-Caveat Lector- 2004: Running on empty
Will Durst - WorkingForChange 12.30.02 - In the dog eat dog world of big time politics, politicians sometimes stumble into one of those defining moments that changes the very air that we breathe. A few get hit over the head with the moment, like a big fat lucky nerf bat. Think Rudy Giuliani. The man was forced to drop out of the NY Senate race with an advanced case of Lewinsky-itis. Then September 11th threw this loser a second act, and now he's got a best seller called "Leadership." Tie-Ming! Not a city in China. Another moment occurs when you got yourself a mandate or even better, a second term. When you can worry more about what actually gets done rather than what you're supposed to say. Or as in Ronald Reagan's case, your wife worries more about what actually gets done rather than what you're supposed to say. For the Democrats, it would be more than fair to say this is not that time. Perhaps the most rarified of these uncommon opportunities is the freedom that comes with nothing to lose, which is about all the Democrats have going for themselves now. A slim chance to lead themselves out of the desert of inconsequence into the promised land of relevance. Or at least near one of its outer parking lot courtesy tram stops. But this change of direction will take bold leadership to articulate a new vision. Unfortunately, this requires either a leader or a vision or both. And as you can see from the potential list of usual suspects being floated by the Dems (minus Al Gore) that they are not out of the woods yet. Here's a thumbnail on their prospects 22 months hence. (Eds. note: Where applicable, links to the Working Assets Presidential Primary have been added. Make your voice heard!) THE POLITICIANS Hillary Clinton (Tell Hillary: Please run! Please don�t!) Not quite the people's choice. Yet. Except by every history teacher in the country who would love to see "Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton" in the Presidential lists mostly because it�s easy to remember. And it would be fun just for how much it would piss off Rush Limbaugh. Tom Daschle (Tell Daschle: Please run! Please don�t!) Senate Minority leader and a damn good one. Better to stay there and continue such an exemplary job. On a 1 to 10 scale, Daschle shoves the thrill meter all the way over to 1 1/2. Makes Al Gore look wired. Howard Dean (Tell Dean: Please run! Please don�t!) Vermont Governor and big time doctor. Perhaps just the white knight America needs to joust with the insurance and health care lobbies. And we all know how the press loves a distinguished elder statesman with a long pointy stick. Does neighboring status to New Hampshire equal a 21st century Jimmy Carter with a stethoscope? Stay tuned. John Edwards (Tell Edwards: Please run! Please don�t!) Senator from South Carolina. Not the guy who talks to dead people. Although he has been addressing quite a few Democratic leadership committees lately. Great Southern Hope or Al Gore light? Or is that latter part redundant? John Kerry (Tell Kerry: Please run! Please don�t!) One of original organizers of Vietnam Veterans Against the War in 1971, Kerry has liberal credentials but he's also got the requisite moderate economic sensibility. Most importantly, he has the perfect initials: JFK. Joseph Lieberman (Tell Joe: Please run! Please don�t!) Couldn't push Florida into the blue column. Might remind populace too much of 2000 and Democratic lack of killer instinct. Besides, face it, this may not be politically correct, but the American people are never going to elect President a man who sounds like Elmer Fudd. "Be werry werry qwiet. I'm going to raise your taxes. Heh heh heh heh heh heh." Ralph Nader (Tell Ralph: Please run! Please don�t!) No. No. No. No. No. No. No. Last time Mr. Nader ran, his supporters said they wouldn't mind if Bush won because the country couldn't get better until it got worse. Okay. It�s worse. This is worse enough. We don't need more worse. Al Sharpton (Tell Sharpton: Please run! Please don�t!) In every group there has to be one guy who can say the things that nobody else will. This is him. Oft times the group also needs somebody who says crazy things nobody else understands. This is also him. NON-POLITICIANS Tom Brokaw He may not be Uncle Walter, but America trusts him more than angry Dan or Mr. Jennings, the Canadian. Jim Hightower (Tell Hightower: Please run!) Only liberal who can go toe to toe with Bush's Texas twang. Michael Moore (Tell Moore: Please run! Got Alan Keyes to jump into mosh pit with him, maybe this blue- collar court jester can convince the whole country to follow. Anna Nicole Smith Only because Ozzie Osbourne was born on foreign soil. � 2002 WorkingForChange.com URL: http://www.workingforchange.com/ article.cfm?itemid=14299&CFID=4349151&CFTOKEN=60472395 A<:>E<:>R ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Forwarded as information only; everything sent has to stand on its own merits, not on my recommendation. Dissenting ideas are the health of the American system. A<:>E<:>R + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without charge or profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this type of information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + The only real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes. -Marcel Proust + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + "Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe simply because it has been handed down for many generations. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is written in Holy Scriptures. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of Teachers, elders or wise men. Believe only after careful observation and analysis, when you find that it agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all. Then accept it and live up to it." The Buddha on Belief, from the Kalama Sutta + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + "War is the health of the state. It automatically sets in motion throughout society these irresistible forces for uniformity, for passionate cooperation with the government in coercing into obedience the minority groups and individuals which lack the larger herd sense." 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