Guided by the hindsight of the 2006 election, the husband-and-wife columnist team of Steven and Cokie Roberts offered five rules of presidential politics and drew an interesting conclusion: that Gov. Kathleen Sebelius fits them all right now.
The rules: History matters. Campaigns matter. Stories matter. Location matters. And ideology matters. Sebelius is a “Democrat who won re-election by 17 points in a deeply red Midwestern state,” they noted, and “a gun-owning, budget-balancing mother of two sons who grew up in Ohio” and “married into an old Republican family (her late father-in-law succeeded Bob Dole in Congress and served 12 years). You heard it here first.”
Posted by Rhonda Holman
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36 Comments
She would make a good President. Much better than Hillary can even aspire to. What Cokie is saying is that America doesn’t want nor trust leftist, and if you want to put a Democrat in office in 2008, you aren’t going to get there with a leftist sleezeball.
The only thing I add is that Sebelius would only be a good President during peacetime. During a time of war, she isn’t the pick we need right now.
Wrong, Cokie.
Sebelius is a governor who won reelection by 17 points in a FORMERLY red state.
Even Kansans see how much harm the Republicans have wreaked on our beloved country.
Half our House Reps. are Dems and a Dem governor and a Dem AG. Republicans switching parties to run as Dems.
Looks like a blue state to me . . .
I’ve already bought my Sebelius 08 bumber sticker. She’s perfect for the job, a moderate who knows how to reach beyond partisan bickering. Her only problem is going to be name recoginition.
but…but…
She never served in the military…
What you mean that comment is not fair? All the democrats care to retract their statements about Bush because of his Air National Guard service not counting?
It’ll never happen.
Our country won’t elect a female president in ‘08. It’s impossible to envision a woman being tough in the war on terrorism – clearly the #1 issue.
Kansas has not turned into a blue state. It has returned to being a traditional Kansan Republican state. Traditional Kansas Republicans were pragmatic, problem-solving politicians not prone to indulging in the current fad of throwing red-meat social issues on the wall to generate votes from the emotional fringes.
Since this posture was effectively abandoned by the Kansas Republican party, Democrats stepped into the void.
There never was much distance between traditional Kansas Republicans and Kansas Democrats anyway.
Our country IS ready for a female President- even overdue. Some of the 3rd world countries now have female presidents even. Aren’t we- the US- supposed to be the beacon of equality? What a sexist, uninformed statement!
I could absolutely see Sebelius in the Oval office. America is sick of bickering, and Sebelius has the ability to restore some dignity back into the White House and into politics. And holds her ground without appearing mean.
I think by the time the next presidential election comes around, we’re going to be so sick of war, but need a President who will be a friend to the troops. I see her as an excellent candidate.
I don’t know who the next President will be, but hopefully it won’t besome one that I’m ashamed of and embarassed by , as I am now!
Nice typing G!
Hey, GolfNut. What century are you living in?
Ahhh, little woman can’t bother her pretty little head with something as nasty as war. That’s a manly man’s job.
Women have been running countries – and wars – all around the world, there is not reason why it can happen here.
A woman president couldn’t handle war. Snort. What a joke. How’s things in the 13th century going for you?
there is NO reason why it can’t happen here.
Golf, humor me; hypothetically, what if the 2008 election was between Condi Rice and Hillary Clinton? From your perspective, who becomes president?
JM,
Bush’s ANG record does not count — and he has cut military funding, underfunded veterans’ health care, etc. Examples at http://www.awolbush.com/
Golfnuts,”war on terrorism”?
Terrorism cannot be defeated using only military action.
Intel, international cooperation, and removing the causes for the terrorism are required, and more effective.The British proved the importance of intel recently (multiple airliner plot).
The 08 election, Clinton/Obama vs Gingrich/Rice.
Republicans win.
Hank
I heard on the news over the weekend that 16-17% of people returning from Iraq are physically and/or mentally injured , and the “projected” cost was forecast at $127 Billion dollars!
Gingrich? That man has more baggage than Samsonite. His scandal sheet makes Bill Clinton look like a choir boy. If you (I didn’t) thought Clinton was morally challenged, then Newt is Larry Flynt without the wheelchair.
Obama/Clark 2008
Good point, Dennis.
But even in the 16th century, England was ruled by Elizabeth I, Virginia Gloriana and destroyed the Spanish Armada.
In the 18th century, Victoria oversaw the full flower of British Empire.
History isn’t their strong suit, obviously . . .
Right now I can’t see any candidate I would vote for Republican or Democrat. I might vote Independent or use a write-in.
CapnAscarica,It was only 3 years ago that your buddies Rev. Terry Fox and Joe Wright got out the vote to add more hatred to gay people.I’d like to cut some holes in your cape and watch you plummet into Johnny Western Theatre on Sunday morning.
Gingrich was banging his ho on the side while he was impeaching Clinton…and then he dumped his wife while she laying in the hospital…and 2 weeks later he married his ho….I would love to see him run
Gingrich, now that IS ridiculous.
Gingrich came out looking like a fool during the Clinton years. AND he had to commit political suicide in order to get Clinton impeached. The sacrificial lamb.
Gingrich is playing with us. He won’t run. If he’s half as smart as he thinks he is, he knows better.
If we do elect a woman as President, I suppose that Sebelius is preferable to a Marxist (Rodham-Clinton).
Let’s not forget British PM Margaret Thatcher and Germany’s recent election of Angela Merkel as Chancellor , as examples of modern western nations electing women to the highest national offices.
Personally I like Christine Gregoire, because she governs, in a nonpartisan manner, a 21st-century-economy model state (Washington). That state has been undergoing evolution from dependence on heavy industry and ag, to a productive balance for our era that has added information and communications technology, biotechnology, international (Pacific Rim) trade, financial services, tourism, aquafarming, university research and knowledge transfer to the general economy. Although Gov. Gregoire didn’t create these changes, which preceded her, she has witnessed and learned useful lessons from them, and has been involved in their expansion. These have applications on a national scale.
Gov. Sebelius possesses reasonable leadership characteristics, but Kansas has not been an adequate training ground for the American presidency, given the legislature’s majority’s look-backward, maintain-the-status-quo attitude, which our governor has not been able to overcome, unfortunately.
Sen. Clinton, working in collaboration with Bill, is by any reasonable accounting, an extraordinarily astute politician, but many Americans have had enough of a family “dynasty” for the present time, they realize their values aren’t reflected in hers, and see her as being too strong as a polarizing force to be sufficiently effective (how long would it take for the radical right to smear her in a cover-job campaign to block her efforts to achieve strategic goals like healthcare reform, expanded higher-education opportunities funding, federal deficit reduction, et al. )
Wasn’t Golda Meir the Israel Prime Minister when that country kicked Eqypt in the 1973 Yom Kippur ‘war’? And didn’t Margaret Thatcher oversee the British Falklands campaign in 1982? I might be mistaken..but seem to remember those associations.
Regardless, it seems that Sebilius has very little national name recognition at this point, regardless of one or two endorsements. She would have to raise tens of millions to increase her recognition outside Kansas. Catch 22..the well known people can raise funds…the lesser well known who need the funds more, have more difficulty.
Will be an interesting election..regardless.
So… is it any wonder governor leadership wants to dodge ANY questions about water and water policy?
Leave the mess for the next governor.
Does that sound like anyone else we know who wants to leave the mess in iraq for the NEXT president?
Governor leadership’s mantra?
Never do today what you can put off for four years.
If Sebelius tries to run indepently as a candidate for President,the Clinton subterfuge machine will crank out so much anti-Sebelius propaganda it will set a new record.
Sebelius has no chance as a Presidential candidate.
Glad you mentioned Golda Mier and Lady Thatcher. Both center/right politically. Iron women who led their countries during tough times. That doesn’t seem to describe Sebelius or Clinton and that is why the US will never elect either one of them. I personally can’t wait for 08 campaign to get going. Whoever emerges with the Democrat ( not Democratic ) nomination whether it be Hill or one of the others will be so bloodied and will have spent so much money that the general election will be a cake walk for the Republican.
Chris,Shhhhhh…. =)
You know it and I know it. But the libs don’t know it. Let’s let them be surprised.
Uh, oh brilliant one Goofytesticles, weren’t you the one who said that all the people i supported in the last election would lose?
The Democratic party will choose our own nominee thank you very much.
We do not need chris or goofball channeling Rush Limbaugh to assist us. You all better figure out who your sacrificial lamb to the blue tide is gonna be.
Sebelis as a moderate? Is Cokie going senile? Anyone who takes all that blood money from Tiller the Baby Killer can never be described as a moderate!
http://www.governor.ks.gov/ Kathleen Sebelius
http://www.governor.wa.gov/ Chris Gregoire
http://www.counterpunch.org/mcgovern06232003.html Ray Mc Govern
http://kucinich.house.gov/ Dennis Kucinch
Citizens must SPEAK OUT and be allowed to make our choices. Who makes the choices? Special interests,either party and the media. What about Us?
Beltway people never make significant changes. All remains the same only the wording and loopholes change.
Theoretically, Richard, the use of primaries instead of the “smoke filled room” to identify the nominees, and thus the candidates, allow “we the people” to have the voice. However, the increasing need for funding, the timing of the various primaries, etc., results in no better selections in many cases.
I’ll take Sebelius or Vilsack over Brownback any day of the week.
Vilsack Announces 2008 White House BidIowa Governor Criticizes Bush; Calls for Change in Energy Policies, Relations With Foreign Allies
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/30/AR2006113000366.html
“America needs a president who builds and creates, who makes our country more secure, who is bold and has the courage to create change,” Vilsack told a home-town crowd of supporters. “I will be that president.”[/quote]
Governor Tom Vilsack was elected Iowa’s 39th Governor in 1998, the first Democratic governor of the state in more than 30 years. He was re-elected to a second four-year term in 2002.
During his campaigns for election and re-election, Governor Vilsack promised to strengthen Iowa’s communities, transform the state’s economy and strive for excellence in education. Through 21st Century innovation, an old fashion work ethic and collective, bipartisan support, those promises have been kept.
Under Governor Vilsack’s leadership, the state has a record number of employed Iowans, has made significant investments in Iowa’s education system, has increased the number of Iowans with health care coverage, and is a national leader in renewable energy. The governor has achieved these results while eliminating three state departments, reducing the total number of state employees, and providing targeted tax relief to working families without raising overall taxes.
Governor Vilsack will leave office in January of 2007 having changed the landscape of Iowa through his Administration’s success in numerous fields:
Governor Vilsack has worked to create better paying jobs, increase personal wealth, hold down unemployment and build a quality work force that is ready, willing and able to compete with anyone anywhere.
In 2004, Vilsack created the Iowa Values Fund, a $500 million, 10-year program that is transforming the Iowa economy. In just two years, the fund has invested in businesses that will create or retain over 30,000 jobs, and will leverage more than $7 billion in capital investment in 83 of Iowa’s 99 counties. The average wage of these jobs is more than $37,300 per year, well above the state average. He also launched the Vision Iowa Program which has had a significant positive impact on 188 communities through investments in education, cultural, and recreational attractions. Vision Iowa has utilized over $270 million in state funding to attract $2 billion in total investment, creating 14,000 jobs and attracting hundreds of thousands of tourists to the state.
Governor Vilsack has worked to create lifelong opportunities for learning in Iowa. From expanding access to high-quality preschool; to ensuring adolescents are held to higher standards of achievement he is ensuring the youth of today will be ready to meet the challenges of tomorrow.
The Governor has also led the effort to reduce class sizes in the early grades of elementary school and increase teacher salaries. As a result, Iowa’s fourth-graders placed among the best in the nation in math and science progress and an eight-year decline in reading test scores was reversed, with improved scores in each of the last three years.
The Vilsack Administration has worked cooperatively with schools, medical providers, businesses, faith-based organizations and other entities to expand health care coverage to more than 90,000 previously uninsured children. Iowa is now a national leader in children’s health care coverage, with 92% of all Iowa children having health insurance.
In addition, they have worked to make long term care more accessible, provided for comprehensive mental health care coverage, and reduced the cost of prescription drugs. As of today, 18,000 previously uninsured adults between the ages of 19-64 will receive health coverage due to policies enacted by the Vilsack Administration.
Governor Vilsack has focused on making Iowa a world leader in the renewable energy industry. During the past eight years, energy generation capacity has increased 20%, with a nearly 300% increase in ethanol production in the past five years. Iowa now leads the nation in producing ethanol and biodiesel, and is third in the nation in wind energy production. Due to the governor’s initiatives, Iowa not only feeds, it also fuels the nation.While Governor Vilsack has led Iowa’s government from the statehouse in Des Moines, he has also promoted the state on the national level through his leadership in numerous national organizations. Governor Vilsack is the chair of the Democratic Leadership Council and is the former chair of the Democratic Governors’ Association, the Midwest Governor’s Conference, the Governors’ Biotechnology Partnership, Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG), and the Ethanol Coalition. The governor is also a member of the National Governors Association Executive Committee.Prior to being elected governor, Governor Vilsack was an Iowa State Senator (1992-98) and the mayor of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa (1987-92), in addition to managing a private law practice with his father-in-law. He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, orphaned at birth, and adopted in 1951. He received a bachelor’s degree from Hamilton College in Clinton, New York in 1972, and received a law degree from Albany Law School in 1975. Governor Vilsack is a devoted husband to First Lady Christie Vilsack and a dedicated father to sons Jess and Doug.Tom Vilsack has built a long list of accomplishments during his eight years as governor of Iowa. He has brought Iowans from all political persuasions and all walks of life together to help change the landscape of Iowa, creating successes that all Iowans can share in. Governor Vilsack has built a solid foundation of progress in Iowa that will ensure countless opportunities for a brighter tomorrow.