Election 2008 is a long way off, but when we get there let's at least make sure our nominee will do one thing: A nominee who is savvy, but also has a back-bone
We've learned some valuable lessons from 2000 and 2004
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*Republicans will find ways to massage elections to get them a win: All we have to do is just years 2000 and 2004; definitely bad memories
*Republicans will call into question everything you say and do and twist it to their advantage: Victims include Gore who had not only to battle the Repubs but the MSM too, Kerry because simply because of his wishy-washy image proved true (Too many examples), B. Clinton only because of Monica along with made up scandals by Repubs, Dean because he ran for president and was leading because he was telling the truth (He had to be brought down, DLC helped in this department)
*Republicans have a very effective noise machine: Limbaugh, Fox News, NY Post, etc
*Republicans have effectively neutered the media: Dan Rather, Newsweek, etc.
*Republicans raise tons of money; democrats did much better in 2004 and in fact out raised them: Bush and company entered the White House in 2001 already running for reelection. They had 4 years to lay ground work for reelection. Kerry thanks to Dean's help showed him the way to rake in the cash, but he and his advisors didn't know what to do with the money or how to coordinate with other groups (Bush and company had coordination down to an art with the swift boats folks, etc)
What does it mean for 2008 in my opinion so far?
We will need a nominee who knows why they want to be president, can raise a ton of money, has an agenda for America, will go after Republicans, will go after Republicans who attacks them and can effectively layout in simple terms what they are for
Is it too much to ask for a liberal or progressive with those qualities?
Now to the debate part, in my view it's still so early in the process, yet it has already started Hillary Clinton is closest to those qualities.
My example is abortion and the speech she gave in January of 2005. It made a ton of headlines and it gave Democrats a new way to talk about abortion rights. To me it crystallizes what the Democrats argument should be about abortion.
*Abortions are legal and are protected, but stay vigilant
*Contraception pills, condoms and education are most effective; including abstinance
*We've won the abortion battle in the SC, now the goal should be preventing abortions for both Pro and Anti-Choice people. (Like Dean said, nobody should want to have an abortion, but woman should have the choice.)
*We should hold the Republicans to their words and actions. Earlier in the year Democrats introduced the Putting Prevention First Act, Republicans have refused to do anything on it. *Are simple message to Repubs should be if you are for stopping unwanted pregnancies, passing laws will not get you there. The only way to end unwanted pregnancies is to support acts like the Putting Prevention First Act, if you don't support it, then you'd rather have an issue then stopping abortion. (These are my thoughts on the speech Hillary gave in January 2005 http://clinton.senate.gov/~clinton/speeches/2005125A05.html)
I digressed a little, but I hope you get my point. We need a candidate who can say what they are for, while fighting back against what the Repubs throw. My only problem with Richardson, Warner, Feingold, Biden, Clark, Vilsack, and Bayh is we don't know yet what they will bring to the table. Too bad its not 2007 already, but alas all we can do is speculate. Tell me what you think.