Vilsack raises centrist profile

[Freddie Stubbs]

As Democratic Party rebuilds, governor adopts Clinton-like strategy while expanding network for possible future beyond Iowa

By THOMAS BEAUMONT
REGISTER STAFF WRITER
December 5, 2004

If Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack hasn't exactly torn the page from Bill Clinton's playbook, he's at least read it.

The rural-state governor has built a healthy relationship with influential moderate Democrats nationally, just as then-Arkansas Gov. Clinton did before seeking the presidency in 1992.

And although Vilsack hasn't said whether he will run for the 2008 Democratic nomination, he preserved that possibility last month when he decided against running for Democratic National Committee chairman.

Instead, the little-known governor with national ambition has begun more publicly identifying himself with elements of the party that helped launch Clinton's rise and that have decried Democrats' recent setbacks particularly among rural voters.

more: http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041205/NEWS10/412050335/1001

[PROGRESSIVE1]

1. Wes Clark 08"! I do NOT want Vilsack. He could not even...

deliver his own state to us so why would I want him. After 2006, he should just go back into the dark.

[Freddie Stubbs]

2. How good of a job did Clark do in delivering his own state?

:shrug:

[NWHarkness]

3. Well, if time starts moving in reverse

He will be well positioned for election in 1992.

[kentuck]

4. Maybe we can get Ross Perot to come back and attack the Repubs?

:)

[Killarney]

6. that's my dream

My dream is that the paleo-conservatives (who are conservatives mainly for fiscal reasons) get so sick of Bush's high deficits, spending, wars, religion, etc that they splinter from the Republican party and offer up their own Ross Perot type guy in 2008. Then the Republicans will be left with the evangelicals and that's it. If there is a strong conservative 3rd party candidate, we're guaranteed a win. Unless we have a strong liberal 3rd party candidate, then we'll probably splinter ourselves and lose again.

[AntiCoup2K4]

5. The only thing Vilsack has going for him is being a governor.

Other than that..... come on, just say it to yourself...

"President Vilsack"??

Not gonna happen. For the same reason there wasn't a "President Tsongas" or a "President Kucinich".

For all his DLC buddies help, it won't be enough to buy him the White House.

Not that I'll mourn that fact for a moment, mind you. We don't need any more pandering pussies, media friendly names or not.

[Kindigger]

7. Observations from Iowa

I've said before...I'm in a small town in Vilsack's home county. Walk across the two lane highway, and I'm in MY home county.

My home county went 60-40% Kerry. Vilsack's...55-44% Bush*. :grr:

Can't get much more "night and day" than that huh? Believe me, the difference in mentality by crossing a two lane highway could not be more apparent! Actually,its mindboggling, pathetic, and just :puke:

Iowa needs to hold on to the last Democratic thing we have (no matter how much he sucks), or the State is lost forever.

God he makes me want to SPIT. :mad:


Edit: I just realized what an anomally this is. The county on the other side went 54-44% Kerry, as did the rest of southeast Iowa.

Vilsack's home county is the only Repug county on this side of the State? What does THAT mean? :WTF:

[WyLoochka]

8. If Vilsack wants to get

anywhere in a quest for higher elected office, he'd better get away from Al From and the DLC as fast as he can.

I think millions of Democrats now realize the horrendous damage From has done to the party with his gawd awful advice to "just be nice and go along with repuke policies" and they will not be supporting his hand picked, pink tu-tu weenies anymore.

"Vilsack returned Saturday from a weekend retreat in Colorado put on by the centrist Democratic Leadership Council."