Bio
Dustin is a sociology professor at Temple University in Philadelphia. His work examines the relationship between art & politics, as well as the intersections of popular culture and social inequality. He is originally from Greenwood, Virginia, which is at the foot of Afton Mountain, near Charlottesville. He lives with his cat Groove Supply in his new home in the Italian Market area of South Philly.
According to CNN, out-going Iowa governor Tom Vilsack is now the first democrat to throw his hat in the ring for the 08 presidency.
That's out-going governor, which is not the same as being an outgoing governor--you know, the kind of governor who plays saxophone at parties and goes on the Tonight Show. That's not Vilsack.
Who is Vilsack? You can learn more about him at his Wikipedia page. But good luck figuring out his core values.
Don't get me wrong. He sounds like a great person who has done very well for Iowa. But translating his Iowa successes into a national or global agenda is tough.
I'm worried that instead of being the next Bill Clinton--which I think the nation needs soon--he'll be more like the next John Kerry. Runable, but not winable.
Not to worry, say my colleagues in political science. The democrats will run Hillary, come hell or high water. But I'm not so sure. The dems like to latch onto an unknown or under-known. Vilsack might fit their profile. And Lord knows the democrats have made some self-destructive choices.
Comments
Vilsack lacking real support
Gov. Vilsack doesn't have a lot of grassroot or institutional support. I don't see this campaign going very far. Even the DLC seems to be supporting Bayh over Vilsack now.
The biggest hit against him is the Iowa caucuses. It is a lose-lose situation for him. If he wins them, he is suppose to. He was the Iowa governor, but if he comes in 2nd or lower, he gets hit with the "can't win his own state" tag and it sinks him.
The fields will be crowded this time around and this is just one of 15? 20? announcements we'll hear by autumn. Only 2 will survive and Vilsack won't be one of them.
It's Hilary or Barack
If the Democrats (and the nation) can set aside his supposed lack of experience, they will and should nominate Barack Obama in 2008. He is the closest thing to being "the next Bill Clinton" that is out there.
If that continues to show itself as too much of a hindrance to being taken as a serious candidate, then it's Hilary.
And quietly, somewhere a lonely Expat will be waving his "Richardson 2008" flag.
My and My Army!
I won't be alone. There are 7 other voters here on GWH alone.
Barack Obama is an interesting choice, but is America really ready to elect a black leader? Where does he get votes that Kerry didn't? Neither Hillary nor Obama can answer that question effectively and that is why I don't believe they will be the nominee. They are both talented politicians with a good vision of America's future, but I don't think they put any additional states in play.
Richardson, on the other hand, will be able to build on Democratic wins in Mountain States. Also, his Hispanic background puts other states in play that have been red for several cycles. Texas, Arizona and Florida are immediately up for grabs.
Oh, and Richardson is the most qualified guy on the Democratic side. Legislative, Executive and foreign policy experience. The complete package!
Puh-leeze
That's just your seven other aliases that you log on here as.
I would say, yes, America is ready for a minority candidate - whether that be black, hispanic, asian, and/or female. And for your sake, you better hope I'm right.
There are TONS of votes out there to be had. How many millions of African American votes are out there not willing to vote until they truly feel represented? How many women? How many other minorities that will jump on with a different minority in the belief that there is a mutual support of minorities? I believe there is significant percentages of those voters out there who will come out in droves for their first ever vote in 2008 with the right candidate. But the right candidate will never be "Bill Who?"
You want to lean on Richardson for A) his reach with Hispanics and B) his local appeal in the Mountain states. Well, A) that doesn't hold any more potential for more votes than Obama does with blacks and Clinton does with women (as well as the reality that Texas is never going Democrat and Florida is so close that anything could switch it over). And B) Great, so he can get New Mexico and Nevada - and the Dems still lose. How about Obama being from Illinois where he can reach out to neighboring Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota - states that were very close and actually carry some real weight.
Richardson is a good guy and a good candidate, but not a realistic option.
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