Universe

There used to be a discusion called Indecision 2008, but it seems to have disappeared and is not, from what I can tell, in the archives.

Anyway, Sen. Barack Obama has recently said he is considering a bid for the Dem.'s presidential nomination, and now trails only Hillary Clinton, according to a new CNN poll.

And for the Rep.'s Sen. John McCain is neck and neck with Giulliani.

Personally, I don't know what Giulliani is doing to keep up with McCain. I hear about McCain all the time. McCain is an active law maker. Guilliani just throws his name out once in a while, but I don't see him doing anything. So why is the man so popular?

Before the elections, we see these negative ads by the politicians on TV. This is outrageous! What a shame!

Yeah, it's been really bad Jim Webb has been trashing poor Senator Allen, Ben Cordian has been trashing poor Micheal Steele.

We should not vote for these politicians doing dirty negative ads against their opponents, on TV.

Dem. Gov. Tom Vilsack has filed with the Fed. Election Commission establishing a presidential campaign committee. Is it a bit early to throw your hat into the 2008 presidential election? Gov. Vilsack has trailed Sen. Clinton and 2004 VP nominee John Edwards in early polls.

We need someone from the mid-west who understands the problems of the mid-west. Vilsack would be a GREAT choice.

Why would we need someone from the mid-west who understands mid-west problems? The majority of the population is on the coasts. Would it not be more prudent to have someone from the coasts that understands those problems? Or how about someone that is familiar with problems all U.S. citizens face, and is willing to learn about and try to understand regional problems.

Vilsack is actually from PA.

Where the person physically stands or hails from should not be a deciding factor for a vote, but where they stand on issues.

Q: Committee set up?

A: Sure, if you are into campaign finance read some of this from 2004
http://www.cfinst.org/pr/index_subj.html#pres

Q: I it a bit early to throw your hat into the 2008 presidential election?

A: No. With Vilsack entering the race he is able to pull off "Favored son" status. This is a good position to be in if he cannot run the table, and when he supports a quality candidate like Senator Obama, or Governor Spitzer he can translate that into a VP seat.

Q: Gov. Vilsack has trailed Sen. Clinton and 2004 VP nominee John Edwards in early polls.

A: Sure, that's a function of name recognition. Most Americans can't find Iowa, much less name her Governor. If Vilsack gets his name out there his numbers will improve.

Sen. John McCain is now the 4th Republican to form an exploratory committee for the 2008 presidential race.

An interesting side note: The 2008 election will be the first presidential contest in 56 years in which neither a sitting president nor vice president will be on the November ballot.

It will also be the first time in 80 years that neither the president nor vice president will be seeking his party's nomination.

Bush is constitutionally barred from seeking a third term, and Vice President Dick Cheney has said he will not run.

"I am running for president to replace the America of today with the hope of tomorrow and guarantee every American their birthright -- opportunity," Vilsack said in planned remarks opening his long-shot presidential campaign, pledging to make the U.S. "a beacon of hope" for all the world.

"America needs a president who builds and creates, who makes our country more secure," according to the planned speech. "Our country needs bold leadership if we are to be more secure here at home and throughout the world."

Ret. Gen. Wesley Clark is considering another run for the Presidency.

Frankly I am hoping that all the talk about the 2008 elections subsides for a while. This past mid-term elections were a very dividing time for the country, and that is very hard to deal with when you live in a very diverse political region, and have friends from various backgrounds.

As to whom I'm expecting in 08' I currently suspect it will boil down to McCain and Hillery, although I would not put my money on anyone at this point. After all, it only takes a 'scream' of a second to see a complete turnabout in this country.

Ryan Garn
Arizona Chapter

I personally believe that the next president of the United States will be a woman (Sen. Hillary Clinton). Now, is the time that a female leader will be our Commander-in Chief. We need change. Now is the time.

It's all about Al Sharpton. He truly epitomizes the mores of the Democratic Party.

Maybe now is the time for change, but whether that change is putting a female, or minority, or a democrat, or an independent/reform party member into the office will not and should not be just for the sake of change. Maybe it'll be a shift from an inarticulate, ultra-conservative, nut job to a moderate with decent speaking skills.

Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh, a Dem., is planning to take the first official step for a presidential bid. He would be the second Democrat to formally move toward a presidential campaign. He appears to have a very impressive political career. From what I can tell, his achievements dwarf any that Hillary or Obama have done. He may turn out to be the shinnig star for the Dems.

As for Reps, only McCain and Giuliani have created exploratory committees.

It has occured to me that the 2008 election may give us new terminology concering the spouse of the president. What do we call the husband of the president? I would like to take this opportunity to coin a few phrases:

First Chap / First Fellow / Best Fellow

First Mate / Best Chap / Best Lad

First Gent / Best Mate / First Lad

Lead Man / First Man

Or, as lady is a title given to wives of nobility, how about:

Count / First Count / Baron / Lord

The Duke (after John Wayne, not a nobility title)

What do you think?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Shawn Lopez,

we in the philippines have had 2 women presidents. the first was a widow. the current president is mrs. gloria macapagal-arroyo. we refer to her husband as the first gentleman. i guess that's what you can call the spouse of the first woman president of the U.S.

I am not a Republican or Democrat, but I have a "strong feeling" (Am I psychic?) that the next president of the United States will be a woman (Sen. Hillary Clinton). I do not know her personally, so I want to research her life, her qualifications, her platform of government and her views on so many different issues.

if sen. hillary clinton gets elected as president, then that would be an interesting situation. how would the americans address her husband, bill clinton, who is a former president?