Who was the right democratic nominee?

[zartan]

I'm thinking Clark now. Yes, I prefer Dean personally. But in terms of winning, I think Clark was the right choice. Kerry is turning out to be not as bad as I thought - of course, that's mostly on the strength of his debate performance, not the rest of the campaign.

E

[empath]

other Al Gore.

But the angry, post-2003 Al Gore, not the jack-ass that ran in 2000.

[BizarroCub]

Hey...how come Sharpton ain't up there...

You sir...are a racist...

[velvetgoldmire]

I'd vote for Al Sharpton's hair.

[zartan]

i left out all the fringe candidates. i should have been more clear - i'm curiuos who people think would have WON.

[velvetgoldmire]

Hey, do not underestimate the influence of Al Sharpton's hair.

[Kif]

damnit, I meant to click on Dean, but it voted Kerry for me :sadblue:

[nietzsche]

damn butterfly ballot...!

[velvetgoldmire]

lol... fair play

[PYVND]

I voted for Sharpton in the primary. He was on SNL! That was cool.

Kerry is the right Democtratic nominee. I'd like to see Dean and Clark on his cabinet.

[teh awesomeness]

Like I said during primary season, Clark probably could have won the whole thing.

I voted for Dean though (Clark had pretty much lost it by the Virginia Primary).

[zartan]

nietzsche's comment in another thread is worth quoting here

Dean almost took over the party and if "establishment" Democrats were serious about getting rid of Bush they would have let him do it. Kerry has no credibility coming out firing now. He constantly criticized Dean for being too far left to lead.

But can you imagine the immense credibility Dean would have right now? The report on WMDs? The situation in Iraq? The poverty numbers, yadda yadda. There wouldn't be a Dem in the nation that would have to hold their nose to vote for him....and if there are it's alot less than Kerry.

And with Dean you might get a lunatic who's shouldn't be President, but that's obviously what the Dems think you get with Bush. And all the cabinet would still be the same. Holdbrooke, Gore, Biden, Clark....hell, Kerry might have even wound up as vice-pres.

[zartan]

j/k on correct for once btw brian...

[nietzsche]

...and it's true. Kerry wants to scream out "Yougoddamnedlyingcocksuckingevilsonofabitch!!!" so bad you can see the smoke coming out of ears from holding it down. Dean could have done it and the whole country would have been like ...ya! get him!

But instead the "estab" Dems said you can't have a vociferous liberal running the country! You gotta have somebody strong! You gotta have....have.....uh....this guy. and out came Wesley Clark. The country split the difference and you got Kerry. now they got problems.

[zartan]

it will be interesting to see if you're right. i definitely think either dean OR clark had a chance, using totally different strategies. You have shown me how Dean could have won, although the GOP attack machien would have been WITHERING on the iraq war, I do remember how inspiring he could be when he was on his game.

[Methodus]

other Al Gore.

But the angry, post-2003 Al Gore, not the jack-ass that ran in 2000.

The angry delusional venemous one? Yuck.

[Methodus]

damn butterfly ballot...!


fantabulous

[maynard]

I supported Dean then. I support him now, even though his campaign went down the toilet a long time ago.

I'm not sure what exactly prompted the Democratic masses to fall in love with Kerry. But I remember thinking at the time that I wasn't sure he had what it takes to beat Bush. And I still think that. The same people who labelled Dean's theatrics as "unpresidential" are the same people that label Bush's idiocy as "unpresidential." Double standards much?

[gabriel]

i guess it's all about perception.

the "perception' that was fed by the whole "the scream" thing...

and then the perception of "electability"

who knows?

but i guess the decision was made that the country couldn't really be swung so fast to the left right wing vs left wing election? just seems ugly.

i know a few people who saw clark speak and were really down with him.

what separates these three people? some say Skull & Bones.

[2TuffCrew]

where's Dennis Kucinich?

this poll sucks. you can't just pick & choose which democratic candidates you think are best and leave the rest off - Kucinich was not a 'fringe' candidate as you put it - he campaigned all the way through to the convention, spoke at the convention and influence the party platform. that is not fringe - he is a congressman and a core member of the progressive caucus - that is not fringe. oh well, some people just dont understand how democracy works.

[zartan]

then post your own poll. my point wasn't to try to make a point about democracy works but to see who people thought was most likely to beat bush. the fact that kucinich never broke 5% of the PRIMARY vote pretty much counts him out of the running to actually beat the president.

chill out! jesus.

[MattaKnox]

Kerry's still the best choice to win IMO. I'd give Clark a close second because he can score some big points in the foreign policy arena, but I'm not entirely sure he has the political saavy, experience, and personnel necessary to run (or even survive) a general election campaign.

Dean would still be my first choice, but I highly doubt he would have been able to pick up any of the undecideds in the swing states. His anti-war message would have been undercut by a constant barrage of attacks pointing out his lack of experience in that area.

Brian, when did Kerry attack Dean for being too far left-leaning? I'm pretty sure Kerry stuck w/ his message constantly attacking Bush, and let others (Gephardt) go into attack mode on Dean for being too far left.

[nietzsche]

Kerry's still the best choice to win IMO. I'd give Clark a close second because he can score some big points in the foreign policy arena, but I'm not entirely sure he has the political saavy, experience, and personnel necessary to run (or even survive) a general election campaign.

Dean would still be my first choice, but I highly doubt he would have been able to pick up any of the undecideds in the swing states. His anti-war message would have been undercut by a constant barrage of attacks pointing out his lack of experience in that area.

Brian, when did Kerry attack Dean for being too far left-leaning? I'm pretty sure Kerry stuck w/ his message constantly attacking Bush, and let others (Gephardt) go into attack mode on Dean for being too far left.

comments like when he said anybody who didn't think we were safer when Saddam was captured doesn't deserve to be president.....characterizing him as out of the mainstream...yadda yadda.

[gabriel]

what i cant remember is why kerry passed clark for VP...

[nietzsche]

what i cant remember is why kerry passed clark for VP...


or why Edwards was picked at all. Kerry won't win the south. He won't even win North Carolina. I think this should get put up there on the list of collosal campaign blunders along with Geraldine Ferraro. (who has become FNC's new fav democrat)

[i licked JOEYd]

I hate Kerry and I like Bush, but...

I would vote for EDWARDS for president in a heart beat.

I really like him and he's actually a democrat that wasn't raised as a millionaire, he made it himself as a trial lawyer.

[Light Touch]

Dean, easily.

He's the only one (well, okay, Kucinich too) who really seems to live and breathe what he says. That resonates with people.

And he could absolutely kill Bush on the spending excesses and civil rights issues.

[MarkyMark]

This poll is still open? Hehe.

Voted for Dean!!! Love that guy! :) :bananarider:

[Cutter]

Ron Paul isn't an option. He was the best candidate. Both parties should have nominated him.

[zartan]

lol

[Methodus]

Lew Rockwell for Pres.