Letters to the Editor
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Obama as VP
I think Obama might bring a lot of power to a ticket as VP. His limited experience (yes, I know about W, but look how that turned out) and to some extent his race will be a factor against him being at the top of the ticket this time. Plus, as much as I like what I see in Obama, there's a lot we don't yet know about him. What about Clinton/Obama?
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Thank you
I applaud you for writing and printing this article, and can only hope that Salon does not stoop to the level of Newsweek, CNN, and Time, and a plethora of other media outlets, when it comes time to report on all candidiates and all issues. It is so sad and disheartening that the media is controlling this election.
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Democracy is all in how you look at it.
I believe it may be disingenuous to write off Ms. Clinton and Mr. Obama as "the media anointed" candidates, and to imply that there is some less than democratic force winnowing the field of candidates.
Yes the media's interest in candidates does pump up name recognition, but in all honesty, Dean, Gore, and Edwards are not exactly unknown to the people of America. Ms. Clinton is the front runner because she has received significant investment by various people and interests (theoretically no investment greater than $5,000.00) who believe she is the likely or best candidate. If people did not like Hillary she would not be able to get them to part with this money. Though it is not a direct 1 man 1 vote democratic experience it is a democratic exercise and is an important part of our democratic process.
By contrast Mr. Obama's front runner status is far more honest in that his claim to that title derives from his ability to inspire and draw crowds. When an out of state Politian is able to bring out politically active and interested people in droves unseen before, that is democracy by popular acclaim.
That does not mean that either candidate will win in Iowa or New Hampshire. This could still be Kucinich's year, Joementum could return, Bloomberg could switch parties once again, or Gore could throw his recent movie star clout into the ring and upset any of these candidates well laid plans. But that is not the question people are interested in, the question people are interested in is: who is the front runner, and how strong do they look.
To say that Ms. Clinton or Mr. Obama are not the front runners, or that they do not look strong is just to ignore the facts on the ground.
The media reporting on the relative strengths or candidates has no more effect on the final primary than does reporting the score of a Football game as it is played. Lions fans won't switch sides if their side is down, if they actually care they will rally all the harder. Likewise those with some real passion to offer should not be disheartened by their candidate’s poor polling numbers or (as with Gore) displayed lack of interest in the office. Rally, donate, turn out, and speak about your candidates. You are competing with others for space on the corner, but that is the nature of the democratic process.
Ms. Clinton and Mr. Obama are the front runners; they have people interested and active to support their candidacies. That other candidates can not muster this same support is not the fault of the media, but the fault of their own platforms and personalities. If they have nothing strong to say, if they can not interest those around them, then let them quietly leave the field so that it is open to those who truly do have a call to this highest office.
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WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE....
...and why do they think they should be president? In addition, how will we ever get to know them if they drop out too soon?
Frankly, I wish the primary season would be reduced appreciably, with penalties for noncompliance. If any candidate starts his/her campaign too early -- Hillary has been running forever! -- they're automatically dropped from ballots!! (Oh, and of course limits on campaign spending to even the playing field.)
Most important, I wish Barack Obama would finish up his book tour and get out of the way so we can have a look at serious candidates. He served his purpose in changing the rhetoric in the mid-term elections and helped elect Democrats (and his "mentor" Joe Lieberman!), but he's beginning to be an annoyance, making viable candidates disappear into the background and eventual oblivion. This is no game, after all. And antics (clearly dreamed up by his handlers) like his "announcement" during that Bears game aren't appreciated by many of us--in addition to being in poor taste.
Oh, and forget the Clinton/Obama or Obama/Clinton ticket, folks. Remember, both are Illinoians--Hillary by birth and Barack by choice. Both are from blue states. Both are urbanites. There is no balance except for the gender/race thing.
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Just sayin is all
I will never vote for Hilary Clinton for president.
I won't vote for Joe Biden, either (puh-leeeeze!! shut that man UP!)
The rest are all possibilities.
Just wanting to say this out loud in places "they" might be "listening."
Thanks.
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There are other good candidates not mentioned
Wes Clark, anyone?
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Who wants to be a President ?
The Dems, the media, and the American people alike are asking the same question: who is going to be on the ticket, who wants to be a president ?
It is a legitimate question giving how fast time goes by these days. It is also a question for the potential runners to clearly announce their candidacies. We can't keep speculating and trying to read between the lines after every announcement either from Gore, Hillary, Obama etc.
The media is boiling over who is going to run, who is considering a run, who might be thinking about running, who, who and who....The people (the electors) have the right to an answer.
So, who wants to be a President ? Whoever it is, please tell us so we can spend the holidays talking about something else other than spinning our selves into unnecessary doozies about your identity ?