As much as everyone here loves those gritty candidates who have the real progressive views on images, we cannot, repeat, cannot compromise the image of the candidate we put up there in 08. But not for Democrats, because we know we will vote for the democrat over the republican, but for those people on the fence.
Look at a J.F.K. I personally like the kind of president he was, but he had his share of problems. But on top of that he was charming, young, energetic, and fun to watch. And so even when Bay of Pigs was a disaster, the Cuban Missile Crisis almost changed the face of war, he was still beloved by many. Even through all of his problems, the world stopped when he was assassinated. He was respected.
We need someone like that. A well educated, good public speaker, who has the charm, the wit and the energy to rile up the moderates on moral issues and beat the G.O.P at it's own game. Because we progressives all know that Bush's "moral values" platform is such B.S.
The American people aren't looking for someone who plays behind the scenes (if they get sick of this Administration, which is starting to happen). They are looking for someone to be a leader, to be the face of America in a turbulent and changing time.
I liken this time very much to the sixties. Unrest in the world, a useless war, a time where we had come off of a somewhat placid decade into one where we were face with new and radical ideas, sex, drugs and rock 'n roll.
And after J.F.K, who would they turn to? Tricky Dick? They did for a while but he turned out to be a big scam, and the country had pretty much had it with government by 72. He was no face for America.
Obviously, we live in a very different time, but the reality is that the sixties had many of the same problems we face today. And for most of the decade the American people had no one to turn to.
All I am saying is, we need a candidate who will be trusted by Americans because he feels like another guy, not some robot. Because we are all attracted to charm and wit. But who has that persona?