Cosby in '08? It's time for Democrats to think beyond the usual suspects

Washington Monthly, Jan-Feb, 2005

The ink on those Ohio provisional ballots was not yet dry before the inevitable speculation began about Democratic presidential candidates for 2008. Battered, tired, and frustrated by yet another close-enough-to-taste loss, Democrats dreamed of a leader who could respire them. They surveyed their ranks, scratched their heads, and tossed out the names of possibilities: Hillary Clinton. John Edwards. Evan Bayh. That's about where the conversation ended.

Nothing hurts Democrats more than their own aversion to risk. If they are to confront a Republican Party now eyeing a constitutional amendment to make their favorite Austrian-born-movie-beefcake-turned-GOP governor eligible for the White House, Democrats must start thinking audaciously.

Instead of bellyaching about the supposedly shallow 2008 bench, why not consider the following list of people, who probably no one including those on the list--have yet pictured duking it out in New Hampshire? Some of them may have a real chance of winning the nomination, while others are longshots who nonetheless represent the type of candidate who might make a run for the White I louse. Some are larger-than-life personalities; some have been wildly successful in business; some are already household names; and some are all of the above. Most importantly--with apologies to the governor of Iowa--each can make a more exciting candidate than Tom Vilsack.

Tom Brokaw

Bio: Former NBC "Nightly News" anchor; author of The Greatest Generation.

Case for Candidacy: You know him, you trust him, and you are already tired of Brian Williams. Until recently America's most-watched news anchor, Brokaw was a respected interpreter of world events for 21 years. His "Fleecing of America" segment about government corruption and waste highlighted the native South Dakotan's populist insistence that Washington work for the people. Mad Brokaw's bestselling book made him a spokesman for a bygone era of national pride and political harmony.

Surprising Edge: He's interviewed more foreign leaders than most candidates can name.

Possible Disqualifier: South Dakota Democrats might be cursed (See McGovern, G.).

Odds of surviving Iowa Caucus: 2:1

Lance Armstrong

Big: Professional bicyclist, six-time Tour de France winner; cancer survivor.

Case for Candidacy: The man got Americans to sit in front of their televisions to watch a three-week-long bike race. In France. Armstrong's pro-choice, a major advocate of stem-cell research, and an inspiration to cancer patients everywhere. He established the Lance Armstrong Foundation to fund research and sits on Bush's national cancer panel. Oh, and he's from Texas. Come on--sign him up.

Surprising Edge: Trouncing the French time and time again.

Possible Disqualifier: Divorced wife, then hooked up with rocker Sheryl Grow.

Odds of surviving Iowa Caucus: 1:3

Phil Bredesen

Bio: Governor of Tennessee; entrepreneur.

Case for Candidacy: The only two successful Democratic candidates in the last 30 years have been Southern governors--if anyone can repeat the formula, it's Bredesen. He's Clinton, version 2.0: tough on crime, a fiscal conservative, a death-penalty supporter, and a gun owner. Widely touted as the face of the "'New South," the self-made millionaire came into office during the 2002 election debacle, bucking the Republican tide that swept the rest of the country.

Surprising Edge: Hands-on experience in health care.

Possible Disqualifier: Unfortunately, it was as the head of an HMO.

Odds of surviving Iowa Caucus: 3:1

Bill Cosby

Bio: Comedian; actor; Ph.D. in education

Case for Candidacy: America's favorite dad is also a master of reframing; Cosby consciously structured his top-rated "Cosby Show" to emphasize the importance of education and knock down stereotypes of black families. He has since drawn upon his beloved-icon status and personal fortune to stump for early-reading initiatives and endow college scholarships; now, he's putting his popularity on the line to criticize the lax parenting and low academic standards he sees in black America today. These recent remarks, that drew defensive fire, proved the former Jello spokesman has guts and thrust Cosby back onto the national stage. A successful, much-loved black man touting education and family-values--what's not to love?

Surprising Edge: Great one-liners.

Possible Disqualifier: Has admitted cheating on his wife.

Odds of surviving Iowa Caucus: 50-50

Carly Fiorina

Big: Chairman and CEO of Hewlett-Packard; former teacher.

Case for Candidacy: A naturally-gifted saleswoman (and what is a president if not national pitchman?), Fiorina rose from sales rep at AT&T to chief executive of Lucent Technologies where she engineered its IPO. When she took over the helm of HP, she became the first woman to head a Dow 30 company and oversaw a successful merger deal with Compaq. She was Fortune's most powerful woman in business for six years running, and she is also closely involved with HP's philanthropy efforts.

Surprising Edge: Poster girl for women with stay-at-home husbands.