Holding your nose and voting
Here is an interesting question I was thinking about the other day: If I had to vote for a Democratic Presidential candidate who would it be? This is a tough question because none of them are exactly racing to the center with rational and balanced ideas. But let’s follow through on this little exercise. If you are a Republican or independent or basically not a Democrat and you had to vote for a Democrat who would it be? In order to make this a real interesting question you can’t choose based on a partisan reason (what would do the most damage to the Democrats, etc.) or pick for entertainment reasons. I want to know who you think would be the best (or the least harmful) for this country. Just assume one term without thinking of re-election etc.
In the spirit of sportsmanship I will offer my thoughts first:
Sen. John Kerry: The guy is a like a zombie, droning on and on no matter the question. Thinking of him in the White House is not appealing. I can’t say that I trust him on any issues, even if I disagreed with him. This is just a career politician looking to climb the ladder. I can’t even get up the energy to really dislike him.
Sen. John Edwards: Trial-lawyer, ’nuff said.
Ex-Gov. Howard Dean: One thing I don’t like are angry politicians, they scare me. This guy is pushing things way to far rhetorically even if his actual political record is of the moderate left variety. Again, I think this guy would say anything to get elected and I don’t think he would be ready to hit the ground running.
Rep. Dick Gephardt: Given his willingness to sell his soul to the unions he started with a big strike. He does have some experience and might even have some decent advisors. But his asinine comments about Bush’s foreign policy count for strikes two and three. If you can say stupid things like that at a time like this, forget it.
Sen. Joe Lieberman: Joe is an intriguing choice. If he hadn’t gone out and repudiated practically everything he was supposed to stand for last election I might still have some respect for the guy. Seeing him grovel on race, school choice, etc. was embarrassing. Still, he has to be high on the list of possibilities.
Sen. Bob Graham: This guy is talking about raising taxes and impeaching President Bush – don’t let the door hit you on the way out Bob!
Rep. Dennis Kucinich: Hello!!! This guy is a freaking loony. Not only that he did a 180 on abortion so fast his head must hurt to this day. Do we have any standards left? A Department of Peace? Trans-gendered Supreme Court Justices? Pahleese! I am embarrassed for Cleveland.
Ex-Sen. Carol Moseley Braun. Two words: Hell No!
Rev. Al Sharpton: Next question please.
So looking back I would have to say Joe Lieberman is the only one of the bunch I could feel comfortable voting for if I had to do so. He is really the only one I can see being president and me not being in a padded room. That is how bad this crop of candidates are, they make run of the mill Democrats look good. When Bill Clinton starts making sense, we are in bizzaro world. Lieberman is half decent on foreign policy and at least in the realm of sanity on most domestic issues. A moderate liberal who occasionally talks conservative but mostly votes liberal, that I can take.
Joe Lieberman. Because he is a religious man and because he’s correct on the war against terrorism.
I’d cast my ballot for Lieberman. Of course, given the fact that he’s the least liberal of the presidential candidates, that may have something to do with it. As Jon Stewart is fond of saying, “Joe Lieberman, the candidate for people who think President Bush isn’t Jewish enough.”
May I become an echo and say Lieberman for all the reasons already mentioned.
Gephardt would be my second choice, but a distant second; he’s the least idiotarian of the rest of the pack and is the most positive as well.
The remainder of the pack I would trust as far as I could throw. Of the remainder, Kucinich is the only one I could see throwing down a cold beverage of choice with.
Lieberman here, very reluctantly, if I had to vote Democrat.
Though if McCain would switch to the party he really belongs with, and run for Pres, I’d put him above all the others. Not that I think much of his domestic policy — but then I don’t think much of Bush’s either.
None of the above. If the current Democrat field was all I had to choose from, I’d exercise my right not to vote.
Joe Lieberman because he is the only Dem who may have a clue about national defense. Of course, these responses indicate that Lieberman may be the most dangerous Dem candidate.
check box D: none of the above.
dems are screwed