>>But Ralph's not my guy. Don't have one right now. I'm much better at finding faults than finding alliances. The dems are still basically Rockefeller Republicans or just too gunshy to speak up. And no one else is viable.<<
Ain't that the truth? It's pretty rare to find talent (historically) among legislators who pursue an executive office because the skill sets of the executive differs significantly, particularly in their capacity to lead.
And among the current crop of gubernats, where most successful Prezzie candidates are spawned, there are almost none that spring to mind presently.
Gray Davis? George Pataki? Rick Perry? Jeb Bush? Mark Schweiker? George Ryan? Bob Taft? John Engler? James McGreevey? In order, those 9 governors represent the states that produce just over half the electoral votes, and I bet few folks could name more than 5 or 6 of them.
The next largest: Michael Easley? Mark Warner? Roy Barnes? Frank O'Bannon? Jane Swift? Scott McCallum? Gary Locke? Don Sundquist? Parris Glendening? Bob Holden? Jesse Ventura? Those 11 round out the list of 20 states with 10 or more electoral votes.... that's 371 of the 538 electoral votes, a little over two-thirds. And I bet most folks couldn't name more than half of them.
Only 1 President came from a state with fewer than these.... Bill Clinton. Excluding Clinton, the last 10 elections were won by the largest (California) 4 times, and the third largest (Texas) 3 times. One each came from the 12th and 13th largest.
If your political preferences are even the tiniest bit left of center, and if we can presume the California energy debacle has killed Gray Davis' chances, the first name with some national recognition is Gary Locke of Washington, 16th on the list.
Think the US is prepared to elect a Chinese American?
The pickings are mighty slim right now if ya lean left. That'll definitely change by 2008, but the next election, barring some unforeseen event, is likely to be Bush versus a conservative Democrat unless the centrist Gore gets renominated. Even if we extend our look to the Senate, only John Kerrey emerges with any potential whatsoever.
The elusive fiscal conservative with liberal social policies is dang near extinct. |
