propaganda is so thick now you can cut it with a knife.

Plus, he could self-fund (even though his latest movies have basically flopped).  

I tend to disagree on the media circus.  It would only be a circus if he actually gained any traction in the polls, which he wouldnt.

We are lacking a brand image and brand message.

Ben Affleck would make a  great spokesperson.  My first impression of him are a young,
intelligent,  multicultural, hard-working and charismatic guy.   (And I don't even like his
work)

We live in a time of Entertainment weekly, Entertainment nightly, Regis and Kathy Lee.
People identify with celebrities.  

It is time that we have some Hollywood celebrities that are Democrats and not just
liberals.

(Besides everybody I know loves his commercials with that quacking Duck!  oh....wait a minute...)

Afflect is the star of Good Will Hunting, Dogma, and Chasing Amy.

People don't always vote on issues. As Ah-nold demonstrated, they vote for celebrity. And beauty.

Afflect would make a great candidate. And Garner would make a tremendous surrogate.

Republicans are smart enough to realize celebrity -- Ah-nold, Reagan, J.C. Watts -- is valuable in politics.

Democrats? We don't do enough to embrace -- as candidates -- our famous friends.

Just don't let Casey get anywhere near the podium!

Celebrity status for Republicans has been helpful in projecting aspects of the Republican mesage that appeals to voters.  Football players (Watts, Largent, Osborne, etc.)?  Images of discipline, toughness, and strength are emphasized.  Further, sports tend to be ruthlessly meritocratic.  These perceptions reinforce Republican messages of self reliance and a strong national defense.  What would sports celebrity emphasize about key Democratic principles?  Nothing so resounding.

As for Arnold, it's not just that he was a superfamous movie star - it's the kind of image his movie roles famously projected.  Arnold is stamped - almost universally - in the public mind as the Terminator.  He ran for office at a time of seemingly intractable crises in California, as politicians dithered while the budget ran out of control and energy costs skyrocketed.  While we don't always feel the need to be macho, a strong plurality of Californians felt the time for patience and political wrangling was over - it was time for the Terminator to take control from those who couldn't harness power to solve big problems.  

In contrast, what does Warren Beatty or Ben Affleck offer besides fame?  Indeed, if anything, Democratic movie stars project things about the party that most people don't like.  Ben and Warren are notorious womanizers, and that tends to contrast poorly with perceptions that Republicans are the party of moral rectitude, while Dems are the party that tolerates moral decay. While Arnold's personal behavior may have been even more scandalous, his brand was too strong for that aspect of his life to be a deterrent.  

So, it's not just a matter of being famous. The image the star projects - and specifically how well that image reinforces favorable party images - is of paramount importance.  

Why, oh why, isn't he doing this?

If Affleck wants to run for office, he should consider representing his district in the House. The biggest disadvantage of being a famous actor (media scrutiny) will be lessened by taking the race down the ballot and reducing the "sense of entitlement" gut feeling people will have. And the advantages, name recognition and money, will help more. Of course, he really should actually live in the district for a little while first, not just move there and run.

Bullshit.  I've talked to a lot of Democrats on all levels about finding a candidate, particularly in the past two weeks, and nobody has said a word about Affleck.  Carpetbaggers don't do well in Virginia, and there's no reason why he'd be any exception.

I think the Post's sources are having a little fun at the paper's expense.  I don't doubt that somebody, somewhere suggested Affleck, but there's no buzz at all.

It would be better for our party in the long run to have even a repug in office than having that fool Affleck be front-and-center for us.

He is also young, and who knows what the future holds for him?

I would hesitate to support a Streisand, or Beatty candidacy. But Affleck, he has potential.

I think it would be the final nail in the Democratic party to adopt murders as our standard bearers.

I watched his interviews during the '04 Dem convention, and found him very insightful. Yes, he might have some skeletons of being a "bad boy" in his 20's, but look at him now. He is married with a kid on the way. Sure, his wife got pregnant before they married, but he did what even the most conservatives would agree was the "right thing" and put a ring on her finger.

I wouldn't go so far as calling Affleck the next Dean or even Obama, but I think he would surprise most of us. Additionally, I do not think there would be too much concern in terms of fundraising, as he could probably use a lot of his own money and his celeb status would likely draw in money for the party as a whole.

I'll go ahead and endorse Ben if he runs.

He's a human and a Democrat, and that's where it counts.

Look, this isn't the CA gubernatorial race, we don't already have a good Dem candidate lined up.

I would definitely support an Affleck candidacy.

He has the beliefs, he has the message, and if it gets more airtime for the Democratic version of the contract on America, hey... even better!

-C.

And we do have Fred Thompson, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Fred "Gopher-Love-Boat Grandy" and Sony Bozo to consider.

Sure he won't win, but by defying low expectations and being the surprisingly articulate young man we know him to be, he could do alot to endear himself to the Party, gain valuable campaign experience, and maybe punch a few holes in Allen before his likely 2008 run.

Allen would no doubt like this race to be a landslide/coronation so he looks like a winner when the presidential race heats up.  Ben won't have any trouble getting attention, unlike other Dem possibilities--and I remember thinking in 2004 that he was a better politician than he is an actor.  It would be so sweet if he could rain on George Allen's victory parade.  All he would have to do is do better than he's supposed to.  And the Ben Affleck I saw is better than you expect him to be.
   

Star power in a state whose current two senators gained their seats through buzz courtisy of kin (i.e. movie icon Liz Taylor for Warner and Hall of Fame coach George Allen for Allen).

And as a local Democratic operative in the Tim Kaine campaign said to me, "He'd certainly help get people  to watch the debates!"