What would happen if all the Dem candidates agreed

[BlueEyedSon]

to forgo the primaries. Spend no money on the primary campaigns (and let the states save that budget item too).

A little reality testing will indicate that there are already a few candidates that are too far behind to have a shot. I do not mean to suggest that their presence has not helped shape the debate and their rivals' rhetoric.

They should pick one among themselves to be the Dem candidate. For argument sake, the frontrunner. Assign eveyone else (whoever is interested) a cabinet level position. Sort of like a coalition ticket. Let's face it, are they in this for ego, or to serve?

In this race, there is only one "guy to beat". To save the country that should be the focus.

[jpgray]

1. We have primaries so party members can vote for their nominee

They deserve a choice.

[BlueEyedSon]

4. I'm suggesting voters can have it all

You like X, great. X is veep.
You like Y, great. Y is Secy of Defense.
etc.

You think the president cooks up policy (and executes it) by himself?

They all have their strengths are can be excellent public servants in their own way. Stay this course for 4 more years and the US will be unrecognizable to its Founding Fathers.

[jpgray]

7. All the candidates want to be president.

This way the people have a broad choice, from Kucinich to Lieberman, over who to support. In February or March, we'll probably be down to one or two guys.

[BlueEyedSon]

14. And neither DK or JL will be in that exclusive club

Buh-bye, choices!

[quinnox]

2. What would happen if Dean withdrew from the race

It would leave the field less crowded, and a contender that could actually beat Bush would emerge.

I like this scenario better.

[BlueEyedSon]

6. The only candidate that has proven to be able to beat Bush is

Gore. And he's not running.

[tsipple]

3. Some Primaries and Caucuses Will Strengthen the Nominee

Then we'll come together. The stakes are just too high.

[deminflorida]

5. "For argument sake, the frontrunner." Sure,.....

"Why have a democracy at all, a dictatorship would be so much easier."

Where have we heard that one?

[BlueEyedSon]

8. Do you really think that any of the dem candidates

would turn the US into a dictatorship? I only know of one politician who has suggested it. And he's working on it. Fortunately, he comes up for re-election soon.

[deminflorida]

12. Let me think now, what do you call a system where there is

only one cadidate to choose as a leader?

Put your thinking cap on now?

What is it?

[BlueEyedSon]

16. Uh... the Republican Party?

They will have one candidate. Did the US suddenly become something else?

[deminflorida]

15. Oh and by the way, your damn right he's working on it.....

he's got Rove out there promoting Howard Dean every day.

[BlueEyedSon]

17. Will you vote for Rove's favored democrat if he gets the nod?

or not?

[deminflorida]

18. Like any person who believes in DEMOCRACY, I will vote for

him if he is elected and chosen by the people....I don't know where the word NOD comes into to play in that system. I've used it too, but it's not appropriate.

[BlueEyedSon]

19. Some of the primaries are held by caucus

if im not mistake. Hardly direct-representation democracy.

[deminflorida]

20. Yeah, I know.....

but I can't think of any southern caucues, can you?

[BlueEyedSon]

10. BTW, on primary day, the frontrunner becomes the

Dem candidate anyway.

[economic justice]

9. Do you realize

Do you realize the precedent setting scheme you are proposing?

Those of us caught up in the "campaign game" sometimes forget that just because some individuals decided to announce their candidacies for president does NOT make them the most qualified for president/vice-president/any cabinet position. Your proposal makes the campaign for president some kind of mythical stepping stone to getting a cabinet post. The precedent would be: Want to work in a national administration? Announce for president!

[BlueEyedSon]

11. Its a one-shot deal. The country has been in crisis since 2000

[YNGW]

13. Question

Shouldn't this be on the "Hell has just frozen over" thread?

[mmonk]

21. I'm for democracy

as much as possible.

[theboss]

22. I'd become a Republican

I'm deadly serious. I may disagree with everything they stand for, but I would at least have the chance to state my opinion.

You are suggesting we adopt the tactic of the Communists in the USSR. Let the elite decide.