A warning to Presidential candidates to slow it down a little...

[zulchzulu]

OK.

You're running for President.

It's well over 300 days before the Iowa caucus. Reporters and everyone else is watching your every move, recording your every word, asking you loopy questions and basically hunting you down in stealth mode ready to pounce at any vibration, any slip, any gaffe, any misquote...

You're doing endless rubber chicken dinners in towns you can't even recall with people wanting to be your best friend at the same time that they want to upload your "mistake" on YouTube. Months go by...you're exhausted...but you still have to smile and be The Star when you walk into that smelly gymnasium in a forgetful side of a forgetful town.

You're reading the speech. You hear the cheers. You feel the room likes you. Suddenly the PA does some feedback. You get distracted. You see a sea of eyes looking at you with half-smiles wondering if they are seeing you...distracted... You slip up. Well, you don't really slip up...but your main handler whispers the dreaded words in your ear: "You shouldn't have said that..."

All the alarm bells go off at once.

The microphones are jammed in your face as the high-def cameras zoom in to capture your every expression of your face. Flashes from hi-resolution digital cameras capture you looking like a deer in the headlights or show your teeth (looking like fangs) as you try to flail away the journalista sharks. Reporters ask you trick questions hoping for a lead on tonight's show that will spread and grow in character as the story oozes and worms out to the web and back again.

You escape into your motorcade and head back to the war room at the roadside motel off some wintry interstate. You and your handlers and staff watch the news and see yourself being humiliated and watch the spinmeisters declare their own interpretation that they got from a junior staffer who got the scoop from some other dubious origin.

Phones ring. Talking points are shoved in your hands and a tap on the shoulder to read them clearly. Don't slip up...don't slip up...don't fuck up...look earnest...you're in control... these voices in your head...

You're exhausted. Did you finish yourself off? What will the contributors think? You can't sleep.

Go to sleep and do it again.

[monmouth]

1. The media, and unfortunately, we the citizens are very responsible for this

phenomenon. I was thinking the other day, we as a people, are so anxious for the "Bush years" to be over, we're all jumping the gun. Your post is great and right on the mark. Hillary would never have announced had it not been for Obama. He probably wouldn't have jumped in so fast if it wasn't for the media barbs and questions he felt compelled to respond to. To be honest, as early as it is it makes me feel good to watch the whole enchilada unfold. Al Gore is absolutely right in the way he's handling this. For that matter, I think Newt Gingrich is a prospect, but is waiting for the right time. Rec .

[EST]

2. Mmmmmm...

I am enthralled-beautiful, competent writing.
Now I know why I have only tiny, perfectly resistible urges to run for office.

[kimmerspixelated]

3. The media has a lot to do with this. I mean...

If they were reporting all the dreadful things about Bush, etc., they wouldn't have time to follow every would be candidate to see how their farts smell today.

[PresidentObama]

4. I couldn't do it. Run for President that is.

We give so much criticism, but it's grueling. The public eye is on you 24/7, and you can't miss a beat. You have to strategize, and strategize, and strategize somemore. If you don't connect, you have to find a way to connect. Talking points, speeches, rallies, town to town. It's all so overwhelming.

I simply couldn't do it!! I envy any person who wins the nomination/Presidency, and can outlast the best of them.

[zulchzulu]

5. I remember meeting John Kerry and Wes Clark in 2004 up close

You could just see exhaustion in their eyes as they try to put the pedal to the metal for months on end.

Granted, they were running for President, which is an awesome responsibility. But it makes me wonder about how so much scrutiny over such a long period of time turns off so many that would be great leaders. Imagine this kind of scrutiny with our Founding Fathers and Mothers.

[rhett o rick]

6. Perfect strategy for the democrats. Brilliant. Clinton, Obama, Edwards

keep drawing the fire. At the last minute bring in Al Gore.

[Cameron27]

7. He'd be a fool not to let this play out...

and Gore's no fool. My fingers are crossed.

[rhett o rick]

8. Mine too. nm

[zulchzulu]

10. I think Gore has dreamed the "race nightmare" so many times in his head

Seeing the Game of Gotcha firsthand must make he and any candidate in that sphere wince at the long road ahead of endless cycles of defense while appearing on the cool offense...

[snot]

9. I assumed it was driven by the money-raising schedule

Trying to get ahead of others so those wanting to bet on the winning horse think it's you. Plus, trying to raise enough not to need the fed funding.

[OneBlueSky]

11. how about going back to the Senate and getting some work done? . . .

it's not like there aren't issues just screaming for your attention, like 24/7 . . . put off the campaigning for a year and get to work on the war, the environment, healthcare, jobs, etc. . .