We need to start a "Possible/Eligibles" list and post some info on them. I would start with the ones that are NOT running now in the 2 Kabuki Dance Contests foisted upon the Amwerican Public. Get some info, bio etc on some good "possible-eligibles" like Chuck Hagel, Bill Bradley, Christine Todd Whitman, Bill Cohen, Sam Nunn, Bob Kerrey, John Breaux, John Danforth, George Mitchell, Mike Bloomberg, Warren Rudman, Gary Hart, Evan Bayh, Lee Hamilton, Joe Lieberman, Leon Panetta, Arnie, etc. We could even get them to do interactive backgrounder bloginars for us on a topic/issue they believe strongly in.
Above all we need to start the conversation and considering these "possibles-eligibles" and their experience on the key issues. They do not have to commit to being Unity candidates (call them Councile of Experts or Friends of Unity or something) but we need to tap into some of these people to really start the conversation on the biggie issues impinging on this blessed Republic. The other parties will not!! Let's not leave the political conversation with the pandering "American Idols" dog-and-pony sound-bite heaven shows of the 2 Parties. We need to start a rational reasoned response that informs the future of this nation with wisdom and some serious doable options!!
Candidates, Issues and Branding will all have a synergystic effect on any eventual Unity08 success. Right now there is scant little and having some "possible-eligibles" on our site and talking the big issues will really jump start uor branding all the way around and make us REAL contenders and not just Cyberspace ether. And it will start us toward what we ultimately need here in Unity-land with our base - forming a trust, a bond, and a relationship!!
I'm think the survey is supposed to identify favorite Unity candidates and issues and we move on from there. The results will at least provide fun debate for a week.
I think there are a few different factions, at least among shoutbox participants. IMO there are many non-centrists for example.
Unity leaders want to wait for early/most primaries in the other parties before some steps are taken. We are positioned to react to bad choices by the major parties. Okay thats easy.
The weakness in that strategy may be that centrist candidates who dont get nominated, quickly declare support for well-funded front-runners within their parties. We may lose news-worthy people by waiting too long.
Like you, I'd rather have a forum for centrist political expression early in the process which normally gets ignored by big parties and media.
I hadn't considered that potential Unity candidates probably will be "required", if only by their local media, to weigh in on the Dem/Rep front runners. It would be sort of silly for them to make statements like that, and THEN suddenly announce they are a Unity candidate.
On the other hand there might be an advantage in waiting. When I ponder all of the discussions on here, and the primary debates of the major parties, and then reconcile that activity to what is on the minds of the people I know, I realize that those truly interested in it this early on are a minority of the total population. We are what you might call the "civic gym nuts." We're at the "gym" every day. But most people aren't like that. Most won't be this involved in the political process, not to mention get involved with it for more than a YEAR before the election.
That being the case, people are going to get burned out at the start of the year when the primaries invade the evening news night after night. As sad as it may be, people might completely tune out politics until "they have to deal with it" in the summer and fall.
That might actually be the best time to appear on the scene with a definitive candidate. If we announce early too, we might get lumped into the apathy barrel with the Dem/Rep candidates.
There's certainly some advantanges and disadvantages here. Unity needs to ramp up earlier than the major parties because we have no local infrastructure, yet how can we get people motivated and on our side without providing some real substance? My thought is still towards some sort of potential list. I think its benefits outweigh the drawbacks.
-GP
Let's do as The Beatles' said: "Come together, right now. Unity." Something like that... ;)
Or at least important.
I think we agree that the timing of potential candidates is worth thinking about.
I suspect that a Democrat or Republican finishing 3rd or fourth in early primaries can talk about supporting his party's eventual candidate, then announce a run as an independent, if he/she doesn't wait too long.
Waiting for summer '08 may be too long.
I'm not a big Perot/Reform fan, but they could have done much better had Perot not dropped out then come back. The down time hurt.
Thats what I'm thinking for our candidates. Let them sound supportive for a while, but get them on track for Unity nomination within a few weeks. In addition its just good marketing for someone to move over to Unity quickly.
I like Bloomberg a little, but its unfortunate that right now (2008), it would be hard for a Jewish American to step in and make positive contributions to Middle East diplomacy. That takes out another good guy in Lieberman. If either would run for VP, that would help though.