Yes, we can.

[Alex]

Sure, but sometimes you get a Kobe Bryant (I'm talking about basketball talent at the top level not his qualities as a human being).

I can understand where he's coming from. I'm sure it was a very attractive idea to just wait for the next chance, but there's no guarantee the next chance will be there (look at the front runners from 2000 who probably figured they'd just have to wait through the Bush years and get take their turn). If he stood aside and Clinton won then he wouldn't be looking at 2012 but rather 2016 who knows how the world and the competition will change by then. Plus, while the Republicans have a history of sticking with a politician through several election cycles the Democrats seem much more fickle in that regard.

[innerSpaceman]

Originally Posted by Alex

but there's no guarantee the next chance will be there (look at the front runners from 2000 who probably figured they'd just have to wait through the Bush years and get take their turn).

You mean like McCain.

[Alex]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

You mean like McCain.

Yes, if McCain is now a Democrat which is what I was, unclearly, talking about. But yeah, 2000 wasn't the best example since that year both parties had heir designates (Bush and Gore). Though on the Dem side none of the three people (Gore, Bradley, Wellstone) who even tried made an attempt this time around (Wellstone, being dead, was an extreme longshot).

But even from 2004. John Edwards was the only one of the several Democrats who made serious bids for the nomination that was able to justify another attempt in 2008. Wesley Clark, Howard Dean, Dick Gephardt, John Kerry, Joe Lieberman