George Epstein: A look at the Democratic candidates

According to Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, senator from South Carolina, “We’ve now reached the intense part of this campaign…voters are really paying attention.” Well – maybe. Perhaps if I write a column discussing the Democratic candidates, we can really get this campaign rolling.

First, let’s assume that you bring the same attitude toward your president that George Steinbrenner does toward his Yankees. Either perform or you’re gone – loyalty, personal preference, and ability to jog long distances do not matter. If you’re happy with George Bush’s performance, you can stop reading now. Just show up a year from now and check the Bush box. On the other hand, if the fact that the economy is a basket case, the words “Iraq” and “quagmire” are occurring together frequently, and Osama and Saddam remain fancy free bothers you, you should start paying some attention to the options on the Democratic side. Next, you must decide whether one of these Democrats really excites you or simply want the candidate most likely to de-Bush the White House. Do you want the most electable person or the person who best matches your views. It would be swell if they were the same person, but if Al Sharpton or Dennis Kucinich is your man and you want to beat Bush, you better start compromising.