Agreed. This country, it seems to me, has no coherent sense of itself, no vision for it's future. The partisan vitriol is unhealthy.

The sad fact is that there is no John F. Kennedy figure out there. 40 yrs. since his death, Kennedy is respected by liberal and conservative alike. I see no one today capable of that. McCain could come close though.

Most historians feel that JFK lost the popular vote. He might have lost in '64.

Kennedy was a good president, but he was absolutely devisive. Fairly or Unfairly, that is the fact.

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Any man who can render himself unconscious with a pretzel isn't smart enough to lead the free world.

I've always fond it funny that 49.5% voted for him while he was alive, but 80% voted for him while he was dead.

As my history prof said... We remember him as a 50 year-old. Had he grown to look like Teddy, we would think of him differenttly.

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Any man who can render himself unconscious with a pretzel isn't smart enough to lead the free world.

One should definately take into consideration what Wesley Clark could bring to the table as a democratic VP. He is a retired 4-star general, which is something you don't see too often in the democratic party, and would bring more military legitimacy to Kerry's campaign. He has experience working in multi-national organizations, being the NATO supreme commander. He negotiated the Dayton Accord which, say what you will, stopped genocide in bosnia giving him credibility in foreign relations. He is more od a moderate, offering appeal to both democrats and republicans. And last but not least, he is from the South which is something the Democratic party covets in this year's election.
I am the first to admit that Clark is a political rookie, and he displayed in the primaries, but I ask you this. In a time where our nation is being run by people who have been connected to politics and government for most of their lives, wouldn't it be refreshing to bring in some new blood and see what happens?

-Demosthenes

But after his death, we see Libs and Cons who think he was great. Doubt anyone today will be remembered as "great."

I bet you that if Bush was gunned down that he would be viewed as visionary.

The good thing about remaining alive is that you have to answer questions... beyond the fact that you get to live out your life. Which is fair.

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Any man who can render himself unconscious with a pretzel isn't smart enough to lead the free world.

The reason this is being discussed is very simple. If Bush's social conservative base wins the election in November Republican centrists like McCain, Chafee and Hagels no longer have a home in the Republican party.

In the event that you are not aware of it, the social conservatives in the party, led by Dick Armey, are targeting Republican centrists by directing big money to conservative challengers in the primaries in a defacto purge effort. McCain has not hesitated to speak out in ways that are embarrassing to Bush and other social conservatives, and they are not likely to forget it. McCain is not one to back down from a fight, but he's also a realist. If he, and those like him, are sufficiently marginalized by their own party they can't effectively legislate. If, on the other hand, Bush loses in November, McCain and the other centrists get a new lease on life.


We won't see McCain as a VP candidate, but we may well see him change parties or go independent in the not too distant future.

oc

I didn't realize that Dick Army was still a Congressman.

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Any man who can render himself unconscious with a pretzel isn't smart enough to lead the free world.

I backed Clark in the primaries, i guess i'll support him as vice president

What's not to like about Clark, anyway?

Edwards i find extrememly annoying. Its hard to place...

As a presidential candidate, he'd get slaughtered by bush in the election... his sunny disposition would last 2 days, he wouldn't survive the mud, and he doesn't have enough experience to have credibility on the attack.

Vice president maybe, but i still think it would do more harm than good. What does this guy have besides his annoying southern accent ? ( Being from Texas, i can bearly stand listening to him... guess its the other side of the south )

I just want to smack him and say "Bright sunny populist? wtf? have you been watching the news??? "

Dick gephardt is a bad idea also... the guy steps down from his position over losing the 2002 congress then immidiately runs for president. You don't need 2 old school democratic congressmen on the same ticket, and i never had much respect for organized labor.

Howard Dean might be a good idea...

to me, at least, he has more credibility than any of the other candidates... He has some VERY strong activists, and i think he could bring some independents and some greens back into the party.

John McCain... the impression i get from him is polite but no. He brings some serious electability to the table, but cross party tickets are dangerous ( remember Lincoln - Johnson ?), and i don't like the idea of a 1 party system. Maybe i'd vote for McCain if he ran against kerry in 2008, depending on how well kerry does with the national debt.

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"The belief that nothing exists outside your own mind--surely there must be some way of demonstrating that it was false" - 1984

more on edwards...

uuuggghh...

lets compare a bit:

Dean: Prominent, Anti-war activist, with a very strong message
John Kerry: Decorated Veteran, Longtime Senator
Clark: 4 star General
Edwards: HI i'm from the south, vote for me or southern voters will pan you!

what is it people like about this guy?

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"The belief that nothing exists outside your own mind--surely there must be some way of demonstrating that it was false" - 1984