Bring out the Little Guns

I've been thinking that one of the problems with the Democratic Party is how they select candidates. The Republican leadership, in 2000, got together and selected Bush Jr. to be their candidate (more or less). But the Democrats are fractured--they rely on the whims and ambitions of individuals to throw their hats into the ring, and only then does the leadership try to take sides. As a result, only the big guns run, and after several losing election cycles, almost all the Democratic big guns are out of ammunition.

Who here would really be excited to see Gore run again? Or Kerry? Or Edwards, or Daschle, or Hillary Clinton, etc...? Maybe it is time for the Democrats to stop this pundit's guessing-game approach to choosing a nominee, and instead mount a concerted effort to find a relative unknown to be their standard bearer--someone who would have neither the fundraising ability nor the ambition to run on their own, against the field of big guns, but who would be a fresh, new face for the new century?

Here are some suggestions. I am eager to hear more ideas from the citizens.

1. Marcy Kaptur. She is the longest-serving woman in the House of Representatives, completing her twelfth term (1982-present). She is from Ohio's 9th district--a swing state. She's a Catholic (member of the "Little Flower Roman Catholic Church" in Toledo, the town where she was born and has lived all her life). She voted against the war in Iraq, against the Patriot Act, and against the anti-gay-marriage amendment. She introduced the original legislation to build the WWII memorial, and fought for 17 years until it became a reality. She is a white woman and will turn 60 in June of this year.

2. Wellington Webb. He is a former three-term mayor of Denver (1991-2003), former regional director of the U.S. Dep't of HEW under Carter. He has been president of the U.S. conference of mayors, the conference of democratic mayors, and the National Conference of Black Mayors. He briefly considered running for the DNC chairmanship before withdrawing and backing Howard Dean. He's a baptist, was an all-conference basketball player in junior college, and a forklift-truck operator. His wife was a Colorado State legislator. He is a black man who has just turned 65.

3. Jim Doyle. He is the current governor of Wisconsin (2003-present); he was formerly the state atty general for 12 years (1990-2002). He's a graduate of Stanford university and Harvard law school. He and his wife spent 2 years in Tunisia in the peace corps. Health care is his top priority. He vetoed a bill that would have banned gay marriage and has denounced a current voter initiative (due in November) to do the same. He is a 59-year old white man.

4. Ed Pastor. He is a fourteen-year, seven-term U.S. representative from Phoenix (1991-present). He was born in the small mining town of Claypool, AZ, and has a B.A. in chemistry and a law degree, both from ASU. He is a Catholic, but has a 100% pro-choice rating from NARAL. He is a former chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. He voted "No" on the war in Iraq, and Kosovo. He is a 63-year old hispanic man.

5. Jim Davis. (Not to be confused with the creator of Garfield.) He is a five-term congressman from Florida's 11th district, Tampa, (1996-present). He was elected head of the 1996 Democratic freshman class in Congress and he is running for Governor of Florida this year. He voted YES on Iraq, Yes on the Patriot Act, No on an amendment to ban gay marriage, and no on a bill to ban gay adoption in DC. He is a 48-year old white man.

My point is, maybe it is time for the DNC to search the nation and draft a candidate (or a few) to run in the primaries. Maybe 2008 is a time to bring out the little guns.