Why exactly is Carol Mosely Braun still running?

[ShaneGR]

Not that I dislike her, I just don't get the candidacy. Name recognition?

[Monte Carlo]

1. I think her presence in the debates keeps the other candidates honest.

She has done well to bring the issue of universal, single-payer health care back to the Democratic table. She is a good speaker, and a pace-maker of sorts with campaign issues.

[Padraig18]

2. I like CMB very much...

... and I know her as a 'nodding acquaintance', but I wonder the same thing. She's a great person, but the 'why' of her run still escapes me.

[arwalden]

25. I Think She's Wonderful!! Could She Be A V-P Contender?

Who knows?

-- Allen

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

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

[maha]

18. Who was it, anyway?

I remember the Cleveland River fire problems, but I can't recall who was responsible.

[Donna Zen]

23. The Cuyahogua River

burning was a case of spontaneous combustion. Last spring, I saw an article detailing the various diseases found in the river, including polio. Flying into Cleveland, you could actually see the brown sludge known as the Cuyahogua emptying into Lake Erie. Anyway, when I lived in Ohio, it was hell keeping my dog out of that cesspool since the river was a block away.

[ShaneGR]

20. yo

peace! I think I had like 10 posts way back then. And I apologized for having the dates wrong.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

28. Peace

Thanks for being upfront, and I apologize for my snippy reply.

[Name removed]

30. Deleted message

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[metisnation]

4. the democratic party

maybe is feeling out the issues. Great job keep going CMB!

[jenk]

5. raise her profile, she knows that she'll never be on the ballot

maybe consideration for some other cabinet position

braun should be gone within the next 2 months.

[WillyBrandt]

6. She should quit soon

It's not so much long-shot as no-shot. Moreover, unlike (say) Kuncinich, her 'campaign' consists of talking at the debates and little more.

Unlike Sharpton, who has real wit and an occasional dash of fresh insight, CMB just offers standard boilerplate Democratic fare: which is fine, but which all of the other candidates do as well.

Over the next month or so, we need to winnow the field. We need smaller debates with just the real candidates there. People have gotten their messages out, the main ideas have been articulated. Now we have to settle on what this is: a political contest among people looking to be our candidate. Anything that interferes with the contestants explaining themselves well to primary voters needs to be resolved. Anything that makes us appear weak next to * needs to be gotten rid of.

CMB, Sharpton, Kuninich, Edwards: it's nearing time for you to go.

[Carolina]

16. no,

it's time for weasly Lieberman and Gephardt (a yes man on anything Massa Bush wants re: Iraq) to go. Sharpton and CMB have another mission as well: VOTER REGISTRATION. And don't rule Edwards out as a potential VP.

[in_cog_ni_to]

7. I don't know why

she's still running. I like her a lot...I worked on her Senate campaign when she ran....I hope she gets a position in the new Democratic administration. She's an awesome lady.

[Tinoire]

8. Maybe because it's still a free country

and some people like her :shrug: and we would like to to give them a chance to vote for the person they feel represents them?

This isn't the 2003 Republican Party you know- we are going to have Primaries so that the people can choose.

The imperial crowning shall just have to wait until after the Primary.

8 White men, 1 Black Man, 1 Black woman...

She just might be representing some people- you wouldn't want them to feel slighted in the Democratic Primaries would you?

[sangha]

9. It's possible!

:-)

[JohnKleeb]

12. Youre right

Simply put and ever the true.

[WillyBrandt]

13. She polls extremely low; we can't win

This primary cannot be a feel good event. It is only about selecting a strong candidate--both on ideological and electoral grounds--and preparing that person to beat Bush. Anything else is dumb.

CMB is not running a campaign. She is showing up at the debates and that is nearly everything. Sharpton is at least doing something via his wit and forceful articulation.

Sorry--nine candidates is too many. One minute per candidate in a debate is too little. Unless things turn around soon, some have got to go.

[Cheswick2.0]

31. I agree, 9 candidates is too many

and since 7 of them are boring cookie cutter white guys I think 5 of those dodos should drop out.

[Padraig18]

19. I can't help but smile when I see her!

Carol is a person of enormous 'charisma', something most people comment on when they meet her. She can literally 'light up the room' with her smile. Her convictions regarding womens' issues, the poor, the rights of minorities and others 'the system' often ignores and under-serves are deep and genuine, and she speaks passionately to these things.

I hope she stays in for as long as possible, although I have *no* belief that she can win. :)

[KG]

10. because she can?

CMB, AS, and DK, are healthy alternative voices, a nice departure from the wealthy white male front runners many are looking to for (snicker) real change.

[0007]

11. You mean you can't figure it out?

It's all about exposure for future political opportunity. Braun knows she doesn't stand a chance. Same as Al Shapton. His eye is on the Mayorship of NYC.

[maha]

21. Right; it's good exposure.

She's getting lots and lots of exposure without spending much money. The result could be a return to the Senate or a cabinet position in the next Democratic administration. I wish her well.

On the other hand, Sharpton will become Mayor of NYC when pigs fly. People in NYC caught on to his act years ago. He'd be more easily elected mayor in another city where people don't know him as well.

[pasadenaboy]

14. the real reason she is running

What I heard is that she is running to syphon votes from Sharpton in SC, but who really knows?

[maha]

17. That's silly.

The idea that African Americans will automatically vote for African American candidates ignores the fact that African American voters understand what's at stake in the coming election and, in general, have a more intelligent voting record in recent years than whites.

Further, Al Sharpton's "base," if he has one, is New York City. There's no way he'd be elected to anything in New York City, even if we all woke up tomorrow and learned that all whites are disenfranchised. People in NYC remember Sharpton's history and generally only respect him as far as they can throw him.

I'm quite surprised anyone takes him seriously, but then I've come to realize that people outside New York and younger people don't know him all that well. And he does put on a good show.

That being said, why would African American voters in South Carolina find Al Sharpton all that appealing? He's a product of the Brooklyn projects, not the rural South. Other than the fact that he's black, what particular appeal would he have for African Americans in South Carolina?

[LalahLand]

15. Because she is an accomplished American citizen

Who has the right to run for President, regardless of her financial backings. She is also a great inspiration to many African Americans and women, particularly African American women.

[Shakespeare]

22. Why shouldn't she???

She's been excellent in all the debates, and is a real asset to our party. Any time we're fortunate enough to have someone like that in the spotlight--no matter how limited--we all benefit.

I like Mosely-Braun very, VERY much.

[spooky3]

24. Unfortunately, she's raised very little campaign $

only a bit over $100K, and has spent most of it. So I suspect she'll have to drop out soon for that reason.

[maha]

26. That's why they call her a "vanity" candidate.

She's not creating a big national organization of people who have to be paid. She doesn't have much money, but neither is she spending it.

[bitchkitty]

27. To be a voice?

She's a very welcome voice, to me. I like her a lot.

[ikojo]

29. Right now I have only two candidates I would like to see

exit stage right (which is where they would be more comfortable I am sure) and they are...drum roll please.......


Lieberman

Gephardt

Both of whom find it difficult to say no to shrubby.


I don't think either of them do anything to widen the debate within the Democratic party. As a matter of fact they do more damage by moving the party further to the right. At least CMB and Al Sharpton are talking about things that concern WORKING people (you know MOST Americans who depend upon a PAYCHECK and not an INVESTMENT return to live?). If Sharpton, Kucinich and Carol Mosely Braun can shift the debate even one centimeter to the left it will have been a positive development.

Yes, sometimes people do run just to get their message out there. Is that such a horrible thing?

[Classical_Liberal]

32. It's really ashame in 2003 a candidate as talented as her is dissed

just for being a women and black. Honestly, I like her that much and I don't understand why there is such enthusiasm to push her out.

[Ernesto]

33. Probably to make a living

Remember she is probably being paid by her organization for her time & expenses. We all gotta eat, don't we?