Ready For Someone Else!™

[MannyGoldstein]

Last edited Tue Feb 10, 2015, 08:38 PM - Edit history (3)

Random synaptic misfire: What if we started a movement called Ready For Someone Else™, and started collecting money for whoever we support when Hillary announces she'll continue to not run through the 2016 elections (or she decides to run and needs to be primaried by an FDR Democrat)?

I think it would be fun.

UPDATE: just acquired readyforsomeoneelse.org. Get this thread up to 100 recs and I'll *do* something with it.

SECOND UPDATE: please, no more recs! Three more and I'm hosed.

THIRD UPDATE: you people suck.

FOURTH UPDATE: uh, uh...

[L0oniX]

1. Been watching FDR again on PBS ...what a great person he was in spite of a few flaws.

FDR ...one of the top 3 presidents this country has ever had.

[MannyGoldstein]

5. Agreed

Who would you count as the other two?

[sgmcenroe]

18. The other two would be

George Washington, cause he could of been king but didn't.
Abraham Lincoln, cause the country would be a whole lot different without him.

[zipplewrath]

52. Watch out about Lincoln

Lincoln's reputation extends predominately from his treatment after being assassinated as anything he actually accomplished as president. He got off to a VERY slow start, and the end result was a very long and drawn out war.

TR probably has as much claim to our modern situation as Lincoln.

[JDPriestly]

75. Teddy Roosevelt had good and bad also. He was keen on killing animals and fighting against the

Spanish, but he was a great reformer.

[zipplewrath]

80. War undermined many

FDR, JBJ, Lincoln, they all had major mistakes associated with war.

[nikto]

93. TR learned the bitter lesson of war when his son Quentin was killed in WWI.

It was said he was deeply shaken and never the same after his son's death.

Weird to think that up until then, he seems he must have felt, to some degree, some strange kind of invulnerability regarding war.
His feeling towards war was clearly shaped by his swimmingly successful engagements in Cuba.



Quentin's death changed all that, albeit late in TR's life.

[pangaia]

86. Humm,, just interesting to me..

" He got off to a VERY slow start, and the end result was a very long and drawn out war.' Could sort of be said for FDR, also.

But,, really a non-sequitor, I know...

[zipplewrath]

99. Not quite as bad

FDR was "in" the war before it was declared. I'm not sure anyone particularly claims that FDR did anything to lengthen the war. Some will suggest he was partially responsible for Japan attacking us. That's a bit complicated, but I'm not sure that particularly "lengthened" anything.

[Hoppy]

19. Lincoln, T.R.,

Washington, the most important thing he did was to retire after two terms. That stopped the impetus for an imperial presidency. I also respect that he gave form to our government, using the words of the Constitution. He created a government where none existed.

Carter, for his non-aggression.

[whathehell]

68. In 2009, historians rated FDR as Third best, after Washington and Lincoln,

but some considered him 2nd, after Washington.

He was a GREAT president, absolutely, and if you're a Boomer or older, you were

raised with the legacy of his "New Deal" programs, the ones the Repukes are now trying to dismantle.

[Dragonfli]

2. Fun yes, but more importantly the poor and working classes need protection from those

that would bleed the last ounce of blood from them to feed the already engorged super rich vampires that are expecting it from Hillary on a silver platter.

She would have no problems in helping with the bleeding or with acting as their server.

[MannyGoldstein]

7. Think we should do it? nt

[Dragonfli]

8. Without question or hesitation

I'm in.

[MannyGoldstein]

13. Well... Let's get 100 recs

And we'll start the thing.

[Dragonfli]

14. Perhaps an Xpost in GD of some sort would help to whip the Rec goal? /nt

[MannyGoldstein]

22. Perhaps... but The Swarm might cover it

with poop while scream-yipping like chihuahuas on an ether binge.

[Dragonfli]

27. OT but something about what you said made me think of a scene from

Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas, the lizards in the bar specifically.

Edited to add:

[MannyGoldstein]

29. *That* would be General Discussion. nt

[Dragonfli]

30. I think I'll stay in here, I don't have my golf shoes today /nt

[sabrina 1]

50. It's a lot nicer in here. You can actually discuss issues without the derailing of

good threads that are becoming standard procedure in GD.

[Dragonfli]

55. I agree, in fact it is largely due to this group that I decided to become more active again

Every time I end up in GD I have to answer moronic nonsense (most recently from a pundint that argues like a child - you always hate my friends - you never say anything nice)

[peacebird]

77. I'm in, Manny! What can I do?

[rhett o rick]

3. But I heard that HRC was "electable" which is much more important than integrity or having

Democratic principles. After all, if we are going to get screwed by the Oligarchy, it might as well be by someone we elect.

*electable is code for "the Oligarchs will let her win"

[Dragonfli]

16. Electable is also code for a giant quid pro quo war chest, but I suppose that is redundant.

It is after all the Oligarchs that let them win via supplying the large war chest used to purchase their candidates.

[rhett o rick]

17. Yes money is one tool of the Oligarchs. They have many more. Control of voting machines

helps make people "electable". Ask Karl Rove.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

78. I remember when Hillary fans claimed Obama wasn't "electable".

[fadedrose]

113. It worked on Howard Dean in Iowa nt

[Spitfire of ATJ]

117. They kept saying that about Kucinich too.

[fadedrose]

112. Electable - this is the term that pushed Howard Dean

out of the winning spot in the Iowa primary, which basically ended his run. It was the HC visit and work by her (DLC) supporters that convinced the Iowans not to vote for him - This could be seen so clearly when the debate was televised - and every other Dem candidate (there were many) except for Barbara Lee picked on Dean instead of giving their own views.

I hate that word "electable," because it effectively discards integrity as being important.

[rhett o rick]

116. "I hate that word "electable," because it effectively discards integrity as being important. "

Very well said.

[whereisjustice]

4. lololol - Clinton vs. Bush: as comfortable as an old pair of shoes....

that have stepped in some giant piles of shit. They just want an opportunity to clean them off on our carpet.

I'm mean you CAN'T expect them to clean the shit off their own shoes...

[F4lconF16]

6. K&R

[Jim Lane]

9. The trouble is that we're already running out of time.

The sad reality of American campaigns is that they start earlier and earlier. There's not much time left for a "someone else" to come forward and set up the organization, recruit the staffers and early donors (especially, alas, big donors), etc.

My current highly subjective take on our options:
1. Warren won't run despite "draft" efforts. (If she does run, I'll throw myself into helping her campaign. I'd quit my job... if I had one.)
2. Sanders will run and will run as an FDR Democrat. For several reasons, though, it's hard to see him being nominated or elected. Supporting him might nevertheless have value in pulling the party to the left. I'll certainly vote for him over Clinton if, by the time of my primary, he's her leading opponent.
3. Other people who are likely to mount credible campaigns are Martin O'Malley and Jim Webb. One possibility at this point is for one of them to emerge as a more-or-less-FDRish Democrat and get our support. I think that's unlikely in Webb's case but O'Malley might make the grade.
4. In the next tier, in terms of likelihood of running, is Brian Schweitzer. He seems to be a mix of populist and Western conservative Democrat. I evaluate him as both less likely to run and less FDR-ish than O'Malley.
5. There are plenty of us who are ready for someone else but that fact has not enticed the likes of Sherrod Brown, Russ Feingold, Alan Grayson, or Sheldon Whitehouse into the race. Here's where the time factor comes in. If one of those four or some other progressive were thinking about running, we'd already be hearing about the meetings with donors and strategists, even if not yet the formal exploratory committee. The door hasn't completely closed but I have to rate it as highly unlikely that one of them will run.

Sorry if I sound pessimistic. I am pessimistic. I think Clinton will run and will win the nomination. If she doesn't run, I think Andrew Cuomo will jump in and be an immediate front-runner, and I'd actually rather see us nominate Clinton.

My ideal candidate is something along the lines of O'Malley's bio (executive experience, most electable age group, no S-word on his rap sheet) combined with Sanders's ideology. I expect to be disappointed.

[MannyGoldstein]

10. "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro"

Hunter S. Thompson said that.

We're in weird times now, so I expect the unexpected.

[Jim Lane]

11. Expect the unexpected -- ticket of Clooney/Krugman?

Works for me.

[MannyGoldstein]

12. .

[F4lconF16]

49. ...

[JDPriestly]

79. Clooney would probably win the single female vote without lifting a finger.

Maybe he would be willing to run with Elizabeth Warren or Bernie Sanders. They could hire Krugman for Secretary of the Treasury.

If Clooney asked, Warren would probably say yes. What woman could resist him?

I'm a woman, 71, but still a woman. I think I can speak for a lot of women (although maybe not all -- well -- maybe all).

Clooney could win the all categories of women vote -- and maybe a few men too.

But who would need the male vote if Clooney ran. He would insure a Democratic victory.

What he would do in the White House is a big question? But any and every woman would vote for him, and WE ARE IN THE MAJORITY.

[druidity33]

83. Warren/Stewart is my hope....

you think Jon Stewart could do it?

[Jim Lane]

85. Then Bill O'Reilly takes over The Daily Show to make fun of Vice President Stewart.

As for your question, I'm sure Jon Stewart could do it. The issue is whether he would. He's probably happier having his own TV show than breaking ties in the Senate.

[pangaia]

87. Stewart/Colbert !!!

[JDPriestly]

76. I'm with you. Teddy Roosevelt was nominated as the vice president because he was making

life miserable for the corrupt Republicans in his party. At least there is a strong argument for that assertion. Teddy Roosevelt was a problem. The vice presidency was a nothing job.

Teddy Roosevelt ended up being the president and turning the country around. He was stubborn, extremely intelligent and well educated and a fighter.

We need someone like Teddy Roosevelt right now.

And finding him may be a matter of serendipity. Being a runner up in the 2016 race could be a good thing.

Anything can happen now. Scandals are afoot. The world, including the political world is in a state of flux. A number of issues and facts could bring unexpected results.

So I am staying open to the possibility that we could get a Bernie Sanders or an Elizabeth Warren no matter how plump and pretty Hillary's war chest is.

These are strange times. And in strange times, anything can happen.

The middle class is discontent and for good reason.

Jim Webb, Schweitzer -- no way. They just don't cut it. And it is time for a woman.

Elizabeth Warren does not think like a Barack Obama or a Jim Webb. She doesn't really think she could be elected. She could. She probably will no matter how reluctant she is to run now.

Our government is so corrupt, and Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders are two rare politicians who are not part of the corruption.

So, anything can happen.

[JEB]

15. Kick.

[zeemike]

20. I'm in.

Not that it will mean anything because I have no money and money is what it is all about.
And ordinary people cannot raise as much as the oligarchs can spend on an election.

Our only hope is a populist that can turn out the people who are fed up with the parties and the control of big money over politics...and that is why they want Clinton v Bush...a choice between two insiders.

[MannyGoldstein]

21. It can't be about money

If it is, then only the oligarchs can win.

We need to find plan B.

[mwooldri]

23. I'd even host it :)

Vote for the Monster Raving Loony Party! You know it makes sense!

Though setting up a political action fund defining who the "Someone Else" should be and when that "Someone Else" turns up - yup shoot out some money in their general direction for their political campaign.

[moonbeam23]

24. Love the domain name!

If i can't have Warren i want Grayson...(does this count as a rec?)

[MannyGoldstein]

25. Gotta hit the rec button to rec

And I don't see you in the rec list yet...

[Dragonfli]

26. That certainly is support for the goal, but Manny was also refering to clicking the rec button on

the bottom left of the Original post of this thread.

[onyourleft]

28. Kick.

[MannyGoldstein]

31. One-third of the way towards our goal!

Exciting!

[McCamy Taylor]

32. You mean "Ready for a primary challenger punching bag?"

[MannyGoldstein]

33. No. nt

[JDPriestly]

82. Anyone who challenges Hillary will get a boost from the media.

Because challenging Hillary will be a great story. And Hillary had better realize that before she steps into the race.

Even a Republican challenging Hillary will get a boost simply because he is brave enough to defy the Clinton machine.

But I am telling you that I think that the winning slogan in the 2016 election will be: It's the scandals, stupid.

The corruption in our country has reached such a level that, like an overheated volcano, it has to explode.

Bernie Sanders says he does not and never has run a negative ad. But he won't need to if he runs. The two parties will rush out there to reveal all the corruption. It is very obvious to the insiders. And they will use it against each other this time around.

Mark my words: It's the scandals, stupid.

Hillary has a past. So does Jeb Bush. It's just a matter of when those pasts are brought into the light.

[RufusTFirefly]

34. Briefly coming out of temporary retirement, specifically for a Manny rec

Hail and farewell!

[MannyGoldstein]

48. Just a shnorrer, then?

There's work to be done. We could use your help.

[Jack Rabbit]

35. 40th rec

Sixty more to go.

[sabrina 1]

36. Great idea! Bernie Sanders talked about how much money might be collected for 'someone else'

in a speech he made recently.

At Brookings, as he'd done at primary state speeches, Sanders talked openly about a 2016 presidential bid and what it would cost. "If you had 2 million people putting in $100, that's $200 million," he suggested. "Is that enough? I don't know. Maybe the game is over."

I think if he or Elizabeth Warren were running, that would be more than possible. Would it be enough? I don't know, but if not, then we could double it.

[merrily]

37. Great idea.

[AtomicKitten]

38. alright

alright, alright

[grahamhgreen]

39. Kick!

[Enthusiast]

40. K&R! This post should have hundreds of recommendations!

Seriously.

[sabrina 1]

46. If it were in GD it would. But for a group 58 recs so far is pretty good.

[Enthusiast]

41. I regret that I have but one Rec to give my country.

Last edited Tue Feb 10, 2015, 11:19 AM - Edit history (1)

[RiverLover]

42. Maybe readyforsomeoneelse.org could snag some of these "rogue donors"

Really interesting article~

Rogue donors not ready for Hillary?

[sabrina 1]

47. That's a great link! I had not heard of this. I wondered if there were any wealthy

liberals who actually WERE on the right side of issues, like 'getting the money out of politics'. I knew about Ben and Jerry, but compared to the Right, including Third Way, who seem to have endless Corporate donors, the Left seems to have few who themselves are on the Left.

Sagner is a former board member of the influential Democracy Alliance club of wealthy liberals. Its membership — which skews anti-war, anti-money in politics and economically populist — largely turned away from Clinton and toward Obama in 2008. Sources say the club’s current donor pool again includes an ardent anybody-but-Hillary wing. This time around, its underdog rival of choice is Warren, who demurred when she was urged to run after speaking to the club’s annual winter meeting late last year.

Warren’s lawyer has even gone so far as to disavow Ready for Warren. But it’s proceeding anyway, with the two-pronged goal of demonstrating to Warren that there would be sufficient financial support for her campaign and also building political infrastructure around the country that could be tapped by any such campaign. It’s a model similar to — but on a much smaller scale — than the one that Ready for Hillary pioneered early last year.

Manny should click that link because once we get to 100 recs and we're more than halfway there now, we might want to get in touch with them!

[Fairgo]

43. We need the churn

Cracking the rusted canard of inevitability...requires options and a contrary mind to consider the possibilities. Even if nothing worthwhile roils to the surface, at least we will have reckoned the depth of our empty rhetoric. I'm in.

[ReasonableToo]

44. And kick. nt

[djean111]

45. Count me in.

[WillyT]

51. I'm In...

& Rec !!!

[malokvale77]

53. Logged on to rec (nt)

[azmom]

54. My daughter attends an all womens college

So I asked her if her school was excited about Hillary running, and her response was "nobody wants Hillary, we want Warren" Smart women!!!

[Autumn]

56. 83 and a kick. Count me in Manny

I am past Ready For Someone Else!™

[mimi85]

57. Sorry.

[yellowwoodII]

59. First mistake

"Taking "her" for granted was your first mistake." If it's Hillary, Count Me Out.

[hay rick]

58. Ready for someTHING else.

Lesser evil Third Way Democrats is a prescription for continuing decline.

[Voice for Peace]

60. rec 93... almost there

ready for honesty.

[alberg]

61. yes.

[mak3cats]

62. K & another R... (n/t)

[MustBeTheBooz]

63. Gladly K&R!!! n/t

[NorthCarolina]

64. I for one am MORE THAN READY for Bernie Sanders.

At this point in time Bernie is the only acceptable candidate to have publicly stated an inclination to run. I love EW, but I love Bernie too, and if he runs, he has my support and my vote.

[MissDeeds]

69. Same here, NC

Bernie has my full support!

[Dragonfli]

65. Only three more to go, when I get back in the early AM I hope to see

The discussion about how we will move forward.

[freebrew]

66. I'm in... K & R

Hoser!

Is there anyone that can fill those shoes?

[leveymg]

67. 102 - are you ready to be hosed, Manny?

[MannyGoldstein]

71. I'm assuming the position as I write this. nt

[MissDeeds]

70. K&R

You nailed it, Manny!

[Cosmic Kitten]

72. +1

[n2doc]

73. It was…..Inevitable n/t

[blondie58]

74. Sorry, Manny!

I clicked the like too fast.

[NuttyFluffers]

81. deliciously amusing.

therefore i cannot not support it. kick!

[Jim Lane]

84. The first thing to do with the new site is to set up a jury system for comment moderation. (n/t)

[WillyT]

88. Kick !!!

[chknltl]

89. Here is an odd thought:

Ask the Koch bros for finacial contributions.

[MannyGoldstein]

90. Like the DLC did?

Nah. Big nasty strings probably attached.

[chknltl]

98. I agree about those big nasty strings.

I was sitting in my shrinks office while reading your OP. As he came out to usher me in for my appointment I hit the 'post' button for that post. My doctor wanted to know what was so amusing so i showed him. (He is a Democrat btw, likely a very Progressive one). I have never heard him laugh harder! I figured that you would get a kick out of it too.

Sadly, and it hurts my head to think such thoughts, I had to ask myself if the Koch's would actually invest in Progressives who want to field candidates willing to go up against corporate Dems. The divide and conquer concept would not be lost on them while the cash for a cash starved grass roots movement would not be lost on the 'movers'. What interesting times we live in huh!

[MannyGoldstein]

102. Wait... the Kochs might actually cough up cash?

I'll need to rethink my position, then. I'm sure that there's a pragmatic solution.

Fortunately, I expect the site to go nowhere, so no moral dilemmas will be faced. But let's give it a shot. These people have been running the Democratic Party for 20+ years, and it's not gone well for us.

[chknltl]

107. Hey Manny, sorry for the delay here and a thought.

I check in at DU infrequently and randomly so my apologies for not getting back to you sooner.
Here is my thought: (On second thought maybe it is best I post this thought to your inbox.)

[pangaia]

91. I was 154, or maybe 156, I forget.

I have almost no skills in this field, terrible at advertising. All I can do is play music, and a little more.
But, I will do what I can.
What about a FB page at some point?
I would certainly support it and post on my own timeline...

Oppss. humm, Would DUers then know who I REALLY am?

[Fearless]

92. I hear Jon Stewart needs a new day job...

[navarth]

94. enthusiastic kick for manny. nt

[Alkene]

95. KnR n/t

[Jack Rabbit]

96. Yanis Varoufakis for President

I'm ready for Yanis.

[merrily]

97. Now you've done it, Goldstein. What did Third Way Manny say about this?

[rhett o rick]

100. I rec'd by accident, before I saw you were the author. Bytheway there is another push pole

out there that has HRC running a close "Third" behind ReadyforSomeOneElse and AnyOneButHRC.

Here's a link: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1277&pid=3788

[olddots]

101. " I'm Ready For Lunch "

this can replace "Who Wants Soup ? "

[TheKentuckian]

103. I'm ready for better than "better than JEB". I flush better than JEB every morning.

[MannyGoldstein]

104. Thead Win!

[RiverLover]

105. Hey Manny

Merrily suggested you may want to link some relevant sites on your fabulous new readyforsomeoneelse.org site once its all put together & ready to go~

This one just might be Manny-approved ~

http://dearelizabethwarren.com/home.html

^^^on the new interactive site to Draft Liz:

(new video)

[sabrina 1]

106. That's a good suggestion. There are several Populist groups who are active in trying to get

populist candidates elected from the local to the national level also. They had some success also in the mid terms.

We might want to follow the progress of the new Greek Populist Government, the first in Europe to officially reject the Third Way/Neo Liberal/Austerity policies that have devastated the working class across the globe where they have managed to implement them.

They are already under attack from the usual suspects and are going to need a lot of support world wide.

But for now, they have demonstrated that populism can rise above even the most determined and brutal efforts by the Austerity crowd and take back their country.

[rhett o rick]

110. It wouldn't surprise me at all that the Party Powers told Sen Warren

to back off. I wouldn't hold it against her. Sen Sanders said a lot when he said that asking someone progressive to run for president would subject them and their family to untold attacks. The Powers That Be are very powerful and have more money than Dog.

But in spite of their threats, the populist movement will continue.

[Dems to Win]

108. Ready for Barbara Lee!

Can't beat somebody with nobody. I'll sign on if Warren steps up, but it seems unlikely. I'm on board with Bernie if he runs, but I fear his history of not being part of the Democratic party will hurt him in the primary.

I say we need a "Draft Barbara Lee" movement. The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have drained this country of blood and treasure and there is no end in sight. Let us turn to the one brave woman, the lone prophetic voice in our Congress who stood against these travesties and whose warnings have sadly come true.

I'm Ready for Barbara Lee -- the only member of Congress wise enough to vote NO on the AUMFs of 2001 and 2002.

Demand the BEST for our beloved country! Draft Barbara Lee!

[antiquie]

109. Second!

Barbara Lee

[fadedrose]

115. ++ I really like her nt

[fadedrose]

114. "Collecting money"

Has this started yet?

[rhett o rick]

118. Hey Manny, what's the status of this boondoggle? Er, I mean well meaning boondoggle.

Oops, still not right.

What's the status of this fine enterprise?

[MannyGoldstein]

119. under construction

Should have something in a few days.

[NYC_SKP]

120. http://readyforsomeoneelse.org/ is up:

http://readyforsomeoneelse.org/

[rhett o rick]

121. Thanks. nm