<p>I think that in four years, the political pendulum will be ripe for a swing all the way in the opposite direction. After all, isn't that what political pendulums do? Right now, the Republicans control the White House, and both houses of Congress. But when we come under further terrorist attack(s), despite the current administration's best efforts to prevent it, when current the economic trend continues to worsen for a time (because now, more than ever, the economy is a cyclical and complex global machine that reacts to innumerable global events and influences, things over which the President and Congress often have relatively little control), when the negative effects of the shift in the national age demographic begin to intensify, both socially and economically in areas such as social security, and health care, when people start to look around for someone to blame, it will certainly be the party in power who will bear the brunt of it. </p>
<p>Then the voting populace will run all the way in the opposite direction, and virtually any Democrat with a credible message will be shown capable of winning the White House (probably by a landslide), and a goodly number of Democratic congressional candidates will ride his or her coat-tails to Capital Hill. Just four more years will tell the tale, and just look at the way the last four flew by! </p>
<p>If Hilary were make it past her Democratic opponents in the primary process (a big IF), I think even she would have a good chance of winning the Presidency. She will need to run a savvy campaign (unlike the last Democrat that ran), and skillfully repackage her image, but she's already starting to do that. The country will be desperate for change and willing to extend her guarded, if not full benefit of the doubt. I disagree that America is incapable of electing a woman to the office of President. The Brits elected Maggie Thatcher in the eighties, because she presented an strong image, one which superceded the fact of her gender. Hilary could do the same, IF she managed to overhaul the way America has come to think of her while she was first lady, and as I've already said, I believe that's starting to happen. I'd not hesitate to vote for a woman for President. But whether nor not I'd vote for Hilary Clinton---that remains to be seen...</p>
<p>Unfortunately, emsibdn, on online posts, an individual cannot tell whether a sentence contains sarcasm or not. So, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt that you weren't aware that I was being sarcastic.</p>
<p>I agree with poetsheart. The current administration will mess things up so badly that america will all run to the left in '08. And i dont see why everyone hates hillary so much.. she is an extremely intelligent woman and a great senator.</p>
<p>^you guys have a real hopeful look on the next four years, dontcha? </p>
<p>Anyway. I don't understand what the obsession is with Obama, quite frankly. He's young and inexperienced. I liked his keynote speech but let's not all jump on the Obama quite so quickly, shall we? He hasn't even gotten a full term under his belt yet.</p>
<p>"The current administration will mess things up so badly that america will all run to the left in '08."</p>
<p>The current administration screwed a lot of things up in the past 4 years and that didn't hurt them - in fact, Bush did even BETTER now than against Gore with no record to run on (compared to a not so good record now). I really think the midterm elections will tell a lot (still a long way away though) but if the trend is toward Dem I think we will win in 2008. My thinking for GOP candidate in '08 would be Bill Frist from Tennessee. Unlike Giuliani, who will be hammered in the red south for being a New York Republican, Frist lives in that heart land and sides with Bush on almost every issue. McCain will be too old and I can't see anyone else (don't even say Ah-nold - if you didn't know the Constitution is pretty hard to change :D</p>
<p>If Giuliani runs and wins the nomination, I'm going to be really afraid of the Republicans nabbing New York. That means the Dem candidate will have to nab Florida AND Iowa back just to remain even. I'll say Joe Biden from Delaware has a good shot - he's an East Coaster, but Delaware isn't at all like Massachusetts in liberal-ness. Tom Harkin from Iowa is a good pick as well. Though later elections are way down the road, it's still fun to think of situations. I say Obama will remain Senator until 2020 and then be the VP on the Dem ticket then. Then in 8 years hopefully I'll be his VP candidate for pres! =D</p>
<p>Babybird87 - All those wonderful comments you have about Hilary bode the same for John Kerry as well. This election was determined not on any tenable issues like healthcare or Iraq, but rather who the people thought had better character. It's quite a scary premise; even though I'm a full-fledged Democrat, if someone just voted for the Dem candidate because he/she was considered cool because he/she hanged out with all the celebrities; or whatever the reason was but his/her policies are junk, than it's stupid to elect/re-elect that person.</p>
<p>crypto-- true, people thought Kerry was quite the liberal. But not many people that I know at least had a sort of built-in-hatred of Kerry like people have of Hillary Clinton. I have many reasons for disliking her, but many I know simply knee jerk "I HATE her!!!" and that's why she'll lose even worse than Kerry did.</p>
<p>I agree with you about Frist, he is a promising nominee. Also, being relatively unknown will give him an advantage over the next four years, building himself up and not having to be in the spotlight the whole time.</p>
<p>I agree about Arnold, if he ever runs it won't be 08, for sure. </p>
<p>What if Condi Rice becomes VP and then runs for GOP nomination? Too weird?</p>
<p>Can you Obama sycophants please name me three concrete, good things he's done, policies he's effected, changes he's made?</p>
<p>He's completely new. Wait until a couple of years have passed and he does well to start adulating him. Otherwise he might get into some sort of scandal like next week and leave you fans feeling all embarrassed.</p>
<p>I concur, I'm not sure why exactly members of both parties claim that he is some wonder kid. He shares the same views as John Kerry and no one voted for him.</p>
<p>As far as Republicans supporting him...please. It doesn't make you any less conservative because you like a Black Democrat.</p>
<p>Obama is one of the most intelligent men around in the Senate. Although he is brand new, it is not going to take long to get him to great star power. Even Republicans liked his keynote address in an extremely divided nation. I say that he gets 1 full term under his belt, gets reelected in '10 and runs in '12. Just my hypothesis.</p>
<p>Hillary needs to be shot down in the primaries. If not, the Republicans are going to have a field day. </p>
<p>Edwards, Biden or Harkin in '08....I'm guessing an Edwards/Harkin ticket. Picks up the South/Midwest and they are both not nearly as "liberal" as Kerry. I think it is a strong ticket.</p>
<p>
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Obama is one of the most intelligent men around in the Senate.
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</p>
<p>I think you really jumped the gun on that one. He's not even in the Senate yet, so how can anyone judge how good of job he has done? He hasn't done anything yet!</p>
<p>Anyways, the 2012 election will be dominated by George Bush. George P. Bush.</p>