Are you ready to gear up for Election 2016? According to news analysis published in the Sunday Review of the New York Times, February 5, 2012, win or lose in November, President Obama's presidency will be "history" the day anyone, including he, takes office. Thus, Democrat political strategists are already scrutinizing the political landscape for their strongest presidential bet in 2016 while wanna-bees are currently positioning themselves in the spotlight so that their potential won't be overlooked. Election 2016 has unofficially started.
NYT analyst, David Leonhardt, warns "The jockeying for 2016 has begun," explaining that a loss by the president will start an immediate search for the Democrat who "might be able to pick up the pieces from the deep disappointment of his one term. If he wins, the party will begin turning to who might be able to accomplish the difficult task of winning a third straight term for one party. " So either way, it's on to the next election, the next candidate.
This jump start to 2016 reminds this author of a man whose genius works well sampled out-of-context, Peter Nivio Zarlenga, who once predicted, “There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. That will be the beginning.” Another quote by the same, mirrors the opinion of much of the unemployed about politicians, campaigns, elections and what happens in D.C. --"In our factory, we make lipstick. In our advertising, we sell hope."
Unfortunately, "Hope isn't hiring," and for all but the most devout political animals, many are wearied by the march to election 2012. After watching the field of GOP candidates go down like scythed wheat, the thought of campaign wheels turning so soon for 2016 election cycle is enough to make the average citizen, who is hoping politicians will focus on the economy, despair and rise up to demonstrate the wrath of man. Still, it begins.
The "beginning" is a short list of familiar and not-so-familiar political names, including Governor Andrew M. Cuomo of New York, Senator Mark R. Warner, Governor Martin O’Malley of Maryland, Elizabeth Warren -- and of course, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. Conspicuous by their absence, neither Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi nor Anthony Weiner were mentioned; however, Mayor Rahm Emanuel's name was bandied about. Tucking in two overlooked governors of our own, Governor John Hickenlooper of Colorado and Governor Brian Schweitzer of Montana -- profiles of some of the most likely Democrat candidates for president in 2016 are provided on the left sidebar slideshow.
Perhaps, most illusive of all, Democrats may search for another new face, one such as then Senator Obama of 2008, who demonstrates the markings of strong populace appeal paired with a blank voting record. Unlike Hillary Clinton, their strongest challenge would be to develop name recognition - but then Barack Hussein Obama proved in 2008, it can be done.
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