Yeah, I've been critical of much of what Obama has done. Here's why--

[JDPriestly]

29. Excellent summary.

I think we should start looking for a good, young, progressive candidate. Someone dynamic who is compassionate and attractive to a wide range of people. Someone with a good family life (like Obama), someone whose character will withstand the glare of the media spotlight. Someone who is sincere, forward-looking and has good ideas. In short, not just a person with high ideals, but also a person who is appealing to a broad cross-section of Americans.

And we should start organizing around that person.

Any names? Should we start our own group to identify potential candidates?

One problem is that while we may have a friend or someone in a state office who is really a potential president, that person probably won't get media attention if a liberal.

So we need to exchange names and talk about people we know who might fit the bill. There may be a member of Congress from your state that I haven't heard much about who would be treat.

What is the story on Tammy Duckworth for example?

Is Kirsten Gillibrand a progressive or just another right-winger in Democratic disguise? Who are the young possibilities? And they do have to be young. Campaigning is brutal. Takes an enormous physical stamina.

I would not want to see us fielding a Democratic McCain. Someone whose fatigue shows after a few hours of shaking hands, giving speeches and drinking lukewarm coffee. That was part of Romney's problem. He had never really worked hard physically, and it showed after he campaigned a few hours. We just cannot afford that.