Democratic Frontrunners' Poll

Maybe we will get a clearer picture today. The Dems debate in about an hour on CNBC. It will be replayed at 9 EST on MSNBC. I really doubt Braun will be anyone's VP pick. She has a horrible history of cozying up to brutal dictators. This is one reason she did not win reelection in Illionois. The Dems really want to win and Braun would not help their cause. Perhaps Diane Feinstein would be a good pick. She is less liberal than most Dems and more in touch with the center of America's heartbeat. Good point about Clinton. Even Carter was away down in the polls, came in second in Iowa (next to none of the above), and the rest is history.

 

Well, just finished watching the debate. Clark did very poorly; he reminded me of Admiral Stockwell in his VP debate. Actually, Carol Moseley Braun did the best. She came across sincere and unscripted. If I were a Democrat and liked her politics, I'd be for her. Dean and Gephart went after each other with Dean getting the better of it. Gephart's anger was tough for him to conceal this time. BTW, thought Arnold won last night with McClintock a close second and Huffington, a gadfly.

 

I'm watching the debate as we speak, and very impressed with how Clark sounds so far (especially considering how new he is to the race). Stockdale (a brilliant guy who would have probably made a fine VP) got a bad rap--he was working on a broken hearing aid, and would have probably impressed us all if he hadn't been. Very intelligent, articulate man under normal circumstances, as evidenced by the fact that he managed to work in a few zingers (the "ping-pong match" line was a classic) even without knowing for sure what anyone was talking about.

Wacky quote of the night so far:

"[George W. Bush] is literally in bed with the pharmaceutical companies."
-- Bob Graham, who obviously didn't realize what he'd just said.

That one had me laughing out loud.

I didn't see the California debate, but the quotes/excerpts I've seen suggest to me that Arnold is much better at thinking on his feet than I'd given him credit for. I don't know why he didn't agree to do the other debates.


Cheers,

 

I didn't catch that. That is funny. Bob Graham is no Reuben Askew and even Claude Kirk was a much better governor than he!

 

I don't know enough about Wesley Clark at the moment. Hackworth gave him a good write up in his column and pointed out that Clarke is very bright (# 1 in his class at the Military Academy & a Rhode Scholar). I certainly disagree with Clark on some issues such as his pro abortion stand. He seems to be energizing the campaign and liberals may seem him as a viable and acceptable opponent for G Bush.

If I were Bush I would retire Cheney and run Condoleeza Rice as his VP. Dr. Rice is very bright and I suspect would make a very able VP. Not to mention as Ariel Sharon did that she has great legs (is that PC)?

Heck, the demos ought to run Al Sharpton. At least he has a sense of humour and he has come a long way since the Twana Brawley (?) days. He seems smart and can think on his feet.

By the way, I supported G Bush on Iraq and feel he did a great humanitarian service by removing Sadaam. I do not think anyone could say otherwise after the atrocities have come to light (watch History Channel). To do anything else is to be an arm chair Latte Liberal from the safety of your Suburban OR an isolationist. BUT......I am becoming concerned about whether we actually have an exit strategy or whether this was thought through. There seem to be some holes in the planning (admittedly I do not have all of the facts). We simply are not going to get France & Germany to support us unless we make concessions as they have to much to gain by making political hay out of this (witness their joint news conference). I wonder now whether there is more to the situation & plan than we see or did we simply have some short sighted folks planning this thing.

North

 

She really needs a new hairdo. I don't think Cheney will run. I know he said he will but I think his health is deterioriating and, in the end, he will not run. Dr. Rice would be an excellent choice and the clear front runner for the GOP nod in '08. Clinton vs. Rice would be a fantastic race. As far as Clark I just don't think he will go far. His politics are politics of convenience, not convincement. If Bush were a Democrat, Clark would be a Republican. Of course many military leaders really don't declare a political party until late in life, especially after retiring from the military. Next year may be the most exciting Presidential race since 1968.