Past Polls
- 8/17/2008 Barack Obama is expected to choose his running mate this week. Which one of these top contenders is the best choice?
- 8/ 3/2008 What will be the Beijing Olympics' legacy?
- 7/27/2008 What effect did Obama's foreign trip have on his chances for victory in November?
- 7/21/2008 John McCain is expected to announce his running mate this week. Who would be the absolute worst choice?
- 7/14/2008 Bush lifted the executive ban on offshore oil drilling this week. What would be a better short-term solution to our gas price problem?
- 7/ 8/2008 Now that telecom immunity bill has passed, how can the Democratic Congress redeem itself?
- 7/ 6/2008 What should be the main focus of the G-8 Summit?
- 7/ 2/2008 Who would you invite to your July 4 picnic?
- 6/26/2008 How can Hillary Clinton best help Barack Obama achieve victory this fall?
- 6/23/2008 In light of Don Imus's latest offensive racial remark, what should the fallout be?
- 6/18/2008 What tactic should Obama embrace to win the White House?
- 6/16/2008 Who would you like to see become the next host of Meet the Press?
- 6/ 9/2008 What would you like to see Hillary Clinton do next?
- 6/ 2/2008 Which 2004 red state has the most potential to turn blue in 2008?
- 5/19/2008 Which GOP senator is most likely to lose his re-election bid in November?
- 3/25/2008 What's ahead for the US economy?
- 3/19/2008 What aspects of the New Deal best address our current political and economic challenges?
- 3/16/2008 What's the single most important step the government can take to address the crumbling economy?
- 3/11/2008 Which recent sex scandal revealed the most about politicians as we know them?
- 3/ 5/2008 After Texas and Ohio, what's the best course for the Democratic presidential process?
- 2/19/2008 How should the dispute over the Michigan and Florida primaries be settled?
- 2/11/2008 Who's John McCain's scariest running-mate?
- 2/ 5/2008 What's the best outcome as Clinton and Obama battle for delegates?
- 2/ 4/2008 What's next for Citizen Kang?
- 1/28/2008 What's Next for Citizen Kang?
- 1/28/2008 How Can Hillary Clinton solve her Bill problem?
- 1/22/2008 What next for Citizen Kang?
- 1/22/2008 Is Rudy Giuliani finally finished?
- 1/16/2008 Is John Edwards finished?
- 1/ 8/2008 Which GOP presidential contender poses the greatest threat?
- 1/ 3/2008 What's Next for Citizen Kang?
- 1/ 3/2008 What's Barack Obama's greatest challenge in the next primaries?
- 1/ 1/2008 Who will make the strongest showing in the Iowa Democratic caucuses?
- 12/17/2007 Who was the most valuable progressive in 2007?
- 12/12/2007 What was the most significant news event of 2007?
- 12/ 3/2007 What progressive group has made a real difference in 2007?
- 11/26/2007 Will anything useful come of the Mideast Peace Talks in Annapolis?
- 11/16/2007 As things stand today, who is best positioned to be the GOP presidential nominee?
- 11/16/2007 What political event are you most thankful for?
- 11/ 7/2007 If the Democratic presidential primary were held today in your state, who would get your vote?
- 11/ 1/2007 If Hillary Clinton becomes the Democratic presidential nominee, who's her most likely running-mate?
- 10/22/2007 What is the most destabilizing force in Pakistan today?
- 10/10/2007 Who should win this year's Nobel Peace Prize?
- 10/ 2/2007 What will it take to keep the Bush Administration from attacking Iran?
- 9/20/2007 Iraq banned Blackwater USA for violence against civilians. What now?
- 9/13/2007 Which Democratic presidential candidate has the best plan for getting out of Iraq?
- 9/ 6/2007 As the Bush Administration presses to extend the surge, what will Democrats in Congress do?
- 8/27/2007 What was Alberto Gonzales's biggest mistake?
- 8/16/2007 Should Cindy Sheehan be challenging Nancy Pelosi in 2008?
- 8/ 1/2007 Now that Rupert Murdoch has sealed the deal to buy the Wall Street Journal, what does it mean to you?
- 7/26/2007 What impact will the CNN/YouTube Debate have on Campaign 08?
- 7/17/2007 Imagine US troops leave Iraq in July 2008. What will Iraq look like in July 2009?
- 7/ 4/2007 Al Gore's Live Earth concerts are:
- 7/ 3/2007 Who would you invite to your July 4 picnic?
- 6/13/2007 Have feminists soured on Hillary?
- 5/31/2007 What happens if Israel succeeds in walling off the Occupied Territories?
- 5/17/2007 What Is Bush's Dumbest Utterance?
- 5/ 3/2007 Who most deserves to be impeached?
- 4/24/2007 What's the most immediate action Congress should take to address global warming?
- 4/13/2007 Don Imus is finally out of a job at MSNBC and CBS. Who's the biggest loser?
- 3/27/2007 How likely is it that US troops will exit Iraq by 2008?
- 3/ 6/2007 The Scooter Libby trial is over. Was justice served?
- 2/27/2007 What's Hillary Clinton's greatest weakness as a presidential candidate?
- 2/20/2007 If they gave an Oscar for the year's best progressive film, the winner would be...
- 2/16/2007 Who's the most likely GOP presidential contender?
- 2/ 7/2007 Who is the Worst US President Ever?
- 1/31/2007 What's the most likely consequence of the Iraq War?
- 0/ 0/ 0 What was the most significant news event of 2007?
- 0/ 0/ 0 Where should John Edwards go from here?
To all other 'third-party' dreamers:
Wake up! We can't have a meaningful third party in this country until we first have a NEW and SOUND progressive political theory. Without such a theory, it will be the same old politics no matter what we do with our so-called 'parties'.
By the way, I have written such a theory, from the basic ideas that I taught at Alternate U (14th St. and 6th Ave.)in the late Sixties. But it seems that no one will publish it because I am a philosopher and not an academic. Contact me if you wish to know more about it.
realpolitics@tampabay.rr.com
Posted by DickMinn at 06/21/2007
Once we get rid of the Electoral College and get a popular vote for national elections and require a majority vote, then maybe a third party might be interesting. But go for it, it keeps the Repugs and Dems nervous.
"It is enough that the people know there was an election. The people who cast the votes decide nothing. The people who count the votes decide everything." Joseph Stalin 1879-1953
itmfa
Posted by COProgressive at 06/21/2007
The third party candidate who would win would be Al Gore. I used to think Colin Powell could be a decent VP candidate on the Unity ticket until his recent Meet the Press interview. He's still excusing himself for being bush's dupe. Maybe Barak Obama for v.p. under Gore to get some well-directed experience under a master teacher.
Posted by gore4pres at 06/22/2007
What a gift to anti-semites and New York haters.
Posted by torquemada at 06/22/2007
Bloomberg is just another filthy-rich member of the corporate state who marches to the drum of the CFR.
Posted by Greekphilos at 06/22/2007
I REJOICE TO CONCUR WITH THE PLURALITY...
For a change. (I also don't happen to think that Bloomberg would have much of a chance anyway, especially not as a third-party candidate. Honestly, despite his solid record as NYC Mayor, to me he's always been a big yawn. And personality trumps money in presidential contests, at least to a large extent, all other things -- money included -- being more or less equal.)
Posted by w_m_bear at 06/22/2007
What a gift to anti-semites and New York haters.
Posted by TORQUEMADA 06/22/2007 @ 06:45am
TORQUEMADA APPLIES A LITTLE TORQUE...
to the discussion, very like his eponymous predecessor.
Posted by w_m_bear at 06/22/2007
Personally, I've been working for a third party for a long time now, so while I wouldn't have much interest in Bloomberg himself, I'd welcome more candidates from outside the Two Big Parties. However, I also think we need some serious structural changes to our electoral system [chlorophyll.us]. Until that happens, the electorate is only going to continue get more and more disenchanted and disengaged, regardless of who the candidates are.
Posted by estebandido at 06/23/2007
I like Bloomberg. I think he's been a very good Mayor in a city most thought was ungovernable. But only the Liberal readers of the Nation could believe a Jew could be elected President.
When Gore ran he should have creamed Bush. You can make all the excuses you want for why he lost but the fact is it was a dead heat election he should have won by millions. And few will admit the real cause of his defeat. It was the courageous, progressive, politically stupid choice of Rabbi Lieberman and his wife Hadassah on the ticket. That is the hairy wart on the end of the nose that everyone is trying to ignore.
For every little old Jewish lady in Palm Beach, who only votes when a Jew is running for vice-president, (and probably turned out to vote for Pat Buchanan anyways), there were millions of voters in the heartland who would never allow a Jew to be a heartbeat from the oval office. Gore should have creamed Bush and instead because of Lieberman it became a virtual dead heat But don't expect the polls to reveal that. No one is anti-semitic or racist when they are polled, only when they are alone in the voting booth.
Posted by bean22 at 06/24/2007
Interesting, Sunday's NYTimes initial analysis of 3rd-party Bloomberg's possibilties as a kingmaker controlling the Electoral College: the author notes that electors can be controlled with compensation from a deep-pocketed candidate -- legally -- this said without further comment, not even a blink. The day after Gore lost, HRClinton called for abolition of the Electoral College -- a fine call, and one that she has never dared repeat.
Posted by sloper at 06/24/2007
Blumberg is overated: better than Giuliani who was mediocre but the ambulance-chasing media loves to be managed and controlled. This about ego and stature:small man/large ego. I say Gore/Obama or Obama/kerrey(bob)
Posted by oy veh at 06/26/2007
I seriously doubt Mayor Mike has any intention of running for president. I hope he uses his considerable influence and business savvy to contribute in whatever way he can. Apart from a few things like his support of the West Side stadium debacle and allowing strong-arm tactics at the RNC convention in 2004, I've been overall pretty pleased with all that Bloomberg has done in New York, and I get the feeling that when he talks, he tells the truth and tries to do what's right, really right. You don't see than much these days. Certainly not with Hillary Clinton, I'm sorry to say.
Posted by kkuchenb at 06/26/2007
No we don't need Bloomberg (another corporate magnate) BUT WE NEED KUCINICH and believe it or not the media is making our decision who the 3 candidates are, Hillary, Obama & Edwards. Even the talk shows say it. But when a talk show took a straw vote YOU GUESSED IT - Kucinich won and won very well ahead of all. People are listening to the candidates. But the media again ignores him.
Posted by eviepep at 06/27/2007
The last businessman we had as US President was Warren G. Harding of Teapot Dome [en.wikipedia.org] fame.
Given his background, I question seriously whether Bloomberg would be interested in the fate of ordinary Americans. He would obviously be extremely interested in the fate of Americans he considers members of his rarefied social and economic class.
If you're a millionaire or above, Mike is probably your guy. If not and he's elected, bend over.
Posted by S Thornton at 06/27/2007
By virtue of its insanity and intolerance, the Republican Party is actually shooting out some interesting independents - defectors from the Republicans, not quite ready to sign on as Democrats. Bloomberg is definitely one, and is pretty highly regarded as far as I understand it. Smart guy, not nuts. No wonder he left the Republican Party. Don't be surprised if he chooses Arnold Schwarzenegger ("AS") as his VP. As, married to a Kennedy, has somehow managed to find an anti-Republican and anti-Democrat position, yet be fairly well liked by the public.
I think the public more and more sees both official parties as simply full of liars, crooks and whores taking bribes and having no loyalty whatsoever to the people. I wonder how many Americans feel mostly disgust towards the national politicians. Sad but true.
He won't win. The corporations like having just two parties to bribe, and don't want to have to deal with a third one. But I wouldn't mind seeing him run anyway. Maybe knowing that he will not win would allow him to actually say something reasonable. Which we will not hear from either the Dem or Repub candidates.
Posted by NABNYC at 06/27/2007
If it's between him and Hillary, I'll take Bloomberg. We know who Hillary works for and it's not 'we the people'. Better yet, Gore; then Edwards.
Posted by jjgudat at 06/27/2007
I doubt Bloomberg will run but if he does I suspect he will draw votes away from Hillary and that wouldn't be a bad thing. I don't trust the woman and isn't it about time that we actually had an election where a Bush or a Clinton wasn't running? As a lifelong progressive I found Bill Clinton very disappointing. He wasn't my idea of a Democrat, certainly not a liberal Democrat. (Have we all forgotten welfare reform?) I am supporting Kucinich even though he hasn't a chance of getting the nomination. But what I hope is that he stays in the race long enough to get his ideas out in front of the public and gives people something to think about. Also, don't be so quick to dismiss John Edwards. He has some wonderful ideas and is one of the few candidates to actually be brave enough to put forward details regarding such issues as national health care. spiker
Posted by Spiker at 06/27/2007
Our first priority ought to be organizing a viable political party that will represent OUR interests. I'll support any kind of movement that will help to accomplish this.
Something else we should focus on is changing the way we are "allowed" to vote. One option would be 'Instant Run-Off Voting'; another might be 'Proportional Representation'...or any of the suggestions that Lani Guiniere was proposing before she was so rudely cut loose by that jerk Bill Clinton.
Americans should be DEMANDING that we be allowed to vote FOR candidates, rather than be forced to vote for the usual right-wing candidates the Dem Party honchos insist on fielding. We need to put an end to "Lesser Evil-ism"!
Posted by Aybayb at 06/28/2007
Gore should have creamed Bush and instead because of Lieberman it became a virtual dead heat But don't expect the polls to reveal that. No one is anti-semitic or racist when they are polled, only when they are alone in the voting booth.
Posted by BEAN22 06/24/2007 @ 07:09am
I always though Lieberman was a crappy choice for Gore's running mate, not because he's Jewish but because of the kinds of things he was saying, even in 2000. For one thing, he always paraded his religion in a way that I felt was even more obnoxious than the likes of Pat Robertson or Jerry Falwell (may his soul NOT rest in Hell). "Rabbi Joe" is probably an apt name for him, and it is NOT anti-semitic to feel this way. (I would, for example, be perfectly happy to see a Jewish president, say even Bloomberg who basically just bores me but would be infinitely preferable to ALL the Republican candidates anyway.) Lieberman is just plain fucked up, whatever his religion, and I think this shows (and showed even in 2000) whenever he opens his mouth.
So I have to agree a) that Lieberman-as-running-mate probably cost Gore the election (which, I agree, Gore should have won, if not by a landslide at least by a more comfortable margin than he did); and b) it WAS a "courageous" (albeit stupid for any number of reasons) choice; and c) no "official" source in the media will ever say this for fear of the dread label "anti-Semitic." (Arguable, the worst non-PC thing you can have said about you.)
However, again, I don't think it was Lieberman's Jewishness per se that cost, but the way he PRESENTED that Jewishness (the "Rabbi Joe" syndrome -- I seem remember him making a lot of big-deal pronouncements in this vein in 2000; I'd just roll my eyes and say to myself, "Oh, please").
Posted by w_m_bear at 06/29/2007
UNITY PARTY: AL GORE AND BARAK OBAMA, a thorough House and Senate cleaning.
Posted by gore4pres at 07/2/2007