I like Durbin in '08

[reichstag911]

Anyone else out there? I'm not sure what kind of national recognition he's got, but I view him as 1) staunchly Democratic, thus currently a real opposition party leader; 2) far less polarizing a figure than Hillary (David Geffen was absolutely right about that, IMO), whom many people seem to believe will be the nominee; and 3) minimal negatives that I know of, and I'm here in Illinois where I almost certainly would be aware of them.

From a "Town Hall" meeting today on SocSec at Loyola University (great turnout: event hall overflowed; secondary, closed-circuit auditorium also overflowed; I was in the third room to fill up). Could I have gotten closer? (Contrast with King George's tendency to avoid real Murrikans at all costs.)

http://us.f1.yahoofs.com/bc/41ac9e01_11256/bc/Events+-+Celebs/durbin+at+soc+sec+town+hall+meeting.jpg?BCFL4ICBl8hmsjs7

[LuminousX]

1. Midwestern Candidate

Sounds good to me. Time to get away from the Northeast vs. South/South vs. South candidates we normally get.

[Nite Owl]

2. I just said that to someone

He is one of my favorite Senators. And he has that midwestern, down to earth way about him that would appeal to so many.

[reichstag911]

3. Good to see he's known in NY n/t

[Nite Owl]

5. You mean this

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3193921

The only reason to change the index would be to pay for his privitization. Retirees would get screwed.

[zann725]

19. And he's so gutsy and straight-forward! How 'bout Durbin & Boxer!

That would be a double-whammy!

Yep, I'd vote for that!

[reichstag911]

26. I 'd like it, but...

...I don't think they'd have a shot in the GE. Maybe a swing state VP - or even the head of the ticket could be from a swing state, with Durbin getting the VP nod if he can't get the nomination. Bottom line, I think the Dems need a Karl Rove: someone who is absolutely committed to winning, who is adept at the repug gutter-fighting tactics. It would be unfirtunate to have to stoop to their level, but we are losing this country to fascists, and it's time to take off the kid gloves, strip away the polite veneer, and win. By any means necessary.

[gottaB]

4. I like Durbin now.

I haven't seen signals that he's positioning himself to vie for the nomination. Of the Senators, I also like Boxer, Kerry and Feingold, all of whom seem to be eyeing the possibility.

We'll see how things develop. I could imagine enthusiastically supporting Durbin.

[Coastie for Truth]

6. Ever since he took on Paul Findlay

I have been a Dick Durbin fan ever since he took on and beat Paul Findlay.

At that time I was an "Anybody But Findlay" contributor.

And, Durbin knocked off Findlay -- who was backed by the same Big Buck folks who back Bush.

And, I have been very favorably impressed with Durbin ever since.

My path was from "Paul Findlay Hater" to "Real Dick Durbin Fan".

[Colorado Blue]

7. I like him too! (Chicago resident) - didn't know all that much

about him until recently when he's REALLY been impressive on all sorts of issues.

Would vote for Durbin in a heartbeat.

[returnable]

8. Too bad the DU circular firing squad would kill him...

...once they learned of his anti-choice past. :hi:

[Us vs Them]

9. I too was in the third room!

And though I was dedicated to standing in the doorway throughout the entire speech, the payoff was grand. When Durbin came in and they shut the doors behind him, the room suddenly became very intimate.

I would back him in any race he decided to run for. He's a brilliant legislator, and an asset to our side. Approachable, down to earth, intelligent but not lofty.

Durbin would be my personal choice for nomination - but I'm selfishly keeping it a secret until at least 2007. Like many here, I'm already sick of hearing about Hillary.

[Hippo_Tron]

10. Given his new post as Whip, I don't think that he'll run...

That said, he's well spoken, stands up for what he believes in, and holds the GOP's feet to the fire more than any other senator with the exception of Boxer. Feingold might be the only one in the primaries that I'd vote for over Durbin.

[Withywindle]

11. Hey, I was there too!

Also in that room. (Til the very end when some space opened up in overflow room #2 where we also got hi's from Obama and Schakowsky before they too bailed out for pre-snowstorm flights).

I'm with ya. Durbin rules. Not sure if he's expressed any interest in running - has he?

[reichstag911]

12. Not to my knowledge...

...and I can't figure out why there's no real buzz about him. :shrug:

btw, I was the one that congratulated and thanked him for 1) his vote against Condi's confirmation, 2) his letter to Bush on l'affaire Gannon, and 3) his anticipated work against Bush judicial nominees.

[Radical Activist]

16. No

He was discussed as a serious contender for VP in 2000, and apparently he wasn't too interested. I don't get the impression he has ever wanted to be elected to national office. He may like what he is doing.

[autorank]

13. This would be a dream...experience & integrity.

[Hailtothechimp]

14. Proud that Durbin's my Senator.

Barack Obama.......not so much. (my apologies to Jon Stewart).

Durbin first got elected to Congress 20+ years ago representing my hometown of Springield, the home of another well-known Illinois politician (very well-known, indeed).

He'd make a fantastic candidate in 2008.

[Radical Activist]

15. He would have won in '04

He was one of only two Senators up for re-election that voted against the IWR. That took courage. The other was Wellstone.
Being from the midwest is an advantage. He represented a rural congressional district for years, so he knows how to persuade moderates over to his liberal views. Also, he has a big fundraising base in Illinois, which would give him a big advantage in the primary. I think he is the most electable hard core liberal in America.

[Padraig18]

25. He's the most popular politican in IL history, next to Paul Simon.

:thumbsup:

[reichstag911]

28. and no bow tie! :-) n/t

[Radical Activist]

34. He gives Lincoln a run for his money, at least.

And Lincoln freed the slaves, so that's saying something.

[Neecy]

17. absolutely

He's personable, well-spoken, and smart (and I loved the poem he wrote about the Cubbies a couple of years ago, and read on the floor of the Senate - he seems to have a great sense of humor).

It's time to nominate a midwesterner - personally, I'm tired of listening to southern (or fake Texas) accents.

[RealDems]

18. I've actually always liked Durbin

When I was in college, I interned in the Senate (not for Durbin), and of every Senator I noticed, Durbin was the most down-to-Earth. He was one of the few Senators who stood in line at the cafeteria, behind staff, tourists -- whoever had gotten there first. He drove to work in a little maroon Saturn, which I always thought was so... I don't know... "average." Hell, I drive a maroon Saturn. He just seemed the complete opposite of the image of elitist Senator. As for President, I don't know -- I hadn't thought of it. But, I did always admire him as a Senator.

[moondust]

24. Thanks for sharing that.

Makes me like him even more!

[zann725]

20. Aw...when was he at Loyola? If he comes to L.A. again, can someone post?

I would've loved to have heard him...andon S.S.!!

[reichstag911]

22. Loyola U. (in Chgo.), not Loyola Marymount.

sorry ::cry::shrug:

[barackmyworld]

21. ah! Wish I could have gone to that thing

I got the email, but I'm at school. What a shame, I'm sure there were a lot of great people there.

[reichstag911]

29. It was interesting, certainly, but...

...there were the usual Dem organizational screwups: ambient miking in the main hall for the secondary speakers which did not get through to the closed-circuit broadcast rooms for shit, a reference in Schakowsky's PowerPoint presentation that confused Bull and Bear market conditions.

We Dems need a Rove-like organizational discipline to stage-manage our events as clearly and as "on message" as the repugs do. Until we do, things are gonna be tough. We also need to get our hands as dirty as the repugs do; this is turning into a fight for the soul of America, and they're winning. The kid gloves need to come off, and we need to tighten up.

[John_H]

23. I loooove dick durbin. But I don't think he can get the nomination.

If he were from 300 miles north of Springfield in, say Madison, WI, he'd be in good poition, but I think most Dems will want someone from a swing state in 08, 'cause that's what the mediawhores will tell them to want.

[babylonsister]

27. I don't know. There's time, and he's had

a much higher profile lately. I like what I'm hearing! (CSPAN2 now, RE: bankruptcy bill, which he opposes, unlike Biden, from what I read on DU).

[cestpaspossible]

30. Don't think he wants it.

I like him.

[RapidCreek]

31. I do too.

He's frank, plain spken, verbally quick on his feet and not the least bit cowed or intimidated by reTHUGlicans. In fact, I get the impression he's at his best cutting their talking points to ribbons. He's proactive, never defensive and doesn't allow the debate to be framed with anything other than the facts. This is the sort of individual the blue collar worker of this country will respect.

RC

[Cuban_Liberal]

32. I don't think he's interested

I think he's quite happy, right where he is.

[mwb970]

33. We already tried a Senator. (n/t)

[reichstag911]

35. We didn't try him... n/t

[Hippo_Tron]

36. We also tried a Governor once, Michael Dukakis

We also tried a Vice President, Gore.