Can a candidate win over middle America and tell it like it is? It's been a while since someone has been able to do that.

Meanwhile, somebody like Fred Thompson could very well drawl his way to the White House.

I don't know, when she thinks it helps her, even Hillary can drawl with the best of them. As for the chameleon Obama (as distinct from several other chameleons in both parties), I have no doubt he could out-drawl Thompson on any given day.

The powers that be in the Democratic party -- that is, the DLC -- have repeatedly shown themselves unwilling to learn from their mistakes. They've run centrists in the last two presidential elections and lost, even while populist liberals have won congressional races in tight swing districts.

The lesson they seem to take away is that they need to move even further to the "center" (actually the right by any honest historical analysis), and pander to the Wall Street crowd even more.

This time around, it seems the Clintons would rather let a Republican win than give up on their dream of a dynasty. And Obama's so damned eager to please, he's an embarrassment to those who supported him when he actually sounded like a progressive populist.

My lesson: Don't ever underestimate the Democratic party's ability to blow a race.

The thing, Thompson will drawl everywhere, not just when it's convenient. And people will notice the difference.

He got an earful from Big Bradach and the impeachment crowd last night, and he deserves it.

I heard someone even called for Bush to be killed. So much for rational discourse.

Yes, if someone said that, then everything else that was said at that meeting should be disregarded.

Meant to add:

I don't think it's that Hillary is a woman or that Obama is Black, it's that they run to the center-right.

When faced with a choice of Republican-lite or Republican, the American public has shown time and time again they prefer the real deal.

I can't get over the fact the Dems can't be bold enough to actually run a progressive populist for a change. But I guess that would conflict with the big money donors' interests, so we'll never see it.

The corporations have this country by the you-know-whats. It's really sad to watch.

Very sad, indeed, but I can't get over thinking big money would get behind a progressive populist if they had enough momentum.

The real trouble is the DLC. They just won't get out of the way, and seem hell-bent on extending the Clinton dynasty. If they can't do that, they'd rather throw the whole thing away.

That's the really sad thing.

Jack,

I think the "huge advantage" you mention is wishful thinking. The congressional gains '06 were an aberration due more to a reaction to a lack of progress in Iraq than to some deep-seated revulsion with the principles (you may snort here) and people behind the process leading up to it. The country is NOT moving left and Clinton and Obama know it. Corporations are a popular and convenient target but a red herring as far as the unwillingness of D's to go all "progressive" if they actually want to have a chance.

To paraphrase one of your favorite Bushies: "To win the election you have to appeal to the electorate you have - not the one you wish you had"

Good luck y'all.

The congressional gains '06 were an aberration due more to a reaction to a lack
of progress in Iraq than to some deep-seated revulsion with the principles (you may snort here) and people behind the process leading up to it.

If the Democrats nominate Hillary, I guess we'll never know.

I had to do a double take. I thought you said drool his way to the White House.

Bush already did that.

What will impeachment do anyway? Clinton was impeached, and it didnt change anything.

Honestly, I think even if it got to a vote in Congress, it wouldnt pass.

Jack,

According to the Oregonian, "Some went even further, calling for Bush to be tried for treason. One Southeast Portland resident said the president "should be executed -- in public." A number in the audience applauded."

Last time I checked, threatening the life of the President was a crime. This could get interesting. Blumenauer seems to have been cool enough to understand the nature of the mob he was confronting.

Last time I checked, threatening the life of the President was a crime.

He was hardly threatening the life of the President, give me a break.

To recall Clarence Darrow, some might look forward to reading his obituary with great pleasure. But please, not (and no impeachment, either) as long as Cheney is heir to the throne.

Blumenauer seems to have been cool enough to understand the nature of the mob he was confronting.

Give me a break. Nobody in that audience would lift a hand to hurt anyone. Unlike the bloodthirsty executioners currently running the executive branch.

Ain't buying it. The Democrats-in both the House and Senate- and Hillary are going to win big in '08- by one of the widest margins in U.S. electoral history; a complete, unmitigated landslide and a debacle that the Republicans won't recover from for years to come.

The Democrats-in both the House and Senate- and Hillary are going to win big in '08- by one of the widest margins in U.S. electoral history; a complete, unmitigated landslide and a debacle that the Republicans won't recover from for years to come.

Not if they keep genuflecting to the likes of MoveOn.org. Middle America isnt going to sit for that.

"The corporations have this country by the you-know-whats. It's really sad to watch." -- Jack, you don't know how true you speak.

NOW MAKE BLUMENAUER WATCH THIS.

"Republicans approve of a Democratic controlled Congress significantly more than do either Democrats or Independents." -- Betray Us, Indeed! But Who Really Betrayed Us?, by Stephen Pizzo, September 24, 2007

Blumenauer back in the District, answering constituent questions, distributing campaign materials showing photo-op moments of principled legislative posturing, as well as more personal photographs depicting the myriad of social activities that he and other members enjoy.

Try THIS on for size...

http://www.examiner.com/a-953145~Bush_quietly_advising_Hillary_Clinton__top_Democrats.html

Ex-Dems, Sign Up Here, by Steve Fournier, Sat 22 Sep 2007
When Congress convened in 2007, the Republican party ceded stewardship of the war and the Constitution to the Democratic party. The Democrats, seeing political opportunity in the catastrophic conditions created by their opponents, determined that their best chance of electing a president of their own party was to maintain the status quo.

Proponents of government of the people and by the people–the lower-case democrats that elected this Congress–are now instructed by the Democratic party to wait for peace. Wait for the restoration of the rule 0f law. Wait for accountability.

The people are not disposed to wait. The people believe that this is an emergency. And the people are now abandoning the party that pledged to redress their grievance. They are quitting in untold numbers, and that’s where xDem.org comes in. ...