More 2008 timetables

Posted: Monday, December 18, 2006 8:54 AM by Elizabeth Wilner
Filed Under: 2008

From NBC News sources
Former Speaker Newt Gingrich told NBC's Tim Russert yesterday that he may jump into the presidential race this fall if there's still room in the GOP field. Sen. Hillary Clinton (D) told NBC's Meredith Vieira she's still seriously considering a bid and will decide after the first of the year. Another Democrat who also appears to be leaning toward running and says he'll announce next month, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (D) hit New Hampshire this weekend.

While his event in New Ipswich didn't quite measure up to the 1,500-strong crowd who gathered to hear Sen. Barack Obama in Manchester a week before, Richardson nevertheless got a strong showing, per one unaffiliated Democratic activist who attended. About 200 people came to the catered party, complete with heated tent, bartenders, and live music. The crowd included not only local Democratic activists but a busload from Manchester and some from as far away as Rye.

"Richardson spoke briefly, the usual talk about how New Hampshire is the best place to have the first primary, etc., and the usual introductory comments," the activist tells First Read. "He spoke about how he had a budget surplus in New Mexico, raised immunization rates of children, and the like. He mentioned that he met with some North Koreans on Friday night ‘to let them talk’ and that we should be talking to everyone, including North Korea, Syria, and Iran. He mentioned that he told President Bush that they should talk to North Korea. Bush said that North Korea is not a moral country," the activist recounted Richardson saying. "Richardson replied that if we were only talking to moral countries, the only country we would be talking to is the Vatican."

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Comments

If Hillary, Barack, or John Edwards were to win the o8 primary, it would be very likely that their former opponents would be on the VP short list. If Mitt, John McCain, or Giuliani were to win their 08 primary, it would be very unlikely that their former opponents would be on the short list. I think the GOP is facing a vacuum of freshness that the Democrats had to endure in 2004. It will be tough for them to sell a seemingly losing strategy both in domestic and abroad policy. Will Republican voters have to choose who to vote for or who to vote against? I think the GOP is about to take another incremental choice between being a party of Reagans or Goldwaters. Will they advocate that government stay out of your wallet and your bedroom? And if so, will disillusioned Evangelicals passively support such a candidate? To what extent will the GOP platform be massaged to satisfy the upset conservative base as well as the upset moderate base? And how will the Reagan Democrat be wooed once again towards the GOP? Just an observation.

Jason Gerson, Marietta, GA 30068 (Sent Monday, December 18, 2006 9:14 AM)

newt said on sunday tv that american freedoms and rights should be reduced as this would make america safer. sunds stupid to me. thats what bush and his neocons want less freedom and rights for america. impeach now in time for christmas.

mikeeg,abdn,wa (Sent Monday, December 18, 2006 9:20 AM)

richardson made one mistake the vatican is not moral unless you call protecting pedophiles moral.

mikeeg,abdn,wa (Sent Monday, December 18, 2006 9:22 AM)

I think that with Bayh dropping out and other recent events it presents an interesting dynamic in the Democratic primary. Sen. Clinton could be considered the most centrist of the final 4 or so (the others potentailly being Obama, Edwards, and Kerry or Richardson). Obviously is Vilsack is still in it in the end then he would be the more centrist but at the moment he's not even polling well in his own state. As a Republican, I admit that I fear Edwards the most. He's good looking, has expierience, good campaign history, great message for populist voters ("Two Americas"), and is from the South (not that that helped him last time but this time could be different). I think if he teamed up with Obama that could spell trouble for anyone the Republicans put up. As far as my party is concerned... it's not looking overwhelmingly pretty. What needs to happen is for someone like McCain or even Rommney to pick up and adopt the ideas the Newt Gingrich has spelled out. His appearance on Meet the Press was good and his ideas are quite good and intriguing (sp?) but he can't run sucessfully. Way to much baggae from before. If McCain wins which at this point is what I'm thinking he will need things to go much better in Iraq over the next 12-18 months since he has been the one not only rejecting withdrawl of anykind but advocating more troops. I agree with his suggestion but if the President does put more boots on the ground then things will have to turn around or McCain will be toast along with the rest of the Republicans in '08.

Ryan, Michigan (Sent Monday, December 18, 2006 9:33 AM)

It occurs to me, that if Bush (they're not a moral country) were Muslim, he'd be radical.

Janet B., Gaithersburg, MD (Sent Monday, December 18, 2006 10:48 AM)

mikeeg,abdn,wa - you see, there is a finite amount of freedom to go around in this world. And since our president is giving freedom to the Iraqis, it would make sense that he would have to take it away from us. Another way to look at it is this: Look what happened to Iraq after we gave it freedom. It got LESS safe. Don't worry if you don't understand this logic. Rumsfeld did say that most people are too stupid to comprehend this complex mission.

Asad, Atlanta GA (Sent Monday, December 18, 2006 11:15 AM)

Newt Gingrich has always been good at relaying his message to the voters but so was George Bush (I mean Karl Rove) and look where they got us. Being able to communicate to the voters is all well and good but anyone who talks about giving up freedom for security will never have my vote. The FDR saying, "We have nothing to fear but fear itself," is absolutely true. Gingrich and other conservatives of his ilk are dangerous because they make abridging the Constitution seem so logical and benign. They fill us full of fear of foreign and domestic enemies and then get us to spend our money (which generally lines the pockets of their business allies) in the name of safety and security. The only thing I fear is demogogues ( both on the right and left) who think they know what is right for all Americans and say "trust me". History has proven men like this are the enemies of freedom, not the purveyors.

Robert Catalano, Salem, OR (Sent Monday, December 18, 2006 11:48 AM)

asad i doundertstand bushes logic thats why i voted dem. i get the humor tho and appreciate it at the same time 3 american military died yesterday in iraq so that bush can be the war president.

mikeeg,abdn,wa (Sent Monday, December 18, 2006 11:49 AM)

I agree with Jason and Ryan in that it will be a very interesting race with the plethora of candidates on both sides of the isle. Everyone seems to have a few question marks and each will try to expose and blow out of proportion those of their competition. This gives the advantage to Clinton or Edwards of the Dems and McCain of the Reps. However, the interesting thing is that both sides have a very charasmatic candidate that appeals to the people with Rudy G (rep) and Obama (dem). Both of those candidates will have to get battle tested in a hurry and can't afford to choose the wrong side of or waiver on the issues or they will be devoured. I think that Obama-Edwards would be a strong tandem but I don't think Edwards would play second fiddle again, and a McCain-Rudy G partnership would be very formidable. All that has happened in the mid-terms has been positive for the dems but another White House loss (which is coming unless they quickly do something with the Congressional majority and unify on a candidate or pair) will drain all the wind right out of their sails! As for the freedom comments, just two question. How much did your freedom cost??? Is everyone entitled to the same or are you entitled to more than the rest of the world??? I believe we paid a lot for our freedom and we deserve it, and their are levels of freedom that everyone should have and that it will cost a lot to get them (and it is often those that are too week to take it that need it the most)!!!

Tony, Fort Myers, FL (Sent Monday, December 18, 2006 11:54 AM)

Maybe Newt could be the next Ambassador to the Vatican, should the GOP win the White House, again. He could regale the Pope with exploits of his Conquistadoring the wiley, pouting, and tempting Women of Washington. The Pope is probably the only guy who hasn't heard or read about them. Newt's escapades with his bevy of "Sex Kittens", and the Republican Values Morality Tale that goes with them, I assume? La Dolce Vita 2008!

Steve Turner Cedar Falls Iowa (Sent Monday, December 18, 2006 1:35 PM)

Ryan, Newt is scary and I have heard his proposals about limiting freedom. I met Newt in college, when he had long hair and a certain air around him and he has completely flipped his political positions since that time. He was leaning conservative way back then as part of the new young conservatives that wanted to repair the republican party after the Nixon fiasco. Even though he looked like a Hippy, it was not hard to see through the smoke and mirrors. A weak hand shaker and he would not look you in the eyes when you spoke to him. I thought the blank stare was induced, but over the years he still has the blank, cold shark like eyes. He talks a good game and has always been able to separate his personal views from his public views. He was my congressman for many years and when I had a FEMA related issue, he flatly refused to get involved even though I had gone through all of the FEMA offices about the issue and was stuck in red tape of bureaucracy. FEMA told me to contact my congressman and they would help with his request.

TEC, Spring TX. (Sent Monday, December 18, 2006 2:06 PM)

Did you catch Colin Powell on Sunday? It was electrifying to hear a rational assessment of the Iraq situation. Why can't more Republicans, like Powell and Gates, speak the truth to the American people? On the other hand, I watched Newt spin, spin spin during his air time, and HE is the one they want running for President? What is wrong with this country?

Amy B. Maine (Sent Monday, December 18, 2006 2:55 PM)

Maybe Bush would name Tom Foley Ambassador to the Vatican....

Scarlett (Sent Monday, December 18, 2006 3:53 PM)

All we hear from the Reps is that they need to take our freedoms away so that they can protect us. Bush must think that he can take us back to a time when there was a King(himself) and the rest of the Reps will be the House of Lords. We do not need them to take any more of our freedoms and let them go home and feel sorry for themselves (why did we lose).

Brandon Makoroff, Los Angeles, Ca (Sent Monday, December 18, 2006 5:12 PM)

Powell basically blasted W and his Iraq policy, breaking ranks w/ neocons. This is why he resigned, due to the fact he was being shut out as a voice of reason in the Iraq debate. Now, we had Gen Shinseki resigning due to tussle w/ Rummy over size and compostion of an Iraq plan; Shinseki has been proved right. Then, Powell quits over differences in the policy and he is being proven right. IF W had listened to others, we may not be stuck up to our earlobes in garbage!!

Army Man; Ft Bliss TX (Sent Tuesday, December 19, 2006 12:02 PM)

Ryan, you people who want to follow a cretin like Newt really scare me. How you've all abandoned our ideals so easily. So - you think you'll be "safe" if a fascist regime can check your underwear for terrorists. Such pathetic reasoning. The Nazi right wing of this country can't stop themselves from saying "The terrorists hate us for our freedoms" and then "We need less feedoms to be safe." To any sane, thinking person, the people who want to make us less free and more safe ARE the terrorists.

Citizen of Rome (Sent Tuesday, December 19, 2006 1:18 PM)

Our freedoms are protected by common sense in democratic citizens. As a Republican, I deplore Newt and his Hitlerite leannig ways. How can less freedom protect us, since power would be vested in a government thast does not retract laws too easiliy? The Patriot Act is supposed to be a living law, one that is modified as needed, but we see the wailing when it ocmes time to vote on it. Our freedoms are protected by an educated populous, one that truly undersatands the world around them, the threats that are out there..not the Chicken Little followers of Rooster Ginrich.

Bob Hall; Reno NV (Sent Tuesday, December 19, 2006 2:27 PM)

Repugnicant toast in '08. Mmmmmmmmmmm...

Bob, Denver (Sent Tuesday, December 19, 2006 5:31 PM)

Late note...Gates is SecDef, buried to his neck in crocidiles w/ no easy way out. US must not LOSE FACE but cannot "win" w/o a better overarching regional strategy in MidEast. MUST tak w/ all parties but cannot force Iraq to "allow" others the right to dictate terms to them. That will erode a fragile government and give lawless militas fire to breathe upon! As for 2008- W seems resigned to wroking w/ congress on domesic issues- is there a hope he will peel away from ultraneocons and cobble some intelligent domestic plans that are good for all Americans? Shall see. Good luck SecDef- do not give ground to White house security wonks who can't see beyond the edge of their keyboards! It is a nasty world out there, but we have to live in it and we are not Pax America any longer.

Army Guy; Ft Bliss TX (Sent Wednesday, December 20, 2006 2:38 AM)

Scarlett, his name is not Tom, It is MARK FOLEY.

Desmond (Sent Wednesday, December 20, 2006 7:42 PM)

Mea Culpa--I remembered it's Mark Foley, naturally a while after having posted. I was wondering how long it would be before anyone noticed...

Scarlett (Sent Thursday, December 21, 2006 10:59 AM)

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