I have now been worrying about how the Democrats are going to approach 2008. First off, I want us to be true populists and run people for the Presidency that are. I cannot tell you how tired I am of "Hilary in '08". I heard it after Kerry lost in '04, like that is supposed to make me feel better. I don't like the idea of following up Republican nepotism with nepotism of our own. She is the big machine candidate who, unlike Bush is very smart, but has no compelling reason to be elected. There are many great candidates that we could run, if they so desire. Bill Richardson, Barack Obama, Al Gore (if we could convince him) and others that I haven't thought of.
The fact is, we need to keep in mind that if the Republicans had half a brain (they probably don't) they would run someone like John McCain or Rudy Guiliani McCain would be a force if he survived a primary. He could definitely run as a populist in the eyes of people, especially in the face of a Hilary Candidacy. While he has stuck too close to Bush for most people's comfort, he has the perception of being independent minded, and some of that is deserved and some not. But there are Dems who would jump on his bandwagon in the face of a Hilary candidacy and while I agree that we need a female President, it cannot be her. No more nepotism, no more doing things at the suggestion of the media. I want us back in power, but we need to continue running the right people to do it.