Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

2008 hopefuls test their message at Florida Democratic convention
Chicago Tribune via Macon.com ^ | Dec. 11, 2005 | JEFF ZELENY

Posted on 12/11/2005 4:23:00 PM PST by ncountylee

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The governor of Iowa was working the breakfast crowd, the governor of Virginia was mingling with folks at cocktail hour and a former North Carolina senator, the Democratic vice presidential candidate last year, was holding court over lunch.

The calendar may still say 2005, but Democrats are looking ahead to 2008, which is why Tom Vilsack, Mark Warner and John Edwards traveled from their respective home states over the weekend to the manicured grounds of Walt Disney World as they began the ritual of courting an influential audience of Florida Democrats.

Never mind that President Bush began his second term less than a year ago. A crop of prospective White House candidates has quietly been traveling across the country to meet the party activists who seldom rest from presidential politics.

They come to events, such as the Florida Democratic convention that ended Sunday, to test their messages. They come to see which lines get the best applause. They come to seize on a slump in public approval for Republican political leaders as they craft a three-year-long sales pitch to voters and financial contributors alike.

At this early stage, the list is long of those exploring a prospective bid for the presidency. But since protocol warns against definitively declaring one's ambitions, the list also remains a moving target. And some potential candidates are so well known that they seldom frequent such events like the one held here outside Orlando.

(Excerpt) Read more at macon.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government; Politics/Elections; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: demprimary; edwards2008; markwarner; vilsack2008; warner2008

1 posted on 12/11/2005 4:23:02 PM PST by ncountylee
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: ncountylee
"It is time for us to lead. It is time for us to put aside whatever party identity crisis we've been having," Obama said, urging party activists to get motivated for the political fight ahead. "Don't let them tell you that we don't know what we stand for as Democrats. We know who we are and we know what our legacy is."

OK Obama...what is that?

2 posted on 12/11/2005 4:25:54 PM PST by ncountylee (Dead terrorists smell like victory)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ncountylee
We know who we are and we know what our legacy is.

OK Obama...what is that?

I can answer that question. Higher taxes, inadequate defense of our nation, corruption, destruction of the uniquely American culture, lying, a never ending push to socialism, surrender of our sovereignty to the UN, the embrace of deviants and deviant behavior . . . let me see, did I miss anything?

3 posted on 12/11/2005 4:32:47 PM PST by Hardastarboard
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: ncountylee

Jonathan Edwards- Oh, I remember him!

He was the candidate who said that he'd veto a constitutional amendment he did not like!

THAT John Edwards!

Shouldn't a president know something of the constitution?

I'd wager that any of the Democrat candidates could be tripped up on simple questions about the constitution.


4 posted on 12/11/2005 4:36:20 PM PST by DBrow
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ncountylee

Well, we KNOW what Obama is... The Stepinfetchit for his Massa in Ole West Vuhginny... Sheets Byrd.


5 posted on 12/11/2005 4:36:38 PM PST by fieldmarshaldj (Cheney X -- Destroying the Liberal Democrat Traitors By Any Means Necessary -- Ya Dig ? Sho 'Nuff.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: ncountylee

You DO realize Obama will say great things without his saying anything that makes sense. Right? Obama is careful to not expand on his proclimations. He is for something but does not explain what that means. Voters love it, until they realize he does not know what he's talking about.


6 posted on 12/11/2005 4:38:38 PM PST by Morgan in Denver
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: ncountylee
Always testing messages
Not showing leadership

Still stuck on form, not function
Great fun to watch the Dems self destruct however

Best show around
7 posted on 12/11/2005 4:40:55 PM PST by HangnJudge
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Morgan in Denver

He could be a news anchor and make big bucks.


8 posted on 12/11/2005 4:41:46 PM PST by ncountylee (Dead terrorists smell like victory)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: ncountylee

You're right. Obama could make more money privately than in public service. But then, he would lose his goals of global leadership and he would be subjected to accountability. NO Democrat wants to be held accountable.


9 posted on 12/11/2005 4:49:05 PM PST by Morgan in Denver
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: ncountylee

"We know who we are and we know what our legacy is."

Dear Sen Obama:

Okay, I'm neither a constituent or a Dem. But, I'm wanting to know what Dems believe. You see, for the past 5 years, the only clear message has been that Bush is stupid, evil and should be shot at dawn.

Could you, or a member of your party, give me the office answers to the follow issues:

1. Iraq. Is your party best represented by:

- We needed to end the war that started in 1990, and finish a regime that had active WMD programs, collaborated with terrorists, and killed hundreds of thousands of people
- We thought we needed to go to war, but Bush lied, and the Dems were fooled.
- Cindy Shehan will be our Sec of Defense
- We'll blame Bush, and simply try to manage the war as best we can.


1a. Iraq 2:
- To walk out of Iraq now would be worse than when we left VietNam (and caused 3 million people to die). (Leiberman)
- Let's pack up our shit and leave NOW. We'll call it a redeployment, albeit to bases thousands of miles away. (Pelosi et al)
- We'll blame Bush for the mess, and claim we have to stay until we fix his mistakes.
-


2. The Federal Budget:

- We will cut programs to balance the budget
- We will increase taxes to balance the budget
- We will hope that there is another stock market bubble to pay for it all
- We'll blame Bush and do nothing


3. Energy:

- WE will "encourage" everyone to buy hybrids, even though that will be disaster for GM and DCX.
- We will loosen environmental rules, allow diesels, drilling in ANWAR and the Gulf of Mexico, and nukes plants.
- We'll blame Bush, call in Haliburton, and insist that they fix the situation.


Please let me know what "all Democrats" believe on these topics so we can have a meaningful policy debate instead of the political feces that we've seen slung for 6 years.

Signed,

Geek49203


10 posted on 12/11/2005 4:52:03 PM PST by TWohlford
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TWohlford

Very nicely stated.


11 posted on 12/11/2005 4:55:39 PM PST by ncountylee (Dead terrorists smell like victory)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: ncountylee

We know who we are and we're not telling, nyah nyah nyah nya! So there!!!!


12 posted on 12/11/2005 4:56:41 PM PST by OldFriend (The Dems enABLEd DANGER and 3,000 Americans died.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Morgan in Denver
We know who we are and we know what our legacy is

This bright eyed bushytailed greenhorn pol from Illinois is already talking about his 'legacy' ???

13 posted on 12/11/2005 5:14:28 PM PST by Mr_Moonlight
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: ncountylee

One question. Do they hand out white flags at the door?????


14 posted on 12/11/2005 5:17:06 PM PST by Arrowhead1952 (I never got a job from a person on a government program.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ncountylee

The title needs a correction. Should read "2008 VICE PRESIDENTIAL hopefuls test their message..."


15 posted on 12/11/2005 5:33:41 PM PST by penowa
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Mr_Moonlight

Obama is a piece of work. He's typically claiming his greatness before he's achieved it. LOL The funniest aspect of this is that Democrats are buying into it without any reservations. I swear, if Obama started saying the world was flat, Democrats would stampede to microphones, saying Obama has special insight as their future leader. Obama sees the racism of his party, but he could care less as long as he's included in their leadership.


16 posted on 12/11/2005 5:38:54 PM PST by Morgan in Denver
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: ncountylee
but Democrats are looking ahead to 2008,

That's dem Freudian_speak for "we're the skipping 2006 election cycle."

17 posted on 12/11/2005 5:56:09 PM PST by quantim (Detroit is the New Orleans of the north, settled by the French and ruined by liberals.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson