Step into my gimpy laboratory. Let's play Franken-Candidate!
So, what I hear in all these 'unelectable' arguments is that, in order to win, our candidate must:
Be southern.
Have military experience.
Appear moderate, or at least convince the swing-voters they're a moderate.
Be able appear compassionate, not angry.
Have a running mate with strong credentials.
Convinvce the public they are strong on defense.
Convince the public they are tough on Nat'l Security.
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Throwing all that into the blender, we get... Bush! He made people think he was a 'uniter', 'compassionate', a majority of Americans like him personally, they think he's a moderate with our best defense concerns in mind and tough on terror. His running mate has a strong gov't. resume. He's southern, with military (in)experience.
The point I'm getting at is that, all these opinions are like assholes - we all have one. Everyone thinks 'only X will win', or 'Y is the issue this election will hinge upon.' Are we psychic? What qualifies us to know anything with certainty so far in advance?
In closing, get over yourselves. We're each one person, and none of us knows anything. Vote for who you think would be the best President of the candidates offered. I did, and I'm an unrepetant Nader voter. This year I'll not be voting for him, not because Bush Must Go, but because the top tier of candidates, the only ones likely to get the nomination, are all good candidates.
I grew up with Gore as one of my political heroes, then felt saddened as he tried to become like Clinton - smooth, suave, all things to all people. By the time elections came around I couldn't recognize him, and so I didn't vote for him. He has since ditched his many handlers and redeemed himself, and had he been this Al Gore in 2000, I would have not only voted for him, but worked my ass off for him.
Dean, Clark, Kerry, Edwards, even Gep, as much as he pisses me off, sometimes, are better candidates. I'm a Braun supporter at heart, but know this isn't her year, though I'll likely vote for her in the Cal. primaries. One day the country will be ready for a black grandma as its leader.
Anyways... vote what you feel, not what you fear.