posted on September 22, 2003 09:02:29 AM new
As if she stands a chance
WASHINGTON - Democrat Carol Moseley Braun, the only black woman to serve in the U.S. Senate, formally declared her candidacy for the president today, forging ahead with a long-shot bid in an otherwise all-male contest for the White House.
"I am uniquely qualified to do the job of president, and I offer the clearest alternative to this current administration, whose only new idea has been pre-emptive war and a huge new bureaucracy," Braun said in a low-key appearance at Howard University. Her only introduction came from her 26-year-old son, Matthew Braun.
"A woman can fix the mess they have created, because we are practical, we are not afraid of partnerships and we are committed to making the world better for our children."
Braun stunned the political establishment in 1992 -- the "Year of the Woman" -- unseating an incumbent Democratic senator in the primary, two-term lawmaker Alan Dixon, on her way to what was once considered an improbable victory in November.
Her election was heralded as an advance for women and minorities, but her popularity fell amid accusations that she exercised poor judgment in visiting Nigeria's brutal former dictator Sani Abacha and misused campaign funds.
A campaign finance investigation cleared Braun, but she lost her seat to well-funded Republican challenger Peter Fitzgerald in 1998. After the defeat, President Clinton appointed her ambassador to New Zealand.
Braun used her announcement speech to present her vision for the future -- "an American renaissance" -- and criticize President Bush's record on national security and the economy. Unlike the official campaign announcements by some of her nine rivals, Braun took questions from a handful of Howard University students and reporters following her speech. She fielded broad questions about poverty and children, and more specific queries about the command and control of U.S. troops in Iraq.
A fierce opponent of the U.S.-led war against Iraq, Braun said the United States will work to ensure a peaceful Iraq. "Americans don't cut and run, we have to see this misadventure through," she said.
Today's kickoff schedule started with speeches at two historically black colleges -- Howard and Benedict College in Columbia, S.C. Braun's final appearance was scheduled in her home town of Chicago, where she got her start in politics 25 years ago with election to the Illinois Legislature.
During months of campaigning, Braun has struggled to build a fund-raising network. She has pleaded for financial support, especially when speaking to women's groups, but raised less than $250,000 in the first half of the year.
Last month, she picked up her first two major endorsements from the National Organization for Women and the National Women's Political Caucus. Leaders of both groups said they would help raise money for her among their members, and their support gave Braun encouragement to continue her bid beyond the exploratory phase.
Braun ranks near the bottom in most surveys, but some polls show her with more support than some of her better-financed rivals. She ranks higher in some polls of black voters.
She has avoided much of the intra-party fighting of her rivals who confront each other in an effort to rise to the top of the field. Her criticism has been focused on President Bush's policies at home and abroad.
"America is at a tipping point -- if we stay the course we are on now, we won't recognize this country five years from now," she said in Monday's speech. "But if we shift gears, try another way, tap some of the talent that has been relegated to the sidelines of leadership, we can heal and renew and save our country."
posted on September 22, 2003 11:47:09 PM new
My guess is that she is in the race as an outside chance at being the Vice Presidental selection. At first I thought it was just an ego trip like Sharpton and a few others but I think she may want a shot at the VP post.
When Clinton ran in '92 there were seven Democratic candiates and they called them the "Little Seven Dwarfs" and laughed at how little of a chance they had against a popular president. That changed rapidly didn't it.
-------------- sig file ----------- Most costume jewelry is unsigned. After all, the vast majority of it was made to be worn a few times, then discarded. It wasn't made to be durable. --- The Fluffster
posted on September 23, 2003 06:36:11 AM new
Each new democratic candidate is described here as dopey, or a weenie, or you pick the slur, without a prayer against the President in 2004...and yet in the most recent polls, the President's approval rating has slid to 50%, his favorability rating is down nearly 30 points since May, a survey of Bush vs. the top Democratic contenders puts him in a near dead heat with each of them. In addition, a 9/20 poll indicated that 57% of those polled felt the country is headed in the wrong direction, as opposed to 37% who felt its going in the right direction. I don't think the election is going to be a breeze for Mr. Bush at all. If I were a Bush supporter, I think I'd save my smugness for after the voting is done.
http://www.pollingreport.com/right.htm
___________________________________
In this world of sin and sorrow, there is always something to be thankful for; as for me, I rejoice that I am not a Republican. -- H.L. Mencken
In the 1992 elections, people thought that George Herbert Walker Bush would be relected as the President of the United States, for the second time. As a result of the Persian Gulf War his popularity with his audience was high. His poll ratings had a 89%-91% range. But later on, his poll rating dropped dramatically. The reason for this was for his broken promise of not raising taxes. His poll ratings dropped under 50% in Spring and went even lower in the Summer to 34%. Another reason for his sudden drop in support was because the women of the United States did not appreciate him ignoring feminist issues.
In the 1992 elections, Bill Clinton appeared to be getting the upper hand; as he seemed to have a clear vision of what the people of the United States wanted from their President. This also shows how far from the tree Bush's apple had fallen. Clinton encouraged diversity, and uniqueness in the United States. He also promised to cut loopholes in taxes and the wealthy people would pay the taxes fairly. He used interesting and smart words like "fairness", "accountability", "responsibility", and "special interests".
Bush tried everything to overcome Bill Clinton's campaign. He had mentioned his involvement in the "Desert Storm" but still it had little effect on the United States voters. Bush was so desperate that he even tried some criticism tactics that had worked for his campaign in 1988 before, but still no good results came from the negative action. To win his election Bush's campaign staff even tried to do some illegal investigation (that would haunt him after the election) on Bill Clinton's passports files.
-------------- sig file ----------- Most costume jewelry is unsigned. After all, the vast majority of it was made to be worn a few times, then discarded. It wasn't made to be durable. --- The Fluffster
posted on September 24, 2003 03:31:32 AM new
That is the difference AA, none of these Deomcratic contenders has come out with a clear direction for the US in the future...
The economy is improving and as we head into Q4 I think we will see continued improvement right into 2004...
If this trend continues, fair weather friends will return to support President Bush...
AIN'T LIFE GRAND...
posted on September 25, 2003 02:24:33 PM new
If the economy is indeed improving at all it is improving at a snail's pace ( too late to save George ).
All politican's are alike, preach one thing and then do another thing. If any of them are against future unfounded Iraq-like wars then that's a big enough difference to choose one of the Demo's over Bush alone.
-------------- sig file ----------- Most costume jewelry is unsigned. After all, the vast majority of it was made to be worn a few times, then discarded. It wasn't made to be durable. --- The Fluffster
