Oh, God, No...Help Us...

[TheEschaton]

Kerry says he deserves 2nd chance in '08 (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061015/ap_on_el_pr/kerry2008)

WASHINGTON - Sen. John Kerry says he deserves a second chance if he decides to take another crack at becoming president.

The Massachusetts Democrat, who lost to President Bush in 2004, said it is a basic principle that "Americans give people a second chance. And if you learn something and prove you've learned something, maybe even more so. Now, I don't know what I'm going to do yet. We'll make that decision down the road."

Ronald Reagan twice unsuccessfully sought the GOP nomination for president before he got it — and won two elections for the White House.

"John McCain, their leading candidate — didn't he get kicked around South Carolina by the same president because he wasn't patriotic enough as a prisoner of war? He's now their leading candidate for president," Kerry said of the Republican Party. " Richard Nixon seemed to get kicked around pretty badly both running for president and governor, turned around and came back and got elected president."

Kerry faces a major challenge trying to convince Democratic activists that a recently defeated candidate can still carry his party's hopes for recapturing the White House.

If Kerry runs, he would have to overcome other Democratic presidential hopefuls such as Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, Joe Biden of Delaware, Russ Feingold of Wisconsin and Christopher Dodd of Connecticut.

The list of potential opponents also could include New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, former Indiana Gov. Sen. Evan Bayh (news, bio, voting record), Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, and even Kerry's ex-running mate in 2004, former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina.

[Artha]

:D That's pretty awesome. Kerry 08!

[Gan]

He's going to have to top Hillary's $15m warchest first. Unless he wants to be VP on Hillary's ticket!

:clap:

Its first and goal for the Democrats, and I feel a fumble coming on.

[Landrion]

Depending on who the repubs put out I might actually vote for the guy. Id certainly prefer him to Gore.

[Latrinsorm]

Yeah, he's just like Nixon, guys!

...wait... :oops:

He probably should have stuck with comparing himself to McCain.

[ElanthianSiren]

The list of potential opponents also could include New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson

all I need to see to be happy.

-M
edit: Richardson would eat Kerry alive.

[Ilvane]

What do you think is so great about Richardson, Melissa? I'm asking honestly.

I hope that Kerry doesn't run. He'd be okay as a cabinet member, once the Dems get in, but not as President. He's intelligent, but doesn't have the charisma. Sadly politics has come to who has the better personality.

Give me a guy who has no personality who knows what the hell he's doing and I'll take him over someone like Bush, who seems like a nice guy, but really has very little brains.

Angela

[Daniel]

So, Nixon?

[Parkbandit]

What do you think is so great about Richardson, Melissa? I'm asking honestly.

I hope that Kerry doesn't run. He'd be okay as a cabinet member, once the Dems get in, but not as President. He's intelligent, but doesn't have the charisma. Sadly politics has come to who has the better personality.

Give me a guy who has no personality who knows what the hell he's doing and I'll take him over someone like Bush, who seems like a nice guy, but really has very little brains.

Angela

I love this.... "once the Dems get in".... We've been hearing this for how long now? Talk about counting your chickens before they hatch....

And saying Bush has very little brains makes you a very ignorant bitch in my book.

[Latrinsorm]

Well Kerry will probably be coherent until he's 80, and it stands to reason the Democrats will manage to win by 2028, right?

[Hulkein]

Kerry is a flip-flopper.

[Warriorbird]

Enough to make me actually consider a primary vote for Hillary or Gore. Makes me consider McCain... as distressing as that sounds.

[Landrion]

What do you think is so great about Richardson, Melissa? I'm asking honestly.

I hope that Kerry doesn't run. He'd be okay as a cabinet member, once the Dems get in, but not as President. He's intelligent, but doesn't have the charisma. Sadly politics has come to who has the better personality.

Give me a guy who has no personality who knows what the hell he's doing and I'll take him over someone like Bush, who seems like a nice guy, but really has very little brains.

Angela

Youre rating Bush good for charisma? Thats what I think he fails most at. He doesnt inspire confidence and people think hes stupid because he doesnt speak well.

When I talk about good charisma on a president Im thinking Kennedy, Regan, Clinton. Neither Bush has it.

[CrystalTears]

There is nothing wrong with a president having charisma. If anything, it should be required. They have to speak and deal directly with the people on a constant basis, and if the people can't get enthused about anything they have to say, then they fail as a leader, imo.

Bush lacks that unfortunately. Clinton definitely has it. Although I wouldn't just choose a president for being able to speak publicly and effectively, it really helps.

[Landrion]

There is nothing wrong with a president having charisma. If anything, it should be required. They have to speak and deal directly with the people on a constant basis, and if the people can't get enthused about anything they have to say, then they fail as a leader, imo.

Bush lacks that unfortunately. Clinton definitely has it. Although I wouldn't just choose a president for being able to speak publicly and effectively, it really helps.


I dont think either of us said that it was bad for a President to have charisma. Ilvane just said she felt competence was more important (which I agree with), citing Bush as more charismatic than competent. I said I didnt think Bush was charismatic.

[Parkbandit]

Clinton could charm the pants of an intern.

[Sean]

Bush could charm the hell out of an AA meeting crowd.

[CrystalTears]

He's intelligent, but doesn't have the charisma. Sadly politics has come to who has the better personality.
That was mostly what I was referring to about the charisma.

citing Bush as more charismatic than competent
Which is so untrue. He's capable, the problem is that he could never explain it. If he had half the charisma that Clinton or Reagan had, his job approval rate would be way higher.

[Ilvane]

See, I don't think he's capable. I think he's probably a real nice guy if you meet him, but I don't think he just has a problem presenting what he means, I think he seriously doesn't know what he is talking about at times(as in he is being told what to say.)

I think Bush is at his best when he talks from the heart, and not reading from a script. Part of his biggest issue.

Anyway, Kerry doesn't have the charisma to carry off the same thing, because he comes across as being a snotty, rich New Englander. When Gore ran, half the issue was he came across as a major geek..which I happened to like. :shrug:

I meant that I prefer someone who is intelligent and slightly awkward presenting him or herself than someone who is not as intelligent, but is a good mouthpiece for what others want him or her to say.

Angela

[Apathy]

Kerry should flip and run as a liberal republican. He'll never outfund a Clinton.

J. Kerry v. H. Clinton: who would you vote for? (I'd probably move to Europe for 8-12 years)

[Hulkein]

FFFFFLLLLLLLIIIIIIIIPPPPPP FFFFFFFLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOPPPPPPPPPP

[CrystalTears]

J. Kerry v. H. Clinton: who would you vote for? (I'd probably move to Europe for 8-12 years)
If that was my only choice, I'd go with H. Clinton. Kerry just bothers me on so many levels.

[Ilvane]

Okay, another question..what is so BAD about Hillary Clinton?

Angela

[xtc]

Okay, another question..what is so BAD about Hillary Clinton?

Angela

Many things.

She was pro-Palestine when her husband was office. However when she ran for Senator of New York she became very Pro-Israel.

Many people surmise she has only stayed with her husband because of what he can do for her politically.

Her policies change to whatever will get her elected. She has been moving more to the centre of late, which makes many conclude she will make a run in 2008.

I don't think Hillary of a good choice for the Dems and neither is Barak. I would vote for Kerry before voting for those two.

[Artha]

She's got too many X chromosomes.

[xtc]

She's got too many X chromosomes.

I was watching a video today of Ali G interviewing some feminists, you could have subbed for him.

[Artha]

Respek.

[TheEschaton]

Anyway, Kerry doesn't have the charisma to carry off the same thing, because he comes across as being a snotty, rich New Englander.

That's cause he is. I like the guy politically, and I imagine I would like him as a person (after all, I'm a NYer, and all my best friends are snotty New Englanders), but it doesn't translate to even all 13 of the original colonies, let alone the whole country.

I think I would vote for him over Hillary though.

-TheE-

[Sean of the Thread]

She's got too many X chromosomes.

Yeah but she has a bigger penis than most men.

[DeV]

Rofl. And she knows how to use it unlike...

[Atlanteax]

George W. Bush has a better chance of being elected for a 3rd term than Hiliary has of becoming President.

[CrystalTears]

Wow, I don't go as far as saying that, Atlanteax.

[ElanthianSiren]

What do you think is so great about Richardson, Melissa? I'm asking honestly.

Angela

Richardson, first of all, runs a swing state (NM), so he's very accomplished at actually COMPROMISING and listening to other points of view; that would help negate some of the problems abroad and at home of the current administration IMO. -No more friggin cowboys in office.

He's built a system of public rail in a corner of NM that's chugging along while funding for such systems has been drastically cut (ask anyone who follows Amtrak). It's called the Railrunner and it's still in development, but I'd like someone who can be fiscally responsible while also expanding public programs (sick of $8000000000000 hammers).

He's the only full fledged expert on N. Korea who has actually worked to diffuse tensions with that country as they've mounted. Finally, due to this, he has the credentials of having been comissioned (on a limited basis) to work with the Bush 2 white house on the N. Korea problem; this gives him diplomatic and foreign credentials, with a nation that has proven itself a problem. I feel NK will be a bigger situation in the future due to the limited direct attention it's received by this administration.

Finally, I think the man is awesome. His life story is inspiring, and I own land in NM :)

-M
edit: he's not from the northeast.

[Doyle Hargraves]

Hogan/Schwarzenegger in '08!

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