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At some point it has to, if Democracy is to survive (and really, if the planet is to survive through things like Global Warming, etc.).
For me, I feel the following folks could help. I know that its likely that only a few Dems can actually take a leadership role in trying to stop corporate rule, but I think a big chunk of Democrats would also follow a new direction if it is shown to have strength too. Though there are exceptions (which NEED to get weeded out), I think many of them would like to not have to depend on corporate gifts to get elected too.
Those that I think have a chance to do something about it are:
1) Al Gore - He at one time was "owned" by the DLC up until midway through the 2000 election, which is probably one reason why he was nominated earlier, and later wasn't given much help to fight in the recounts. I do believe him now to be a man of passion, who will try to move mountains on issues he cares about, like global warming. I think that same passion could be used at some point to help drive campaign finance reform given the right running mate (Russell Feingold?). I think on issues of substance, he will try do what's right and not what lobbyists try to pay him to do. And for those of you who say his taint from the DLC earlier will hurt him, I think it might help him have a greater appreciation for what they are capable of doing, and what they may have done to him earlier. I put him the same category in that regard to David Brock, who leverages his earlier experience with the GOP to help Media Matters do an even better job of keeping the press honest. I think Al Gore is also a man capable of winning, if he were to get in the race too, which also makes a big difference.
2) Russell Feingold - Here is a man who has fought hard all of the time for issues like civil liberties, campaign finance reform, etc. too. Now he isn't running for president, nor likely will he do so. But as a VP running mate or as a leader in the Senate, he can help steer this the right way. If he's got a president that will work with him to lead something like this, he would be a good lieutenant I think.
3) Barbara Boxer - I'm not sure she will lead this fight, but I do think that she has taken better risks on things that she feels are the right thing to do at times (like the election protest in 2004). I think we can push her through petitions to work with another to help lead something like this through congress.
4) Barack Obama - Though I'm still a little skeptical yet on him, I think he has the big opportunity to do the right thing now. We'll have to wait and see if he siezes it or not just yet. With him saying a lot of other good things, and getting now a lot of small contributor's money to make him as viable as Hillary for 2008 as one of the two front runners, I think he might be able to be independent enough of corporate lobbyist money to take that big step. I'm hoping someone will challenge him with this question in the coming weeks, and he responds the way I'd like to think he could to become a leader on this issue.
There are others out there too that I think would step forward on this, given the right moment. I do think it's a key issue I'm going to be judging who I vote in the primaries for for 2008. All of us need to be very vocal that this is the key issue we will be judging people by when we cast our primary vote too, and do as much as possible to force the media to make it an issue that will be asked about in the coming months. It starts with us though for candidates that are wanting to appeal to the grass roots like the above mentioned I believe are capable of and trying to do, which is why I'm saying this in this forum, and why I hope many of you say the same thing as much as possible too!
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