At this stage among the field of Democrats I just don't see anyone that is bucking the status quo. There are shades of progressiveness but we are mostly likely going to get one of the media generated candidates who has raised obscene amounts of money from corporations and wealthy donors. With that in mind, it may be time to elect a woman president and get behind Hillary. I know. what you are thinking, but wait.
She would need to agree to a deal that would include an iron-clad adherance to at least the following... public financing of elections with free airtime, end the war in Iraq, and national health insurance for all. I can think of more but if we get comprehensive public financing of elections many of our problems go away.
For some Hillary's stance on the war is a deal breaker and I agree she is horrible. But when Edwards and most dems had their chance to stand tall against the propoganda for war, he failed the test, I think his quote was something like, "let's go get them." When the war became unpopular enough, he changed his mind. Not exactly a guy to get excited about. Sure Obama was against the war but it should be clear he is not going to be president or if he could get elected it would be along the narrow lines of Blue state vs. Red State. Be honest, Obama has never been tested on the national stage and we don't even know if he has been thoroughly vetted. Think about what they were able to do to Kerry, swift boating a decorated veteran.
Hillary gives us a known quantity and if she would make the commitment to end the war, public financing and national health, we could have the first woman president. That is huge. My point is, the difference between normal Repubs and Dems are important but minor in terms of the status quo. The difference between our fundraising super star Dems is even less so. The only, and I submit most important (please remember the caveats) difference among these media generated Dems is that we can do something historic by electing a woman president. That would get this liberal to vote democratic. Otherwise I will be looking for a third party candidate that represents my beliefs and make my vote count for something.