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NRaleighLiberal

(59,940 posts)
Tue Oct 27, 2015, 09:47 AM Oct 2015

A big what if...but - wow! If the front runners hold, this will be historic no matter what

The insane party - a megalomaniacal, unhinged reality show star who should be confined to nothing but bad TV forever - or an apparently alien controlled or perhaps permanently heavily sedated nutcase whose appeal is...what?

vs


The only hopeful, realistic choice for thinking Americans, of course - the first woman president, extremely able - or first socialist/independent president (and yes, I know all of the various commentary about labels, but he espouses true Democratic principles) - extremely able as well. Apologies to our third candidate, also extremely able, but I don't see him cracking into the top two.

No matter what - we are witnessing something unprecedented. To we here at DU, despite our tussles with who should be our candidate, the gulf of ability between the two parties is remarkable - it shouldn't even be remotely close.

But it will be - which says a lot about half of our voting public.

No matter what happens, it will certainly be a first of some kind!

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A big what if...but - wow! If the front runners hold, this will be historic no matter what (Original Post) NRaleighLiberal Oct 2015 OP
kinda less exciting or interesting with just two choices bigtree Oct 2015 #1
it's a good point, and I've thought a lot about that - for years. NRaleighLiberal Oct 2015 #2
using the Senate as a springboard for the presidency had been rare, right? bigtree Oct 2015 #3
For O'Malley to make it... kenfrequed Oct 2015 #4
Rahm???? What???? Where Is That Coming From?....nt global1 Oct 2015 #5
Uhm... kenfrequed Oct 2015 #6
No - But Rahm Has Been Criticized For Hurting Obama When He Was Chief Of Staff.... global1 Oct 2015 #7

bigtree

(85,915 posts)
1. kinda less exciting or interesting with just two choices
Tue Oct 27, 2015, 09:51 AM
Oct 2015

...two pols who've been members of the D.C. political class for decades.

NRaleighLiberal

(59,940 posts)
2. it's a good point, and I've thought a lot about that - for years.
Tue Oct 27, 2015, 10:00 AM
Oct 2015

our current political process, the vast sums it takes, the time it takes - and what has to be done to get through it. If the country's politics were a baseball team, one would have to wonder about the shape of the farm system - who (where?) are the young, emerging stars?

bigtree

(85,915 posts)
3. using the Senate as a springboard for the presidency had been rare, right?
Tue Oct 27, 2015, 10:10 AM
Oct 2015

...I think more governors have made the transition.


Every President of the United States has served as either:

Vice President of the United States
a Member of Congress (either U.S. Senator or Representative)
a Governor of a state
a Cabinet Secretary
a General of the United States Army

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Presidents_of_the_United_States_by_other_offices_held



Seventeen presidents* (almost 40%) had previously held office as chief executive of a state, providing them with experience in running a government bureaucracy, dealing with a legislature and responding to the judiciary.
http://governors.rutgers.edu/on-governors/us-governors/governors-and-the-white-house/governors-who-became-president

kenfrequed

(7,865 posts)
4. For O'Malley to make it...
Tue Oct 27, 2015, 10:12 AM
Oct 2015

Clinton has to actually do badly. If she can get knocked down to third place in New Hampshire or Iowa then he has a chance.

If Clinton loses in both Iowa and New Hampshire then the race opens up considerably.

Knocking Bernie down to second place to Clinton will not help O'Malley at all unless of course he is angling for a Veep slot. Of course in that case he will have to fight Rahm Emmanuel for it.

kenfrequed

(7,865 posts)
6. Uhm...
Tue Oct 27, 2015, 11:05 AM
Oct 2015

Presidential candidates aren't required to put their opposition in as Veep. It is done somewhat frequently but it isn't a universal rule. Are you imagining Hillary is going to tap O'Malley or Bernie for veep?

global1

(25,166 posts)
7. No - But Rahm Has Been Criticized For Hurting Obama When He Was Chief Of Staff....
Tue Oct 27, 2015, 11:11 AM
Oct 2015

so is this his reward for that? It seems to me that Rahm held back Obama from doing the progressive things he wanted to accomplish. Is Rahm the plant in the Hillary administration to pull her back to the center after she has to go hard left because of Bernie?

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