As usual, every single Democratic candidate would be better than any of the Republican candidates contemplating a run for President. Since Hillary Clinton has finally thrown her hat in the ring, it is time to swing into gear and vet some of the candidates. Hillary is the prohibitive favorite as far as money and organization. After all, class counts in this country and we love our political dynasties more than we care to admit. But that should not stop us from taking a look at some of the other candidates contemplating a run.
We will look at the established candidates and then look at a few who are on the fringes, but whose ideas still merit discussion. One significant omission is Elizabeth Warren. She has publicly stated that she will not run for President, and my working assumption is that she won't unless she says otherwise. The Green Papers contain a list of most of the people who have publicly declared their intent to run; it has an interesting look at the good, the interesting, and the crazy.
First of all, Hillary Clinton, who needs no introduction:
Hillary Clinton has served as Secretary of State, Senator from New York, First Lady of the United States, First Lady of Arkansas, a practicing lawyer and law professor, activist, and volunteer, but the first things her friends and family will tell you is that she’s never forgotten where she came from or who she’s been fighting for throughout her life.
Hillary grew up in a middle class home in Park Ridge, a suburb of Chicago, Illinois. Her dad, Hugh, was a World War II Navy veteran and a small business man with a drapery business that designed, printed, and sold his draperies. Hillary, her mom, and her two brothers helped out in the business whenever they could. Hugh was a rock-ribbed Republican, a pay-as-you-go kind of guy who worked hard and wasted nothing.
Hillary’s mother, Dorothy, had a tough childhood. She was abandoned by her parents as a young child and shipped off to live with relatives who didn’t want her. By age 14, Dorothy knew the only way she’d get by was to support herself, and she started working as a housekeeper and babysitter while she went through high school. Her mother’s experience sparked in Hillary a lifelong commitment to championing the needs of children.
She is very heavy on her biography, with a focus on pocketbook issues. She would make history by being the first woman elected President in the same way that Obama made history in 2008.
Vice President Joe Biden.
He’s been the proverbial “heart beat” away for eight years.
Whether it's the issues we face today, or the challenges going forward, we believe there is no stronger candidate in the race to lead us than Vice President Joe Biden. From his powerful role in the Obama administration to his years as the Senator from Delaware.
But before he can lead, we need to stand behind him.
Draft Biden 2016 is preparing the groundwork for Biden in the early states of New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Iowa. We are building up an army of volunteers and supporters around the country, ready for Biden when he enters the race. With over 20,000 signatures to our petition, the movement continues to grow for the VP to get in. We're confident we can return Joe Biden to the Executive branch in 2016.
Martin O'Malley is still open to running.
His spokesperson said:
And former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley's spokeswoman said his decision on whether to run won't be influenced by Clinton's entrance.
"All across the nation, he's heard from Democrats that they are looking for someone who offers strong progressive values, new leadership, and the experience of getting real results. The Democratic Party will benefit from a robust issues debate, and -- should Gov. O'Malley decide to enter the race -- he will bring one," O'Malley spokeswoman Lis Smith said.
He is running on a track record of getting things done;
for instance:
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY
Economic Success
Maryland ranked #1 for innovation and entrepreneurship for the third year in a row, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Maryland also ranked as one of the top three states for economic mobility based on workers’ ability to move up the earnings ladder, according to the Pew Center on the States. And Maryland achieved a faster rate of job creation than its neighbors Virginia or Pennsylvania.
Raised Maryland’s Minimum Wage to $10.10
Governor O’Malley brought people together, forged consensus, and raised Maryland’s minimum wage to $10.10. Hundreds of thousands of Maryland workers will receive a raise, creating stronger customers for local businesses and good-paying, family-supporting jobs.
Expanded the EITC to Help Working Families
Governor O’Malley twice led the effort to expand Maryland’s refundable earned income credit, which puts more money in the pockets of working families. This year, Maryland is expanding the EITC again to give even more support to Maryland families.
Created the Nation’s First Living Wage
In 2007, Maryland became the first state in America to pass a “living wage.” The living wage requires contractors working on state contracts to pay $11.30 an hour in Baltimore City as well as in Prince George’s, Montgomery, Howard, Anne Arundel, and Baltimore counties, and $8.50 an hour throughout the rest of the state.
Progressivity in the Tax Code
In the midst of the worst economic downturn in history, Governor O’Malley reformed Maryland’s income tax. Today, 86% of Marylanders pay less in state income taxes than they did before Governor O’Malley took office.
He has several other sections as well. The problem is, Hillary has been running circles around the competition as far as locking up early donors, talent, and endorsements. And class counts in this country.
Bernie Sanders:
There is a world out there that the media doesn’t understand – they don’t leave their offices – where people are sick and tired of working longer hours for lower wages, not being able to send their kids to college, not being able to afford health care at the same time as the wealthiest people are doing unbelievably well, and people know, they may not be economists, but they know that there’s something wrong when the top tenth of one percent owning more than the bottom 90 percent, and when 99 percent of all new income is going into the hands of the one percent, which is currently the case. And that’s the message I take around the country and that is the message that I believe people are and will respond to. We need a government that represents all the people and not just the billionaire class, and that’s what I’ve spent my life fighting for and that’s what I’ll continue to fight for whether or not the Boston Globe likes it.
When Bernie ran for Congress, he came in as a major underdog, yet won. He is a long-shot, but he has much more charisma than Dennis Kucinich did. You can find a Draft Bernie site
here.
James Webb:
I’d like to take a few minutes of your time to ask you to consider the most important question facing America today: Is it possible for us to return to a leadership environment where people from both political parties and from all philosophical points of view would feel compelled to work together for the common good, and to sort out their disagreements in a way that moves our country forward rather than tearing the fabric of this nation apart?
As one who spent four years in the Reagan Administration and then served in the Senate as a Democrat, I believe it is possible. It is also necessary. We desperately need to fix our country, and to reinforce the values that have sustained us for more than two centuries, many of which have fallen by the wayside in the nasty debates of the last several years. I hope you will consider joining me in that effort.
Over the past few months thousands of concerned Americans from across the political spectrum have urged me to run for President. A constant theme runs through these requests. Americans want positive, visionary leadership that they can trust. They’re worried about the state of our economy, the fairness of our complicated multicultural society, the manner in which we are addressing foreign policy and national security challenges, and the divisive, paralyzed nature of our government itself. In short, they’re worried about the future. They want solutions, not rhetoric.
I share every one of these concerns.
Lincoln Chafee:
A strong middle class is the bedrock of any prosperous community. However today’s system is stacked against too many American families. They play by all the rules; they are educated, often at great cost; they work hard all week, and are barely making ends meet. This is not right. As a U. S. Senator I voted against every Bush tax cut that favored the wealthiest and deepened the disparity between the few and the many. At the local, state and federal level I have supported incentives and protections that help grow the middle class. Beneficial social programs have a long history of being a force for good in the lives of Americans.
The tragedies of the Iraq War are manifold; lost and injured lives, hundreds of billions of squandered tax dollars, the difficulty of providing just and proper care for our brave veterans, but maybe the most tragic, the loss of American credibility. I commit to the repair needed to all the harm done. Our credibility will be restored when we respect our world partners and truly listen when they speak. In a world of nuclear weapons, the United States must make international decisions with brains and not biceps.
Recently certain of our rights have been wrongfully infringed upon. Particularly the Fourth Amendment forbids the tapping of our phones without a warrant. And the Eighth Amendment outlaws cruel and unusual punishment or torture. I will never allow our liberties to be diminished. And I will always steadfastly support our First Amendment rights. I also strongly support a woman’s right to make her own personal reproductive decisions. I believe in common sense adherence to the Second Amendment.
Lincoln Chafee is seeking to capitalize on his opposition to Iraq, the Bush tax cuts, and the NSA. He ran as a Republican in the US Senate. The challenge will be to see if he has earned the trust of Democrats enough that they will consider his views.
Now, for three candidates who have little chance of getting more than a fraction of a percent if the election were to be held tomorrow. But anyone is electable if you vote for them. There are a lot of people who did not vote in the 2014 election. Maybe some fresh blood is what is needed to generate interest for 2016.
Michael Steinberg:
I believe in the free market system, but I also believe the system should be fair. Middle income earners should make up a large percentage of our population. Every child should have the opportunity for a quality education. Every young adult should have been given the education and/or training to enter the workforce. Workers must be paid a fair wage. Everyone should have access to healthcare.
Currently our monetary policy and tax system favors the very wealthy. If someone works hard, saves, invests, grows a business, and becomes wealthy, he or she should not be begrudged. That is the American way. However, our tax system should be equitable, so that individuals and corporations who have greatly benefited from our economic system, pay their fair share of taxes to support this system.
As a Social Security disability attorney for over 30 years, I have seen first hand the importance of Social Security and Medicare. As President, I will ensure that the Social Security Retirement and Disability programs remain solvent and are operated in a professional, courteous and efficient manner. I oppose any privatization of Social Security, however, I have seen the benefit of Medicare working with private insurance companies to reduce healthcare cost and provide healthcare more efficiently. This is why I support a Medicare option to the ACA health insurance exchange program. Currently Medicare eligible persons can opt to be insured by a private insurance company. Conversely, persons who are eligible to purchase insurance through a healthcare exchange, should be able to purchase Medicare at the fair market price.
Robby Wells promotes something called "Eaglenomics." In a nutshell, the idea is to combine what he thinks are the best aspects of all sides of the issue to achieve universal employment.
Liberal:
Free Technical Education
Non-fossil Sustainable Energy
Industrial Homestead Program
Free Healthcare Insurance
Free Higher Education
Conservative:
Eliminate Regulations
Eliminate the National Debt
Promote Free Market Business
Curtail the Federal Reserve
Private Property Rights
Government:
Increased Industrialization
Bring Back Manufacturing Jobs
Completely Eliminate Unemployment
Build an Advanced Infrastructure
Create Energy Independence
Business:
Eliminate Strict Liability
Eliminate Social Security Tax
Revenue Neutral Value Added Tax
Eliminate Unemployment Tax
Eliminate Healthcare Costs
Lower Transportation Costs
Lower Energy Costs
Wells was, at one time, the coach of Savannah State. After an acrimonious departure from the school, he sued the program alleging reverse discrimination and settled for $240,000.
Andy Caffrey is running to the left. He touts himself as the greenest candidate ever to run for President and says:
Saturday morning, less than 24 hours after I sent out my warning that Scott Walker is the antichrist of Eagle Scouts, I was on the University of Wisconsin, Madison KSUM radio station airwaves. TMI with Aldous Tyler is the first radio show to explore the priorities of my Presidential campaign, the 2015 #ClimateCrisis #YearOfOutrage international mobilization, my Clear the Coasts 2015 road show of the United States, and why I, the greenest candidate to ever run for US president, am running as a registered Democrat.
We also talked about legalizing marijuana, fighting Monsanto and sabotaging genetic engineering test sites to win GMO-banning and GMO-labeling legislation in seventy nations (so far), as well as why NASA/UC Irvine's May 12, 2014 announcement that the collapse of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet is "unstoppable" means that 20 feet of global sea level increases this century–and the resulting obliteration of 80 of the world's 100 biggest cities–is also unstoppable.
This is a global act of war by Republican and Democratic climate denialists in Congress and the White House, unstoppably waged over this next century in slow motion against the 134 nations with ocean coastlines, including our own! Because of 35 years of successful Republican and Democratic conspiracies on behalf of America's greatest domestic and foreign enemies, the fossil fuel plutocrats, all of America's coastal communities will be washed to sea over the coming decades.
To paraphrase Kucinich, any of these candidates is electable if you vote for them. Don't vote for Hillary because everyone says she is inevitable; vote for her because she is the best person for the job.