Talk Elections

Election Archive => 2016 U.S. Presidential Election => Topic started by: You kip if you want to... on March 17, 2012, 07:56:41 PM



Title: Opinion of the 2016 Democratic bench
Post by: You kip if you want to... on March 17, 2012, 07:56:41 PM
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Discuss.


No, but seriously...
Kirsten Gillibrand? Andrew Cuomo? Brian Schweitzer? Martin O'Malley? This is Gore 2000/Kerry 2004 all over again...


Title: Re: Opinion of the 2016 Democratic bench
Post by: Snowstalker Mk. II on March 17, 2012, 08:01:35 PM
After Obama won, we thought the 2012 bench would be Romney, Palin, Huckabee, Barbour, and Thune.

It's not a strong field, but it's no 1988 Democrats or 2012 Republicans, though I'd proudly vote third party against Andrew Cuomo if Democrats decide to reject any remaining trace of left-wing economics. I'm eying Schweitzer, O'Malley, and maybe Feingold as people I could support.


Title: Re: Opinion of the 2016 Democratic bench
Post by: You kip if you want to... on March 17, 2012, 08:25:50 PM
If the 2016 primary is a very cannibalish one (like this year's for the GOP), Cuomo will be our Romney. People only like him 'cos the media tells them to like him.


Title: Re: Opinion of the 2016 Democratic bench
Post by: politicus on March 17, 2012, 09:06:19 PM
Neither horrific nor amazing. About average, maybe slightly below average.


Title: Re: Opinion of the 2016 Democratic bench
Post by: morgieb on March 18, 2012, 03:59:37 AM
Average.

Though it's too early to say.


Title: Re: Opinion of the 2016 Democratic bench
Post by: hcallega on March 18, 2012, 06:45:54 PM
I think that Cuomo and O'Malley are the two strongest Democratic contenders. Both have strong fundraising bases, are personally charismatic, and have ties to the Democratic establishment. They have also been generally successful as Governors and have presented Democratic alternatives to Republican fiscal policies.


Title: Re: Opinion of the 2016 Democratic bench
Post by: Mr.Phips on March 18, 2012, 07:10:43 PM
I think that Cuomo and O'Malley are the two strongest Democratic contenders. Both have strong fundraising bases, are personally charismatic, and have ties to the Democratic establishment. They have also been generally successful as Governors and have presented Democratic alternatives to Republican fiscal policies.

Let Cuomo drown.  He basically caved to Republicans, allowing them to control the State Senate forever.  Ill work hard against him in 2016. 


Title: Re: Opinion of the 2016 Democratic bench
Post by: RI on March 18, 2012, 07:37:04 PM
Cuomo seems like he could be strong, but his economic positions are way too conservative while the only things he seems to really be leftist about are gay marriage and abortion. I don't think I could vote for him.

Schweitzer seems a bit more promising, and I haven't really heard too much about O'Malley. Not a huge Gillibrand fan.


Title: Re: Opinion of the 2016 Democratic bench
Post by: Miles on March 18, 2012, 08:32:25 PM
Cuomo seems like he could be strong, but his economic positions are way too conservative while the only things he seems to really be leftist about are gay marriage and abortion. I don't think I could vote for him.

Schweitzer seems a bit more promising, and I haven't really heard too much about O'Malley. Not a huge Gillibrand fan.

Exactly.


Title: Re: Opinion of the 2016 Democratic bench
Post by: You kip if you want to... on March 18, 2012, 08:47:32 PM
Jay Nixon? Senator Blumenthal? (...Mark Warner? :P )

Surely the bench should be a bit better after 2006 and 2008.


Title: Re: Opinion of the 2016 Democratic bench
Post by: Zioneer on March 18, 2012, 10:35:48 PM
Schweitzer seems like he could be a shot in the arm (if you'll forgive the old saying) for Democratic discourse in the United States. He's willing to engage the Republicans on his terms, not on their terms. He doesn't try to be professorial like Obama, but neither is he rude to opponents like Chris Christie in the GOP is. He could shift the liberal discourse from trying to keep up with Republicans to forging their own path. Do you see what I mean by that? He's a totally different type of candidate than Barack Obama was. He's got the small-state, combative credentials, while still being pleasing to most Democrats. Plus, he'd be the first candidate to completely throw off the dying issue of gun control (notice how the Dems haven't done anything about it for years, but still consider it an important issue), which could revitalize the left in the Midwest. I prefer Schweitzer to any other contender.

O'Malley I also like, because he seems like an Obama with more of a spine. To be fair, he's already in a blue state, but he seems willing to call out the right on social AND economic issues, and seems calm and reasonable.

Andrew Cuomo seems like a sellout already, despite his push for gay marriage. His wheeler-dealer image makes me cringe every time I hear about it, and he seems too willing to concede to Republicans on economic issues. Sure, he balanced the budget in NY, but at a heavy cost. Plus, he doesn't seem to have the spirit his dad has. Much more of a Democratic Romney than anything else. Also, he has skeletons in his closet from his days at HUD.

Gillibrand is meh for me. She's a good VP candidate, but I never cared for a Hillary-esque politician, and she seems like that sort of candidate.

If we're going for a female contender candidate in 2016, I could see Claire McCaskill as a fine candidate; moderate, but still fiery when needed.


Title: Re: Opinion of the 2016 Democratic bench
Post by: ShadowRocket on March 23, 2012, 02:57:47 PM
I'm probably in the minority, but I'd say at first glance that it looks better than what the '08 bench shaped up to be.


Title: Re: Opinion of the 2016 Democratic bench
Post by: I'm JewCon in name only. on March 24, 2012, 04:06:40 PM
I'm crazy for Cuomo. But I'm not a fan of the rest.


But I'm a Conservative Independent/Republican so It doesnt matter what I think :P


Title: Re: Opinion of the 2016 Democratic bench
Post by: WalterMitty on March 24, 2012, 04:20:58 PM
time to fire up the mark warner bandwagon....  :)

but if we are talking virginians...one serious darkhorse has to be former governor (and future senator) tim kaine.


Title: Re: Opinion of the 2016 Democratic bench
Post by: Cobbler on March 24, 2012, 04:28:41 PM
I actually really like Schweitzer and Cuomo, and would consider voting for them depending on the Republican nominee.


Title: Re: Opinion of the 2016 Democratic bench
Post by: Vosem on March 24, 2012, 04:30:09 PM
I actually really like Schweitzer and Cuomo, and would consider voting for them depending on the Republican nominee.

Have to second this, especially Cuomo. I would never vote for O'Malley or E. Warren (who's already being talked about as a presidential contender, which frightens me).


Title: Re: Opinion of the 2016 Democratic bench
Post by: Negusa Nagast 🚀 on March 24, 2012, 05:33:05 PM
If we want to lose in a 1988 style, we can nominate Warner.

I think the bench is solid.

Schweitzer is a powerful candidate. He puts the Republican electoral map into a bind (it currently favors the Dems, oh so slightly), by putting Montana into our column and possibly making the Dakotas swing.


Title: Re: Opinion of the 2016 Democratic bench
Post by: Landslide Lyndon on March 27, 2012, 03:18:51 AM
I think that Cuomo and O'Malley are the two strongest Democratic contenders. Both have strong fundraising bases, are personally charismatic, and have ties to the Democratic establishment.

Cuomo is far from charismatic. From what I've seen he seems rather dour and dull.


Title: Re: Opinion of the 2016 Democratic bench
Post by: Platypus on March 27, 2012, 08:04:53 PM
If the P is a she, the VP will be O'Malley or Schweitzer, almost for sure. But I have no idea who might be up for the P.


Title: Re: Opinion of the 2016 Democratic bench
Post by: Beet on March 27, 2012, 08:08:18 PM
The grapevine here about O'Malley is a potential trouble spot for him. There are two problems for him - one small, one potentially significant. The small one is that he is a bit aloof. The other one, has been swirling around for years, and it's never stuck in any of his Gubernatorial races, but it would come out in a Presidential campaign.


Title: Re: Opinion of the 2016 Democratic bench
Post by: Snowstalker Mk. II on March 27, 2012, 08:38:25 PM
The grapevine here about O'Malley is a potential trouble spot for him. There are two problems for him - one small, one potentially significant. The small one is that he is a bit aloof. The other one, has been swirling around for years, and it's never stuck in any of his Gubernatorial races, but it would come out in a Presidential campaign.

...he's gay, isn't he?


Title: Re: Opinion of the 2016 Democratic bench
Post by: Zioneer on March 27, 2012, 11:44:16 PM
The grapevine here about O'Malley is a potential trouble spot for him. There are two problems for him - one small, one potentially significant. The small one is that he is a bit aloof. The other one, has been swirling around for years, and it's never stuck in any of his Gubernatorial races, but it would come out in a Presidential campaign.

...he's gay, isn't he?

Nah, just (rumors) of martial infidelity that according to Wikipedia were spread by a Maryland Democratic party official. Probably a falsehood spewed by a disgruntled official, judging by it's lack of staying power.


Title: Re: Opinion of the 2016 Democratic bench
Post by: perdedor on March 29, 2012, 09:10:14 PM
Can we not find a single practical progressive option to bring to the table? Cuomo, Gillibrand, Shweitzer, Warner...uggh. I wish Jack Reed would run, no idea how much interest that would garner though.


Title: Re: Opinion of the 2016 Democratic bench
Post by: Comrade Funk on March 29, 2012, 09:39:38 PM
Pretty decent bench. Schweitzer, O'Malley, and Gillibrand are solid. Schweitzer is my favorite.


Title: Re: Opinion of the 2016 Democratic bench
Post by: World politics is up Schmitt creek on March 29, 2012, 10:56:57 PM
If these were the final four I'd be okay, with the exception of Cuomo, who's pissed away the last of my good will for him for gay marriage by now. He is essentially a European rightist.

I like Gillibrand a lot but Schweitzer is my favorite as a Presidential contender, and in all likelihood who I will be supporting to succeed Obama absent any unexpected entries. A Western progressive populist with more of a common touch than Gore, Kerry, or Obama could do some very good things for the party's discourse. (John Kitzhaber out in Oregon has some of the same benefits but he'll be almost seventy.) O'Malley is acceptable.


Title: Re: Opinion of the 2016 Democratic bench
Post by: exopolitician on April 09, 2012, 03:36:14 AM
I like O'Malley the most, he's young(er) and charismatic and his achievements as Governor are commendable. Plus he totally called out Gov. McDonnell on his sh!t  to his face on live television. He has my vote.

Schweitzer is alright, if he eventually became the nominee id obviously vote for him but he wouldn't be my first choice.

I personally like both Virginians mentioned, Warner more than Kaine, but some of Warner's votes cast in the Senate worry me...and Kaine disappointed me when he was one of the few Democrats who opposed the President on the Contraception Mandate.

I'm neutral on Gillibrand, I guess she just hasn't stood out enough to me. I wish there were more women politicians mentioned for 2016. If Warren wins her Senate seat, she'd be one of my top choices for 2016. McCaskill is alright, somewhat mediocre. I wouldn't mind Christine Gregoire either, though she might be too old by then. No one else really pops out.

Joe Biden would actually make a good President, but that's just me I guess. I dunno who else from the current administration would run in 2016. Sebelius would be an okay choice, but she'd probably be too old too.


Title: Re: Opinion of the 2016 Democratic bench
Post by: Cory on April 09, 2012, 10:59:35 AM
Schweitzer/O'Malley for me! I would vote for him in the Fall if I had to but I plan on working hard against Cuomo if he runs.


Title: Re: Opinion of the 2016 Democratic bench
Post by: traininthedistance on April 10, 2012, 02:14:36 AM
Like most other people here I'd prefer Schweitzer or O'Malley (of the big names) and will be okay with anybody but Cuomo.  I actually don't mind pushing for union givebacks as much, but I hate his capitulation on redistricting and his general anti-transit and anti-community horribleness w/r/t the new Tappan Zee.  Dude just doesn't get it.

I'm also a fan of John Hickenlooper, and think Biden is much better than he gets credit for.  Though most of my like of Biden is probably just because he commuted to DC via Amtrak for decades.


Title: Re: Opinion of the 2016 Democratic bench
Post by: LastVoter on April 10, 2012, 01:42:24 PM
Can we not find a single practical progressive option to bring to the table? Cuomo, Gillibrand, Shweitzer, Warner...uggh. I wish Jack Reed would run, no idea how much interest that would garner though.
Feingold, Warren? Although it doesn't look like Feingold would run.


Title: Re: Opinion of the 2016 Democratic bench
Post by: EmersonAdams on April 10, 2012, 03:35:47 PM
I'm a little reluctant to make this a Schweitzer lovefest, but I think the Montana governor would bring a lot of excitement to the race. He has real progressive and populist credentials, and he has the kind of larger than life personality that you like in a presidential contender. I see him as a figure who may be able to unify the more progressive and moderate wings of the party.

Elizabeth Warren would probably be my ideal candidate, but she has a tough enough road ahead just to win her senate race, in probably the most liberal state in the country. If she does win, she has a shot to win the nomination in 2016, especially if Hillary doesn't get in and the base is clamoring for a woman. Warren can fire up the left like no one else, and her proven fundraising ability might just carry her to the top in a tough primary season. It's always difficult for someone from the far right or far left to make it to the presidency, but when they do they tend to be "great". I hate to draw a comparison with the Gipper, but Regan came from the fringe of the Republican party to win the presidency, and even now his ideas and policies make up the ideological heart of the republican party. Hell, Regan started a governing paradigm that influenced the policies of even Clinton and Obama. I think Warren has the potential to change the basic philosophy behind American governance, but she faces a definite uphill struggle. 

I think Tim Kaine, Martin O'Malley, and Deval Patrick would all be solid picks for the Dems. All of them are proven governors with long and extensive track records. I'd like to see a Fiengold candidacy, too.

Cuomo is too fiscally conservative for my tastes, and if he did get involved he would be a Romney-esque front runner. I don't see him generating a ton of enthusiasm or pushing the party forward. He would have to campaign as an "effective administrator", and that rarely gives a candidate intense public support. I would probably vote for Cuomo, but I certainly wouldn't campaign for him. Ditto for Warner.

All in all, I think the dems have a nice bench to draw from in 2016.


Title: Re: Opinion of the 2016 Democratic bench
Post by: ○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└ on April 12, 2012, 08:17:15 PM
Cuomo seems like he could be strong, but his economic positions are way too conservative while the only things he seems to really be leftist about are gay marriage and abortion. I don't think I could vote for him.

Schweitzer seems a bit more promising, and I haven't really heard too much about O'Malley. Not a huge Gillibrand fan.

Cuomo's position on gay marriage puts him to the left of Obama on one issue, and he's obviously hoping that strong leadership that one issue will offset being lame on everything else. Taking down Cuomo in the primary would require some work, New York governors usually get the nomination when they want it.


Title: Re: Opinion of the 2016 Democratic bench
Post by: Mr. Morden on April 12, 2012, 08:40:21 PM
Any incumbent New York governor is going to have a formidable fundraising machine.  So yeah, assuming Clinton doesn't run, Cuomo would be a major contender.  Though, of course, $ doesn't automatically mean victory.


Title: Re: Opinion of the 2016 Democratic bench
Post by: Landslide Lyndon on April 14, 2012, 01:41:00 PM
Any incumbent New York governor is going to have a formidable fundraising machine.  So yeah, assuming Clinton doesn't run, Cuomo would be a major contender.  Though, of course, $ doesn't automatically mean victory.


Obama and Clinton don't seem to hold in very high regard Cuomo, so if they can subtly direct their donors to another candidate then he can certainly counter Cuomo's fundraising advantage.


Title: Re: Opinion of the 2016 Democratic bench
Post by: Donerail on April 14, 2012, 02:34:48 PM
I'd like Brian Schweitzer, enough to come over and vote for him. But there's lots of other dark-horse-type candidates; Bill Richardson, Russ Feingold, Dave Freudenthal, John Baldacci, John Kitzhaber, John Lynch, Jim Webb, and Jon Tester, among others. Any of those guys have a shot besides Schweitzer or maybe Feingold?


Title: Re: Opinion of the 2016 Democratic bench
Post by: hopper on April 14, 2012, 09:15:43 PM
I'd like Brian Schweitzer, enough to come over and vote for him. But there's lots of other dark-horse-type candidates; Bill Richardson, Russ Feingold, Dave Freudenthal, John Baldacci, John Kitzhaber, John Lynch, Jim Webb, and Jon Tester, among others. Any of those guys have a shot besides Schweitzer or maybe Feingold?
Jim Webb? Thats one name I haven't heard. He was the Navy Sec. under Reagan. Yeah Freudenthal thats a good name to throw out there. Jon Tester? He has never run anything. He has been a Senator his whole political career.


Title: Re: Opinion of the 2016 Democratic bench
Post by: hopper on April 14, 2012, 09:19:44 PM
Everybody keeps name dropping Gillibrand. I think she would be a perfect fit for VP.


Title: Re: Opinion of the 2016 Democratic bench
Post by: Donerail on April 15, 2012, 06:26:11 PM
I'd like Brian Schweitzer, enough to come over and vote for him. But there's lots of other dark-horse-type candidates; Bill Richardson, Russ Feingold, Dave Freudenthal, John Baldacci, John Kitzhaber, John Lynch, Jim Webb, and Jon Tester, among others. Any of those guys have a shot besides Schweitzer or maybe Feingold?
Jim Webb? Thats one name I haven't heard. He was the Navy Sec. under Reagan. Yeah Freudenthal thats a good name to throw out there. Jon Tester? He has never run anything. He has been a Senator his whole political career.

Webb was Navy Sec, but now he's a Senator (D-VA). And why can't we pick Senators for President? Obama, McCain, Santorum were all Senators.