Vote Americans, Vote!

[Nacho]

I' ve heard about a black candidate, a republican one, not Obama... It was 2 years ago, I might be confussing curious news with "serious" ones. Somebody has a clue of what I am talking about?

[Kweepa]

Ken Blackwell (loser in the Ohio governor's race)?
Or Condoleezza Rice?

[Anarcho]

Well, you can count all the black republicans in the country on one hand...maybe you're thinking about Michael Steele who just ran for senate in Maryland as a Republican?  I don't think he's ever been mentioned for the presidency but...

Then there's Alan Keyes who ran against Obama, i think he's run for president before...he's just a crazy man.

Honestly, i can't think of any other prominent black republicans.

[DGMacphee]

AP is reporting that Webb has won Virginia. Allen doesn't want to drag it out with a recount. MSNBC and CNN are carrying the report too.

Looks like the Democrats have control over both houses.

Tis a great day. My lunch will taste better than any meal I have ever had!

[ildu]

Damnation. The forums were down for me, so I couldn't reply until now.

Great results. Democrats have now secured Virginia and have taken the Senate majority !

Anyways, possible '08 presidential election candidates:

D:
Hillary Clinton (viable, good base, popular, although leaning to the right a bit, still a woman)
Barack Obama (very intelligent, young, energetic, witty, still black)
John Edwards (previous vice presidential candidate, pretty boy, likeable, popular, environment as his main issue)
Joe Biden (very witty and funny guy, intelligent, great speaker, likeable, authoritative)
Wesley Clark (former general who opposed iraq, intelligent, a little squirmish, not that great a speaker nor the greatest charmer)

R:
George Allen (racist, stupid, not gonna happen)
Bill Frist (idiot, douchebag, has been under indictment, completely corrupt)
Newt Gingrich (old player, good speaker, conservative)
Rudy Giuliani (very likeable, great loyal voterbase, popular, vacant )
John McCain (war veteran, torture victim, very intelligent, likeable, liberitarian, popular, the youth loves him, lately been smoozing with some unsavory right nutjobs, like Bush, Fallwell, to gain Republican votes)

EDIT:

Condoleezza Rice has assured many times already that she is not going to run in '08, nor does she harbor any such intentions in the near future.

[Redwall]

I think (hope) the Dems won't let Hillary run.

[LGM]

You forgot Jon Stewart.

[DGMacphee]

I think (hope) the Dems won't let Hillary run.

Why not? She seems like a good candidate and her re-election is fuelling momentum. She's popular, which her Senate constituency demonstrates. She's married to a former president who left office with a positive approval rating domestically, a budget in surplus and has good diplomatic ties with leaders in other countries.

If you asked me several months ago, I'd have said no. But considering the degree she's won in the mid-terms (67 per cent), I'd say she has a bloody good chance now.

Sure, the main Red States don't like her but I reckon, if she picks the right running mate, she'll get the majority of support.

My roommate and I are predicting a Clinton/Obama ticket in 2008 and a Giuliani/McCain ticket for the Repubs.

However, my favourite Senator who I think will make a bid for 2008 (and ildu left him off the list) is Russ Feingold. Out of all the political players in the US, Feingold has impressed me the most these last few years. Very intelligent, highly articulate and has a big set of balls.

You forgot Jon Stewart.

Nah, Stewart has said he's not running.

And besides, it's a bit like saying Christopher Walken is in the running for 2008. Not going to happen, no matter how much people wish it.

But speaking of which, my favourite Republican candidate for 2008... Denny Crane!

[TheYak]

I think people tend to see the more liberal segments of the US as being more devoutly liberal than they are.  In the San Francisco area of California, any time Hillary's name comes up as a potential candidate everyone maintains that it would be interesting, but that there's no way she would win, usually adding that they wouldn't vote for her either. 

There's too much negative association with the Clinton administration, depictions of her as an iron-fisted bitch, and generally ignoring her constituents when she's got a pet-issue.  She's also been associated with a good amount of censorship & morality -type proposals. 

While I'd love to see things shaken up with a female president, I'm afraid we're still a little too backwards to accomplish this yet.

[jetxl]

Hillary might be populair in the new england area, but she's disliked unanimously by the south and the mid west. Even the big cities in the south east and south west, she isn't taken seriously.
Her conservative viewpoints to compensate with republicans won't work. It's better to find someone who has the balls to be liberal.

[Nacho]

I was not very interested in this election, but if the results worked for making Daniel' s meal the tastiest ever... Damn! I am happy! Devil can came and shiver my timbers if I am not! 

[DGMacphee]

Hillary might be populair in the new england area, but she's disliked unanimously by the south and the mid west. Even the big cities in the south east and south west, she isn't taken seriously.
Her conservative viewpoints to compensate with republicans won't work. It's better to find someone who has the balls to be liberal.

Hence why I said "if she picks the right running mate".

[m0ds]

An interesting turnout to the vote, was good to see the Democrats take the senate. I still want to visit whilst Arnie is in office though! movielaand

[Anarcho]

Running mates really don't matter all that much IMHO, just look at Edwards and Kerry.  Edwards was a great VP choice, but he couldn't help save that sinking, pretentious ship.

Clinton is very popular in New York, specifically downstate.  That's great for New York, but it won't get you far elsewhere.  People outside of New York HATE New York.  Also, there's a really nasty streak of anti-feminist, anti-women-as-leaders resentment in the media and public at large that would make her candidacy problematic.

Furthermore, do we live in a Monarchy?  We shouldn't  elect the wife of a former President, just like we shouldn't have elected George Bush Jr, just like we shouldn't ever elect Jeb Bush. It's bad for democracy. 

Finally, Clinton has no charisma.  She's a terrible public speaker. 

With all that said, I think she should run.

[Raggit]

Okay, I'm seriously thrilled!!!!!!!!! 

Democrats are taking the House and the Senate, and Donald Rumsfeld just resigned his sorry ass... this must be Heaven.
8)

[jetxl]

well, there is still one big monkey on our back.

[Anarcho]

A monkey who's just had his balls cut off...

[DGMacphee]

Running mates really don't matter all that much IMHO, just look at Edwards and Kerry.  Edwards was a great VP choice, but he couldn't help save that sinking, pretentious ship.

No, Edwards was terrible choice. He was as effective as having a boiled carrot for a running mate.

Look at Cheney. The man is evil, but still an effective running mate for Bush.

Clinton is very popular in New York, specifically downstate.  That's great for New York, but it won't get you far elsewhere.  People outside of New York HATE New York

You do know that people described her a carpetbagger because she moved to New York just to run for the Senate seat there, right? Originally she wasn't very popular as she is now, winning only 55% in 2000.

But hey, you only just ignored the many other states she's lived in and all the work she's done in those states.

Also, there's a really nasty streak of anti-feminist, anti-women-as-leaders resentment in the media and public at large that would make her candidacy problematic.

Really? People seem to be okay with Nancy Pelosi as the new House Majority Leader. What resentment in the media are you on about?

Finally, Clinton has no charisma. She's a terrible public speaker.

Has you actually listened to a Bush speech? I don't think it's all that important to be a good public speaker.

[jetxl]

Erm, what is your obsession with Hillary? What has she done that makes her such a great leader?
People call her a carpet begger!
You mock Jack Thompson, but she supports him (or visa versa, whatever).

Don't want to come over cross, but I don't see her as THE politicion to kick start the progression. I don't know somebody who is, but is't not her.

[Anarcho]

Yes, I'm fully aware that people called her a carpetbagger in New York and that people got over it.  But that's because it's fucking New York.  If she had tried running, oh let's say in Tennessee, she'd have gotten her ass handed to her.  She's appreciated in one of the most liberal areas of the country.  Big whoop.

Other states she's lived in?  She's from Illinois, right?  Ok.  She's got Illinois locked up.  Another liberal stronghold.  Hooray.  Then you've got Arkansas.  Not exactly friendly territory.  They elected her slick southern husband, not her.  Notice she didn't run for Senate in Arkansas...she never would have won.

And people are not ok with Nancy Pelosi.  I don't know if you're American or not, and listen to American radio or TV, but during  the election Pelosi was held up as this SAN FRANCISCO LIBERAL!!!! image in order to create fear in teh conservative base.  There was quite a tinge of anti-feminism in the language used by the ads and media personalities. 

I think it really comes down to people's reaction to strong-willed women...they're viewed as "bitches" be it in the boardroom or workplace or the White House.  Hillary got lambasted during her husbands presidency for doing things and saying things that, if a man had said them, wouldn't have caused such a raucous.  Honestly it's reprehensible, but I think it's the real reason America won't elect a woman President any time soon.

Finally, I still think Edwards was a fine candidate, it's just that Kerry was a terrible.  Talk about how public speaking is critical---Kerry could not communicate a single cogent message to the American people.  He just would ramble on and on about miscellanea while referencing arcane policy info.  Bush used accessible language and repeatedly stressed clear ideas.  Cheney didn't have jack to do with Bush getting relected.