Originally Posted By ecdc Out of the potential candidates, who do you want *most* for President? Not, who do you think will be left and you'll pick the lesser of two evils. My top two are Barack Obama and John McCain.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 If you lived around Chicago and knew Barack -- you would drop him from your list -- he is nowhere near qualified for that office -- all show - little substance on most issues. He's been more hyped than Paris Hilton, and I don't get the big deal about either
Originally Posted By vbdad55 For me I'd like to see McCain run for the GOP and Evan Bayh run for the Dem's -- that would be a choice I'd have to make...but I could live with either... Bayh is a moderate , concensus building Democrat - and one of the few in the party i would consider crossing over for..after I saw the platform...he's a guy with his pulse on the economy and jobs -- as well as has been involved in bi partisan work regarding monitoring the patriot act....
Originally Posted By patrickegan I’d vote for Hillary except for the fact she voted for Bush’s war just like Joe! Maybe Cindy…
Originally Posted By gadzuux Chuck Schumer (so far). Ideal candidate? Jerry Brown. I've never known of another politician I was so aligned with. He's more pragmatic than many people believe. Hillary? If I have to, I'll hold my nose in 11/08 and vote for her, but I'm hoping against hope that bill is on the ticket too.
Originally Posted By barboy "Moonbeam" Brown....... are you kidding? Just when I thought I was the last Brown supporter I see that I am not alone.
Originally Posted By cmpaley Good question. I would want the following in my President: 1. Pro-life (REALLY pro-life, not just anti-abortion but also anti-death penalty, anti-unjust wars of choice, and anti-euthanasia). Hmmm...could be a Republican, but they go to war at the slightest provocation (and sometimes no provocation) and adore the death penalty. Not pro-life. Republicans FAIL as do Democrats. 2. Respects sacramental marriage. Could be a Republican but they're mostly non-Catholics, thus they don't believe marriage is a sacrament. But they do believe that marriage should be between a man and a woman. Republicans pass on this one and Democrats fail. 3. Believes that the government has a role to play in protecting the poor and working classes (this is not to say that the government should own everything, but that there should be "minimum standards", i.e., timely payment of wages, overtime, workplace safety and health, etc.). Democrats pass this test. Republicans absolutely fail this test absolutely as they want to eliminate services to the poor and working classes (while expanding no-bid contracts to their friends). 4. An immigration reform policy that is based on reason and not on wild-eyed fear or a lack of discipline (in other words, both sides of the argument would be displeased). A plan that secures our borderS as well as recognizes reality. Definitely not something the Republicans are for. They fail on this one for sure. Democrats SEEM to be in favor of this but they fail other tests. 5. An ACTIVE engagement foreign policy instead of the current "ignore-those-we-don't-like" policy. Republicans are the authors of the "irgnore-those-we-don't-like policy: FAIL. The last Democrat to be President left us in much better shape on the world stage: PASS. Looks like there's no one who would get my vote. No one passes all five of my tests.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom Not even the Pope passes your test. <<<3. Believes that the government has a role to play in protecting the poor and working classes (this is not to say that the government should own everything, but that there should be "minimum standards", i.e., timely payment of wages, overtime, workplace safety and health, etc.).>>> Shame the Pope won't use any of those BILLIONS to help the plight of all those "underpriveleged" people around the world. Yea life is tough when your at your Summer Palace. <a href="http://www.cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=36951" target="_blank">http://www.cwnews.com/news/vie wstory.cfm?recnum=36951</a> <<<Pope Benedict to visit summer residence at Castel Gandolfo Vatican, May. 04, 2005 (CWNews.com) - Pope Benedict XVI (bio - news) will travel to his summer residence at Castel Gandolfo on Thursday afternoon, May 5, to meet with employees and public officials there. He will make a short public appearance at Castel Gandolfo late in the afternoon, to greet and bless the faithful. The Pope's trip to the estate south of Rome-- which he will make by helicopter-- is not a formal event, but simply an opportunity to become acquainted with the workers at the papal residence and the local authorities, the Vatican press office explained. Pope Benedict is taking advantage of a Vatican holiday, for the feast of the Ascension, to make the trip. The papal residence at Castel Gandolfo, about 15 miles south of Rome, has the title of an apostolic palace. Located in the hills, about 1,400 feet above sea level, the property lies on a scenic shore of Lake Albano. The papal property combines three different properties, the last of which was ceded to the Vatican as part of the Lateran Accords in 1929. A portion of the property was once the site of a villa built by the Roman Emperor Domitian. The residence in the town built by the Gandolfi family was bought by the papacy in 1596, and became a refuge for the Popes seeking relief from Rome's summer heat. The apostolic palace, built during the 17th century, has been repeatedly remodeled-- and even thoroughly restored, after it was sacked by French troops late in the 18th century. In 1870, when the Italian republic claimed Rome and made the Pope the "prisoner of the Vatican," the papal residence went unused for 59 years. The signing of the Lateran Accords, ending the struggle between Italy and the papacy, allowed Pope Pius XI to resume use of the property, and complete the residence that now stands. During World War II, Pope Pius XII lodged thousands of Jews at Castel Gandolfo to protect them from the Nazi extermination campaign. Pope Pius XII died there in 1958; Pope Paul VI also died at the summer residence twenty years later. Typically, the Pope spends the months of July, August, and September in Castel Gandolfo. Although it is a summer home for the Pontiff-- and does have a swimming pool, installed by Pope John Paul II (bio - news)-- the Popes continue their normal working schedule while they stay there. Public and private audiences continue, and magisterial documents released during these weeks are signed from the Castel Gandolfo residence. >>>
Originally Posted By ecdc "If you lived around Chicago and knew Barack -- you would drop him from your list -- he is nowhere near qualified for that office -- all show - little substance on most issues." Hey, I'll take that over what we have now - no show and no substance.
