With the resignation of Bill Richardson, it looks like I'm a free agent once again. Pity, he was one of the few Presidential candidates with integrity, honor if you will.
I was a big Richardson supporter but he really did a bad job campaigning. For all of his experience he looked terrible during the debates and uninspiring on the stump.
I'm not sure what to tell you, thumbs. You seem like a bit of a Yellow Dog Democrat/Reagan Republican (not meant as a slam... there are countless others in the South and Southwest, and across the country, although the rest of the country might not know what a Yellow Dog Democrat is), in search of someone to support. I'm still trying to make up my mind as to who I'll support, but from among the Democrats that decided to run, not from any GOP candidates or possible 3rd party possibilities, like Bloomberg. I liked Richardson and Dodd, but they simply never caught on. I liked Biden, but he has some personal baggage from when he went to college that has been a millstone around his neck ever since. I find that ironic, considering the baggage our current President had prior to running for office, and many other examples could be mentioned, but Biden has dropped out, so what's the point? We're left with three possible candidates, realistically, from the Democratic side. I think any of them would make fine Presidents, certainly compared to the living embodiment of the Peter Principal, George W. Bush. All, however, have flaws. I voted for Edwards in the last primary in Texas, but he didn't impress me running second on the ticket with the idiot, Kerry. And he's a trial lawyer. Unlike some folks, that doesn't bother me in the least, but it will be a fat target for the GOP. It's how the GOP runs elections since Rove's influence became paramount... if you have nothing of substance against your opponent, you create something to use against him/her. Whether it's McCain having a Black baby out of wedlock (phoney and used against him by the Bush campaign several years ago, and I've never gotten over McCain for blowing it off to support Bush. That was unforgivable, in my opinion), or the many instances against various Democratic opponents. Ms. Clinton has been demonized for 15 years by the GOP and eventually Rove. Mention her name to a significant segment of the population and you get often baseless, even irrational reactions to her, but deserved or not, those high, built-in negatives are there. That's why I don't want her to get the nod. Which leaves us with Obama. I was an early supporter of his, but I'm not happy about his plans for NASA. I won't vote for him in the primary, but will in the general election, if he gets the nomination. In my opinion, he's far better suited to be President than George W. was when he ran the first time. He's highly intelligent, very curious about the world (unlike Bush or Huckabee, for instance. Huckabee knows practically nothing about foreign policy, but is a charming guy on the talk shows, with a ready wit. That isn't a qualification to be President), and can give a good prepared speech. Sometimes a great prepared speech. He's not good on the stump, although he's improved (Bill Clinton he's not, but neither is anyone else running from any party today, when it comes to giving a great stump speech and instinctively knowing what will get the crowd behind you). He needs to flesh out what he wants to do if elected, but he isn't as bad as Rudy G., who runs on one issue... 9/11. Not even close. Just some thoughts. Good luck figuring out what to do! Impeach Bush.
I, too, was hopeful for Richardson. He has all of the experience you should want in a President. He's been in Congress, been a governor, was in Clinton's cabinet, has more foreign policy experience than the rest of the field, etc. etc. Unfortunately, rj is right. He did a terrible job campaigning. I think he might make a fantastic VP candidate for either Obama or Clinton. Who wouldn't want his credentials, on top of being hispanic? I'd expect that he'll hold on to his endorsement until it can suit him best.
Richardson and Biden were the only two QUALIFIED democratic candidates. Now they are both out. It's a sad, sad indicator of America's ability to select good candidates when something like this happens. Obama is in over his head and has no experience or accomplishments, and Hillary can't please even 1 man -- Bill -- much less the 150mm that live in the US. Just a sorry field on the lib side this time around.
