Consider Lloyd Doggett in 2008

[Horse with no Name]

Great political record.
Appeals to bible belt.
Great on any ticket-P or VP

Biography of Lloyd Doggett

* Born, raised, and educated in Austin, Texas
* B.B.A. in business, first in his class, The University of Texas at Austin, 1967; President of University of Texas Student Body
* Law Degree, Juris Doctor with Honors, University of Texas, 1970; Associate Editor, Texas Law Review
* President, Texas Consumers Association
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SERVICE
* Elected to Congress from Texas, November 1994
* Member, House Committee on Ways and Means, Health Subcommittee, and Select Revenue Measures Subcommittee
* Co-founder, House Information Technology Roundtable
* Member, Congressional Task Force on Tobacco and Health
* Ranked for past 6 years as a top deficit hawk by the non-partisan Concord Coalition for his commitment to ensuring fiscal responsibility and maintaining a balanced federal budget
* Consistently ranked as a top treasury guardian by the independent government watchdog group Taxpayers for Common Sense, with #1 ranking among House Members in 2002 and 2003
* "Elected Public Official of the Year" by the CenTex Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration (2004)
* "Public Interest Champion" by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (2003)
* "Best Elected Official" award by the Austin Chronicle’s annual reader survey (2004). This is the second year in a row Rep. Doggett has received a "Best of Austin" award.
* "Friend of the National Parks" by the National Parks Conservation Association for 3 consecutive Congressional sessions (1996-2002)
* "Friend of the Earth Award" from Friends of the Earth (2002)
* "Award of Appreciation for Outstanding Achievement" from the Sierra Club of Austin for "consistent and tireless dedication to the preservation of the environment" (2000)
* Recognized by SafePlace for 20 years of commitment to reducing domestic violence (1997)
* Freshman All-Star "by a landslide" in Washingtonian magazine's 1996 Congressional rankings
JUDICIAL SERVICE
* Justice, Texas Supreme Court, 1989-1994
* Chair, Supreme Court Task Force on Judicial Ethics, 1992-1994
* Outstanding Judge in Texas, Mexican-American Bar of Texas, 1993
* Adjunct Professor, University of Texas School of Law, 1989-1994
* James Madison Award, Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas, 1990
* First Amendment Award, National Society of Professional Journalists, 1990
TEXAS SENATE SERVICE
* Started serving in the Texas State Senate, 1973, at age 26 and served until 1985
* Senate author of 124 state laws, and Senate sponsor of 63 House bills enacted into law, including
- Texas Commission on Human Rights to prohibit discrimination in employment;
- Outlawing "Cop Killer" bullets and strengthening Crime Victim Compensation Fund;
- Generic Drug Law to allow the purchase of less expensive "generic drugs";
- Standards for Medicare supplemental insurance policies; and
- Texas Sunset Act, requiring periodic review to modify or abolish ineffective state laws and bureaucracies
* Outstanding Young Texan, named by Texas Jaycees
* Arthur B. Witty Award for outstanding achievement in human rights, Austin NAACP
* Honored by Austin Rape Crisis Center (now SafePlace), Planned Parenthood of Austin; Austin chapter, American Institute of Architects; Austin Council on Alcoholism; and Disabled American Veterans
PERSONAL
* Married in 1969 to Libby Belk Doggett, Ph.D., Executive Director, Pre-K-Now (current); Adjunct Professor, Georgetown University Center , Georgetown University Center for Child & Human Development (current); Director of HeadsUp! Reading, National Head Start Association (2000-2002); Special Assistant, U.S. Department of Education (1996-2000); Executive Director of The Arc of Texas (1990-1995)
* Two daughters -- Lisa, husband Don & Cathy. Lisa and Don are physicians; Cathy is a teacher
* Member of the First United Methodist Church

[autorank]

1. Taking Texas in 2008 would allow me to die happy (not too soon, however)

This guy looks good! Does he have any heavy baggage?

[Horse with no Name]

2. None.

He has a solid record.
He is also a sponsor of HR2239 for election reform and understands there is a necessity for verified voting.
According to his constituents, he and his wife ride their bicycles around the neighborhood and shop at their local grocery store.
The guy is solid.
He was one of the targets in the redistricting of Texas--and survived. Even his new constituents knew he was a good thing.
Do some research. The guy is good.
His wife is a professional--but they both stand for the things that the Dems hold near and dear. Social programs, helping people, the environment.
I don't know why he hasn't been pegged before.

http://www.issues2000.org/TX/Lloyd_Doggett.htm

[ashling]

5. I think you are on to something

When we moved home to Texas we were planning to live in his district again, but the 'thuglicans moved the line on us. I would love to be able to vote for Lloyd again.

[autorank]

8. Checked him out. He's a gem. We're finding more of those daily.

Reid's one as well. I'm sure that Durbin will emerge by the force of his intellect and personality.

It's time that our leaders come bottom up instead of being selected for us by media focus.

Now, can he help us take Texas? Seriously, not effusively. Does he have state appeal?

[ThorsHammer]

3. Other than the lack of name recognition (which can be overcome),very solid

[Javaman]

4. God Bless, Lloyd...

I had a chance to meet him a few years ago, a decent, smart guy.

[Horse with no Name]

6. I met him too

in the early 80's. He was running against Gramm I think.
He has a great handshake and the kindest eyes. That makes a difference to me,lol.

[dolstein]

7. How predictable, DU'ers looking for the next Dennis Kucinich

Of course I could point out that no member of the House has been elected president since, oh, the 1880s. Sure, I could point out that, like Kucinich, Doggett lacks both the name recognition, the political stature and the fund capacity needed to secure the party's nomination. I could point out the futility of backing doomed candidates, and how it only marginalizes the left even further. Sure, I could say all that, but what would be the point? I made the same arguments about Kucinich, and of course I was right -- Kucinich was never going to get the nomination. But that didn't stop DU'ers from flocking to Kucinich. Let's face it, some DU'ers just aren't comfortable backing a candidate who could actually get the nomination, but less win in the general election. They'd much rather pat themselves on the back for showing the "courage" of backing an ideologically pure candidate.

[Skink]

9. The name sounds good for VP.../Dogget 08