As soundbites scripted for debates go, I really like this one from today’s event in Chicago:
“For 15 years, I have stood up against the right-wing machine and I’ve come out stronger. So if you want a winner who knows how to take them on, I’m your girl,” [Sen. Hillary] Clinton said.
What’s important this time is winning, and not just in the margins. It’s clear that Bush will not be impeached. The only recourse to accountability left for impeachment advocates is to ensure his party gets a thumpin’ of biblical proportions next year.
I’m still undecided about Clinton (and Obama and Edwards) and leaning toward Bill Richardson. But the threshold issue for me has never been Clinton’s politically calculated vote to authorize Bush’s war in 2002. It’s which candidate is the least likely to run a wimpy-ass campaign like John Kerry’s in 2004. If you can’t defeat Karl Rove, the Swiftboaters and their ilk, you don’t deserve to be the Democratic nominee, much less the president.
The candidate who wins the Democratic primaries next year needs to go on the offensive out the gate. Standing up to the rightwing lies and smears is a good first step. If Clinton walks the talk, who knows, she could be just the woman to do it.
I started changing my mind about Hillary during the YouTube debate, and talked to several other people of both genders who felt the same way — we’re all feeling kind of O.K. with the prospect of Hillary getting the nomination. Who would have thought that?
Interesting article on Bill Richardson! That insightful and progressive websites are warming to his campaign is gratifying to
me, since Richardson is my governor, and I have known him personally for 30 years. What Richardson has achieved vis-a-vis the New Mexico Legislature is remarkable, but I won’t recite the
accomplishments. I do want to see him elected President, but I am in no way connected officially to his campaign.
The so called “top-tier”candidates together, all 3 of them, have a collective resume still lesser in quality to Bill Richardson’s!
(Incidentally, Pollster.com determined very recently that Richardson henceforth shall be considered in the “top-tier,”based on his being the only candidate who has substantially risen in Iowa and is now ahead by 5% of Edwards in New Hampshire!)
Richardson’s real genius and his strongest suit is in international affairs, and that will be vital (and I don’t mean as just a future US Secretary of State!), if we are going to even attempt to rebuild the US image internationally,after six years of Halliburton-driven corporate kleptocracy. His debate skills have not been as honed and polished as the 3 lawyers in so-called “top tier,” but that is fixable. His biography is great
(Between Worlds: the Making of an American Life), and the new book on Energy Policy will be just as good.
Here is what I consider the bottom line: you don’t have to be a Marxian or Hegelian or a Ph.D Economist to comprehend that our domestic economy is suffering and going to get worse resulting from the on-going international
implications of the foreign policy of this administration, so based on corporate needs and demands; don’t expect ANY major
improvements in the last two years of Bush’s tenure, especially in the trickle down economic realms which would improve the lives of individual American consumers.
Richardson has repeatedly made it clear that Congress should deauthorize the Iraq War, and that he personally would end it the first day of his Presidency.
My prediction: Richardson is going to win in Nevada, and he is going to do very very well in Iowa, New Hampshire, Tennessee, and California, I think winning in at least two of those states. May I suggest that you and your readers directly communicate to David Contarino and Amanda Cooper, his
Campaign Manager, and Deputy CM, or to Richardson directly through the email function on his NM governor website? These people are very open to new ideas, questions, strategies, insights, etc., and I encourage anyone reading to take the time to contact them by phone or by email, even if you have just
one question on a policy matter, or want to tell Bill Richardson what YOU think.
If you wish, please google the title of my most recent major article, RESOLVING THE WORSENING CRISIS AT THE FDA, published at many websites in many nations.
Truly,
Stephen Fox
New Millennium Fine Art,
217 W. Water St.,
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501
505 983-2002
I wouldn’t count out Kucinich. I think he will pull in Iowa and TN, perhaps pick up momentum. He has the fire in the gut needed to come out of the gate a strong contender. I wonder about the swift boat club. Think they will be believed in this 08 election?