Draft Martin Sheen!

[Plaid Adder]

My sincere condolences to California and all of its sane inhabitants.

Liza has been trying all morning to get me not to take the election of Governor Schwarzenegger (OW! MY EYES!) so hard. But I can't help it. Liza was ranting abotu how this was the Democratic leadership's fault for not realizing that Gray Davis was a lost cause and they should put all their effort into supporting Bustamante. To which I replied: "What can you DO with people who think Arnold Schwarzenegger is going to make a good governor?" To which she really had no answer.

I just feel like we are looking at the death of the democratic process. People have gotten to the point where they don't make a meaningful disinction between an opinion poll, a marketing research questionnaire, an episode of Survivor, and casting a ballot. It's like they thought the ballot read, "Which of these guys do you think is the most totally bitchin' cool dude?" Instead of, "Which of these people do you think can fix the mess your state is in?"

You know in high school when they had the student body elections they always said, "This is not a popularity contest." But of course we all knew it was. Now we know for sure that the principle applies in the big world. I mean, we always suspected; but now we know. The issues do not actually matter. People just want to vote for the class jock. Maybe they believe that somehow his popularity will rub off on them. I don't know. All I know is, Canada is looking more attractive to me every day.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

If it were even a GOOD actor, that would be something. But California has elected, not just an actor who is not qualified for his new job, but an actor who was never that qualified for his old job either. Governor Conan. Governor Terminator. This is what the majority wants?

Well our course is clear. We must run Martin Sheen against Bush in 2004.

Apparently the Californian electorate can't tell the difference between fantasy and reality. So from their perspective, Sheen is a shoo-in; not only has he served in Vietnam--as a Green Beret, no less--he's already served as president, so he's an incumbent to boot! The Republicans might point out that starring in Apocalypse Now is not the same as actually fighting in Vietnam, or that playing President Bartlett on The West Wing would not necessarily prepare him for running the country--but where is the evidence that anyone would care? Americans, apparently, have given up on substance, and are only interested in electing the face that they will feel most comforted by when they see it on TV. So why not Sheen? He's better looking than most of the other candidates, and probably delivers his lines more convincingly.

Sigh,

The Plaid Adder

[demnan]

1. Yeah, I'd vote for Sheen

Mostly because he's a very caring liberal.

[CMT]

2. I disagree, Cruz Bustamante was a bigger disaster than Davis

Hate to say it, but even among Latinos Cruz didn't get substantially more than 50%. He was uninspiring. He got (so far) about 1.2 million votes less than the NO on recall or 33% compared to 46% who voted to keep Davis. His approval rating was somewhat higher than Davis, but not by much only 36%.

In the end, the Recall was wrong and Davis didn't take it seriously until it was too late. If we had to have another candidate in the race a much better one would have been either Loretta Sanchez or Diane Feinstein. But then Davis may have been right when he said he should stand alone with no other significant Dem on the second ballot.

[La_Serpiente]

3. I think a lot of people were pissed off about the licenses

I think a lot of people, including latinos, were pissed about the licenses. But yes, Sheen would be an awesome candidate. Hey, maybe he could take Feinstein's seat if she retires in 2006.

[Snellius]

4. No way. Draft Julia Roberts and George Clooney

We need some major star power.

[RandomUser]

5. I would love to be able to vote for Sheen

Does he have any political office aspirations? I know he protested the war and is a democrat with good intentions. But is he interested in public office? Maybe someone should draft him. If Arnie can cross over from the media, Sheen can probably use the same tactic to pull support.

[Drifter]

6. Yeah ...

perhaps looking as stupid as Republicans is the way to beat them. I disagree.

I'm not interested in lowering myself to the level of going after a person who has the star power to be elected (especially to a high office).

If Mr. Sheen would like to pursue a career in politics, I hope he starts at the bottom and works his way up (local -> state -> national).

Nothing beats experience (especially star power). Ventura showed us that and Arnold will show us that.

Cheers
Drifter

[The White Rose]

12. How stupid do we look getting beaten by Arnold?

While I sympathize with your position, Democrats have adopted the moral highground for years but in the current climate it's just not enough. Perceived charisma wins elections these days and has done since Reagan beat Carter. A very large number of Americans would vote for Sheen JUST BECAUSE HE PLAYED THE PRESIDENT SO WELL. Same goes for Harrison Ford or any other box office draw. Face it, we want "heroes" to lead us, not policy wonks, and the debacle in my own beloved California proves the point.

[RevolutionStartsNow]

7. Draft Brad Pitt

He's more popular than the rest of 'em put together.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

8. Sheen/Franken ...or Sheen/Striesand ticket

[mbartko]

9. Good point...

I was thinking this morning that if took all the presidential candidates in a house and voted one of them out each week, Americans might actually pay attention to and participate in politics. And if getting out to vote could affect whether your team makes the World Series or Super Bowl, God, there would stampedes to the polling booths. But when it comes to something that has a real and serious implication for their lives, so many, many people could not give half a molecule of an iota of a shit.

[Blue_Roses]

10. You must have

read my mind this morning, or I read yours, 'cause all morning I've been saying the same thing. If all it takes is being a celebrity to win a political campaign then Martin Sheen is a shoe-in!

I actually mean it too.

[spindoctor]

11. LOL

Here are some other liable candidates.

- Draft the alien from "Predator". I believe it still has a bone to pick with Mr. Schwarzenegger.
- Draft Arnie Schwarz. Who is he you might ask? There are 278 Arnie Schwarzes in the state of California. Any one of them will do. He will bring in all of the "Dude, that's a long ballad" votes.
- Michael Moore succesfully ran a ficus in the primaries. Next Californian elections I suggest running a canabis plant. Any person with the name John Canabis is likely to attract a large number of voters too.
- Draft Gary Coleman. Considering he ran virtually without support, the guy did pretty good. Imagine what he cn do with proper backing.

[linazelle]

13. I enjoy reading your thought-packed posts tremendously Plaid Adder

...and this one is hilarious as well.


I'm with you: Martin Sheen for President '04.

[pippin]

14. Draft Barbara Streisand

The moment the repugs got Arnold the dems should have drafted Barbara.

With her popularity as a movie star and singer not to mention her money she would have been a shoo in given the fact as we've seen where voters don't know or care much about politics.

[joefree1]

15. How about Warren Beatty or Carl Riener?

11x17 size free download on my web page
California Democrats for the Recall of Aunald meet here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=106&topic_id=3018

Totally Recall Arnold Schwarzenegger Petition
http://www.petitiononline.com/schwarze/petition.html

[pippin]

16. i suspect with beatty's hsitory we'd have a replay

of women and grope stories crawling ut of the woodwork.

[joefree1]

17. Really, I guess that makes Warren a shoe in.

It didn't hurt Aunald and Warren never did a gang bang (that we know of).

California Democrats for the Recall of Aunald meet here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=106&topic_id=3018

Totally Recall Arnold Schwarzenegger Petition
http://www.petitiononline.com/schwarze/petition.html