You think Lance Armstrong would run for Congress or the Senate?

[blm]

Now that he's quitting the race, I have the feeling he wants to get into the political arena.

He has a great grip on the need for healthcare for those who can't afford it.

And PS....Kerry's been spending time with him.

Sen. Lance Armstrong, maybe? He's smart, passionate and committed.

[WatchWhatISay]

1. I thought my sister said that he was a big Bush supporter

But I hope I'm wrong about that. Wouldnt it be great if he ran for Governor or some other high position in Texas as a Democrat. I think Texans would vote for him even though. More likely though, he would run as an independent.

[blm]

14. He's NOT a Bush supporter and he lives with Sheryl Crow.

Sheryl would NEVER fall for a Republican, no matter what.

Bush had Armstong fly on Air Force One in 2001. They are friendly and that's about it. Armstrong does NOT support him politically.

[Mass]

58. read lower what Kerry said. He was not sure what party Lance is.

[blm]

61. That's AP spin. Kerry was just taking the politics OUT of the reporter's

questions.

It's up to Lance to speak out about the positions he has, not Kerry.

IMO, Armstrong spoke up on his own by having Kerry there as his guest for his last Tour competition.

[sendero]

74. She (Crow) hung with..

.... Kid Rock for a time, a stone drooling Bushie.

[flamin lib]

2. Yeah! Oh yeah! Hell YEAH!

He could beat any Republican in any district for US House and Kay Bailey is retiring from Senate to run for Governor.

[pinkpops]

13. KBH announced she will be running for the Senate again.

[flamin lib]

23. Awwww shucks. Still Lance could give her a really hard time. nt

[pinkpops]

28. Wouldn't it be nice?

[Cha]

3. What makes me warm and fuzzy

about this possibility is that I read awhile back that Lance was a republican(and I thought.."oh, NO!") and then he got separated from his wife and started hanging out with Sheryl Crow and I thought .."maybe that will change him?"

[asjr]

11. I have mixed feelings about Lance. He divorced his wife

who had stuck with him through thick and thin especially during his bout with cancer. Maybe his ego is bigger than it should be even though he is a marvelous athlete.

[blm]

15. That's not always easy to judge, so I don't.

My first spouse and I stuck together through thick and thin and stilll recognized when it was time to part....and we did...amicably.

[flamin lib]

24. There are no good guys and bad guys in divorces. Just people

doing what they think has to be done.

[mountainvue]

56. Actually he was not married then.

It was his mother that nursed him back to health.

[newscott]

4. He's from Texas

No way in hell I'd vote for him.

[WatchWhatISay]

5. So is Bill Moyers, Mollie Ivins, Jim Hightower, Ann Richards, Willie Nelso

and some other great progressives. You have to be COMMITTED to be a progressive in Texas.

[liam_laddie]

6. WTF?

...leads people to consider sports heroes as suitable political
candidates? I don't get it! Although Sheryl Crow could give a good supporting performance, no doubt.

[hfojvt]

19. the primary qualifications needed to run for office are

1) you need to be rich
2) you need to be famous
3) you need connections

Sports "heroes" qualify on all three counts and who is better qualified to represent ordinary working Americans? :eyes: After all we are supposed to be a government of the celebrity, by the celebrity and for the celebrity. Or did I leave out the word "rich"?

[blm]

21. He IS political though, and knows firsthand how world politics effects the

people around the globe, rich and poor.

He's very attuned to healthcare problems and BOTHERS to understand and care what other peoples and cultures think and HOW they think.

He's an athlete who competed GLOBALLY. That matters.

[TheFarseer]

43. If we've learned anything from the dozens of sports heroes

and actors running for political office, it's that experience doesn't count for anything. All you need to win is to have positions people like (and they don't have to be anything complicated, anti-corruption, balance the budget, more jobs will do) and be likable. Being recognizable helps alot too.

[AlGore-08.com]

70. Experience doesn't count for anything in a campaign - - but in office, oy!

Check out Jesse Ventura and our very own Governator.

One term wonders - - because glitz don't feed the bulldog.

[blm]

71. Armstrong has been US's only nonBushsupporting diplomat abroad the

last 4 years.

Think what he's been through out there on his own all this time. He's experienced in relating to other nations and cultures and how US policy EFFECTS them - which is WAY more advanced than most running for office.

[Ishoutandscream2]

10. Please explain yourself

Do you think all Texans are of one political persuasion? What a bigoted statement.

[blm]

17. I hope you're kidding, because there are some GOOD Texans I'd vote for.

Sorry, but your post seems intended to make this forum sound bigoted and narrow-minded. Noone here that I'm familiar with would post something so assinine.

[flamin lib]

26. Gee, thanks, I'm a native Texan and refuse to be labeled a bleeding heart.

I'm flaming, ranting and angry, not bleeding. It takes real courage to be a liberal in Texas, unlike being surrounded by like minded folks in Mass.

Besides, how in hell are you gonna vote in Texas anyway?

[BamaLefty]

29. That Makes No Sense.

Some very good Democrats have come out of Texas. Why would you simply not vote for a person b/c of where they happen to lay their head at night?

Pathetic statement.

[Enraged_Ape]

33. My wife is a GORGEOUS native Texan and 100% liberal Dem

As are her entire family.

There are a LOT of people in this state who reject everything BushCo stands for. Don't think for a second that because President Monkey Boy chose this state to pretend he was from makes him an actual Texan. That little silver-spoon Yankee idiot wouldn't know a real Texan if he came up and spit a mouthful of Shiner Bock in his face.

[fujiyama]

38. Well no you couldn't

and neither could I, because I don't live in TX either.

On the other hand, if you're saying that just because someone's from TX, they're a RW maniac, then it's silly. The other poster pointed out some great progressives from the state.

After all, Mitt Romney is from MA, and I sure as hell wouldn't vote for him.

[Enraged_Ape]

I thought Mitt was from Utah

It's hard to keep up with these neocon a$$holes. They keep changing the state of their "residency" (wink wink) in order to wheedle around the latest tax/politics legislation. Take Dick Cheney for instance, he's a Texan when he has to pay taxes (Texas has no state income tax) and a "Wyominginian" when he had to run for VP (since the Pres and the VP can't Constitutionally be from the same state).

Have I said today how much I hate these people?

[BamaLefty]

75. Mitt Is From UT

Yes.

[Enraged_Ape]

67. I thought Mitt was from Utah

It's hard to keep up with these neocon a$$holes. They keep changing the state of their "residency" (wink wink) in order to wheedle around the latest tax/politics legislation. Take Dick Cheney for instance, he's a Texan when he has to pay taxes (Texas has no state income tax) and a "Wyominginian" when he had to run for VP (since the Pres and the VP can't Constitutionally be from the same state).

Have I said today how much I hate these people?

[seemunkee]

7. His foundation does some great work. He should stick to cancer awareness

[OzarkDem]

72. Agree

He's doing a great job with his cancer foundation - hopefully it will replace the expensive old dinosaur, the American Cancer Society. I have a feeling that's where he'll be focusing his efforts, probably some advocacy, too.

[Reynardine]

8. I have no idea

What are his political beliefs? How strongly is he committed to them? Can he give a good political speech? Can he handle himself in a debate?

[rzemanfl]

9. President, at least HE can ride a fucking bike. n/t

[quaoar]

63. LOL. Exactly

Plus, he would be the only candidate who could boast of having conquered France.

[WatchWhatISay]

12. This might shed some light on it

From an unofficial Lance Armstrong Fan Club

http://www.lancearmstrongfanclub.com/uktimesonline.html


Once we settle down to talk at a long wooden table, we are swapping stories about George W. Bush, his fellow Texan. We agree that our politics are different to Bush's, but that the President is smarter, funnier and more likeable than the caricature. Even Sheryl, whose politics Armstrong describes as "way out Left", says that it's hard to meet Bush and not like him. I had assumed, because he and Bush were Texans and I'd seen pictures of them laughing and joking in the Oval Office, that Armstrong was a Republican. But he says his politics are "middle to Left". He is "against mixing up State and Church, not keen on guns, pro women's right to choose". And very anti war in Iraq.

So the "summit" has begun and here I am, thinking that I'd be getting hours of top-quality insight for my triathlon training, and, instead, it's like I am back in my old job, defending military action, defending the Bush-Blair relationship, insisting we did the right thing and saying, long term, it will make the world a safer place. But Armstrong is screwing up his face and he won't have it. "I don't like what the war has done to our country, to our economy," he says. "My kids will be paying for this war for some time to come. George Bush is a friend of mine and just as I say it to you, I'd say to him, 'Mr President, I'm not sure this war was such a good idea', and the good thing about him is he could take that."

[Panda1]

25. Interesting link. Thank you. n/t

:)

[deadparrot]

16. More info from Wikipedia...

In an interview with the New York Times, teammate George Hincapie hinted at Armstrong possibly running for Governor of Texas after retiring from cycling. In the July 2005 issue of Outside magazine (http://outside.away.com/outside/toc/200507.html), Armstrong himself hinted at possibly running for Governor, although "not in '06." By Texas political standards, he would almost certainly run as a Democrat, as he has described himself in the past as being "left of center," "against mixing up State and Church," "not keen on guns," opposed to the Iraq War, and pro-choice.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lance_armstrong

I thought I heard somewhere at some point that he was an athiest. I don't give a shit about religion, or lack thereof, in the least, but I don't think you'd find many openly athiest members of Congress.

[blm]

22. I heard he was Buddhist or has Buddhist leanings.

.

[fujiyama]

40. I'd like to see a Buddhist get elected statewide in TX

Now that would be an accomplishment - then again if anyone could do it, it's probably Lance. Hey the man did beat testicular cancer.

[blm]

42. heheh....a Buddhist has a better chance than an atheist, that's for sure.

.

[Panda1]

18. We're inside out and upside down

We run candidates based on packaging, not substance. I live in CA...I know...we have Ahnuld.
Whatever happened to a substantive body of work and accomplishments and desire to help others as reasons to run for office?
It's an odd premise. I have no idea what his politics are. He seems like a tenacious man but if his views aren't mine that would be a liability. I'm very glad that he survived cancer and agree that he should stick to what he knows. He could be a wealthy man in the biking industry upon his retirement from racing. Chimpy needs new bikes all the time. ;) Lance might have other plans. Did anybody ask him if he was interested in running? Sheryl must be thrilled. Hahaha. Overjoyed.
http://www.zdf.de/ZDFde/img/125/0,1886,2358909,00.jpg

[snowbear]

20. Yeah, but.... Lance is smart... Ahnold is...

Well... :eyes:

[globalvillage]

27. Lance and Senator Kerry at the Tour de France today

Kerry is in the red car following Lance.


edit I don't think he's a bush* supporter.

[BamaLefty]

30. Cool!

Nice shots. I have on my LIVESTRONG bracelet right now.

You mind posting those pics in a new thread? I think they're awesome.

[globalvillage]

31. Be my guest

Most are from here.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/apphoto/photo?photoId=812842&sportId=1300

[Cha]

32. Those are the Sweetest Shots..

Thank you, globalvillage..I just showed them to my friend who was wondering how Lance was doing:)

Either Sheryl has had an immensely favorable political impression on him or he was never a repblican in the first place(some more of their claiming someone who it ain't so!)

[globalvillage]

34. You are quite welcome.

Lance will win the tour tomorrow. Tell your friend, medically, he looks great. Athletically, today was his first victory in the tour, although he's well in the lead overall and he will win #7. Politically, he looks to be in damn fine company.
:P

[bixente]

35. It would be interesting to see Armstrong getting involved...

...in politics. Imagine, "President Lance Armstrong"...!!!

Although, he is definitely not the greatest cyclist. That honour goes to Eddie Merckx.

[blm]

36. Heh - I can see the headscratching - Merckx? Isn't that an adidas shoe?

heheh

[bixente]

37. This is an interesting link you should check out:

http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/200407/s1162272.htm

[blm]

39. Great story.

I spent a great deal of time in the late 70s explaining who Eddie was... and Robert Haillet...and Hans Beckenbauer....and Gerd Mueller.....heh....I worked for Adidas back then.

[alfredo]

47. Eddy was great, but I am not sure if he could keep up with Lance.

If you went by just the tour, there would be no contest, Lance is the king of the tour. If you consider a season as a whole, Eddy would come out on top. Eddy rode everything.

I think the personal story makes Lance something more than his career record.

[bixente]

49. Alfredo, did you check out that link?

If not, you should.

[alfredo]

55. Yeah, That's what I was saying, I just didn't say it well.

BTW, one way to get on Eddy's good side is to give him Godiva Chocolate. I had a friend that was the assistant coach of the US Olympic cycling team back in 84. He befriended Eddy Merckx.

[fujiyama]

41. Cool pictures

I had read a while back that Lance was against the war, but I assumed that he was still a Bush supporter because of their friendship.

[Ishoutandscream2]

44. President Kerry and the greatest athlete in the world

What wonderful pictures!

[jim3775]

45. No way! I dont care if he is a democrat.

The last thing I need to se on my television every night is a bicycle racer campaigning. There are plenty of good up and coming liberal politicians, why do we need to be represented by a sports celebrity?

[The Straight Story]

66. That is why it is called politics

and not science. You play an advertising game to get a job. Lance already has name recognition and positive fame associated with his name.

How many people outside some message boards and few political junkies really pay attention to the details of what a candidate stands for, how they vote, et al? There are no real up and coming political progressives to most people because they don't give politicians very much star status and don't track their career. Though the negative they do often is covered quite well.

I agree with you though, but sadly people want someone they are familiar with and who the 'know' - makes em more comfortable and they trust them more.

[welshTerrier2]

46. Kerry spoke about Armstrong on OLN today

Kerry did an interview about Lance on today's TDF coverage on OLN (Outdoor Living Network) ...

He talked about what a great candidate Armstrong would make because of his dedication, his persistence and stamina and his ability to think strategically (or words to that effect) ...

[blm]

50. Geez... Wow...I was just musing when I heard they spent time together

and tried to add two plus two.

That would be great....I think Armstrong has enormous diplomatic skills and has the sophistication, the brains and the heart that could win AND serve the nation and the world if he ran and won..

[welshTerrier2]

65. here's an AP article on Kerry's comments about Armstrong

source: http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=548&e=1&u=/ap/20050724/ap_on_el_ge/kerry_armstrong

Sen. John Kerry thinks Lance Armstrong would make a terrific politician — but fears he'd be running for the other party.

Watching Armstrong during his warmup for Saturday's time trial, the Democrat from Massachusetts listed the Texan's winning qualities.

"What's made him so special at the Tour de France, and as an athlete, is the level of focus, discipline, intelligence, strategic ability, and obviously, his endurance — his ability to just take it on and go," Kerry said.

Those qualities would serve Armstrong well in politics, Kerry said. But Armstrong is also friendly with fellow Texan President Bush.

more ...

[Writer]

48. If there's anyone who can bump off Kay "Pom-pom" Bailey...

it would be him. Star power all the way. And I think he would do an excellent job representing Texas in the Senate. There's nothing Arnold about him.

[pinkpops]

60. This KBH?

[globalvillage]

51. Maybe...maybe not.

Kerry says Armstrong would make terrific politician - but for which party?
By The Associated Press
This report filed July 23, 2005
Sen. John Kerry thinks Lance Armstrong would make a terrific politician -- but fears he'd be running for the other party.

Watching Armstrong during his warmup for Saturday's time trial, the Democrat from Massachusetts listed the Texan's winning qualities.

"What's made him so special at the Tour de France, and as an athlete, is the level of focus, discipline, intelligence, strategic ability, and obviously, his endurance - his ability to just take it on and go," Kerry said.

Those qualities would serve Armstrong well in politics, Kerry said. But Armstrong is also friendly with fellow Texan George W. Bush.

"I think he'd be awesome, he'd be a force. I just hope it's for the right party," said Kerry, an avid cyclist and longtime fan of the Tour de France.

Kerry said he had tapes of last year's Tour delivered during his presidential campaign last year.

Armstrong, who plans to retire after this year's Tour, is expected to seal a historic seventh straight victory Sunday. He has not ruled out a career in politics after he quits.

Like Armstrong admirers around the world, Kerry wears the yellow rubber "LiveStrong" wristband produced by the cyclist's cancer-fighting organization.

"He's a terrific person with an unbelievable personal story, and he understands the seriousness of a number of different choices," Kerry said of Armstrong's comeback from cancer.

"It's one of the great sporting accomplishments of all time," he said. "The sheer willpower is stunning.''

http://www.velonews.com/tour2005/news/articles/8600.0.html

[blm]

52. What a crock. This is the AP spinning...that's all. They can't acknowledge

that a sports hero leans to the left.

NOONE would assume that Armstrong, who LOVES THE FRENCH PEOPLE, who is antiwar, an environmentalist, and prochoice and pro healthcare would run as a Republican.

Noone but a mediawhore, that is.

[globalvillage]

53. True.

JK said only "I just hope it's for the right party". He didn't say he's concerned that it might be for the wrong one. Likely an off the cuff remark that was spun into something unintended.
I don't know Lance's association with bush*, but I can't imagine, with Sheryl Crowe as a girlfriend and John Kerry riding in the follow car during the tour, that it's too chummy.
Whatever the case, it was good to see the Senator supporting Lance the athlete. Lance the politician may never happen.

[blm]

54. I think Lance inviting Kerry to ride in his follow car was an ENORMOUS

statement to America and the rest of the world.

This is Lance's LAST Tour competition and he was telling the world that he loves them, cares what they think, understands their views and RESPECTS them.

[snowbear]

59. Hey.. Heath Shuler is ready to make his run for Congress!

And who knows.. maybe the former Washington Redskin can knock out the (R) Charles Taylor in North Carolina? :shrug:

......"Shuler’s name recognition could make him a “competitive” candidate for Taylor, more so than other candidates who have tried their hand in the past, Knotts said.

“We think he will be a very formidable candidate against Charles Taylor,” said Schorr Johnson, communications director for the N.C. Democratic Party. “We think it’s a great sign that a year and a half from election day someone with such high name recognition and who is a proud son of that part of the state is going to take on Congressman Taylor.”

http://www.smokymountainnews.com/issues/07_05/07_20_05/fr_heath_shuler.html

Here's to you Shuler!! :toast:

[Mass]

57. Kerry said today that he thought Lance would be a great candidate

but was not sure for what party.

http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050723/APS/507230830

hose qualities would serve Armstrong well in politics, Kerry said. But Armstrong is also friendly with fellow Texan George W. Bush.

``I think he'd be awesome, he'd be a force. I just hope it's for the right party,'' said Kerry, an avid cyclist and longtime fan of the Tour de France

[Pharlo]

62. I had the television on this morning for background noise.

One of the those ubiquitous 'feel good' morning shows was on - I think GMA (IMO all they're good for is background noise.) One of the few excerpts I actually heard mentioned said that Lance Armstrong was thinking of running for governor of Texas.

Then, the announcer said something along the lines of "Well, at least we know he's better at handling a bicycle than a former governor of Texas." I thought that was humorous.

[blm]

64. I'm shocked that an ABC show would air a bit of ad-libbed truth.

.

[second edition]

68. well, as long as he runs Dem- I think the he should run as a senator. n/t

[ElsewheresDaughter]

69. he's from Austin...the chances are pretty good he's a DEM

[Enraged_Ape]

76. If he's making "the beast with two backs" with Sheryl Crow...

then he's one of us. There is just no doubt about it. Sheryl Crow is about as outspokenly liberal as there is, and (unlike a certain Kennedy family member married to the son of a literal card-carrying Nazi) she has no patience for fools. She's a self-made woman and has enough accomplishment of her own not to have to ride on the coattails of anyone else.

I, for one, really hope he runs. I think Lance Armstrong is an inspiration to anyone. I think that he could send any hypocritical Republican candidate to the woodshed.

[PNsC]

73. On MSNBC they just dropped a hint

They said he was recently quoted as admiring the Governor's mansion.