Very grounded and well spoken. Please take a look at his interviews on PBS:
http://www.tomvilsack.com/articles.aspx

Gov Vilsack is someone who sees America as capable and full of very good sense-something the Bush administration chooses not to see. Gravitas, community and common sense approaches to the problems hampering both America and the world, today are those which are central to Gov Vilsack's vision of a brighter and wiser America-as we can and should be.

For nearly six years, our leaders have shown no belief-no trust in the common person and our nation has faltered badly because of it. We have empowered our enemies and enraged or allies. The road back to greatness can be seen through Tom Vilsack's vision.
Keep track on him on your 2008 radar.

Gov Vilsack is someone who sees America as capable and full of very good sense-something the Bush administration chooses not to see. Gravitas, community and common sense approaches to the problems hampering both America and the world, today are those which are central to Gov Vilsack's vision of a brighter and wiser America-as we can and should be.

For nearly six years, our leaders have shown no belief-no trust in the common person and our nation has faltered badly because of it. We have empowered our enemies and enraged or allies. The road back to greatness can be seen through Tom Vilsack's vision.
Keep track on him on your 2008 radar.

Check out Vilsack's ideas and thoughts

http://www.heartlandpac.org/

Vilsack is an amazing Governor. Anyone who saw him speak at the Press Club realizes that he's more Presidential then our current President. He's well spoken and his comments about community and sacrafice hit me right where it counts. If he can get past the 800 lb gorilla Hillary, than he's our next President of this country.

I second your thoughts Max!

I live in Iowa and am a Democrat. Vilsack is okay as a governor, but there is nothing outstanding about him. I just cannot see him succeeding in a presidential bid (then again, I could not see GWB succeeding, but at least he had the name.)

If you want to see a Democrat who clearly stands for something, and is articulate and smart to boot--check out Russ Feingold. It would be nice to see an interview with him

I don't agree that to win a Dem primary you have to say, "i am pro-choice". In some states, yes in others, no. I can believe in my right to choose yet still want less and less abortions in this country. I agree with the saying, "SAFE, LEGAL and RARE". The Dems need to keep pushing this idea--we want education and health care as opposed to someone walking into a clinic. There are alternates. Political decisions at the FDA need to stop.

I have no problem voting for a Dem who looks at the reality of the abortion debate. Besides when the SC overturns Roe, state legislatures will take over the process. That is where the fight will be.

As far as Vilsack--he's an unknown, as a good story to tell, not a lightning rod for the GOP. I will give him a chance to make his case.

Once again, the fact that Chris must be taking a paycheck from the Republican National Committee rears its head again.

Why does the Washington Post allow this diatribe from such a hack?

I was at the national press club luncheon, and I was really impressed with Vilsack. I do not understand why Warner has so much more buzz than he does. Vilsack's comunications are much stronger and his experiences is greater. He is the head of the DLC and if can use his coatails in Iowa and keep the governor mansion democratic than he will go far.
Vilsack 08!!!!

I got to say Chris, this is a little biased sounding especially if you take into account your detailed and long recent entries on Sanford and Romney.
Also I think TLH is right. You can talk all you want about community and sharing but to win the Democratic primary you will HAVE to say three little words "I AM PRO-CHOICE"
No way you win the nomination without that.

Vilsack has done a nice job in Iowa as governor. I like his theme of community, unfortunately his abortions stance will hurt him greatly in the primaries. Look for him to have a good shot at the VP slot.

While I am the first to say the Democrats as a Party stand for nothing, after reading the first comments I am not sure if some people are just too angry to be objective about politics at this point -

"I'm shocked, I'm Shocked there's politics going on among politicians."

Chris you brought out an important issue - "community" we are so obsessed with being angry at one another politically we no longer have a community of Americans putting America first.

I am a longtime anti-Republican but in 2008 I will be looking for a candidate who is about community and healing the rift between Americans, and mostly the Dems and Repubs. This strategy of love me and hate them or if you hate them you must perform your civil duty by voting for me, is no longer going to work for me.

On the Republican side I could easily vote for a Susan Collins (R Maine) or a Bill Richardson (D New Mexico) what each has in common is - a sense of ending this bitterness which is hurting America.

This is something I wrote after 911 - we need to start thinking this way again.

What is and is not being an American is an issue of great debate in light of 9/11. What it is to be an American can be seen in America's landscape. America's majesty is in its diverse landscape, and so too its people. Whether it is the beauty of America's fall colors, or the blossoming of a yucca cactus, America is diverse from shore to shore.

America's diversity is not limited to Fall colors or one cactus. Even within its trees and cacti there is no universality. They are all different is size, shape, and color. Such is the nature of being an American. We are a diverse people. We have many values and many cultures. America's culture is a culture of blending of cultures and separation of cultures. Tacos and burritos are now as American as apple pie. So too is the egg roll, and pizza. Is it not true that pita bread is fashionable? Such is the nature of our blending. But yet, while we may blend in public, traditional cultural values appear to survive in the home. This is part of America's greatness.

How can a people so diverse be one? The answer is simple, as Americans we all value liberty and economic opportunity. As American's we have learned to blend these two basic concepts into many subcultures, with these concepts binding the whole.

As Americans we understand that 9/11 was an attack on "We The People", because "We the People" are America. Americans of all shapes, sizes, and colors came together and resolved in their minds "We Shall Prevail" Such as the cacti and trees, while they are different in many ways, they are also the same - a tile in the mosaic known as the American Landscape.

On 9/11, to me it did not matter that I believe that America's politics of brutal colonial oppression led to 9/11. On 9/11 what mattered most to me was that being an American had little to do with how we feel about our governmental policies, it was about "We the People" being attacked. With rare exception "We the People" set aside our political beliefs to stand in defense of "We the People." We put aside our differences because as Americans we are Americans first and Democrats, Socialists, Republicans, Independents, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Jew, Christian, Moslem, whatever, second.

You are an American when you understand that America accepts all people, all values, all opinions, all cultures which can live in harmony within America's blending of cultures, values, opinions etc, and individualism at once. BEING AN AMERICAN IS NOT ABOUT TOLERANCE OF DIVERSITY, BUT THE EMBRACING OF DIVERSITY WITH THE COMMON GOAL OF LIBERTY AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL.

Bobby Wightman-Cervantes
www.balancingtheissues.com

>>>How do other readers rate your objectivity?

JF, read back a thread or two to find out. I think it will confirm the worst of your fears about Mr. Cilliza.

While we're at it, hey Chris, did you know that TravellingTom.com has YOUR INTERVIEW with Vilsack as their 2nd link from the top in their News section? WHAT A COINCIDENCE!!! Omg, you must be SO shocked! I mean, here you are humbly writing an unbiased interview for a respectable newspaper, and lo and behold it gets posted on a hack site "Paid for by the Republican Party of Iowa." Amazing coincidence, huh?

Btw, how's that Shill-for-Rent book coming along? I hear Gannon LOVES working with you.

The Republican Party filing an ethics complaint against a Democrat is analogous to Michael Jackson filing a complaint against a nanny for sleeping in the same bed with kids. How can anyone take their filing a complaint against Vilsack seriously?

http://www.intrepidliberaljournal.blogspot.com

I get the sense from reading your column that Democrats don't stand for anything and don't have the guts to stand up for anything even if they did stand for anything, which they don't. Also, from reading your column, I get a clear impression that Democrats running for President are simply politicians, and therefore can't be trusted. Meanwhile, you would have us believe that Republicans are dedicated civil servants who would deliver us unto Utopia if only they could "get past" the "accusations" of Democrats. How do you respond to me? Honestly, is your first reaction to judge me or to reflect on my impressions. How do other readers rate your objectivity? I realize you do a tremendous amount of work following a world few others attempt to cover, but that just makes it more important that you do it as objectively as possible. I see room for improvement.