Does anybody else think that this is getting a bit ridiculous?

Here we are, in late 2006, fifteen months before the first primary, and we already have people announcing their candidacy for President. Last month, Clinton announced that she is doing "exploratory work" into whether she will run or not. Obama is playing a coy game of footsie with the press, building up the suspense until he makes a "suprise" announcement, probably sometime in January. With the heavy hitters out and swinging alredy, this has forced the underdogs to hit the campaign trail, like Kucinich and Vilsak, if they want to have any sort of prayer of running. And the same thing is happening, though a little less publicly, over on the Republican side. McCain might as well declare now, he's all but said he wants the job. Meanwhile others like Gingrich are playing the game, doing their own calculations, getting ready to start.

I for one am sick of it. We haven't even sworn in the next Congress, yet all the sudden we're jumping up to the 2008 elections? What insanity is this? Frankly, I think such early starting campaigns hurt our government, as now all of these people, Clinton, McCain, Obama, etc will be busy running, and perhaps neglect their job. Also, every vote that they cast, every decision they make will be framed by their candidacy. This is not the way to run a government people, and it is getting more ridiculous with each election cycle.

It wasn't that long ago, 1999, that candidates weren't declaring until nine months before the first primary. It was only about a quarter century ago that the time frame was six months. Yet here we are, over a year out, and people are up and running. What's next, the campaign for 2012 will start in 2009?

A good part of this madness is media driven. I distinctly remember back on election night this year that all the pundits and talking heads were going on about how the "race for 2008 starts tonight." Why, just so you blowhards have something to chatter about for the next year plus? Fuck that.

Frankly, along with publicly financed elections, I think that we need to put a strict time limit on campains. You cannot form an exploratory committee, you cannot declare, you can't play coy media games until four months before the first primary. Otherwise we're going to have the spectre of somebody declaring their candidacy for the 2024 election before the 2020 one has even been decided.

cover every time Hillary coughs. You're right. I don't remember the candidates ever emerging so early in say the 80s or even the 90s. But I might not have been paying attention. The very politically astute might have always been discussion it starting the day after the previous election, maybe they are just more numerous now that a politican only has to walk across the street to get coverage.

just goes on and on. I am also worried that senators who are supposed to be paying attention to the business of the country are not. Repugs want to look forward to '08 and make believe the last six years never happened, they want conversations to be directed away from the dismal record and the media is aiding and abetting. I'm sick of it also. TV is off and the music on my computer is on. If interested www.tropicalglen.com/Jukebox. Enjoy

Right after the election? :shrug:

But I'm talking about the candidates themselves actually making overt moves, either outright declaring, or forming "exploratory committees" or "exploring the options" by making swings through early primary states. In the 2000 election, Bush didn't declare until 6/99, same with Gore. Yes, they both formed an "exploratory committee" but they didn't do so fifteen months out from the first primary, they at least had to decency to make it only a year out.

Back in the eighties, most candidates didn't declare until six months out, and the exploratory stage was begun nine months out. This whole year plus thing is brand new, and frankly I find it disgusting. I would like to take a break from election politics for at least a few months, but oh no, it seems that the new paradigm is for the electioneering to begin right after election day:eyes: Disgusting.

It takes so damn much money, you've got to get out early to start raising it.

Public financing of campaigns is desperately needed.

Plus now they're talking about moving up some of these primaries into the end of 2007.

in the stores at Thanksgiving, or later. Now it's while they still have Halloween stuff on display.

And now that the weather is turning cold, it's time for the Spring line up of clothing.

And in late Aug, the 2008 model cars will start coming out.

It's not just the politics, everyone has jumped on this "sooner is better" bandwagon instead of letting everything have it's own time

But you're right - it's all about the next election cycle. I'm tired of politicians who don't say what they mean, only what they think will sound good to the most number of people in a campaign ad. I want to elect leaders damnit, not PR reps

There are a number of pressing issues that need to be addressed by a public debate, and having candidates on the field tends to get those issues into focus. It's too easy for Congress to hunker down behind the beltway and lose sight of those important issues. That's one reason I'm especially glad to see Dennis Kucinich announcing his candidacy so early-- Kucinich keeps the debate alive and doesn't let the party take anything for granted. Personally, I'm looking forward to a long campaign season-- there is much to discuss, and much to learn about the folks who would like to occupy the people's house in 2008.

Back in the day almost any politician could get the media's ear on some show or another, and bring up their pressing issues with the assurance that it would be broadcast nationally and a debate would ensue. But now our corporate controlled media has put the kibosh on that notion, limiting media access to corporate approved politicians, and either marginilizing or ignoring people like Kucinich. Sadly, even though he has declared, they will probably continue to do the same.

There is a lot to discuss, and many public debates need to be undertaken. But rather doing it in the context of a Presidential election, let us do in in its proper context, our House and Senate.

Frankly, along with publicly financed elections, I think that we need to put a strict time limit on campains. You cannot form an exploratory committee, you cannot declare, you can't play coy media games until four months before the first primary. Otherwise we're going to have the spectre of somebody declaring their candidacy for the 2024 election before the 2020 one has even been decided.

election this year.

You know, we have instant media nowadays. TV, Internet, Radio, everyway you can imagine. Also, we pretty much known everything about the candidate in a few months with the media. I agree with you that a time limit should be put on it and I also would love to see everyone with an equal footing.

I don't know for sure how you do that, you could'nt let a thousand candidates go for it but there must be a way to get a right number of candidates and limit the race to a certain time and keep big money out of the race or basically running their own candidate.

By January of 2008 we may know who wins the primary because of key primaries being moved up in some states.

Someone says s/he declared - and I'm like "oh, that's nice" or whatever (depending on the person).

I suppose the fund-raising has to start. Maybe it's an advantage to have your name out there early. :shrug:


"...you can't play coy media games until four months before the first primary." That would be fine with me. But I don't know that any such things could be enforced. All we can do it ignore it.

Our 110th Congress hasn't passed a bill to help the people and we have to be hearing of the PREZ run in 2008.....frankley I am still a little singed around the edges from the recent election and need time to decompress.

If you are someone who supports campaign reform and and are GUNGHO already for 2008 then you are a hypocrite..you know Obomba and Clinton are going to take Corporate contributions...it's the only way they will be able to campaign for 18+ month until the convention heavens knows us lil people don't have the resources to do that.

The DEMS haven't proven their promises true yet until then we should not even entertain the 2008 election.

with all this early presidential campaigning is that it makes no allowances for changes that might come in the next 18 months. If we, as a party, lock ourselves into one particular candidate by this summer, which looks increasingly likely, it not only will give Republicans well over a year to attack and destroy that candidate, but doesn't allow us, the voters, to change our minds and go after someone else, someone more suitable perhaps, much closer to the actual election.

JFK announced formally that he was running for President in January 1960. Bobby Kennedy declared in March of 1968. In the spring of 1991 none of the presumed Democratic candidates were willing to commit to go up against a then popular incumbent who'd just "won" a war, leaving the field wide open for Bill Clinton.

What we really need is a total moratorium on this entire topic. I'm so sick of the various threads here on DU extolling or bashing one candidate or another that I no longer bother to click on any of them. At this point I'm not going to learn anything worthwhile. Who here hates or adores one candidate or another isn't useful information.

If I remember right Jimmy Carter declared and started running in early 1975. He announce but got very little press until closer to the primaries in 1976. This was right after Watergate and he was running as an outsider on the reform issue. I remember stories of him doing walking tours of Iowa and other places to get name recognition very early. He was pretty much seen as a novelty and laughed at by the national media for being out there so early.

Ten months out from the first primary, and yes, for the day that was considered early. Yet hear we are, fifteen months out, with two official announcements, and two who have all but announced. Absolutely insane.

by law, have to resign from any currently held elected office. If you are running for President, you cannot also be a current office holder. That would make for a more serious list of candidates. Also, of course, the elections should be completely publicly funded, with all of the funds divided evenly between candidates. Every voice should be equal until the voting public decides...

Too many candidates base their political decsion making on how it will effect their candidacy, not whether or not it is good for this country. Witness the IWR:shrug:

On the one hand we protest all the money spent in getting elected; on the other, we (that is, we) are rejoicing at the early proclamations for the office.
Just look at the forums to see the glee because so-and-so has or is going to declare. Sorta takes continued enjoyment away from our recent victory.
We at DU are just as guilty of this hypocrisy as any. Face it. Everybody in politics wants the office of President. They all think they're the cream of the crop.
We cannot prevent the pols from declaring, but why the orgasms!
If we wanted more exercise on this whole affair, we'd automatically write off of our list those who begin campaigning years before the event.

Is the scent of blood in the water. The disaster of the current administration makes the Republicans very vulnerable, and it is unlikely that party will be able to hold the White House in '08. Leading Democrats are hungry for the opportunity to be the standard-bearer in such a circumstance.

Was in '76 and Ford was considered a lame duck, and the Republicans were banished to the political wilderness. Yet back then we didn't see these sorts of early announcements then:shrug:

Sorry, but I think it is all rather tiresome, and in many ways counter productive, both in terms of election success and for the good of our country as a whole.

It is not, in my view, a particularly appealing spectacle either....

"Sufficient to the day are the troubles thereof."

I just don't think that explanation holds water. Frankly I think that this is all media driven. On election night I heard the talking heads of virtually all the outlets stating that the race for '08 begins now. This rush to crown the nominee is just out of place and overblown, but I suppose they have to have something to jabber on about, since they've given up reporting real news.

It may be a media reaction to the perception of widespread popular desire to be rid of the present administration....

don't pay any attention til after the conventions.
it's stupid.

Kids have to figure out what they're going to do with their lives earlier and earlier. Everything is so hyper-competitive and specialized, that if you don't get on board quick, your ass will be left on the dock. Which wouldn't be so bad if more people followed what the song said.

We don't know where we're going, but we have to get there quickly.