Trail To The Chief: The Non-Existent Democratic Bench If Hillary Doesn't Run Edition

[Stellar]

The Non-Existent Democratic Bench If Hillary Doesn't Run Edition

In the world of anonymous sources calling for an actual Democratic primary to boost Hillary Clinton's campaigning chops, there's much bemoaning about the lack of viable 2016 contenders that would truly put ol' Hil through the ringer. But what about the bemoaning that would ensue should Clinton actually "implode entirely" -- as all the think pieces from her latest email dust-up imply?

One possibility is that we're about to find out. Of course, another possibility is that it's really early in the campaign and this email scandalette will burn itself out eventually and we'll look back on another premature deployment of the "Dems in disarray" meme with detached amusement. But if this doesn't rattle Clinton, surely it has to rattle the Democratic Party a little bit. If the GOP's main problem is a candidate logjam between last year's losers, this year's saviors and also-rans of every order, the Democrats' yawning worry has to be the lack of timber to send to the mill. There's very little sign that the party has done any serious work recruiting future officeholders and grooming them for the national spotlight. And the lack of fresh faces means that fresh ideas -- or fresher takes on old ideas -- are hard to come by.

Once you get past Clinton, is there a "Democratic bench"? Yes. But the problem is, it's probably an actual bench.

If not Hillary...WHO? There are 15 peoples on the list at the link...(well more like 12).

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/08/trail-to-the-chief-non-existent-democratic-bench_n_6826266.html#comments

[stevenleser]

1. I think that we lose in 2016 if anyone other than Hillary runs and this article seems to agree.

One of the big problems is the general difficulty retaining the white house after your party has had it for 8 years. Its not impossible, but it is very difficult. It was only accomplished in 1988 by George H. W. Bush because the Atwater etc. crew waged a complete scorched earth campaign against Dukakis that was so evil, Atwater himself issued a deathbed apology.

In 2000, we all agree Gore actually won, but it should not have been close. Clinton had one of the most successful Presidencies in history and was at over 60% approval, the Lewinsky scandal notwithstanding. The economy was good, budget was balanced, foreign policy was good, etc. Even then, Gore essentially ran even with idiot-boy. It should not have been close. You can argue that Gore didn't run a great campaign, fine, it still shouldn't have been close. The obviously competent Vice President of an extremely successful President should have won easily against that mindless idiot.

So it is very difficult to retain the White House after your party has it for 8 years. It takes an exceptional candidate. None of the 'bench' seems to have it at this point, even though I am generally fans of all of them.

[Stellar]

3. meh...I kind of like them all but Cuomo.

After the top three, I'm kind of lost. No real passion for any of them.

[Renew Deal]

2. I've been bringing this up for a while

The only candidate in the current field that is both credible and electable is O'Malley.

Biden can't win
Webb won't win
Sanders is unelectable.

And if Cuomo jumps in we might as well vote for Bush.

Warren could be a savior, but she doesn't seem to want it and it will probably be too late for anyone to run barring a convention selection.

[Stellar]

4. I really must do some reading up on O'Malley.

Don't know much about him.

[FSogol]

5. Start Here:

For people unaware of O'Malley, here's his resume:

http://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/08conoff/gov/former/html/msa13090.html

The bottom quarter is good reading on O'Malley's positions and what he accomplished in Maryland.

A former Governing Magazine “Public Official of the Year,” Governor O’Malley was re-elected in 2010. His 2013 legislative successes were described in a Baltimore Sun editorial as “without many parallels in recent Maryland history.”

With a balanced approach of spending cuts, regulatory reform, and modern investment in education, innovation, and infrastructure, Governor O’Malley and his Administration are making better choices that are delivering better results, including:

Fastest rate of job growth in the region.
#1 ranking for best public schools in America for an unprecedented five years in a row (Education Week).
#1 ranking for holding down the cost of college tuition (College Board).
#1 ranking for innovation and entrepreneurship for two years running (U.S. Chamber of Commerce).

Under the Governor’s leadership, Maryland also ranks:

#1 nationally in median income,
#1 in Ph.D. scientists and researchers per capita,
#1 in Research and Development, and
#1 in businesses owned by women.


Called “arguably the best manager in government” by Washington Monthly magazine, Governor O’Malley has cut State spending more than any previous governor in Maryland’s history, balancing these record cuts with targeted, modern investments in priorities like public education. He has reduced the size of government to its smallest size since 1973 (on a per capita basis) and reformed how it is managed, so that it works more efficiently and accountably. His actions to save Maryland’s State pension system have made it sustainable over the long term. His fiscal stewardship has nearly eliminated Maryland’s structural deficit. His efforts to streamline, consolidate and digitize processes like business licensing are making Maryland a better place to do business.

PS, part of a public informational archive and not bound by copyright.

The O’Malley-Brown Administration has expanded health care to more than 380,000 previously uninsured Marylanders. It has reduced infant mortality to an historic low, and provided meals to thousands of hungry children as it moves forward toward its goal for eradicating childhood hunger.

The Governor’s policies have made strides in restoring the health of the Chesapeake Bay and saving the Bay’s native blue crab and oyster populations.

The O’Malley Administration has secured millions of dollars in rate relief for Maryland energy consumers while jump-starting the creation of thousands of green energy sector jobs. Under Governor O’Malley’s leadership, Maryland led the charge for the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), the nation’s first cap-and-trade auction of greenhouse emissions.

Governor O’Malley has cut income taxes for 86% of Marylanders and reformed Maryland’s tax code to make it more progressive. In addition, he signed the nation’s first statewide living wage law, along with some of the nation’s most comprehensive reforms to protect homeowners from foreclosure.

Declaring that Marylanders are bound together by “the common thread of human dignity,” Governor O’Malley signed legislation to protect individual civil marriage rights and religious freedom, along with legislation to protect voting rights. He signed – and successfully defended at the ballot box – the DREAM Act, which expands the opportunity of a college education to more Marylanders.

Mother Jones magazine called him the best candidate on Environmental issues:

http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2014/12/martin-omalley-longshot-presidential-candidate-and-real-climate-hawk

[Stellar]

7. Thanks for sharing...

[Hutzpa]

6. O'Malley? No thanks

Under him a bunch of corruption went unpunished in Maryland.

No way.

Has to be a female candidate and we have them both.

[FSogol]

8. What corruption?

[Hutzpa]

9. For starters

The State of Maryland has a serious problem within its administration there is a serious corruption problem within its government under the current administration, which is being lead by Mr. Martin O’Malley; this individual has sold out the citizens of the State of Maryland. In the four years that Mr. O’Malley has been Govern of Maryland he has order key Maryland agencies to cover-up complaints filed by individuals that will show the corruption within the State of Maryland.

On April 26, 2010, under the orders of Maryland, Govern Martin O’Malley and some Local Government Officials Detective Kenneth Penrod ID#729 of the Montgomery County; Maryland Police went into Prince George's County, Maryland and illegally arrested a member of the National Organization for Justice because the member had obtained evidence of criminal acts by Maryland, Govern Martin O’Malley and this Local Officials. To try and discredit the member Detective Penrod was ordered to take the member to a hospital and be tested.

http://nationalorganizationforjustice.weebly.com/news-blog/maryland-govern-martin-omalley-orders-more-cover-ups-of-corruption

A case of systemic corruption in Maryland;

It Didn't End with Spiro Agnew
Why Maryland is Still One of the Most Corrupt States in America

When people think of corruption, most imagine the mobs of New York or Chicago. But a quieter corruption has grown deep roots in the state of Maryland, and that corruption has permeated into the Anne Arundel County Appeals Board and Circuit Court, and the second highest court in the state, the Court of Special Appeals.

http://www.bookmasters.com/marktplc/01749.htm

On Thursday, the Maryland General Assembly will begin probing what federal authorities say has been a years-long failure of leadership under the Maryland governor.

O’Malley (D) ran for governor on the promise that he would improve conditions in the Maryland prison system. Over more than six years as Maryland’s top elected official — a post he won in part with a crime-fighting reputation — he amassed a flurry of statistics, such as falling rates of violence behind bars.

But according to a federal indictment unsealed this spring, O’Malley’s statistics of progress masked a broken state disciplinary system that allowed more than a dozen female corrections officers to go to work for a violent prison gang with little or no fear of reprisal.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/for-gov-omalley-md-jail-scandal-caps-years-of-trouble-with-baltimore-facility/2013/06/05/c8985da4-cde5-11e2-8845-d970ccb04497_story.html

You can't tell me all this did not happen under his watch and you can bet your bottom dollar that the republicans will use this come election time and I know democrats are not prepared to take on such a challenge against the republican field. Let's find strong candidates not pretenders, the country deserves that.

Martin O'Malley is not the answer to our problem, period.

O’Malley gave ‘sweetheart’ land deals to campaign contributors. “Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley and Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith this year secured more than $28 million to build a highway interchange leading to a road serving a commercial property owned by one of their largest campaign donors.” (Tom LoBianco, “O’Malley donor gains highway access,” The Washington Times, http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/jun/19/omalley-donor-gains-highway-access/, 6/19/08)

Too much hassle, no thanks. I certainly do not want to see President Bush or President Cruz.

[FSogol]

10. LOL at Washington Times and the noted Crank, Jack Patermaster.

Patermaster's book isn't even about O'Malley, it is about Anne Arundel's County Executive. His main example of corruption is about mis-assigning handicap parking spaces at a boat slip.

I've also never heard of the National Organization for Justice, but their 7 likes on Facebook lead me to believe they are just as tin-foily as Patermaster. Also on Thursday they are going to investigate? The article is from June 2013. What did the investigation find? <crickets>



Vote for whomever you want but give the unfounded RW bashing a break.

[Hutzpa]

11. I knew posting these links will become

a battle of my link is better than yours therefore the crime committed does not matter. I lived in Maryland for a while and can tell you first hand that he is an example of someone who leads from the back, not my ideal candidate but can clearly see why others will prefer him to say Warren or even Bernie.

[FSogol]

12. You haven't shown a crime, only old allegations that never went anywhere. n/t

[Hutzpa]

13. I think you're missing my point which is

most of these corruption happened while he was Governor, which imo shows weak leadership. Now, we can try to pretend they never occur by using semantics and strawman argument all we want or we can call it for what it is.

[FSogol]

14. If you use that standard (not that I accept boat slip HC permits to be the height of corruption)

then you will never find an acceptable candidate.

[Hutzpa]

15. It's more so to do with personnel,

choosing the right personnel to do the task at hand rather than choosing based on affiliation. he may not have been involved in any of these crimes committed by third party, but probably played a role in their application. Corruptions affects all parties involved, if we are to maintain the standard set by the current president, then it is our duty as democrats to keep our presidential nominee honest by ensuring they met the standards that has already been set. There is no point in lowering the bar.

[FSogol]

16. The Gov of Maryland does not choose the County Executive of Anne Arundel County.

The voters do.

[Hutzpa]

17. Of course the voters had to vote for the county Executive

but you and I can agree that the Governor has to have total awareness of all areas of Local Government, does he not?

[FSogol]

19. Stretch!

O'Malley should do a better job of with the people the voters elect?

[Blue_Tires]

18. Wetzelbill/Kurovski '16!

[HereSince1628]

20. How do you get a job making stuff up while drinking coffee?

Bored political/conspiracy fiction writer with deep imagination and no shame, seeking opportunity to entertain America.