GOV. Steve Beshear for President in 2016

[BrentWil]

Steve Beshear might be someone that should consider running. First, he has ran the most successful state exchange in the nation and done so in the heavily red state of Kentucky. This is a show of competence that is impressive. The law is not flawed, but the public is rightfully upset at the incompetence shown at the federal level. Doing something well and doing it in a red state is huge. Second, his performance with the ACA highlights the bill in a positive light for the whole ticket. While it the ACA will look much differently in 2016 to the American public then it does now, it will still be an issue. Steve Beshear is wonderful ammo on that issue. Third, he is a southern white. This attacks the GOPs base. If we could undermine that, the election is over.

Just some thoughts.

[RandySF]

1. NO

He gave the green light for state tax incentives to build some awful creationist amusement park.

[BrentWil]

2. Life isn't perfect

KY is a heavily religious state. May have needed to do it for political reasons. In either case, that is small fry stuff, IMO.

[last1standing]

3. I think the "southern white" myth has been officially busted with the election of a black northerner

n/t

[BrentWil]

4. But it helps to go after another's base

He would have appeal.

[last1standing]

5. I'm pretty much done with playing to the republican base.

Especially with racially charged gimmicks. I'm much more interested in giving our base a real reason to vote by nominating a progressive who actually believes in Keynesian economics and Constitutional liberties.

If that happens to be a white southerner, great. If not, then I don't want them.

[BrentWil]

10. Yes... but we still need to take the House

Attacking the base of the GOP is the way to do that (at least anytime before 2020 and the new census).

[last1standing]

11. It really isn't.

In the 2012 election Democrats received over one million more votes than republicans for house seats. It was only due to extreme gerrymandering that we did not retake the House. It was not due to moving even further to the right.

I have to admit to being completely fed up with the constant talk of having to move further and further toward "the center" as though policies and principles mean absolutely nothing. I'm tired of sucking up to corporations, I'm tired of "pragmatism," I'm tired of being afraid of our own convictions, and I'm tired of playing politics like its a team sport that means nothing more than winning yards on a playing field.

People's lives are affected by what policies we uphold and another "reality-based" New-Democrat trying to get another grand bargain isn't going to put food on the tables of our poor. Another "stick a finger in the wind" politician isn't going to push for sensible gun safety regulations. Another "I represent ALL the people" politician isn't going to refund the EPA, FDA, education or Social Security.

The very last thing we need in 2016 (or 2014 for that matter) is another choice between which candidate will sell us out the least. We need a candidate who actually stands for something and means it.

[bluestate10]

6. A person like Beshear should be on the ticket. He is a straight shooter who cares

abut the people that he is leading.

[BrentWil]

9. Plus...

He actually got something done in a State that is Red.

[libdem4life]

7. We can't have two unknowns on the ticket, IMO. Especially against a Bush, which I'd bet a few bucks

on...warts and all. I see Christie being physically unfit. Big Money may, as well.

Anyone who has been around and has the entire package available to risk a party's national run, has baggage. And if they haven't, the national ticket is not the place to vet them. Not only their background issues, but the sacrifice of their family's privacy with the vultures picking through emails and Twitter feeds and Facebook entries, internet searches, ancient history back at some hometown BBQ with an extra beer, etc.

But I encourage Sanders and Warren and anyone else who can get out there and articulate ideals for which there has been no national articulation for 50 years.

The sheer immensity of the amount of money necessary to even play at the national level...for the ill that it is...further discourages the attractive ones and leaves us with Jeb and Hillary. Either party who runs a Dark Horse just gave it away, again, IMO.

We have no shortage of attractive candidates ... it's the rest of the package that sucks.

Until we get nationally funded elections, it will not get any better. And even that falls far short of Election Nirvana.

[BrentWil]

8. If he got the nom...

Money wouldn't be an issue. Getting the nom is his money question.

[libdem4life]

12. Getting the nomination means already having those things well lined up and partially

functioning...and of course once the nomination is made, more follows and then it's up to how fired up the entire base can get to GOTV.

Just a prospective nominee has to bring a lot to the table, other than his political views. Big Money has to give a nod, make no mistake. Having been a Governor will surely help.

[LAGC]

13. Christie has lost a lot of weight.

He's on the lap-band. I don't see his physical characteristics inhibiting him in 2016, even assuming he's still overweight.

He's rude and crude and talks down to women, but a lot of voters like that kind of "straight talk", they think he's "genuine" or something.



I wouldn't rule him out.

[libdem4life]

14. I still think paragraph one, even if it seems "unseemly", lurks. He has to have high blood pressure

and his heart can not be healthy, and this quick temper goes with the health landscape, in my experience. The lap-band carries with it some physical and often deep personal self-image changes. During a hectic campaign, even pre-primary, all this adds up. Deep inside, people know at least parts of this, even if they try and not consider it.

Second, he hasn't been nationally vetted. There are rumors, and to be in NJ politics for as many years as he has, and this is a bit of stereotyping I admit, but there have to be some worrisome skeletons.

Lastly, to his "Joisey" smart-ass, sexist mouth, again, even though cutsey pie and macho and "unique"...but once in the voting booth, don't see it. I don't think a majority of American people want to see this image at G-8 or G-20 meetings, nor can they see him jogging or fencing his ranch (Obama and Bush)...as the representative of the free world. Eating, OTOH...OK, a tad of snark.

I think if Republicans can see through or ignore all of that that...and send him to the primary, a strong Democrat will win. Even a politically weaker Democratic candidate might beat him. Jeb, loses in the first case, but not in the second...IMO.

I agree he expands (no pun intended, but left it anyway) his political positions beyond Populism, whether as a personal trait, or the fact of getting elected Governor. And, other than Jeb, he's the only one.

It's going to be an interesting election cycle, in any case.