Who do you honestly believe will be 44th President of the United States?

It may very well be true.

Too many of these fascists will wind up in jail if they leave office.
They have too much to lose.

up their sleeves to install the idiot-in-chief for life and turn the US into a totalitarian police state (hence W's lack of concern with his plummeting poll numbers.) Is my hat on too tight? :tinfoilhat:

give me a break

The 44th President will be Jeb.

America is so sick of Bushes that he would be the easiest to beat.

He *will* get the Presidency.

The last two Presidential elections have been STOLEN by disenfrachising voters, by old-fashioned ballot box stuffing, by electronic vote fraud -- the more "elected officials" who got into office by stealing elections the more laws they will pass so they can steal BIGGER next time. Let's say that the GOP steals elections in 2006 and stay in power in House & Senate. They pass laws that say that people who aren't currently paying federal income taxes can't vote - yes they can DO that. The dollar collapses, the US gets up to 30%-40% unemployment and woo-hoo -> Jeb's in office quicker than you can say "Oligarchy"...

Jeb will be "elected" President in 2008 if we don't WIN 2006.

Lkick:

I can't predict the future. Neither can anyone else.

but who America elects? - John or Hillary? and I don't like either

'nuff said. Other than that, I like Feingold.

want as long as we're predicting and fantasizing.

I'll take Fiengold before Hillary or Kerry anyday.

Hillary I've never been fond of, and there's something about Kerry I just don't like.

Everyone on the scene now has been slandered beyond repair, on both sides.

Now, I admit that Barbaro might have been a formidable candidate, had he won the Triple Crown, his breakdown was his "Muskie Moment". And forget Mr Ed, he's a fascist!

:rofl:

But I agree about Barbaro. What a lame-o!

ala George Bush

Not necessarily a centrist, but one who is charming, brilliant, charismatic, a great speaker and who stands for Democratic ideals. The scary thing is, I think those days are long gone. In a way, I fear the next Prez will be even more evil than Bush. (A wolf in sheep's clothing)

Re >>Not necessarily a centrist, but one who is charming, brilliant, charismatic, a great speaker and who stands for Democratic ideals.<<

Just referring to someone "who stands for Democratic ideals" narrows the field a LOT. People who stand for Democratic ideals are an endangered species in politics these days.

Not McCain. I think we overestimate the way Repukes feel about him. I am in a very red area and have lots of Conservative family members. they hate McCain. I think the media is pushing him on the repukes like they push Hillary on us.

I wish. :woohoo:

We need to campaign tough against him to reveal exactly what he is to the McCain loving Dems and independents.

It's increasingly possible that Cheney will take a fall in the Plame outing. Dickie is just not a popular fella outside of the sociopathic wards and precincts of the ultra-right. Dickie can exit and enjoy the hundreds of millions stashed in off-shore accounts - and pull political strings in greater privacy. That will open the way for the appointment of a new Vice President, subject to the approval of Congress. (See Spiro Agnew.) Then comes 2008. It's my strong belief that Junior will be 'martyred' by the corporatist neocons sometime around mid-2008. He's just not someone who they'll allow to run around as an "ex-pResident" loose cannon, imho. The replacement VP will then become President and, coincidentally, will be a Republican candidate for the Presidency. The "sympathy vote" would probably be worth about 10% of the popular vote.

Who would it be? Think mental pathology like Reagan or Junior. Think sock puppet and manipulable. It seems to me a logical candidate having those qualities is George Allen.

Just speculation, of course. :shrug:

With appreciable horror, I could certainly see Cement Head Allen in that role, although he needs to be watchful of Webb's surging campaign in Virginia. (Uncle Dick may have to be shown the door early!)

Also see Condiliar as a possibility, although it might piss off some of his base, it would also cut into the Democrats' last demographic stronghold in a big way for 08.

Such a manipulative bunch, these Republicans.

... is to acknowledge that they have no moral, legal, or ethical lines that they won't cross. Indeed, I doubt they even care where the lines are at this point. It is literally an amoral cabal. The only 'rule' they seem to follow is "get away with it." This is a power-perverted downgrade of the "don't get caught" rule. The other part of that key is recognizing that they have a single-minded obsession with serving one and only one goal: increasing global wealth and power in private hands. Governments are subsidiaries of global corporatism - subsidiaries or enemies. The sole reason they seek political power is to serve that goal. In order to attain that power, they pander to single-issue zealots - paying them lip-service and tossing them a hush-puppy frequently enough to keep them in line.

Once upon a time, it was commonly acknowledged that elected representatives, including the President, had an ethical obligation to serve the majority public preference on various issue areas. Whether Democrat or Republican, having differences mostly in the path chosen to achieve the "common welfare," they did not regard their position as one of "elected dictator" having the authority to institute policies and programs with which the overwhelming majority were in opposition.

It's the reason the filibuster exists. It's the reason Johnson, a southern Democrat, could promulgate civil rights legislation, It's why Nixon, an avowed Red-Baiter, could open up relations with China. The opposition end of the political spectrum kept them from straying too far to the other end of the reservation, but the ideological loyalists would stay in line for "one of their own."

This is no longer the case. C-czar Disgustsus prances like a more imbecilic version of Mussolini, proclaiming himself as having a "mandate" to promulgate policies and programs antithetical to the welfare and liberties of the overwhelming majority, not in order to protect a minority's civil rights from the predations of the mob, but to use the power of government to amplify the privileges and entitlements of a very small minority of the multi-generational wealthy - today's global plutocrats.

political capital yet, or is it gone?

I think he thinks it's still in the account, per your excellent analysis of how these people actually operate.

But I think the historians are weighing in with an opposing view.

Reagan pulled back from a devastating low approval and difficult recessionary times, but he was possessed of a kind of vacuous charm that made it possible for voters to like him even as he presided over death squad operations in Central America. "Pay no attention to the leftist press - you know how THEY are!"

And so he stumbled back into respectability, at least in terms of the GOP's faithful.

I think this current president is in a deeper hole, and must try to pull up with none of Reagan's charm.

This presidency is over with. So your scenario of Allen stepping in is horrifyingly plausible. Jesus, that guy is a goober-brain. And as hinted above, it might be in Allen's best interest if Dick Cheney departed ahead of schedule, because Webb may present a sticky problem for Allen's 08 aspirations. Allen has to win with as big a percentage as Sen. Clinton will in NY to be thought a contender for the GOP ticket.

Jeb Bush or the right wing fascist nominee.

I just have this gut feeling that Al Gore will run again and I think he'll win AGAIN! I think Russ would be a great compliment to the ticket.

They would be a great ticket

This guy drips creepy, slimey, racist,.....ewwww.

Don't think it will be though. At this point, I have no idea.

If people thought GWB was bad... I'm sorry, I just can't imagine George Allen as President of the United States. It's too Dr. Strangelove meets 24! If that happens, I hope Canada will offer us political asylum!

where we could start our own country. I think our "disease" might be spreading to Canada's government. Hope I'm wrong about that. Sadly, I've been mourning the USA for so many years now I haven't paid much attention to what's going on in that great country. Went to a Memorial Day cook-out last night and the conversation was so downbeat it felt more like a wake.

another dim bulb named George who got where he is because of a famous father. Plus, Allen is hauling a shitload of "Confederate" and racist baggage that will be hard to shake off. Plus he had an apparently messy divorce with records just waiting to be unsealed.

Personally, I'd enjoy watiching an Allen campaign implode, but I don't think the repuke hierarchy is going to let it get that far.

The last three GOP pResidents have been complete sock puppets - totally manipulable. Reagan had Alzheimers from the outset. Poppy Bush was addicted to wealth and his sociopathic regard for 'lesser' people. Junior is a pathological narcissist. None of them had an ounce of respect for 'intellectualism' - extolling the supremacy of entitlements above accomplishment. All have been abject cowards.

Sure sounds like George Allen to me. I'm confident there are other GOP politicians that fill the bill.

They're only up in arms about Democrats....

In the GD: Politics folder the other day, there were 35 posts attacking Allen, six promoting Webb (his Democratic opponent in 06), and more threads than could be counted attacking Joe Lieberman....

and this time he'll win.

Provided that w doesn't "cancel" the '08 elections because of another terrorist attack that he has allowed to happen!

w's acquired so much power that I doubt he'll give it up so easily.....

Al Gore won period. Popular vote count and electoral college had *all* votes in Florida been objectively handcounted using any standard re: chads.

Nonetheless the Right Wing Liars march right onward:

Barone repeated 2000 Florida recount falsehood
<http://mediamatters.org/items/200502220004>



MORE...

and this time, he'll make the win stand!

:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

Gore won the Presidency once, and...
Gore will win again!
Gore will win again!
Gore will win again!
Gore will win again!

And *we* will make it stand - he and we...

;-)

Know any good Democrats who are Governors in the south?

And some people bitch about anti-Southern prejudice. :eyes:

Democrats for President:

2004 - Kerry - Other - Lost
2000 - Gore - South - Won
1996 - Clinton - South - Won
1992 - Clinton - South - Won
1988 - Dukakis - Other - Lost
1984 - Mondale - Other - Lost
1980 - Carter - South - Lost
1976 - Carter - South - Won
1972 - McGovern - Other - Lost
1968 - Hubert Humphrey - Other - Lost
1964 - LBJ - South - Won
1960 - JFK - Other - Won

South: 5 for 6
Non-South: 1 for 6

Pretty solid trend if you ask me

Wouldn't you say?

1. With such a small sample size and so many other mitigating factors, it's absurd to draw such a conclusion.

2. You're ignoring Republicans. If Southerners won't vote for non-Southerners then how did Nixon, Reagan, and both New Englander Bushs manage to win?

3. Do you really believe that Southerners are so backwards and provincial that they can't deal with someone from outside their region living in the White House?

If you want to view it from that perspective.

and, because he is a southern governor, he would be most likely to win, and gets my vote :)

I bet NC's Easley could win too, but I don't think he'll run.

I have a feeling by the time we make it out of that blood/mud bath nobody else will want the damn job.

EXACTLY. I say this to people all the time. By mid-2007, the other "candidates" are going to have to start honestly assessing how bad the damage is and after it sinks in, will start dropping like flies.

Except that Al can't say anything about it now. Due to campaign finance law, his movie could be considered part of the campaign, thus he cannot talk about a presidential run at this point. this was pointed out on this week's AAR Eco Talk program.

I mean, he already is, but it will be nice when he actually gets to serve in the office he was legally elected to two years ago. And I'm honestly going to start making bets with people about that. I'll make a mint.

and after that, Ricky Martin Bush. After that, one of the twins. And maybe after that the Dems will get around to thinking about those electronic voting machines.

I'd like for it to be otherwise, but so long as we have electronic voting and other forms of vote tampering (moving polling places at the last minute, police harassing voters in minority districts, etc), we're not going to win the presidency.

True conservatives dislike the Bushes now. There is no way in hell another one would be (s)elected without heavy fraud.

Bush encourages and allows another 9-11 type event in the U.S. and then invades Iran before the election, declares martial law and suspends the election and the two-term Constitutional limit. Then he may be on the throne until he croaks.

I think he has a better shot than anyone on your list, esp. if he picks the right running mate.

My 2 favorite candidates from 2004.

Well, a girl can dream ...

It is silly, so I have punished you by voting for McCain.

PNAC has put forth far too much effort just to give it all up over some pesky election.

But I freely admit it could be just wishful thinking. Lately I find myself actually praying for Al Gore to run, and win (again).

race but gradually loses steam and Hagel either triumphs over also-ran neocons or dukes it out with Cement Head Allen for the nomination.

For our side, Senator Clinton's own polling will reveal to her that Iowa is unwinnable, and she will reluctantly opt out of the race.

I think the party will nominate either John Kerry, John Edwards, or Al Gore, and that Bill Richardson or Evan Bayh will be the VP nominee.

And that any of the three could whip any of the potential Rethugs nominees.

A matter of "national security"/attack...and the Patriot Act allows the chimp to keep his office for as long as necessary.
These bastards have worked too hard to let something like the electoral process to get in their way.

Whether it's Bush again or some puppet candidate that "they", and I truly believe there is a "they" at this point, steal an election for you're right they've worked too hard making a democracy into a dictatorship to let it go back to being American, land of the free and home of the brave. They need it to be land of the controlled and home of the scared. I think it's just as likely they'll install a democratic puppet this time to keep up the illusion. Cue Hilary.

I voted "other" for Wes Clark.

TC

Dick Gephardt, an early favorite, finished a dismal 4th in Iowa in 2004. He ran a good campaign, too. But he was out of the race the next morning.

In our crowded field, there will be a lot of folks who just won't be able to continue unless they finish high in the pack in Iowa.

Joe Lieberman decided to skip Iowa last time and concentrate on New Hampshire. I believe he honestly thought he would win the New Hampshire primary.

He definitely didn't. And Joementum didn't carry him many weeks past New Hampshire. He was out sooner rather than later after that, and is rarely mentioned now as a presidential prospect. And properly so.

The 06 midterms will set the stage for a lot of campaign strategies we've yet to see unfold, even among familiar faces. The list of Dem potentials are showing up right now, this week, to endorse Congressional and other candidates. There are IOU's being collected even as we post on DU this afternoon. Some of us are a bit obsessed with 06, but I think a majority do realize that it's all the same election.

It's interesting to try and guess which candidates survive Iowa and New Hampshire. We all can guess the variables: lots of cash on hand, effective get-out-the-vote ground operations, direct & persuasive ads, support and endorsements from key state officials, a little bit of humbleness here, a little bit of humor there, a behind-the-scenes ambition, an authoritative and/or appealing personal speech style, and not least, total command of the issues.

God bless the man, but I just don't see Mike Gravel emerging as the frontrunner after Iowa and New Hampshire.

He's been very smart politically. Distancing himself from Bush and the far-right to appear to be "moderate" while deflecting attention away from his own hard-core conservatism.

If teh Democrats nominate a co-called centrist like a Hillary or a Warner, there will be no effective opposition to this. It will help make the election all about personality and "character" instead of actual issues.

not THAT many.

I believe it will be Al Gore.