Deja vu all over again?
Close to thirty years ago, the United States was suffering the ill effects of a foreign war.
Gasoline prices were skyrocketing.
Citizens were aghast and disgusted at the immorality and dishonesty exhibited by national leaders.
Because of all this, Jimmy Carter, an obscure governor from Georgia, was elected in 1976 as President of the United States. The voting public veered away from the same-old, same-old continuation of politics as usual.
Is history going to repeat in 2008?
Well, here's betting that a majority of the American electorate three years hence will be yearning to vote for an outsider, someone carrying the mantle of reform, an individual with common man/woman roots.
Who will play the Carter role?
On the Democratic side, is that John Kerry? Hillary Clinton? John Edwards? Joe Biden? Evan Bayh? Bill Richardson?
We didn't think so.
Possibly Wes Clark and Mark Warner fit the description. But Clark came off ill-prepared and unqualified in his aborted 2000 run and he will need to demonstrate from the get-go that his is more than a vanity candidacy. Warner, though successful in governing Virginia, is a millionaire many times over and will need to show an immediate ability to connect with disaffected voters as a 'change' candidate.
Outsider. Reformist. Everyday man. Such certainly describes Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer.
He has already positioned himself as the anti-D.C. Democrat. His is a reformist administration to date in Montana. Talk about someone you would want to have a beer with---that's Schweitzer. Plus, he's an accomplished 'artist' at 'framing' language.
Three words: run Brian, run.
We lied.
Three more words: vote Brian Schweitzer.
Gasoline prices were skyrocketing.
Citizens were aghast and disgusted at the immorality and dishonesty exhibited by national leaders.
Because of all this, Jimmy Carter, an obscure governor from Georgia, was elected in 1976 as President of the United States. The voting public veered away from the same-old, same-old continuation of politics as usual.
Is history going to repeat in 2008?
Well, here's betting that a majority of the American electorate three years hence will be yearning to vote for an outsider, someone carrying the mantle of reform, an individual with common man/woman roots.
Who will play the Carter role?
On the Democratic side, is that John Kerry? Hillary Clinton? John Edwards? Joe Biden? Evan Bayh? Bill Richardson?
We didn't think so.
Possibly Wes Clark and Mark Warner fit the description. But Clark came off ill-prepared and unqualified in his aborted 2000 run and he will need to demonstrate from the get-go that his is more than a vanity candidacy. Warner, though successful in governing Virginia, is a millionaire many times over and will need to show an immediate ability to connect with disaffected voters as a 'change' candidate.
Outsider. Reformist. Everyday man. Such certainly describes Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer.
He has already positioned himself as the anti-D.C. Democrat. His is a reformist administration to date in Montana. Talk about someone you would want to have a beer with---that's Schweitzer. Plus, he's an accomplished 'artist' at 'framing' language.
Three words: run Brian, run.
We lied.
Three more words: vote Brian Schweitzer.
posted by Kevin McCarthy at 8:04 PM
4 Comments:
Just wanted to say I'm enthusiastic about a Schweitzer candidacy; I think he's got the right image to help the Dems win in states like Arkansas and West Virginia, which are heavily Democratic but voted for Bush for cultural reasons. Schweitzer comes across as someone who understands regular people in Middle America, and I think the voters will respond to that. Hillary doesn't have much of a chance of winning the general election; we need someone like Schweitzer.
Thought I'd let you all know I've added a little mini-biography of Governor Schweitzer over on my blog. http://neal2028.blogspot.com/
I have to say that I admire Schweitzer a great deal, but I strongly feel that his work is in Montana for the next five years or so.
Without going into details right now, I will say that there are some really important reasons for Montana AND for America to keep him here.
We have too much to lose by going too fast.
Granny, yours is an interesting perspective. I'm curious why you feel this way. Please do elaborate when you find the time.
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