Tom Vilsack: Who?

mcc

And the media's big thing today is that Tom Vilsack has officially announced he will be campaigning for the Democratic nomination for the 2008 presidency:

DES MOINES (AP) — Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack says he moved quickly to declare his presidential plans because of the need to raise money and lay the groundwork for his longshot campaign.

Vilsack, a two-term Democratic governor who opted not to seek re-election this year, played down the timing of his announcement, which came just hours after news of the Democrats’ election gains.

“These are one-day stories,” Vilsack said Friday in a telephone interview from a Chicago airport, returning to Iowa from a fund-raising trip in California. “These are not things that have a lasting impact and we’ve got to get started. We’ve got a lot of work to do.”

...Who?

dlinfiniti

i hope hes good for another byaaahhhh this next presidential election better be good from some legitimately funny political hijinks we've be lacking these for quite a while

DarkPrimus

As the article says right at the beginning, he is Iowa's current governor.

Frankly, I don't think he has much to offer as far as running for President goes.

Thanatos

Iowa governor. A lot of people were talking about him as a possibility in '04.

As of right now, he has more support than any other declared candidate. :P

mcc

Thanatos wrote:

Iowa governor. A lot of people were talking about him as a possibility in '04.

As of right now, he has more support than any other declared candidate. :P

That's because he's the only declared candidate. Except for some wiccan from alaska or something.

Anyway, while I'm sure that to the people of Iowa he brings a lot to the table, is it just me or does it seem that the reason why he's declaring so early is because it's the only way he can get anyone to notice his presence at all?

DarkPrimus

mcc wrote:

Anyway, while I'm sure that to the people of Iowa he brings a lot to the table, is it just me or does it seem that the reason why he's declaring so early is because it's the only way he can get anyone to notice his presence at all?

It's not just you.

I'm from Iowa. Trust me.

Gosling

Here's the thing about a candidate from Iowa. Or New Hampshire or South Carolina, for that matter (SC is traditionally third after IA and NH).

You know that primary you have in your home state? You damn well better win it. You will get zero momentum from it because everyone expects you to win it. And if you don't? You might as well just pack it in right then and there because if people don't see you carry your home state in a primary, what chance do you have of carrying it in the general, and what chance does a candidate have that can't even get their own state?

Translation: If Vilsack wins Iowa, he will get no cred from it and will have to get New Hampshire to be taken seriously. If he gets second place or less in Iowa, he shouldn't even waste his time in New Hampshire.

Target Practice

Let's be honest here: How many governors of any state are well-known outside that state?

The only ones that I think are really widely known are California's and Florida's, and only because one was a celebrity beforehand and the other's the son of one President and the brother of another.

Gosling

Target Practice wrote:

Let's be honest here: How many governors of any state are well-known outside that state?

The only ones that I think are really widely known are California's and Florida's, and only because one was a celebrity beforehand and the other's the son of one President and the brother of another.

Prior to the elections, the ones I have at least a passing familiarity with (note that I'm way more up on politics than most people I know):

*Mike 'I Heart' Huckabee, Arkansas
*Ah-nold, California
*Jeb Bush, Florida
*Rod Blagojevich, Illinois
*Vilsack (Iowa neighbors Wisconsin, what can I say?)
*Katrina-- I mean Kathleen Blanco, Louisiana
*Mitt Romney, Massachusetts
*Tim Pawlenty, Minnesota (see also: Iowa)
*Jon Corzine, New Jersey
*Bill 'America Loves Me But New Mexico Knows The Awful Truth' Richardson, New Mexico
*George Pataki, New York
*Bob Taft, Ohio
*'Diamond' Jim Doyle, Wisconsin

Thanatos

mtvcdm wrote:

*Eliot Spitzer, New York

Fix'd for future correctness, and pure awesome.

Target Practice

Mitt Romney's out too, though I forget who replaced him.

Gosling

Target Practice wrote:

Mitt Romney's out too, though I forget who replaced him.

Now you know why I used the caveat 'before the elections'.

*Mike Beebe now runs Arkansas.
*Charlie Crist now runs Florida.
*Deval Patrick now runs Massachusetts.
*Eliot Spitzer now runs New York.
*Ted strickland now runs Ohio.

mcc

Target Practice wrote:

Mitt Romney's out too, though I forget who replaced him.

Which leaves him free to run for President!

Target Practice

mtvcdm wrote:

Target Practice wrote:

Mitt Romney's out too, though I forget who replaced him.

Now you know why I used the caveat 'before the elections'.

*Mike Beebe now runs Arkansas.
*Charlie Crist now runs Florida.
*Deval Patrick now runs Massachusetts.
*Eliot Spitzer now runs New York.
*Ted strickland now runs Ohio.

Charlie Crist won?

I guess cutting and running on Dubya worked out for him

TroubledTom

mcc wrote:

And the media's big thing today is that Tom Vilsack has officially announced he will be campaigning for the Democratic nomination for the 2008 presidency:

DES MOINES (AP) — Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack says he moved quickly to declare his presidential plans because of the need to raise money and lay the groundwork for his longshot campaign.

Vilsack, a two-term Democratic governor who opted not to seek re-election this year, played down the timing of his announcement, which came just hours after news of the Democrats’ election gains.

“These are one-day stories,” Vilsack said Friday in a telephone interview from a Chicago airport, returning to Iowa from a fund-raising trip in California. “These are not things that have a lasting impact and we’ve got to get started. We’ve got a lot of work to do.”

...Who?

The president of the Democratic Leadership Council. That alone will make him one of the handful of choices for the nomination that the media presents as credible. He is a definite contender.

He's also a candidate in Ubisoft's Presidential election computer game from 2004; I think it was called the Political Machine. You heard it first from Ubi.

mcc

TroubledTom wrote:

The president of the Democratic Leadership Council.

Many things are now clear which were previously obscure.

TroubledTom

mcc wrote:

TroubledTom wrote:

The president of the Democratic Leadership Council.

Many things are now clear which were previously obscure.

Given how well Kerry did just from a loose association with the DLC, I expect this guy at least to finish in the top 3.

Treeloot

DarkPrimus wrote:

mcc wrote:

Anyway, while I'm sure that to the people of Iowa he brings a lot to the table, is it just me or does it seem that the reason why he's declaring so early is because it's the only way he can get anyone to notice his presence at all?

It's not just you.

I'm from Iowa. Trust me.

I'm also from Iowa.

Personally, I think Vilsack is going to have a hard time running for president this year, especially if the Democrats get some big name candidates like Clinton or Obama to run. Name recognition does a lot for a candidate.

Nissl

I'd guess Vilsack may well be running for vice president. He would almost guarantee taking the swing state of Iowa, plus he should have good appeal to other nearby midwestern states.

Why he announced so soon after the election, rather than waiting until the new year when everyone can actually pay attention, I have no idea.

deowolf

Also, I am running for the Democratic nomination.

Senjutsu

Does this guy have anything to do with the pickles?

DarkPrimus

Senjutsu wrote:

Does this guy have anything to do with the pickles?

Since his name is Vilsack, and not Vlasik, I would wager... no.

deowolf

You never know...

Senjutsu

DarkPrimus wrote:

Senjutsu wrote:

Does this guy have anything to do with the pickles?

Since his name is Vilsack, and not Vlasik, I would wager... no.

Oh, is that how it's spelt? I was beginning to wonder, between this guy and Teresa Heinz, if there wasn't some kind of Democratic condiment conspiracy I wasn't aware of.

mcc

Senjutsu wrote:

DarkPrimus wrote:

Senjutsu wrote:

Does this guy have anything to do with the pickles?

Since his name is Vilsack, and not Vlasik, I would wager... no.

Oh, is that how it's spelt? I was beginning to wonder, between this guy and Teresa Heinz, if there wasn't some kind of Democratic condiment conspiracy I wasn't aware of.

Then you consider the 1996 Republican candidate was Bob Dole...

Lesson: Don't nominate someone to the presidency who is connected to fruit.

Gosling

TroubledTom wrote:

mcc wrote:

And the media's big thing today is that Tom Vilsack has officially announced he will be campaigning for the Democratic nomination for the 2008 presidency:

DES MOINES (AP) — Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack says he moved quickly to declare his presidential plans because of the need to raise money and lay the groundwork for his longshot campaign.

Vilsack, a two-term Democratic governor who opted not to seek re-election this year, played down the timing of his announcement, which came just hours after news of the Democrats’ election gains.

“These are one-day stories,” Vilsack said Friday in a telephone interview from a Chicago airport, returning to Iowa from a fund-raising trip in California. “These are not things that have a lasting impact and we’ve got to get started. We’ve got a lot of work to do.”

...Who?

The president of the Democratic Leadership Council. That alone will make him one of the handful of choices for the nomination that the media presents as credible. He is a definite contender.

He's also a candidate in Ubisoft's Presidential election computer game from 2004; I think it was called the Political Machine. You heard it first from Ubi.

I have that game. It got uninstalled at some point, but thankfully I can Wiki the candidates included:

DEMOCRATS: Kerry, Edwards (this was for the 2004 campaign, of course they're in), Bill, Hillary, Gore, Tom Vilsack, Wesley Clark, Bill Richardson, Dick Gephardt, a guy based on Jesse Jackson, Chloe Sullivan from Smallville (which, why?), and historic candidates Jimmy Carter, LBJ, Woodrow Wilson, FDR, Thomas Jefferson.

REPUBLICANS: Bush 41, Bush 43, Bush Barbara, Bush Laura, Bush League, Bush Tucker, I Can't Believe It's Not Bush... okay, okay, it's just 41, 43, Barbara and Laura. Also, Cheney, Condi, Ah-nold, a guy based on Steve Forbes, a guy based on Bob Dole, and historic candidates Taft, Ford, Grant, Nixon, Reagan, Teddy Roosevelt, Lincoln and Washington.

Target Practice

Ah-nold, huh?

I guess in the game's world they passed that amendment to allow naturalized citizens to be elected to the Presidency

dlinfiniti

Target Practice wrote:

Ah-nold, huh?

I guess in the game's world they passed that amendment to allow naturalized citizens to be elected to the Presidency

well sorta, sam fisher ran around threatening people until they let him onto the ballot

Kreutz

Treeloot wrote:

DarkPrimus wrote:

mcc wrote:

Anyway, while I'm sure that to the people of Iowa he brings a lot to the table, is it just me or does it seem that the reason why he's declaring so early is because it's the only way he can get anyone to notice his presence at all?

It's not just you.

I'm from Iowa. Trust me.

I'm also from Iowa.

Personally, I think Vilsack is going to have a hard time running for president this year, especially if the Democrats get some big name candidates like Clinton or Obama to run. Name recognition does a lot for a candidate.

So hey, another Iowan here.

As much as Vilsack has done for the state, I think the fact that most people don't know who he is will be something he needs to overcome. If Hillary does decide to run, I don't see him even making a stain on the elections. Hell, if Dean runs again, he still doesn't have much chance. It's kinda sad, as I can see him doing a good job (even though he failed with the Maytag situation, but that's not all his fault).

Target Practice

If Hillary runs, I think we can look forward to another four years of Republicans in the White house.

HiredGun

I'm surprised no one thinks he has a shot. Governors tend to do better than Senators in Presidential elections. Also, he's almost guaranteed to deliver the swing state of Iowa.

jothki

mtvcdm wrote:

TroubledTom wrote:

mcc wrote:

And the media's big thing today is that Tom Vilsack has officially announced he will be campaigning for the Democratic nomination for the 2008 presidency:

DES MOINES (AP) — Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack says he moved quickly to declare his presidential plans because of the need to raise money and lay the groundwork for his longshot campaign.

Vilsack, a two-term Democratic governor who opted not to seek re-election this year, played down the timing of his announcement, which came just hours after news of the Democrats’ election gains.

“These are one-day stories,” Vilsack said Friday in a telephone interview from a Chicago airport, returning to Iowa from a fund-raising trip in California. “These are not things that have a lasting impact and we’ve got to get started. We’ve got a lot of work to do.”

...Who?

The president of the Democratic Leadership Council. That alone will make him one of the handful of choices for the nomination that the media presents as credible. He is a definite contender.

He's also a candidate in Ubisoft's Presidential election computer game from 2004; I think it was called the Political Machine. You heard it first from Ubi.

I have that game. It got uninstalled at some point, but thankfully I can Wiki the candidates included:

DEMOCRATS: Kerry, Edwards (this was for the 2004 campaign, of course they're in), Bill, Hillary, Gore, Tom Vilsack, Wesley Clark, Bill Richardson, Dick Gephardt, a guy based on Jesse Jackson, Chloe Sullivan from Smallville (which, why?), and historic candidates Jimmy Carter, LBJ, Woodrow Wilson, FDR, Thomas Jefferson.

REPUBLICANS: Bush 41, Bush 43, Bush Barbara, Bush Laura, Bush League, Bush Tucker, I Can't Believe It's Not Bush... okay, okay, it's just 41, 43, Barbara and Laura. Also, Cheney, Condi, Ah-nold, a guy based on Steve Forbes, a guy based on Bob Dole, and historic candidates Taft, Ford, Grant, Nixon, Reagan, Teddy Roosevelt, Lincoln and Washington.

Shouldn't Lincoln have been on the Democrat side?

Shinto

Dude is a boring speaker.

Both him and Bayh do absolutely nothing for me.

Oh upper midwest, you are so disappointing.

Treeloot

jothki wrote:

mtvcdm wrote:

TroubledTom wrote:

mcc wrote:

And the media's big thing today is that Tom Vilsack has officially announced he will be campaigning for the Democratic nomination for the 2008 presidency:

DES MOINES (AP) — Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack says he moved quickly to declare his presidential plans because of the need to raise money and lay the groundwork for his longshot campaign.

Vilsack, a two-term Democratic governor who opted not to seek re-election this year, played down the timing of his announcement, which came just hours after news of the Democrats’ election gains.

“These are one-day stories,” Vilsack said Friday in a telephone interview from a Chicago airport, returning to Iowa from a fund-raising trip in California. “These are not things that have a lasting impact and we’ve got to get started. We’ve got a lot of work to do.”

...Who?

The president of the Democratic Leadership Council. That alone will make him one of the handful of choices for the nomination that the media presents as credible. He is a definite contender.

He's also a candidate in Ubisoft's Presidential election computer game from 2004; I think it was called the Political Machine. You heard it first from Ubi.

I have that game. It got uninstalled at some point, but thankfully I can Wiki the candidates included:

DEMOCRATS: Kerry, Edwards (this was for the 2004 campaign, of course they're in), Bill, Hillary, Gore, Tom Vilsack, Wesley Clark, Bill Richardson, Dick Gephardt, a guy based on Jesse Jackson, Chloe Sullivan from Smallville (which, why?), and historic candidates Jimmy Carter, LBJ, Woodrow Wilson, FDR, Thomas Jefferson.

REPUBLICANS: Bush 41, Bush 43, Bush Barbara, Bush Laura, Bush League, Bush Tucker, I Can't Believe It's Not Bush... okay, okay, it's just 41, 43, Barbara and Laura. Also, Cheney, Condi, Ah-nold, a guy based on Steve Forbes, a guy based on Bob Dole, and historic candidates Taft, Ford, Grant, Nixon, Reagan, Teddy Roosevelt, Lincoln and Washington.

Shouldn't Lincoln have been on the Democrat side?

o_O

No.

Jacobkosh

To be fair, Lincoln's Republicans were the wild-eyed hippie liberals of their day.

Gosling

The one I'm confused with is Washington. He didn't HAVE a party. Stardock couldn't have made him a final boss candidate, running as an indy?

dlinfiniti

mtvcdm wrote:

The one I'm confused with is Washington. He didn't HAVE a party. Stardock couldn't have made him a final boss candidate, running as an indy?

yeah he was the one with a mad hate-on for political parties and setout to warn people not to fall into that trap

Shinto

mtvcdm wrote:

The one I'm confused with is Washington. He didn't HAVE a party. Stardock couldn't have made him a final boss candidate, running as an indy?

He was basically a federalist.

Fencingsax

mcc wrote:

Senjutsu wrote:

DarkPrimus wrote:

Senjutsu wrote:

Does this guy have anything to do with the pickles?

Since his name is Vilsack, and not Vlasik, I would wager... no.

Oh, is that how it's spelt? I was beginning to wonder, between this guy and Teresa Heinz, if there wasn't some kind of Democratic condiment conspiracy I wasn't aware of.

Then you consider the 1996 Republican candidate was Bob Dole...

Lesson: Don't nominate someone to the presidency who is connected to fruit.

There's a gay joke in there somewhere.

Shinto

I'm concerned that in their effort to not have to carry the south in 2008 the Democrats are going to rely heavily on the upper midwest and the sometimes unintelligent anti-trade protectionist policies that are currently a part of that region.

OneEyedJack

i laugh whenever the news talks about him running. I cannot ever picture him being President.

I'm also from Iowa.