The More The Merrier

According to John Kerry's first big interview since the election, it looks like he may run for President again. I say why not? He's got the organization, the recognition, and he received more votes than anyone who ever ran for the office (with one exception).

It's silly to be talking about 2008 as 2005 starts. But it's also silly to assume Hillary Clinton is a lock. The way I see it, 2008 should be a free-for-all. With no clear Republican candidate, let all the Big Swinging Democrats get out there and prove their worth.

Not just Hillary. Not just Kerry. I want to see everyone. John Edwards should have a little more gravitas by then. Al Gore a little less facial hair. Howard Dean, if his vocal cords can take it. Al Sharpton--if his party can stand him, so can I. Tom Daschle, he's not busy. Barack Obama--why wait for the inevitable? Ted Kennedy--you know you wanna. Mario Cuomo--let's see what you got, it's been 21 years since that Keynote address. Jimmy Carter--you're allowed one more.

I don't want another boring primary season, I want a struggle to see who'll be the head of the Justice League of America.

Pajama Guy responds: Republicans will have a free-for-all, the Democrats a coronation. Edwards is finished. No losing VP candidate has subsequently been elected President since FDR. And no Dem today is saying, "Dang. We put the wrong guy at the top of the ticket." Kerry has less of a chance to get re-nominated than Gore did in '04. After all, he only backed into the nomination after Dean imploded, and couldn't even win the popular vote. Obama's clearly got potential -- for VP -- but Democrats would win more net votes by nominating a Hispanic. In the end, though, nobody denies HRC the nomination. Unless Rudy beats her in 2006.

LAGuy Rejoins: A coronation for HRC (Her Royal Clinton)? The Dems love her, but they also want to win. The only thing that turns off more people than a New England liberal is a New York liberal. And you think Kerry "backed into" his success? He ferociously sought the nomination as few candidates have, was the front-runner from the beginning (interrupted only by a summer romance with Dean) and, once the primaries started, did nothing but win win win.

Pajama Guy objects! Whoa, little buddy! Dean a summer fling? He had already picked up serious steam when he cracked at the Feb '03 DNC meeting, "I'm Howard Dean. I'm here to represent the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party.'' His opposition to Bush's plans for war in Iraq that winter pulled everybody leftward, and caused Kerry to vote against the $87 billion after he voted for it. By June Dean had raised $9 million -- far more than any other Democrat. By September he was clearly ahead in Iowa and New Hampshire, and stayed the front runner until at least the week before the caucus. Then he started unraveling before live TV audiences.

Kerry, meanwhile, was dropping like a brick in the polls by as early as March '03. And as late as December 2003, Mickey Kaus was launching as Kerry Withdrawal Contest, predicting the "once proclaimed frontrunner... faces not just defeat but utter humiliation in the New Hampshire primary."

LAGuy notes: Hmm. Dean, the "front runner" who won no primaries (except his own state). I think you've discovered the sound of one hand voting.