[ex-snook]

Gephardt, congressman, doesn't have the right stuff. If I'm not mistaken it's been 40 years (Kennedy) that someone from Congress came into office first from Congress. Also lately there has been a run of Governors from both parties (Carter, Reagan, Clinton, Bush) when there was a party changeover.

If the Democrats are serious it will be Dean or another governor. Congress critters are too tainted.

[Mr. Buzzcut]

Gephardt, now 62, still has his good looks

Say WHAT!?!?!? I stopped reading at that point.

[Recovering_Democrat]

that someone from Congress came into office first from Congress...

If you're speaking from the Congress straight to the Presidency, you're right. But what is even more rare is for a Representative (as opposed to a Senator) to go from the House to the White House. I think it was only done once: by Republican James Garfield. He was assassinated about six months into his term, I believe by a bureaucrat who wanted to suck more off the government's teat.