Do we actually have any talented progressive governors?

[Hippo_Tron]

Everybody keeps saying that we need a Governor for 2008, not a Senator. The trouble is that our well of governors seems to be pretty dry. All of them seem to be either red-state DINOs or just loosers with no talent period. Roy Barnes probably would've been good had he not been eaten alive by the GOP's confederate flag strategy and the Diebold machines. Mark Warner could be good, although he seems like kind of a DINO to me. What are our other options as far as Governors go?

[tcfrogs]

1. I think you can count out Vilsack

Or not, he's just not dynamic enough in my opinion.

[NEOBuckeye]

2. Michigan has Jennifer Granholm

She's very good, I hear. But she's also Canadian-born.

http://www.granholmforgov.com/

Too bad, huh?

[marcologico]

42. What about that bill to change the American-born requirement?

Is it dead in the water or still floating I wonder.

[Us vs Them]

3. Arnol--- whoops, er

wrong team.

[cire4]

4. Eliot Spitzer will be governor in 2006...Maybe O'Malley too...

While both are very politically talented and both posess a nice progressive track record, I doubt neither will run in '08. Like Obama, I think both are ideally suited for 2012.

[Nothing Without Hope]

5. Obama voted for Rice and for Gonzales in the Senate confirmations

I think we shouldn't make assumptions about how progressive he really is. These votes of his shocked me; I think we need to watch his upcoming record carefully.

[Emops]

12. Obama didn't vote to confirm Gonzales.

The only Dems to do so were Lieberman, Salazar, Pryor, Nelson, Nelson, and Landrieu.

[Nothing Without Hope]

15. I rechecked - and you're right. I'm glad to be wrong on this. n/t

[Emops]

17. Yeah...Condi Rice was one thing,

but giving Tortureboy a pass would be pretty unforgiveable.

[Nothing Without Hope]

19. Yes, absolutely unforgiveable.

Rice was awful too, with her constant lies, total incompetence, and prominent role in pushing the Iraq War. Obama has some explaining to do about that. I read what he said about it at the time, and it made no sense to me.

But Gonzales is a monster. We must never forget the Dems that voted for him, and we should also all remember that not a SINGLE REPUBLICAN voted against Gonzales, including the often-praised John McCain. He has his charm, but he is a Rethug through and through and is supporting the monsters even though he must know what they are. So much for the brave truth-teller image.

[Mutley]

34. o'malley is a fantastic mayor

and i would vote for him in a heartbeat for pres.

[elsiesummers]

6. Ed Rendell?

He's a former head of DNC, I think.

I like that he's sort of a big ugly kind of guy who comes off very powerful - seems like he could kick the s__t out of anybody, (sort of a Dem version of Fred Thompson) yet in the PA primary he ran an extremely positive campaign which made Casey look like a real meaney.

He is sort of a pro-business, new-Dem type, but he seems very good at sticking to core Dem values while appealing to moderates.

I just like the idea of us running a big burly tough sort of guy that would make any possible Republican nominee look like a wimp.

He's also very good at holding his own during a debate - focuses on accomplishments and has a commanding presence.

But seems like PA is more and more firmly falling into Dem hands - so I would like to see a candidate bring extra states.

I haven't seen anything about Rendell running - but I don't see why he shouldn't.

[demokatgurrl]

18. Because he's weak and ineffective.

I live in PA. He has been awful- he wasn't so great as DNC chair either , IMHO. He was too anxious to bend over and cave to the Repubs during the 2000 election. And in order to get his budget passed, he promised Repub legislators who voted for it that he would not campaign against him. Weak, spineless, ineffective. He should just get a job as a football analyst on Comcast Sportsnet (which he does anyway on Sundays during NFL season).

[TwentyFive]

7. Governor Howard Dean

[marcologico]

43. He already dropped the ball on Gannongate.

Next?

[Nothing Without Hope]

8. I'd like to know more about Warner

There's even a Mark Warner Group at DU:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=261

I've seen his name mentioned in several recent discussions of potentially strong progressive leaders but don't know enough about him to get a good sense of what he is like and what his core views are.

His State of Virginia web site is here:
http://www.governor.virginia.gov/Governor/GovBioHome.html
and has some basic material, and there is a bit more in the DU Mark Warner Group threads. I've just posted a question in that Group about his possibly being a DINO and hope for some informative responses.

Anybody here want to comment on why they think he is or is not a DINO?

[RealDems]

10. I had a minor job with the Warner campaign

for governor 4 years ago, and believe me, he is NOT Presidential material. He comes across as stiff and dry when talking one on one with his staff as he does in his speeches. Plus, he's a huge DLCer, and I believe he even Chaired a project for them years before he was governor.

http://www.ndol.org/ndol_ci.cfm?kaid=106&subid=122&contentid=250764

[DemDogs]

13. Heard the same thing on Warner

Connecticut Yankee come South with nothing to say that seems to come from his soul. His handlers will remake him, like they did for the gubernatorial race, but it is hard to see where his constituency is a multi-candidate race.

[autorank]

9. OK, bear with me...Mark Warner, D, Gov. Virginia

Warner is from Northern Virginia, the birthplace of the internet and a very progressive part of the country. He made $200 million honestly and decided to do something with his life. He ran against John Warner, R, an institution and almost beat him. He then campaigned hard for Governor and won.

Why is he progressive? He reached out to the poor, rural areas of Virginia, mostly in the southwestern and Western part of the state. He developed a foundation for them and they helped him get elected. When elected, he created a program for health insurance for uninsured Virginia school children. It worked. He worked on job creation all over the state with some real success in the midst of a crappy recession. He also kept state welfare, social, and educational services in tact despite a financial disaster created by his predecessor, Gilmore, the R. Health care for all, increased funding for education in a recession, solid social services in a recession.

He's not a fire-brand on the gun or abortion issue but who cares. We have access to abortion in this state and people don't go around shooting each other in Virginia.

I think he's a dedicated guy who gave up making billions to serve the public and has progressive values. His direct approach to rural Virginia, despite being a Northern Virginia multi millionaire, is highly commendable.

[Hippo_Tron]

25. I've heard mixed reviews of him, I certainly like him more than Evan Bayh

But I think that his big flaw is that, as I recall, he was a big supporter of the war. Then again, I don't know if that will even be an issue in 2008.

[autorank]

29. He supported it, which I find to be a problem.

However, I just looked him as a Governor not a prexy candidate. This guy is so smart, he's set up a commission to incubate nano technology programs in Virginia. That type of down the road thinking is really remarkable. You're right, the war support is a problem. I'd like to know where he stands now.

[Catchawave]

44. A very inspiring Warner speech "Why I am a Democrat"

On the DKos:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2004/11/8/03116/3996

[autorank]

46. Thank you! That is "the speech." Great stuff.

[RealDems]

11. I actually have this question myself...

I'm all for the idea of running a governor for President -- and I see all the advantages to that strategy. It's just that I don't see any Democratic governors that I am excited about. Not a Vilsack fan. Even if Granholm COULD run, I'm not as impressed with her as apparently everyone else is. I flat out don't like Warner. I'm only iffy on Napolitano. Not a huge Richardson or Rendell fan. Sebelius doesn't seem all that special (although in fairness I know less about her than the others).

I hope I don't sound too picky...

Am I missing something? Are there ANY exciting, and actually progressive governor?

If O'Malley gets in, he will fill the void, but probably not for '08.

[merbex]

14. Why don't we watch what the new Gov of Montana does?

He's a Dem - his name escapes me for moment- and just got elected

[latteromden]

20. Brian Schweitzer?

I was impressed with his election. Definitely watching. :)

[Hippo_Tron]

27. I like that idea, but he was just elected so 2008 is out of the question

As I am told, Montana, despite being a red state, is pretty progressive on many issues, North Dakota is the same. Of course Democratic presidential candidates won't actually compete in these states because of the electoral college. I think that if this guy is fairly progressive and gets elected in Montana, then we may have found what we're looking for. A guy who can speak to red-state voters and provide them an alternative to the GOP.

[latteromden]

28. I actually really like Schweitzer. I remember, from his campaign site,

he wrote something like, "I am pro-choice and will protect a woman's right to choose." And he ended it. That was it. No ifs, ands, or buts, just "I am pro-choice," and a sense of "Look, there're more important issues out there. Vote based on those, not based on my stance on abortion."

And it worked.

[blondeatlast]

39. That's how every Democrat ought to handle the issue.

No debate, just there it is. All that matters is how you'll vote if the issue comes up in Congress; otherwise, it's a non-issue, and not worthy of any discussion.

[Padraig18]

16. Blagoevich of IL.

Had a rough start, but now has approval ratings in the mid/upper 60's. Almost a sure bet for re-election, with $12-15 million in the bank, as of today. Young, photogenic as hell, pretty wife, 2 cute kids, BIG blue state base, etc. .

[pstans]

21. I think Tenn has a Democrat Gov

and I have heard some talk on DU about him running. His positive is that he is from a Red State.

[DemDogs]

22. Bresenden

Good guy. Not running.

[latteromden]

24. But will it all make up for the fact that nobody can spell "Blagojevich"?

Or pronounce it, for that matter. (I can't :X)

[Hailtothechimp]

30. BLAH-GOYA-VITCH

When he ran for governor he did an add with him holding up a card and pronouncing it for the camera. Took that issue off the table.
He is doing a pretty good job. But he wouldn't make much headway with the Jesus folks in the Red States, though.

[Warren DeMontague]

37. Gezundheit!

:)

Anyway, go gettem Rod. Illinois always produces fine Dems.

[Padraig18]

38. He does, however, appeal to socially-moderate Repubs, which helps

One of the reasons we were unable to break the Republican stranglehold on the governorship was that we always nominated (except for Poshard) people who played well to our base, but had zero appeal outside of our base. Blagoevich was savvy enough to look at the 1998 race and see the HUGE number of conservative Democratic votes Poshard racked up outside of Cook County (yes, Chicago, YOU elected George Ryan) and figure out how to bring those voters into his camp during the primary and general elections in 2002, while at the same time not alienating Cook Co. Dems. He also managed to cull a significant number of socially-moderate Republicans from the Republican base, which spelled a winning coalition.

We have to realize that while Cook County is vitally important, it won't ensure a win all by itself; a Democrat who plays well to the base but who also plays well to once-alienated, conservative Dems and socially-moderate Repubs is the key to notr only the Illinois' governorship, but the presidency, as well.

My $.02.

[Illinois_Dem]

45. A cogent analysis.

Blagoevich is definitely someone to keep an eye on. While some in our party aren't happy with him, a great deal of that has to do with the state of our state's finances; let's face it--- no one is going to make tons of friends when they have to deal with the sort of mess George Ryan left this state in. Blagoevich is doing the best he can, in my opinion, and he's earning grudging bi-partisan respect from the voters for doing so.

Our party made a HUGE mistake in not supporting Poshard in 1998, so now we need to get behind Blagoevich and support him, even if we don't always agree with every action he takes.

[laylah]

33. From personal experience

I know him to be a liar and a fraud. He won't get my vote this time around. I made that mistake the first time.

Jenn

[Illinois_Dem]

35. Blago's OK.

He's not the best Govenor we've ever had, but he's not as bad a somein our state make him out to be. I plan to work for his re-election, and could support a favorite-son candidacy.

[ZootSuitGringo]

23. How about a General, for once?

The Democrats has never done this. Maybe it's time for something new. Southern moderate Governors are so 1992; Senators are so every elections ever.

Don't think we ever had a 4 star General. When we had one for a "hot minute" during the primaries, the combined RNC, DNC and Media powers kept him from much publicity, choosing to report only on Kerry, Edwards and Dean.

He's talented, intelligent, southern, perceived as moderate, and honest.

Plus, regardless of the meme the presstitutes used against Clark (not ready for primetime), according to all reports, he actually is charismatic and a wonderful heartfelt speaker. He also presents the tough ass image of a strong leader against the RNC's "girlie men".

[Hippo_Tron]

26. I like Clark, I'm just throwing ideas out in the air

I've already made my decission that Russ Feingold is my first choice and Clark is looking like a second and probably my first for running mate. It's just that so many DUers are saying that we need a Governor, I am just asking if we really have any Governors that are up to the job.

[Carolab]

31. Christine Gregoire?

Or is that pushing it?

[DaveinMD]

32. Warner is not a DINO

he's a very good moderate Democrat who could win. Why do we try to eat our own like this.

[hamerfan]

36. Gov. Sebilius of Kansas

She's a decent Democrat struggling to move backwards Kansas a bit forward. Hopefully she has larger plans after Governor....

[RetroLounge]

40. Jim Doyle of Wisconsin

RL

[Awsi Dooger]

41. I'm surprised no one mentioned Mike Easley of North Carolina

He would need a strong second term to be viable in 2008, much better than his first. But the timing sets up well, finishing his second term in '08 after an easy re-election win in '04, albeit over a somewhat weak and unknown young challenger in Ballantine. I was impressed by Easley in the debates, a very confident style, somewhat professorial, always walking out from the podium to speak to the audience at close range.

Many North Carolina DUers think Easley would have a better chance to carry North Carolina in '08 than John Edwards. He whipped Ballantine by double digits on the same day Bush carried the state by something like 11 points. I looked at the exit polls at the time, and Easley did much better among whites than we typically manage in the state. He still lost both white men and women, but close enough that the dependably huge African-American vote, which is often in the 25% range in North Carolina, put him comfortably over the top.

Easley certainly couldn't be tagged as inexperienced or someone who used one political win to jump into the national spotlight, questions that would inevitably face Edwards again, as much as I like him. Easley has a loyal North Carolina record -- graduate of UNC, law school grad also in NC, district attorney in the '80s and a two-term state attorney general prior to election as governor in 2000. He's only a couple of years older than Edwards but has the gray-haired senatorial look.

I have not followed Easley's politics closely. Obviously, to win comfortably in NC he's not the most liberal. In the debates, I remember he stressed education repeatedly, specifically funding increases, improved teacher pay, and an aggressive program for teaching underpriviliged youths in the kindergarten and early elementary school years.