2008 Presidential primaries thread

[El Diablo]

OK, everyone. Here's the deal. This is going to be one of the most interesting primaries in a long time.

On the Republican side, Rudy and John McCain are looking into things, along with tons of other white guys who have been Senators/Congressman/Governors/etc. I don't think this side of the race is actually all that interesting until things get far later down the road, but it'll be interesting to see how Rudy fares in his jump to this level of politics.

The Dems side is where we have the real action. Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama both in the game. Have we finally gotten to the point where there are actually viable female and black candidates for President? Or when it comes down to actually choosing, are we gonna end up with Biden or Edwards or Kucinich or some other white guy with lots of political experience?

While I've read lots of stuff on Hilary and Barack, I haven't really studied this stuff much yet and haven't followed the primary projections or how the experts see this stuff falling out.

This seems like a good time to start. Would like to hear form those of you really into this as well as people like me who aren't very informed on this yet, but are interested in starting to follow this stuff more closely.

[Ron Burgundy]

Post deleted by [censored]

[cobrakai111]

Let the Obama'rama begin!

A few other "big" names to consider that El D didn't mention:

Gore
Richardson

Hagel
Romney
Bloomberg (who doesn't want to see this man spend half a billion)

Moneylines:
Al Gore 3-1
Al Sharpton 1000-1
Alan Keyes 750-1
Alberto Gonzales 75-1
Arnold Schwarzenegger 250-1
Barack Obama 6-1
Bill Clinton 300-1
Bill Frist 100-1
Bill Maher 2500-1
Bill OReilly 750-1
Bill Owens 50-1
Bill Richardson 12-1
Bob Ehrlich 75-1
Bob Graham 150-1
Bob Kerrey 50-1
Charles Schumer 75-1
Chris Dodd 50-1
Chuck Hagel 22-1
Clint Eastwood 750-1
Colin Powell 25-1
Condoleezza Rice 30-1
Dennis Kucinich 200-1
Dick Cheney 75-1
Dick Gephardt 75-1
Donald Rumsfeld 2000-1
Donald Trump 2500-1
Elizabeth Dole 750-1
Evan Bayh 20-1
Gary Locke 70-1
George Allen Jr 10-1
George Pataki 50-1
George W Bush 200-1
Harold Ford Jr 75-1
Hillary Clinton 1-1
Howard Dean 75-1
Jack Kemp 75-1
James Carville 1000-1
Jay Rockefeller 100-1
Jeb Bush 100-1
Jesse Jackson 200-1
Jesse Ventura 1000-1
Joe Biden 30-1
Joe Lieberman 150-1
John Ashcroft 1500-1
John Edwards 8-1
John Kerry 50-1
John McCain 3-1
Laura Bush 1000-1
Mark Warner 15-1
Michael Bloomberg 150-1
Michael Moore 7500-1
Mike Gravel 50-1
Mike Huckabee 20-1
Mitt Romney 10-1
Newt Gingrich 40-1
Pat Robertson 2000-1
Paul Bremmer 150-1
Paul Wolfowitz 750-1
Ralph Nader 100-1
Rick Santorum 50-1
Rudy Giuliani 10-1
Russ Feingold 40-1
Sam Brownback 10-1
Ted Kennedy 750-1
Tom Daschle 50-1
Tom Ridge 50-1
Tom Tancredo 50-1
Tom Vilsack 40-1
Tommy Franks 200-1
Wesley Clark 20-1

ED: I'm leaving this up because it does have some interesting names, but it also has some stupid joke ones too. Let's avoid turning this into a "PAT ROBERTSON NO WAY" "RALPH NADER 100-1 HAHAHHA" or whatever type thread. Generally, no content responses like that are just gonna get deleted to keep the discussion on track, thanks.

[CORed]

I'm pretty amazed that Schwarzenegger is 250-1, since he is constitutionally ineligible because he wasn't born in the US. I suppose there is a small chance that the Constitution could be amended in time for him to run, But I'd need to be getting something like 10,000-1 before I would bet a dollar on him.

[cobrakai111]

Mini plug for my old organization I used to work for Project Vote Smart. http://votesmart.org/election_presid...php?type=alpha If anyone wants information such as campaign finances, key votes, interest group ratings, etc and any of the candidates its all right here. Awesome resource.

[lightem]

[ QUOTE ]

Moneylines:
Al Gore 3-1
Al Sharpton 1000-1
Alan Keyes 750-1
Alberto Gonzales 75-1
Arnold Schwarzenegger 250-1

[/ QUOTE ]

Seems the books are exploiting the possible naivety of folks. Arnold is unable to be elected President since he was not born in the United States.

[lapoker17]

rudy was pretty good on larry king. he does well in front of the camera.

[Your Mom]

[ QUOTE ]
rudy was pretty good on larry king. he does well in front of the camera.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes he does. Plus, he just seems like a nice guy, like a friendly neighbor or something. Once the details of his personal life come out in the mainstream (boinking the mistress in the mayor's mansion while still married), I think it's over for him though.

[Your Mom]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

Moneylines:
Al Gore 3-1
Al Sharpton 1000-1
Alan Keyes 750-1
Alberto Gonzales 75-1
Arnold Schwarzenegger 250-1

[/ QUOTE ]

Seems the books are exploiting the possible naivety of folks. Arnold is unable to be elected President since he was not born in the United States.

[/ QUOTE ]

At one point, wasn't there talk of trying to change this? Obv, this isn't going to happen but I suppose there's a "chance."

[Los Feliz Slim]

I find it impossible to believe that Americans will elect Barack Hussein Obama POTUS. His skin color, his name, his relative lack of experience will be way too much to overcome. I wish it weren't so, but I think it is.

Clinton is more realistic, and has enormous financial resources. She can come off like such a shrew, though, and has that "political operative" feel about her that so many people hate.

I still think that Al Gore is going to come out of the shadows at some point in the near future. Nominated for a Nobel prize, hit movie, much better public perception than in the past...I think it's all there. He's my horse for now.