Calling Al, Dennis, John (K), and Wes... step into the ring!

[salin]

It isn't that I don't like Biden, Clinton, Dodd or Obama. I do (some more than others). It is just that I think we have a unique opportunity to sell the democratic party, and progressive policies to the public. I also call out to the Gov.s considering a run - and to any others I have left out of my call to step into the ring. (Please feel free to call them into the ring on his thread).

Let's face it, the public doesn't always pay much attention. But right now, folks are paying attention. And growing increasingly queasy with what they are seeing. The mind numbing drone from rw radio and tv are losing their power to create a 'white noise' effect where all other sounds are rather neutralized.

The public is looking around for alternatives. Speaker Pelosi, and Majority Leader Reid and a few other high profile democrats are in ascension. And those candidates running for president are as well - in terms of media coverage/exposure and thus the growing face (in terms of public awareness) of the democratic party.

While we have a good line-up of candidates - with those not yet in the ring. If these men would step into the ring we would have an amazing line-up. Each time any of the candidates would speak - more of the public would subconsciously be comparing the words of reasonableness, and of hope for the future to the words of "FEAR", bullying and intimidation that have become the mainstay of Bush, his cronies, his water carriers in Congress and of their media echo chamber.

With this line-up there is MORE for the public to hear. More to resonate with. Dang - its and incredible line-up of progressivism, of big ideas, of forward thinking. The more the merrier - a broader face of the democratic party for the public that is starting to wake up from slumber to recognize as the future.

Get in the ring, gentlemen. Get in the ring. America needs you all, right now.

Shrug off the words of consultants and strategists who suggest that all of the available campaign $ is already spoken for - that is OLD conventional wisdom. New conventional wisdom is that as things move forward - the grassroots will step it up - for whoever emerges as the front runner. But we are far, far away from having a front runner. Right now we have the chance to grow the party. We have the chance to turn back the twenty + year of droning from rw media that have vilified the word liberal. You are the face of todays' liberalism - and much of America resonate with your words.

The broader the initial field becomes - the better. More of the public will be drawn into the process.

Please, step into the ring. Not to knock anyone already in the ring out of the ring - but to expand the ring, and the appeal, and the contemporary 'face' of the party to a public that is just now really starting to pay attention.

[confludemocrat]

1. It IS that I don't like Biden, Clinton, Dodd or Obama. We want AL!

step up Mr. Gore, your time is here. AGAIN.

[PresidentObama]

2. I agree.

:applause:

It's better to over crowd the field, and narrow down to the best nominee then to have a narrow field and not get the nominee we want and America deserves!

[delphinium]

4. I agree

[salin]

5. I think this is a momentous campaign season

and I want the American public to see how many qualified, dignified, intelligent, leaders there are running on the democratic side.

Compare that to floppy McSurge McCain, Wishwashy Romney, RigidReligiosity Brownback, and nevertobeacceptedbytheDobsonCrowd Guiliani.

No comparison between the lineups.

:hi:

[Mass]

13. I agree.

[Greeby]

3. Dennis is in the ring

http://www.kucinich.us

[salin]

7. I wasn't sure when I typed this - Good for Dennis!

glad he is in the ring!

[HereSince1628]

6. I see reasons for some candidates not to be in a rush.

Some candidates will have difficulty in maintaining enough funds to undertake 20 months of campaigning.

The early candidates will get just that much more exposure to the bludgeoning from other candidates.

The public perception of priorities can shift in 20 months, and can both strand a candidate on an issue that loses steam or facilitates opponents charges of being fickle on the importance of issues.

Coming in late allows a candidate to have a clear advantage over candidates that are financially, and ideologically exhausted. It gives these candidates something of the aura of a potential saviour of a campaign season that is lost in a competitive quagmire.


I've got no doubt that Iraq (if not additionally Iran and Syria is going to be an issue for 2008.

But I personally think that trickle-out economics will be much more pressing than it is now. Consequently, current proponents of free-trade and having no opposition to off-shoring are going to be forced to modify their positions.

[salin]

9. Those modifications are important

*very important*.

On the otherside, you had Bush go to India last year to essentially promote MORE outsourcing (think he even promoted, while there, the outsourcing of medicine.) Not much press here after that short trip - I think it would be great to tie that issue freely around the GOP candidates necks. But more important than tarnishing GOP candidates (which is important) - is forcing a REAL dialogue in this country on the issue of how to regain our economic middle class - in an era where "more training/education" becomes a hollow response given that those jobs one would "retrain" for are also being lost at an increasing rate.

[OHdem10]

8. IMO, Americans will be looking for a Competent CommanderIN Chief

when the election and time to vote rolls around. Yes, Iraw
War will dominate the next election. The people are looking
right now for someone they can TRUST to get this mess straightened
out once and for all. If Democrats are smart they will think
"Commander IN Chief" as a large factor when they review the
different Candidates for President.

[salin]

10. I think that will definitely be important - and for the first time in

a while, they will *want* to see signs of intellectual acumen and *gasp* wonkiness. Knee jerk reaction to the disasters brought to us by the guy who disdains "fancy pants intellectuals".

[OHdem10]

11. Hopefully, even the Media will leaarn

"Nuance" is not a bad thing. Life is lived in "shades of gray"
not simplistic Black/ White or Good or Evil.

[salin]

12. notice how the language of "moral relativity" vs. "moral certitude"

have dropped out of political discourse - recognition that this admin and the GOP are also moral relativists (or immoral relativists) - recognition of the point you make - things are not binary.

[salin]

14. Who else, currently not announced as running, would we like to see

'in the ring'?

I think Harken could bring some additional populism to the field. Others?

[ISUGRADIA]

15. FYI Harkin is not running, he's already endorsed Vilsack

[politicasista]

16. No Al Gore, but another Al (Sharpton) is running

:(

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2689865

[NYCGirl]

22. That story quoted is bogus. Nowhere did he say anything different than he's

been saying for the past year. And it's only been picked up in right wing fishwrap Newsmax.

[Blue_In_AK]

17. You forgot Mike Gravel.

Not that he's a serious contender, but I think he declared before anyone.

[salin]

18. help me out... who is Mike Gravel?

I read his name earlier today - with Sen Alaska. I don't recall any dem sens from Alaska in the past twenty years - was he a senator before Murkowski? Or was he a state senator?

Thanks.

[Blue_In_AK]

19. He was the senator from Alaska

from 1968 to 1980, when he lost to Frank Murkowski. Ironically, Sen. Ted Stevens and Rep. Don Young both came into their positions because of the deaths of Democratis legislators. Stevens was appointed by Wally Hickel to replace deceased dem Bob Bartlett in 1970. Don Young ran against Rep. Nick Begich in 1972. Begich disappeared in a mysterious plane crash before the election, but won anyway. After Begich was declared dead (although the wreck was never found), Young won a special election and has been down in Washington ever since. Alaska was a strongly Democratic state until the oil boom, but there's still a stronger Democratic presence here than most people realize.

Gravel is known for reading the entire Pentagon Papers into the Congressional record and also for advocating an end to the draft.

[salin]

21. thanks for the background - I appreciate it.

Sounds very interesting. Also sounds like he has been out of politics for a very long time - I would be interested in learning more, including what is motivating his run. I honestly believe that someone is going to emerge - may not get the nomination - but will certainly help shape the race and the conversations of the race - that most of us do not yet anticipate and are not terribly familiar with. Maybe this is the person.

Seriously who had heard of Howard Dean before he got into the race? And while his popularity fizzled in primaries - his influence was felt (esp in emboldening speaking strongly against the war when conventional wisdom said that a candidate shouldn't do that less it play into the 'dems = weak on security') - and his influence on the view of netroots and fundraising broke dc conventional wisdom.

Someone is going to have an impact that we can not yet anticipate - and it should be interesting to behold. That is yet another reason I welcome a large field. More exposure to more of the public to very interesting, promising figures that represent to the public a real view of what the democratic party represents - rather than the faux image conveyed by the radio/tv rw echochamber.

[DemBones DemBones]

20. Dennis Kucinich has announced his candidacy.

But the media are prepared to marginalize him the way they did in 2004.

I think they'll pump up Obama (assuming he gets into the race) the way they pumped up Howard Dean, and then stick a knife in him when they get their marching orders from the rich and powerful. Then they'll tell us who to support.

[salin]

23. Case in point, I originally typed this up without his name... because

I assumed he was running... but as i sat and thought about it - I couldn't recall specifically reading that he had thrown his hat into the ring. Yes - I would agree that Dennis is once again being marginalized.

Per your scenario regarding Obama - sounds about right... I do hope that some around him are as astute as you and can anticipate the attacks. Not because I favor him (he might be a great candidate - don't yet know) - but because such intense media attacks could not only derail his presidential primary run - but could bleed over into what could be a very promising Senatorial career. I still find it amazing that a) Dean was able to survive and become DNC chair and b) that the attacks continue including internal fighting with key dem strategists. Yet Howard persists - he continues to gain my regard.

Similarly - Dennis continues to thrive and give voice to ideas that four years seemed 'radical' to many but have become more common, because in part the more they (ideas/policies) are repeated, the more they sound "familiar" and grow into the realm of common sense. I predict that on the one hand Kucinich will continue to be marginalized by the media, that on the other hand he will subtley continue to influence the dialogue on the campaign among progressives which will trickle into mainstream conversations. I am glad for his voice and his candidacy.

[oasis]

24. The rightwing smear machine will expend more ammo on multiple targets.

Let's drain 'em dry.