Who this grapevine? I don't believe it. And even if he hasn't made up his mind.. um..

it's called a draft. Remember?!?!?! =)

Geez.

I think he's the best shot to win statewide if John Warner decides not to run. Or.. John Grisham.

has been pretty emphatic that he's done politics.

and John Grisham? I mean, are we just gonna go to a bookstore everytime we need a candidate? Gimme a break.

Grisham served in the Mississippi State Legislature for years, so he has more experience than "just a writer."  However, he has shown no interest at all in running.

Zinni would be a perfect candidate, but you may be right.  He's pretty much said he has no intentions of running...ever.

"just a writer."

Who are you quoting exactly?

I thought that's what you were inferring with the "bookstore" comment.  My bad.

to FORCE someone into running who genuinely doesn't want to run.

that Virginia residents were being called by a polling outfit asking for their preference in a potential Warner v. Warner race. Maybe the results weren't what they were hoping for.

disappointed Mark Warner isnt running - it opens the door to one of my favorite Virginia Democrats to run - Don Beyer.  His involvement with Dean in 2003-2004 and Warner since then makes you think he has the itch to run again...

but beating John Warner? That's a very tall order.

There, I resisted the urge to attack Beyer.  You guys should be proud of me! :)

...I've heard some really good things about him from people I greatly respect.  Just sayin'.

If I haven't, I'll e-mail it to you later.  It's an interesting story. 

I just happen to think that Beyer is overrated.  Both guys he beat were nutjobs.  Then, when he faced his first REAL challenge in Gilmore, he got destroyed.  I'm just saying, there are people out there that WORSHIP Don Beyer, and I just believe it's really not warranted.

Mark Warner could become Senator if Webb is plucked for VP!!!  (Let's hope this doesn't happen.)

"And Virginia won't vote for Hillary Clinton if Thomas Jefferson was her runningmate."

I'm having a hard time thinking of a candidate in the primary that could win Virginia.  Maybe Clark, or possibly Edwards?  Maybe Vilsack?  I don't know, who could win in VA with Webb or Warner as VP?

Edwards is just too liberal I think.

Clark because his military experience would help. He's like Webb in many respects actually.

I'm thinking that these early entry candidates and this unusual early race is a panic response to a leaderhips crisis in America. They are already threadbare. By April, we could see a Second Wave with (a) more competent managers and (b) leaders who can win in red and blue states: Wes Clark, Mark Warner, Kathleen Sebelius, Al Gore.

There is this week a "draft Al Gore" movement started with some of the key White House people in his VP day. I think it is necessary with the way the MSM has decended like hordes around their novelty favorites and creatd this American Idol for President fiasco. It could destroy the Democratic Party. I was an early "Draft Mark Warner" guy - one of the founding guys, I think, but I left after he raised some money last December as there seemed no point in drafting him anymore. Perhaps there needs to be a new "Draft Mark Warner" committee.

That can win statewide. Mark Warner, Tony Zinni, or someone who can win statewide.

No disrepect to all the other prominent Democrats in Virgiia (B. Moran I adore) but I just don't think they can win statewide right now.

Look in 2006 we had a war hero GOP turned Democrat Jim Webb (also a former conservative icon & Reagan Secretary) and still the right went after him. George Allen was one of the WORST candidates I ever seen, and ran one of the worst races as well.

Still, THEY ALMOST WON. So close that leads to believe you can be a racist and still be competitive in Virginia.

I mean.. what else does it mean? There was the marriage amendment that rallied conservatives as well.

If you guys want to win, perhaps you will look to a popular M. Warner to draft or General Tony Zinni.

Zinni endorsed Bush in 2000, then in 2003 he said it was a mistake and would avoid politics altogether again. HOWEVER, in 2006 he endorsed fellow Marine Jim Webb.

I am just saying just because they dismiss interest (like Gore) or flirt with it a long time (Clark '03) doesn't mean we can't convince this person whoever it is they must run and are our only hope to win statewide.

I mean, other than Zinni and M. Warner who else can win statewide? I honestly don't know.

Bernie,

We have kept everything up and running as we 'wait and see' how things develop.

Steve
GA for Warner
www.draftmarkwarner.com

a "retired - or recovering - politician."  On the other hand, he says "As a politician, I have learned to never say never."  So where does that leave us?

The season has changed since he pulled out. That was all pre-Jim Webb. We need managers now of the highest scale to manage and marshall the new paradigm. Jim Webb's populism can quickly turn to political nihilism in the wrong hands and there can already be seen now a viral new strain of nihilism on some of the major blogs. I see Jim Webb as Step One and Mark Warner and Wes Clark as Step Two in the same program. From up here in NH it is hard to tell what is going on, but here is my feeling about the Warner candidacy: I think he was pleased that The New York Times Magazine ran that big story on him as "the anti-Hillary"." It proved to him that if he entered he would immediately be accepted by the major outlets, like The New York Times, as a top-tiered candidate and front runner. Then, when all the rank and file money was going to Hillary, he thought he would get out of the way for awhile. He might have thought he'd run for Governor again and later could go for President. When I met him up here last October he seemed to actually miss his family. He still has youngish kids I think and probably actually wants to be their Dad. So he saw himself running for Prez say in 2012 or 2016. I think he is misjudging the Hillary candidacy. I do not believe it will hold up. Nor do I think Obama will hold up. By April, the Democrats will be in the dolldrums and will have needs: They will need better candidates - people like Clark and Warner - It's a management thing, not an idea thing, and Clark and Warner are the best managers and more or less on the same wave length as Jim Webb (who has already provided the idea/Senators think, Governors manage those thoughts). I also think a talent like Warner should be called to service in crisis: You cannot schedule political salvation, you have to go to it when it calls you forth & it could call Warner forth this Spring. I think you all should gather the Worthies, like the venerable Robert C. Byrd, and people like Jimmy Carter and Mike Easley and Jim Hunt of NC, etc., and impress to him the duty/dharma nature of yielding to service when service is required inherent in the Viringia character.

couldn't win Tennessee in 2000, and his approval ratings have gone down since then.

He has stated many times that his interest is in the executive branch at the State and National levels.

Virginia and probably West Virginia do not go blue in 08 without Warner on the ticket. Who crowned Hillary as the winner already?

BTW, I'm still waiting for the Hillary supporters to tell us which states turn blue with her as our nominee.

by 16% in a poll last year.

In recent polls she is ahead of all Republican contenders in Ohio and Iowa, trounces Huckabee in Arkansas, edges McCain in Florida, and is in a statistical tie with Guiliani there as well...

But it's not because she can't win.

n/t