this list is highly speculative considering there are no candidates yet. I like Green credentials, but I'd never consider a Green Party candidate in the current 2-Party System. Like many, i believe in voting for the best representative of my priorities for America in the Primaries. But if asked who i'd like to see competing in the general election, i'd consider compromising a little in consideration of elect-ability.

i think AOC and Bernie would be exciting "change" candidates but Bernie will be too old and AOC may be too young. I'd like to see Pete B in the VP slot.

Newsom is the only one dealing with the king head-on, with a sense of urgency and a measure of cojones, so i believe he's earned my support. I'd have to see AOC and Gavin on the debate stage to decide.

I willfully vote Green. Democrats who lecture me, scold me, wag their fingers and cluck their tongues at me, and try to guilt-trip me for the second election of DJT and the GOP control of Congress can go Twirl on It.

I want and will only support a Progressive platform that advocates affordable Education, Healthcare, and Housing as Basic Human Rights. I will only vote for a candidate who fights for those rights. I'm not buying the "Vote for the Lesser of Two Evils" cop-out. I refuse to get behind mealy-mouthed, middle-of-the-road Democratic Centrists.

I want Real Change. Radical Leftist Change. Change away from the status quo.

i respect your commitment, mac. And i'm glad there's someone here with that opinion. But isn't the real argument that:

1. you're trying to fit a round peg in voting system that's built with square holes.

2. if we can't elect the lesser of 2 evils in a 2-party system we will never be in a position to change it?

3. if we don't select the lesser of 2 evils we eventually get the greatest evil. Now our 2-party system is turning into a 1-party dictatorship.

i would vote green too. But, unfortunately, the reality is not that if everyone voted their true conscious we'd elect a green. The will isn't there. The numbers aren't there. The voters are still in the dark.

imo, the only viable path is voting for your true candidate of choice in the Primary and voting for the best agent of change in the General Election. Then, push for overhauling the whole election system. Obama had the House and Senate. He was in position to do that. We need to get back to that position.

With all due respect, Cap'n, as a "VERY LEFT" liberal, why bother vote then? Blow up the "voting system that's built with square holes," say I!

I'm at an age where I've got more years behind than I have ahead of me. I retired several months ago, and I am absolutely livid that it seems that I will have to spend my "Golden Years" in an America that is willingly careening towards right-wing fascism. I want radical-leftist change that will benefit future generations of Americans. But, I also want that change for me. I'm not into "delayed gratification." I have neither the time nor the patience for America to take slow, incremental baby steps towards truly and earnestly becoming "a government of the people, by the people, for the people." I want America to take HUGE, clodhopping stomps to realizing Abraham Lincoln's noble credo.

"Obama had the House and Senate. He was in position to do that. We need to get back to that position."

My problem with Barack Obama is that he shamefully, damnably squandered the two years when the Democrats controlled Congress. His bushwa "hands across the aisle" diplomacy miserably failed. I want a progressive candidate who has a combination of Obama's ethics and values and DJT's damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead boldness and determination.

Regarding Obama, his wife Michelle famously declared, "When they go low, we go high." But last year when she was stumping for Kamala Harris, she went into attack-dog mode regarding Harris' opponent. On a social media platform (I forget which one), a commenter hilariously described Michelle's new attitude as "Girl, hold my earrings while I open up a can of whoop-ass on this mofo!"

That is the type of fire, heat, and fight that I want to see in a liberal, progressive candidate.

11 minutes ago, macphysto said:

With all due respect, Cap'n, as a "VERY LEFT" liberal, why bother vote then? Blow up the "voting system that's built with square holes," say I!

because not voting is a hand-grenade and we're in the room

I want radical-leftist change that will benefit future generations of Americans. But, I also want that change for me. I'm not into "delayed gratification." I have neither the time nor the patience for America to take slow, incremental baby steps

ironically, the Lyin' King is our best chance at radical change in our lifetime, via the implosion of the Republican Party. Americans should, at long last, understand the risks and demand real change. But democracy must survive the next 2 elections,

My problem with Barack Obama is that he shamefully, damnably squandered the two years when the Democrats controlled Congress. His bushwa "hands across the aisle" diplomacy miserably failed. I want a progressive candidate who has a combination of Obama's ethics and values and DJT's damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead boldness and determination.

absolutely. Obama was timid. The Democrats who followed were worse and the Republicans ate them for lunch. I believe there are enough people like you who look forward to the opening of that can of whoop-ass. I fear we still can't count on the Democratic Party.

i look forward to your help in building that radical new blue world from scratch in the 3001: A Space Colonoscopy thread. Pick a starship. Get on board.