The Next Leader of the 'Free' World?

[Steve Gardner]

According to William Hill, Hillary Clinton is clear favourite to succeed Dubya (as of 29th December 2007).

4/6 Hillary Clinton
4/1 Barack Obama
5/1 Rudolph Giuliani
7/1 Mitt Romney
14/1 Mike Huckabee
16/1 John Edwards
20/1 Ron Paul
20/1 John Mc Cain

Who would you like to win? Take a look at the profiles below (source: CBS) and then cast your vote.

If your choice isn't listed, please select 'Other' and, if you want to, tell us who it is.


Hillary Clinton


Party
Democrat

Campaign Web Site
www.HillaryClinton.com

Current Position
U.S. Senator, New York

Personal
Birthdate: October 26, 1947; Chicago, Ill. (Age: 60)
Education: B.A. Wellesley College, 1969; J.D. Yale University, 1973.
Military: None
Family: Married (Bill Clinton), One child (Chelsea)
Hometown: Chappaqua, N.Y.
Religion: Methodist

Career Highlights
• U.S. Senate, 2001-present
• First Lady of the U.S., 1993-2001
• Rose Law Firm, 1977-1992
• Lecturer in Law, Univ. of Arkansas at Little Rock, 1979-80
• Asst Professor of Law, director of legal aid clinic, University of Arkansas - Fayetteville, 1974-77
• Impeachment Inquiry Staff, House Judiciary Committee, 1974
• Staffer, Children's Defense Fund, 1973-74

Presidential Announcement Date
January 20, 2007

Books Authored
"Living History," (2003)
"An Invitation to the White House: At Home with History," (2000)
"Dear Socks, Dear Buddy: Kids' Letters to the First Pets," (1998)
"It Takes A Village," (1996)


Barak Obama


Party
Democrat

Campaign Web Site
www.BarackObama.com

Current Position
U.S. Senator, Illinois

Personal
Birthdate: August 4, 1961; Honolulu, Hawaii (Age: 46)
Education: Columbia University, B.A. (1983); Harvard Law School, J.D. (1991)
Military: None
Family: Married (Michelle Obama); Two children (Malia and Sasha)
Hometown: Chicago, Ill.
Religion: United Church of Christ

Career Highlights
• U.S. Senator (2005-present)
• Illinois State Senator (1997-2004)
• Senior Lecturer, University of Chicago Law School (1996-present)
• Practicing attorney (1993-96)
• Director, Developing Communities Project (1985-1988)

Presidential Announcement Date
February 10, 2007

Books Authored
"The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream" (2006)
"Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance" (1995)


Rudolph Giuliani


Party
Republican

Campaign Web Site
www.JoinRudy2008.com

Current Position
Candidate

Personal
Birthdate: May 28, 1944, Brooklyn, N.Y. (Age: 63)
Education: Manhattan College, 1965; J.D. New York University, 1968
Military: None
Family: Married (Judith Giuliani), Two children (Andrew, Caroline)
Hometown: New York, N.Y.
Religion: Catholic

Career Highlights
• Chairman and CEO, Giuliani Partners LLC (2002-present)
• Partner, Bracewell & Giuliani LLP (2005-present)
• Mayor, New York City (1994-2002)
• Associate Attorney General (1981-1983)

Presidential Announcement Date
February 5, 2007

Books Authored
"Leadership," (2005)


Mitt Romney


Party
Republican

Campaign Web Site
www.MittRomney.com

Current Position
Candidate

Personal
Birthdate: March 12, 1947; Detroit, Mich. (Age: 60)
Education: B.S., Brigham Young University, 1971; MBA, Harvard Business School, 1975
Military: None
Family: Married (Anne Romney), Five children (Tagg, Matt, Josh, Ben and Craig)
Hometown: Belmont, Mass.
Religion: Mormon

Career Highlights
• Governor of Massachusetts 2003-2007
• President, Salt Lake Olympics Organizing Committee, 1999-2002
• CEO, Bain and Company, 1994-1999
• Massachusetts Senate Candidate, 1994
• Founder, Bain Capital, 1984-90
• VP, Bain and Company, Inc., 1978-84

Presidential Announcement Date
February 13, 2007

Books Authored
"Turnaround: Crisis, Leadership, and the Olympic Games." (2004)


Mike Huckabee


Party
Republican

Campaign Web Site
www.MikeHuckabee.com

Current Position
Candidate

Personal
Birthdate: August 24, 1955; Hope, Ark. (Age: 52)
Education: B.A., Ouachita Baptist University, 1975; Attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1976-77
Military: None
Family: Married (Janet Huckabee), Three children (John Mark, David and Sarah)
Hometown: Hope, Ark.
Religion: Protestant (ordained Baptist minister)

Career Highlights
• Arkansas Governor, 1996-2007
• Arkansas Lieutenant Governor, 1993-96
• President, Arkansas Baptist State Convention, 1989-91
• Television executive, 1983-92
• Pastor, 1980-92

Announced Presidential Exploratory Committee
January 28, 2007

Books Authored
"From Hope to Higher Ground: 12 STOPs to Restoring America's Greatness," (2007)
"Quit Digging Your Grave With a Knife and Fork: A 12-Stop Program to End Bad Habits and Begin a Healthy Lifestyle," (2005)
"Living Beyond Your Lifetime: How to be Intentional About the Legacy You Leave," (2000)
"Kids Who Kill: Confronting Our Culture of Violence," (co-authored, 1998)
"Character is the Issue: How People With Integrity Can Revolutionize America," (co-authored, 1997)


John Edwards


Party
Democrat

Campaign Web Site
www.JohnEdwards.com

Current Position
Candidate

Personal
Birthdate: June 10, 1953 in Seneca, S.C. (Age: 54)
Education: North Carolina State (1974); University of North Carolina Law School (1977)
Military: None
Family: Married (Elizabeth Edwards); Three children (Cate, Emma Clair and Jack
Hometown: Raleigh, N.C.
Religion: Methodist

Career Highlights
• Attorney 1977-1998
• U.S. Senator, North Carolina, 1998-2004
• Democratic Vice Presidential nominee, 2004

Presidential Announcement Date
December 28, 2006

Books Authored
"Home: The Blueprints of our Lives," (2006)
"Four Trials," (2003)


Ron Paul


Party
Republican

Campaign Web Site
www.RonPaul2008.com

Current Position
U.S. Representative, Texas

Personal
Birthdate: August 20, 1935; Pittsburgh, Pa. (Age: 72)
Education: B.A. Gettysburg Col., 1957; M.D. Duke U., 1961
Military: Flight Surgeon, Air Force, 1963-68.
Family: Married (Carol Paul), Five children (Ronald Jr., Lori Pyeatt, Randal, Robert and Joy LeBlanc)
Hometown: Surfside, Texas
Religion: Protestant

Career Highlights
• U.S. House of Representatives, 1976, 1978-84, 1997-present
• Practicing physician, 1968-96

Presidential Announcement Date
March 12, 2007

Books Authored
"A Foreign Policy of Freedom," (2007)
"Challenge to Liberty: The Case for Gold," (1990)


John Mc Cain


Party
Republican

Campaign Web Site
www.ExploreMcCain.com

Current Position
U.S. Senator, Arizona

Personal
Birthdate: August 29, 1936; Panama Canal Zone (Age: 71)
Education: U.S. Naval Academy, B.S. (1958); National War College (1973-74)
Military: U.S. Navy (1958-81); Active duty, Vietnam (POW)
Family: Married (Cindy McCain); Seven children (Douglas, Andrew, Sidney, Meghan, Bridget, John IV and James)
Hometown: Phoenix
Religion: Baptist

Career Highlights
• U.S. Senator, Ariz., 1986-present
• U.S. House of Representatives, 1982-1986
• Director, Navy Senate Liaison Office, 1977-81

Campaign Announcement Date
April 25, 2007

Books Authored
"Hard Call: Great Decisions and the Extraordinary People Who Made Them" (2007)
"Character is Destiny: Inspiring Stories Every Young Person Should Know and Every Adult Should Remember" (2005)
"Why Courage Matters: the Way to a Braver Life" (2004)
"Worth the Fighting For," (2002)
"Faith of my Fathers," (1999)

[Steve Gardner]

Being a Brit, I'm not as familiar with the personalities involved as I'd like. However, I think, if I were voting, I'd go for Dennis Kucinich.

He seems to be the most straight-talking of the lot; the least owned; and the least likely to take the world into an apocalyptic war with anyone who challenges the US right to do whatever the hell it wants.

My main, but by no means only, reasons are:

• He voted against the unprovoked invasion, mass-murder and oil-grab in Iraq (he's even tried to impeach Dick Cheney for manipulating the evidence of Iraq's weapons programmes!)
  
  
• He has since voted against robbing the US taxpayer to boost the profits of corporations - otherwise known as wartime appropriations.
  
  
• He is all in favour of dialogue with Iran rather than murdering them for something even the US National Intelligence Estimate says they're not going to do, but which every other candidate seems determined to assert they are - namely develop nuclear weapons.
  
  
• And finally, he support ratification of the Kyoto Treaty, which can only be a good thing, given the US consumes 25% of the world's oil.

It'll come as no surprise, given he's so sensible, to learn that he stands absolutely no chance.

[teddy]

I'd vote Ron Paul, because he would support a non-interventist foreign policy and take away the control of the money supply from the bankers. There is much disinfo written about him which demonstrates that he is perhaps a threat, albeit a small one at this present time.

[Steve Gardner]

It was a toss-up for me between Kucinich and Paul. I went Kucinich because I'm in line with him on pretty much all the issues that really matter to me right now. Further, he comes without the religious baggage that is, rightly or wrongly, associated witn Ron Paul.

Not only does he tick the boxes as far as Iraq, Iran and the War on Terror are concerned, he also refused to get sucked in by the hyperbole surrounding the comments made by Ahmadinejad, allegedly to the effect that Israel should be wiped off the map. But that isn't what Ahmadinejad said at all and Kucinich even tried to get the mistranslation corrected when it was used in a US House of Representatives resolution aimed at persuading the UN Security Council to charge Ahmadinejad with violating the 1948 Convention on Genocide and the United Nations Charter. Instead of 'Israel should be wiped off the map', Kucinich argued, correctly, that it should have read, ‘the regime occupying Jerusalem must vanish from the page of time’.

He proposed ammendment was blocked, of course.

[teddy]

I've never heard Ron Paul discuss religion in support of his policies.

These primaries are an absolute joke. I'm only following them to see how Ron Paul gets on.

[Steve Gardner]

Is it me or there a certain inevitability about the fact that Clinton is going to be the next President? And, if so, what the bloody hell does that say about Western democracy? I mean, will it be Jeb Bush in 2017, followed by Chelsea Clinton in 2025?

I have to say, having all but given up hope of my #1 and 2 (Kucinich and Paul respectively), my only real interest in the proceedings is to see whether Obama could take the Dems nomination. That would be something, but I suspect he'd wind up dead somewhere before being allowed to move into the White House.

[QuietGirl]

Personally I hate how the entire campaign is turning into one large racial battle as of lately. I'd rather not see Clinton make it to office because of the fact that no other woman has even tried so how do we even know that a woman can do the job? Also in her commercials she's been saying that she's going to bring 35 years of experience to the White House. Exactly where does this 35 years of experience come from?

Obama on the other hand seems like a generally nice candidate. Although I'd rather not see a Democrat take the office, seeing as how I'm a Republican and all but if I did vote for a Democrat then I would vote for him. He could be a nice change versus Clinton who I never truly liked.

These two are certainly making this year for voting quite interesting. I don't even recall the Kerry/Bush campaign making headlines like these two are. Probably because both of them were white while Clinton is white and Obama is black. Though I don't really think that the color of your skin should determine whether or not you can take office.

As for your poll well I voted for John McCain. He's the Senator of my state and he seems like a pretty nice guy. I've never met him of course but out of all the other Republicans he's the only one I can stand so far. Though I haven't seen any commercials for him. Only ones for Clinton which I mute whenever they come on.

[Steve Gardner]

Out of interest, and give your obvious interest in 9/11, what do make of Giuliani's candidacy?

[QuietGirl]

Seeing as how I haven't heard much about him I can't really give my opinion on his candidacy as of right now. The only advice I would give him is to get his arse in the race and start making himself more noticeable.

[Steve Gardner]

Have you heard about McCain's speech to supporters on Sunday?

He said that: "I'm sorry to tell you, there's going to be other wars. We will never surrender but there will be other wars." Which is exactly what I don't want to hear from a prospective US Presidential candidate.

I want to hear what ideas the future most powerful leader in the world has for averting conflict not that they see it as inevitable. The dissappointing thing from my perspective is that only two - Paul and Kucinich - look at things in the same way and those two stand no chance

Here's a link with video if you're interested.

[QuietGirl]

You're being naive for thinking that there won't be other wars. That for no other reason there will be a war because man can't stand to be at peace. If a candidate says there will be no more wars then they're lying. Everyone hopes that conflicts can be settled diplomatically but to think that no physical threat will be part of that diplomacy is again naive.

[Steve Gardner]

I'm afraid that, when it comes to the prospect of further wars, I couldn't be more pessimistic. It's clear there is a well-coordinated effort to engage Iran and if we do, then it's only a matter of time, in my view, before we are involved in one awful mess in Pakistan. And if we get there then it's hard to see how we can avert some sort of conflict with China and perhaps the Russians.

But the point I was making was that I want leaders to talk and act in ways that seek to avoid conflict rather than condition the general public into accepting the inevitablity of war.

Although our governments appear to ride roughshod over public opinion, they do, for the most part, need to have a certain amount of public backing before declaring war. That's why there was such a concerted effort before Iraq, often littered with lies and half-truths. That's why there is a big push to demonise Iran, including the accusation that they want to wipe Israel off the map (an outright lie) and accusations that they are trying to develop nuclear weapons (a claim that is flat contradicted by US intelligence assessments).

What McCain is doing is playing his part in getting us ready to support more conflict. But I know where we're heading. I want a prospective candidate like him to show that he's thinking about ways to change course.

[Steve Gardner]

Here's an interesting quiz from Go To Quiz that appeared in the ProBoards General Chat forum today.

It poses 17 questions and then, based on your answers, displays which of the Presidential candidates you're most closely aligned with.

My scores were:

72% Mike Gravel
68% Dennis Kucinich
67% Bill Richardson
64% Ron Paul
61% Chris Dodd
59% Barack Obama
57% Hillary Clinton
56% John Edwards
55% Joe Biden
51% John McCain
51% Rudy Giuliani
48% Mike Huckabee
46% Mitt Romney
38% Fred Thompson
30% Tom Tancredo

Which I think is roughly what I expected given I'd always considered my top choice to be Kucinich followed by Paul.

Try it out and post your answers here. Are they what you expected?

[teddy]

Glad to see Ron Paul at the top, and Rudy Giuliani at the bottom!

62% Ron Paul
61% Mike Gravel
59% Dennis Kucinich
55% John Edwards
55% Tom Tancredo
53% Bill Richardson
53% Barack Obama
51% Chris Dodd
49% Hillary Clinton
46% Mitt Romney
46% John McCain
45% Joe Biden
43% Fred Thompson
41% Mike Huckabee
23% Rudy Giuliani