Challenging Obama

[Carole]

Senator Evan Bayh (D-Indiana) announced yesterday that he will not seek re-election in November. Mr. Bayh claimed, "My passion for service to our fellow citizens is undiminished, but my desire to do so by serving in Congress has waned," leaving many to wonder if he was checking out of politics at a very challenging time for Democrats or if he is simply switching gears and plotting a more ambitious political course. If Senator Bayh is planning a primary challenge to President Barack Obama in 2012, he may not be the only one. Here are some other possible primary contenders:

Hillary Rodham Clinton: In her last head-to-head against Candidate Obama, Mrs. Clinton lost the 2008 Democratic Primary by a 54 to 46 percent margin but was a viable contender until very late in the primary season. There's no doubt she's had presidential ambitions for decades and while she seemed to be a team player, endorsing Mr. Obama in the presidential race and serving as the Secretary of State in his administration, it's not a big stretch to see her taking her considerable political clout and still very popular former pesident husband back on the presidential campaign trail. Ironically, President Obama may have given her resume the boost it needed to push her from over-involved first lady to qualified presidential contender, but if she's going to adequately distance herself from her current boss, she'll have to resign as Secretary of State soon.

Joe Biden: It's happened before. In the election of 1800, incumbent President John Adams was challenged in his re-election bid by incumbent Vice President Thomas Jefferson (Jefferson won). In those days, the second place finisher in the presidential election was named VP so Adams and Jefferson were never running mates in the way we define the term today. But Vice President Biden could be a compromise candidate for the Democrats in 2012. His nomination would allow a hopeless Mr. Obama a way to save face and have part of his administration go on without him. Granted it would be the most gaffe-prone, embarassingly ridiculous part; but if the president's chances for re-election are close to nil, it might be the political equivalent of a Hail Mary pass for his party.

Bill Richardson: The current Governor of New Mexico is no stranger to presidential politics. He ran for the Democratic nomination in 2008 but dropped out after a poor showing in the first few primaries. President-elect Obama attempted to appoint Governor Richardson to his Cabinet as Commerce Secretary but Mr. Richardson withdrew due to an ongoing investigation against him (federal prosecutors eventually dropped the investigation which involved allegedly improper business dealings). Despite that political baggage, Mr. Richardson remains a potential primary challenger to President Obama. His Hispanic background could win over a sizable portion of the electorate and he has no problem switching allegiances when it suits his political purposes. Case in point: Clinton adviser James Carville famously compared Richardson to Judas Iscariot for endorsing Candidate Obama after his own presidential bid failed instead of his long-time friend and political ally Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Dennis Kucinich: The Congressman from Ohio is becomming a perennial presidential candidate. He ran very unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination in both 2004 and 2008 with a very far-left platform (pro-universal health care, anti-war, anti-Patriot Act, pro-Kyoto Protocol, pro-same sex marriage, anti-death penalty). If President Obama has virtually no chance to win in 2012, the party may just reward their far-left base with this completely unelectable token of leftist ideology.

Pick A Kennedy, Any Kennedy: The recent decision by Representative Patrick Kennedy (D-Rhode Island) to not seek re-election in November brings a 63 year run of Kennedy's in federal office to an end. Except for 1960-1962 when JFK vacated his Senate seat to become president, there has been a Kennedy in Congress since 1946. It is possible that with the death of Senator Ted Kennedy in August, the younger generations of the family feel free from the responsibility of the Kennedy legacy and will all remain in the private sector. But one has to wonder if the prospects for the party become as dim as predictions currently show, will they drag out the old Camelot legacy in a desperate attempt to revitalize the spirit of that by-gone era despite all the scandals that have plagued them since? While there are many Kennedy cousins still technically elligible to vie for the nomination, the two with the highest profiles are the aforementioned Representative Patrick Kennedy (Ted's son) and former Congressman from Massachusetts Joseph Patrick Kennedy II (Bobby's son).

Some wholly unqualified junior senator with zero executive experience: Hey, it wouldn't be the first time!

 

[nonpareil]

Doubt it. I think the Democrats will stay behind Obama. Too damaging otherwise. But 3 years could be a long time. That goes both ways though, I imagine by 2012, the world economy will recover enough for most people to feel good about the current President, enough to vote for him again like they did? Maybe not. But it won't diminish enough to warrant a challege from his own party.

 

[liblady]

Senator Evan Bayh (D-Indiana) announced yesterday that he will not seek re-election in November. Mr. Bayh claimed, "My passion for service to our fellow citizens is undiminished, but my desire to do so by serving in Congress has waned," leaving many to wonder if he was checking out of politics at a very challenging time for Democrats or if he is simply switching gears and plotting a more ambitious political course. If Senator Bayh is planning a primary challenge to President Barack Obama in 2012, he may not be the only one. Here are some other possible primary contenders:

Hillary Rodham Clinton: In her last head-to-head against Candidate Obama, Mrs. Clinton lost the 2008 Democratic Primary by a 54 to 46 percent margin but was a viable contender until very late in the primary season. There's no doubt she's had presidential ambitions for decades and while she seemed to be a team player, endorsing Mr. Obama in the presidential race and serving as the Secretary of State in his administration, it's not a big stretch to see her taking her considerable political clout and still very popular former pesident husband back on the presidential campaign trail. Ironically, President Obama may have given her resume the boost it needed to push her from over-involved first lady to qualified presidential contender, but if she's going to adequately distance herself from her current boss, she'll have to resign as Secretary of State soon.

Joe Biden: It's happened before. In the election of 1800, incumbent President John Adams was challenged in his re-election bid by incumbent Vice President Thomas Jefferson (Jefferson won). In those days, the second place finisher in the presidential election was named VP so Adams and Jefferson were never running mates in the way we define the term today. But Vice President Biden could be a compromise candidate for the Democrats in 2012. His nomination would allow a hopeless Mr. Obama a way to save face and have part of his administration go on without him. Granted it would be the most gaffe-prone, embarassingly ridiculous part; but if the president's chances for re-election are close to nil, it might be the political equivalent of a Hail Mary pass for his party.

Bill Richardson: The current Governor of New Mexico is no stranger to presidential politics. He ran for the Democratic nomination in 2008 but dropped out after a poor showing in the first few primaries. President-elect Obama attempted to appoint Governor Richardson to his Cabinet as Commerce Secretary but Mr. Richardson withdrew due to an ongoing investigation against him (federal prosecutors eventually dropped the investigation which involved allegedly improper business dealings). Despite that political baggage, Mr. Richardson remains a potential primary challenger to President Obama. His Hispanic background could win over a sizable portion of the electorate and he has no problem switching allegiances when it suits his political purposes. Case in point: Clinton adviser James Carville famously compared Richardson to Judas Iscariot for endorsing Candidate Obama after his own presidential bid failed instead of his long-time friend and political ally Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Dennis Kucinich: The Congressman from Ohio is becomming a perennial presidential candidate. He ran very unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination in both 2004 and 2008 with a very far-left platform (pro-universal health care, anti-war, anti-Patriot Act, pro-Kyoto Protocol, pro-same sex marriage, anti-death penalty). If President Obama has virtually no chance to win in 2012, the party may just reward their far-left base with this completely unelectable token of leftist ideology.

Pick A Kennedy, Any Kennedy: The recent decision by Representative Patrick Kennedy (D-Rhode Island) to not seek re-election in November brings a 63 year run of Kennedy's in federal office to an end. Except for 1960-1962 when JFK vacated his Senate seat to become president, there has been a Kennedy in Congress since 1946. It is possible that with the death of Senator Ted Kennedy in August, the younger generations of the family feel free from the responsibility of the Kennedy legacy and will all remain in the private sector. But one has to wonder if the prospects for the party become as dim as predictions currently show, will they drag out the old Camelot legacy in a desperate attempt to revitalize the spirit of that by-gone era despite all the scandals that have plagued them since? While there are many Kennedy cousins still technically elligible to vie for the nomination, the two with the highest profiles are the aforementioned Representative Patrick Kennedy (Ted's son) and former Congressman from Massachusetts Joseph Patrick Kennedy II (Bobby's son).

Some wholly unqualified junior senator with zero executive experience: Hey, it wouldn't be the first time!

it's hard to take this seriously. joe biden? dennis kucinich? a kennedy?

 

[Deuce]

(pro-universal health care, anti-war, anti-Patriot Act, pro-Kyoto Protocol, pro-same sex marriage, anti-death penalty

The really messed up thing about this country is that people actually consider this stance to be "very far left."

 

[American]

Richardson, Kucinich and any Kennedy wouldn't have a prayer in hell of being elected. Richardson is way overrated anyway. He gets trotted out every year like the Great Hispanic Hope who will bring us all together. He lost in 2008 cause nobody wants him. Kucinich made his rep as a radical lunatic last time he ran, forget it. Hillary is the only person with a chance. People are tired of the Kennedys, and Gaffe-A-Minute Biden is a clown.

 

[Deuce]

Besides, Obama is already a radical leftist marxist fascist socialist nazi muslim kenyan arab, why would we bother running anyone against him when we already have exactly what we liberals want?

:rofl

(added a few more adjectives. all of these I have heard used to describe President Obama)

 

[FilmFestGuy]

Senator Evan Bayh (D-Indiana) announced yesterday that he will not seek re-election in November. Mr. Bayh claimed, "My passion for service to our fellow citizens is undiminished, but my desire to do so by serving in Congress has waned," leaving many to wonder if he was checking out of politics at a very challenging time for Democrats or if he is simply switching gears and plotting a more ambitious political course. If Senator Bayh is planning a primary challenge to President Barack Obama in 2012, he may not be the only one. Here are some other possible primary contenders:

Hillary Rodham Clinton: In her last head-to-head against Candidate Obama, Mrs. Clinton lost the 2008 Democratic Primary by a 54 to 46 percent margin but was a viable contender until very late in the primary season. There's no doubt she's had presidential ambitions for decades and while she seemed to be a team player, endorsing Mr. Obama in the presidential race and serving as the Secretary of State in his administration, it's not a big stretch to see her taking her considerable political clout and still very popular former pesident husband back on the presidential campaign trail. Ironically, President Obama may have given her resume the boost it needed to push her from over-involved first lady to qualified presidential contender, but if she's going to adequately distance herself from her current boss, she'll have to resign as Secretary of State soon.

Joe Biden: It's happened before. In the election of 1800, incumbent President John Adams was challenged in his re-election bid by incumbent Vice President Thomas Jefferson (Jefferson won). In those days, the second place finisher in the presidential election was named VP so Adams and Jefferson were never running mates in the way we define the term today. But Vice President Biden could be a compromise candidate for the Democrats in 2012. His nomination would allow a hopeless Mr. Obama a way to save face and have part of his administration go on without him. Granted it would be the most gaffe-prone, embarassingly ridiculous part; but if the president's chances for re-election are close to nil, it might be the political equivalent of a Hail Mary pass for his party.

Bill Richardson: The current Governor of New Mexico is no stranger to presidential politics. He ran for the Democratic nomination in 2008 but dropped out after a poor showing in the first few primaries. President-elect Obama attempted to appoint Governor Richardson to his Cabinet as Commerce Secretary but Mr. Richardson withdrew due to an ongoing investigation against him (federal prosecutors eventually dropped the investigation which involved allegedly improper business dealings). Despite that political baggage, Mr. Richardson remains a potential primary challenger to President Obama. His Hispanic background could win over a sizable portion of the electorate and he has no problem switching allegiances when it suits his political purposes. Case in point: Clinton adviser James Carville famously compared Richardson to Judas Iscariot for endorsing Candidate Obama after his own presidential bid failed instead of his long-time friend and political ally Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Dennis Kucinich: The Congressman from Ohio is becomming a perennial presidential candidate. He ran very unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination in both 2004 and 2008 with a very far-left platform (pro-universal health care, anti-war, anti-Patriot Act, pro-Kyoto Protocol, pro-same sex marriage, anti-death penalty). If President Obama has virtually no chance to win in 2012, the party may just reward their far-left base with this completely unelectable token of leftist ideology.

Pick A Kennedy, Any Kennedy: The recent decision by Representative Patrick Kennedy (D-Rhode Island) to not seek re-election in November brings a 63 year run of Kennedy's in federal office to an end. Except for 1960-1962 when JFK vacated his Senate seat to become president, there has been a Kennedy in Congress since 1946. It is possible that with the death of Senator Ted Kennedy in August, the younger generations of the family feel free from the responsibility of the Kennedy legacy and will all remain in the private sector. But one has to wonder if the prospects for the party become as dim as predictions currently show, will they drag out the old Camelot legacy in a desperate attempt to revitalize the spirit of that by-gone era despite all the scandals that have plagued them since? While there are many Kennedy cousins still technically elligible to vie for the nomination, the two with the highest profiles are the aforementioned Representative Patrick Kennedy (Ted's son) and former Congressman from Massachusetts Joseph Patrick Kennedy II (Bobby's son).

Some wholly unqualified junior senator with zero executive experience: Hey, it wouldn't be the first time!

Since Bayh was my Senator for a good deal of my adult life, I can tell you, he'll go nowhere. Not because of his politics, but because listening to him speak is about as stimulating as a white noise machine.

He's got the personality of shoe-horn. I'm personally guessing he's done - unless he wants to run for governor of Indiana again. He was a very good governor. So-so as a Senator.

 

[Renae]

The really messed up thing about this country is that people actually consider this stance to be "very far left."

It is.

Kyoto is signing a death warrant to US Prosperity. And I think Mass. proved what a losing cause UHC has become.

 

[Deuce]

It is.

Kyoto is signing a death warrant to US Prosperity. And I think Mass. proved what a losing cause UHC has become.

US prosperity is built upon consumption that is utterly unsustainable. We're using up way, way, way more than our share of global resources. Kyoto isn't a death warrant, it's an extension. Delaying the inevitable resource shortages, hopefully long enough for us to come to our senses and come up with a less suicidal way of life.

Mass. proved that a health insurance mandate without any real methods to reduce prices was a really bad idea. Mandated insurance through for-profit insurance companies without strict regulation is more or less suicidal, as those companies have nothing at all to stop them from jacking up prices on their captive customers. Personally, I think it proves that private industry will screw people over even when we're nice enough to dump hundreds of thousands of customers into their laps.