieyazel]

34. I'll go with Richardson vs. Ghouliani

That would be almost a slam dunk for us. Richardson can make the distinctions with Ghouliani, especially on Iraq.

[calteacherguy]

36. Zero. Percent. Chance. nt

[bklyncowgirl]

38. Not bad, the Democrats would have a candidate that "Looks like America"

Imagine it, a big, beefy, outgoin', gun-totin', horse ridin' governor out of the old west vs a loudmouth fast-talkin' big city mayor and an Eastern governor who looks like he stepped off the pages of GQ. Most Americans, shall we say, are a tad on the tubby side themselves.

The Democrat would actually win the "I'd like to have a beer with this guy" poll.

If big Bill can get his cowboy boot out of his mouth--and he does seem to be doing better lately--he really could be our best candidate. Also, with his experience, he is, with the exception of the non-candidate Al Gore, the best qualified to actually do the job if he gets it.