I said this in my thread about what's wrong with the Democratic party, but here it is again:
I don't think either of the leading candidates, Hillary or Obama, are electable. Both brilliant, both good leaders, both excellent speakers, and both lightning rods for what the Republicans do best: Fear-based campaigning to the lowest common denominator.
The Republican's failure (God bless it) in the 2006 election was wide spread corruption, and the failure to distance themselves from Bush. They lost many individual, small races due to many small, individual failures and stupid actions. However: (1) Bush is OUT in 2008, meaning the Republicans can campaign for a "fresh start" just as much as the Dems can ... with the advantage that everything that goes wrong from now until 2008 can be pinned on the Dem Congress. (2) The prez campaign gives a central focus to campaigning. All they have to do is run one (albeit very large) campaign quite well. Congress will follow on the coattails of the new prez.
So once again I ponder ... what's wrong with the Democratic party? Don't they understand the concept of ELECTABILITY? Genius doesn't win (if it did, Gore or Kerry would be president, and Hillary would be choosing the presidential china rather than worrying about a campaign). Being a "good ole boy" who the average American voter relates to DOES matter.
Let's face it. Democrats already have the female vote. Hence, Hillary's gender will not attract the female vote, as the Dems typically have it. Nor will she attract the liberal-minded social change vote, the Dems already have it. However, tragically, her gender will send some conservative Democrats (look at the Montana senate race) running for the hills.
Obama's race will not attract the Black vote, as the Dems typically have it. Nor will he attract the liberal-minded social change vote, the Dems already have it. However, tragically, his race will send some conservative Democrats (look at the Montana senate race) running for the hills.
Who will win? Let's look at the past eight presidential elections, and population change patterns in the US.
1.) Southern or Western
2.) Moderate to moderately conservative (Clinton was brandished as an ultra-liberal to smear him; he was actually quite moderate, or even moderately conservative).
3.) Middle-aged
4.) White
5.) Male
I'm not saying I agree with those trends. I am saying, however, that the Dems need to get the presidency back, and doing that means "playing the game". Right now, as sad as it is, the best candidate for the game is Edwards.
And that's why I ask "WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY?!"
(On that note, if I could choose any Democrat for president, it would probably be Pelosi. That said, if she did run she'd be crucified).
