I thought this debate truly demonstrated our need for Al Gore to run.

[Labors of Hercules]

Not to ruffle anyone's feathers too much, but the best performers keep warmongering and the others don't have a chance in hell.

Just my humble opinion, but we really, very much need Al Gore in this race come Fall...

[The Count]

1. I totally agree. But did love DK and Gravel tonight!

[Labors of Hercules]

10. yep.

not that I think they are realistic in the slightest, but I do like their candor and opposition to this idea that attacking "evildoers" is always the best answer.

I must say, I liked Edwards tonight from that point of view... GORE/EDWARDS! (as my friend Wraith says): RECYCLE IN 2008!!

[KingDaevid]

29. I'm committed to Kucinich---

---but I also still have the urge to shout, "Come Back, Gene McCarthy! All is Forgiven!" ;-) ...

[TheWraith]

2. I think it did just the opposite. We have less than no need for Gore.

We've got at least four people on that stage who would make good presidents, in my opinion. It's an excellent field of candidates. We certainly don't need to recycle Gore.

[politicasista]

3. I am sorry, but Gore is a lot better than the 08 field altogether

(minus Obama or Edwards) He won in 2000. He is the most experienced, if not qualified candiate.

[MonkeyFunk]

4. I agree

I think it showed what a rich field we currently have.

[Labors of Hercules]

7. a rich field yes, and if I could combine all their individual gifts into one candidate...

oh wait, that's who I'm talking about.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

5. I thought "one will be president with VP and cabinet positions to appoint"

it was a beautiful thing. MKJ

edited to add: and yet, we have miles to go...

[Labors of Hercules]

6. and the four are?

and why do you think they would be better presidential candidates, or presidents than Gore?

Recycle Gore... that's funny! an insipid and wholly inaccurate assessment of what his candidacy would be, but funny from an environmentalist standpoint.

[hippiechick]

8. I second that!

Gore/Feingold :patriot:

[robinlynne]

25. the dream team.

[cascadiance]

28. That would be the team to do something on the level of what FDR did when he took office!

which is what this country needs now! A NEW New Deal!

[saltpoint]

9. Al can jump in if he wants to, but as demonstrated tonight, he's got

a gifted field to fend off if he wants the nomination.

I was impressed with our team this evening in South Carolina.

Go, Democrats.

[Labors of Hercules]

11. Of course, Go team! But all the same....

It's the combination I'm looking for that I don't see among them. Almost in a couple of them perhaps, but almost just isn't the same as the real deal, you know what I mean?

[saltpoint]

13. I looked and saw a stage of presidents.

Gore is in or Gore is out. Clark is in or Clark is out. Hart is in or Hart is out.

If this group is the group from which our next president is chosen, I think we're in good hands and well on our way out of the Bush nightmare.

[babylonsister]

16. Gary Hart?? And I sure haven't seen

Clark mentioned, anywhere, tonight.
I wonder what he's up to?

And has Hart said one word about running? If so, the media whores never told me that!

[saltpoint]

19. Those media whores are a tight-lipped bunch sometimes.

I don't think Hart has issued any formal statements one way or the other, but there are two sites of interest:

http://www.garyhartnews.com/hart/

and

http://www.RunGaryHart.com

_______

And you're right -- the MSM isn't the place to go for info. Another DUer passed both these sites on to me.

[babylonsister]

12. Yes, we have a feast of candidates! I may have issues with one or the

other, but they're sane enough to not be rethugs, and on most issues, I can agree.
I will vote for my undecided favorite in the primaries, but whoever gets it gets my vote.
Lots of drama before then though!

And then there's the rethug candidates. :D

Good evening, Old Crusoe! I didn't watch the whole thing, but am now getting the general gist with the post-debate debate on. :crazy:

[saltpoint]

14. babylonsister! Howdy. It was a good night for our Democrats down in

South Carolina.

Republican operatives all over the country were tuning in on the sly, and end this evening realizing that we are so totally going to kick their red butts in 2008.

[Labors of Hercules]

15. Now you know what Crusoe, you just sold me!

Sometimes us "stuck on one feller" types need a little nod toward the big picture. Thanks. :kick:

[saltpoint]

17. I'm for one feller, too, LoH, so I really do understand where you're

coming from. My thought is that for most of my life my first choices don't usually win the nomination.

Mo Udall. Jerry Brown. Gary Hart. Bill Bradley. You get the picture.

At the same time, the Republica Party is so horrifying and unethical -- and moreso by the HOUR -- that my loyalties are going to any of those potential presidents on the stage tonight in South Carolina, or to Gore, Clark, or Hart if any decides to jump in.

For me the hinge is Bush, and the damage his administration has done to the collective well-being. He has never understood that he is not The President, but Our President, and he occupies the people's office and should protect the people's highest aspirations of our constitutional republic.

He has failed miserably at that, and likely doesn't even know what Lincoln and FDR and JFK and others are even talking about.

So if Gore jumps in, he has my heart, mind, and muscle just as he did in 2000, even though my first choice was Bradley.

We're Democrats, and 2008 belongs to us.

[Labors of Hercules]

21. Yes it does.

The Earth is moving and humanity is on the edge... We Democrats are the only ones who can bring this Nation out of the Hell these Republican pieces of shit keep dragging us into time after time, and finally the truth of this vicious cycle is being understood by an even greater majority than ever before.

[saltpoint]

22. You got it. And I'm with ya.

:toast:

[illinoisprogressive]

18. We have a great field. Gore is not running. Get over it.

[Labors of Hercules]

20. If he doesn't then so be it.

but how exactly am I supposed to "get over" something that hasn't not happened yet? :shrug:

[AndyA]

23. If Al Gore announced his intention to run, it would change the landscape dramatically.

Overall, I thought Obama, Edwards, and Clinton did pretty well. Hillary got a bit shrill a few times, but came across as Presidential to me. (And I'm not a huge fan of hers.)

Richardson - NO WAY. I didn't catch the whole conversation, but what the heck was the deal with him stating Gonzo should resign because he's Mexican? That should have nothing to do with it. He is not qualified to be Attorney General, he has not lead his department properly, has allowed the Justice Department to become political, and he's either a liar or not in control at all. For those reasons he should resign or be removed from office.

Dodd was OK, but I wasn't impressed with him at all.

The remaining candidates didn't move me one way or the other. I wasn't overly impressed with them, nor was I able to completely write them off.

I will say that the entire lot of them is more impressive than any of the Republicons, I probably won't be able to watch that debate due to my low spin tolerance these days.

[gasperc]

24. another debate or two like this, and he may jump in

and I'm an Edwards supporter, but we'll see

[Labors of Hercules]

32. That's it exactly...

I'm also an Edwards supporter in my real life, but the general public will not be moved by any particular candidate until they show them something truly statesmanlike (or womanlike), and we haven't really seen that yet from any of the candidates. But watching Al nowadays, he's taking opportunities to show people what a Statesman looks like, and doing it in a very approachable and exciting way. He is already a force to be reckoned with.

[Kablooie]

26. At least he will be around as an advisor to whoever wins.

And this time, I'll bet, they'll take is advice.

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

31. No They Won't

If Hillary gets in, I doubt that she'll give much interest to Gore's position, unless they already have some sort of deal worked out, where Gore does not enter the race, in exchange for a position in any future administration.

They won't treat him like the repubs have, but I'm somewhat skeptical that he'll suddenly have all this access and clout. If he wants that, he should become President, and make the rules himself.

I still don't buy the whole argument that he can do more in his position now than as President. That's a bunch of hogwash. As President, with a Democratic controlled Congress, he would wield more authority than he could ever possibly wish for. He would set the agenda. As an outspoken citizen, his stature might be great, but his power will be limited to the extent the President at the time wants it to be.

[femrap]

27. I want Gore to run as well....

We need someone to stand up to the Corporations and demand they change their environmentally greedy behavior.

As FDR addressed the Robber Barons: "I welcome your hatred." I don't see the top three saying anything close to that.

[RestoreGore]

30. And that's the only reason you want him in this?

To make it "interesting" for you? I think he is way past the ego driven money wasting antics of political campaigning. I personally can't stomach it anymore myself.