candidate a good decade or so down the road.

I have no problem with that list except I would replace John Edwards with Howard Dean who has done much more to push the liberal populist agenda.

Matt, no Wes Clark???

I like him so much, I talked him into hiring me :)

John Bonifaz founded the National Voting Rights Institute in 1994 and serves as their lead counsel.  As part of his work with the NVRI, he led the legal efforts for the Ohio recount after the 2004 election.  In 2002, he made a big splash here in Massachusetts when he sued the state for refusing the fund a voter-passed clean elections law, and got a landmark ruling from our Supreme Court saying that the legislature was obligated to fund the law or repeal it.

In 1999, Bonifaz received a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship (commonly nicknamed the "genius award") for his innovative legal work around campaign finance reform.

And now, he's running for Massachusetts secretary of state.  A real voting rights and election reform leader in charge of our elections, imagine that!  The keystone of his platform is a Voters' Bill of Rights that begins with "Count Every Vote".

John Bonifaz is also the author of "Warrior King", co-founder of the After Downing Street Coalition, and the guy who sued the Bush administration in federal court in 2003, claiming they had no constitutional authority to invade Iraq without a declaration of war (the court found Bonifaz's arguments compelling but unfortunately decided to punt).

I'll tell you I must agree with you on Ron Wyden, for whom I worked in 2003. He seldom fails to impress.

Umm, Howard Dean, Ned Lamont, Eliot Spitzer, John Edwards, Al Gore, to name a few.

Incidentally, reading your posts about the CT state convention yesterday, one of my first thoughts was: "I bet the Lamont people feel a lot like we (Patrick people) felt here in Massachusetts on caucus day".

We out-organized the established candidate who's "turn" it is to get the nomination, Attorney General Tom Reilly.  The last three Democratic nominees for Governor in a row have gone from Middlesex DA to Attorney General to Democratic nominee for Governor (to, unfortunately, losing to the Republican in the general).  At the caucuses, we elect delegates to the state convention, where you need 15% to get on the ballot.  We were fairly confident we'd elect enough delegates for 15%, but we wanted to try really hard to get a much stronger showing.

At my ward's caucus, I was surprised to see no Tom Reilly people at all.  The same was true for the other ward that caucused in the same building.  But I didn't realize we weren't a fluke until a couple of hours later, when we were wrapping up and the Deval Patrick coordinator for our ward started calling up the others...  it turns out we whomped Reilly 2-to-1 statewide, and Deval Patrick is now the favorite for the convention endorsement (50%+1) this June.  A great grassroots victory that established Deval Patrick as a credible candidate.

Some of my favorites:

-- Bill Bradley (was the best (as in most "good") man to run for president in 2000 from either party; is still walking his talk by directing start-up capital from Wall Street to progressive non-profits.)

-- Mario Cuomo (best orator the Democratic/Progressive party has produced in the last 30 years)

-- Bob Graham (as chair of the Senate Intel committee, voted against the IWR, and spoke out against Bush national security misdeeds when it wasn't popular to do so)

- Jennifer  Granholm (provides us all a glimpse of  at the future of great feminine command oratory)

- CTO of the City of New Orleans (for standing up for the future of the public commons)

My dad's a Devel delegate back in MA, so I'm sure he'll be glad to see all the fans of Deval in the netroots.  

I like the list; I'd add Feingold.  I think its clear that he votes his conscience, even when there are huge risks to doing so.  Also, as the only Senator to vote against the Patriot Act, he's probably among the strongest defenders of civil liberties in the Senate.

• Bold and forthright, taking stands on important issues without political calculation.
  
• Clear, honest, powerful speakers who can both light up their base and sway the undecided, and build loyalty
  
• Pragmatic coalition-builders who can work with the "other side" on a variety of issued.  Dean's coalition with the NRA to preserve land in Vermont; Feingold's bipartisan coalition that almost reformed the Patriot Act, and his alliance with McCain on campaign finance reform; are good examples.
  
• Honest, trustworthy, and credible.  People believe what they say because they've always been honest and straight with the public, even when it's uncomfortable.
  
• The insight to know how far is not too far, and the ability to push boundaries.  Some politicians play it safe, making little adjustments but not striving for what they could get.  Others are radicals, striving all the way, but don't achieve much because they get written off as cranks or fringe.  These two have the uncanny ability to pick the sweet spot.  They consistently take positions that seem off the edge, but are actually positions that they know can become the new center in the future.
  
• Follow-through.  They may take years, but they pursue their goals effectively, and eventually, those positions they took that seemed on the fringe years ago, actually come to pass.  Consider how little chance anyone gave the campaign finance reform bill when Feingold started working on it.  Or how far-fetched Dean's dream of universal health care in Vermont seemed when he first tried, as Lieutenant Governor.  Or Feingold's lone vote against the Patriot Act, and how far we've come - by next year, we could have significant reform.  Or Dean's sticking up for civil unions, which at the time were opposed by a majority, but are now solidly supported.

Jon Tester is one of the best candidates I've ever seen. He is a natural, a badass, and nothing scares him. Together with Schweitzer the two of them are bringing the West back into the Democratic Party fold.

Gawdamity, Matt, how can you mix the magnificent with the dirtbags?

Maybe it is best if we talk about who we like like Ned Lamont and Louise Slaughter (2nd rate?).

My real heroes were mavericks like Sens. Wayne Morse of Oregon and Gruening of Alaska who, out of the whole damn Congress, voted against the Vietnam War.  The result was that two unbeatables were subsequently unelected but who was right?

Then there was Bill Clinton eulogizing the courageous Eugene McCarthy.  McCarthy thought Clinton should have been convicted by the Senate as did I.

Yeah better stick with who we agree on. :-)

...right now it would have to be Russ Feingold. He continually stands up for what he thinks is right (even if there is a risk to be taken), is a highly reliable supporter of progressive causes, and (as I've seen somebody mention on this blog in the past) has a remarkable way of making progressive values seem approachable and sensible.

All this, and it's not as though he hails from a Deep Blue state! That raises him even further in my esteem. In fact, I think Russ is one of the best examples to support the argument that the large majority  of the American public is not highly ideological. They want someone approachable who can make a case for something and is willing to stand up for it.

Spitzer the Giant Killer gets my runner-up vote.

Great list, Matt.  I'd add:

Conyers
McDermott
Feingold
Tester

and keep everyone on your list, including Pelosi.

Feingold, Dean, Al Gore, Ned Lamont.

Yer bin at da Kool-Aid again with Pelosi. She's no kind of Democrat I want to support. And the first real progressive runs against her is gonna kick her butt.

'Oh...we won't impeach the President....' my ass!

As a native of North Dakota, I was impressed to see both ND Senators on your list. Senators Conrad and Dorgan may not be the flshiest or best known in the Senate, but their intelligence and principles have served the state well. I left North Dakota in 1982, (and lived in Illinois for 20 years, with Senate greats Paul Simon and Dick Durbin as my senators. I even worked on the first Carol Moseley Braun race in the 90s.) but still have family there, and it will always be a special place for me. I met Sen. Dorgan way back in 1973, at Boys' State, when he was (I think) North Dakota's tax commissioner. I was impressed then, and knew he was destined for bigger things. I agree with the other posts about Russ Feingold, he has shown some incredible courage lately.

stabs other Dem candidates in the back when it looks like they might have a shot at sharing her position of (Dem) privilege in upstate NY.  

She's on my list of LEAST Favorite Politicians.  

#1 - Paul Wellstone! I've never felt such honesty and passion come from a politician, plus he was emphatically progressive.  I have a feeling Wellstone! will hold this spot for a long, long time.  Wellstone! was, for me, the model of what a progressive politician should be.

After an enormous gap,

#2 - Feingold; he votes based on his convictions and his lone dissent against the Patriot Act stands out to me.

#3a - Dean, for listening to the progressive base rather than DC insiders.

#3b - Gore; I appreciate his dedication to his cause and working to create real change in climate control policy.  If he just had better judgment in picking his advisors, we might not have had to endure two fucking terms of BushCo...  But he has impressed me with what he has been doing the last couple of years.

I have to add Bill Winter, who's running against the reprehensible Tom Tancredo in Colorado. Bill's come a long way since he first started running late last year. He's been a rock-solid liberal in the best tradition, and an inspiring speaker to boot.

(Full disclosure: I'm one of his friends.)

Good list with the exception of those two. Edwards was pretty ineffective during the Cheney debate and if you watch Nancy Pelosi's daughter's documentary on HBO, Edwards comes across looking pretty lame. And while Edwards is no longer on my shit list because he admits he was wrong about the war, he still showed an amazing lack of critical thinking when he was backing the war. You would think a lawyer would be goot at critical thinking. I respect his wife more. She seems more impressive during interviews and was such a breath of fresh air during the 2004 campaign.

As far as Pelosi, I just got no respect for her. She is not bright(just watch her get flustered easily onb talk shows), definitely a poor public speaker considering her immense position and experience in the public. She is no  Lieberman, but I would vote for a Hillary over a Pelosi.  She just lacks a backbone.

My favorites:

Senate - Tier I

Barbara Boxer - bombastic, principled and controversial
Byron Dorgan - populist and best orator
Russ Feingold - most principled
Patty Murray - progressive and accessible
Ron Wyden - progressive and bombastic

Senate - Tier II

Maria Cantwell - innovative, bright and elegant
Dick Durbin - bright, polemical and sensible
Mary Landrieu - controversial, complex and principled
Blanche Lincoln - accessible, ingratiating and populist
Harry Reid - pugilistic, accessible and principled

House - Tier I

Luis Gutierrez - controversial, outspoken and charismatic
Nydia Valezquez - reserved, bright and principled
Bernie Sanders - outspoken, populist, polemical, socialist
John Conyers, Jr. - principled, subtle and tenacious
Debbie Wasserman Schultz - progressive, outspoken, bombastic, bright and promising

House - Tier II

Jan Schakowsky - progressive, self-effacing and bright
Louise Slaughter - bright, controversial and polemical
Nancy Pelosi - measured, resilient and elegant
Maxine Waters - controversial, outspoken but elegant
Peter DeFazio - controversial, polemical and populist

Others

Christine Cegelis - no explanation required
Claire McCaskill - controversial, polemical and tenacious
Cleo Fields - charismatic, bright and dedicated
Christine Gregoire - controversial, progressive and tenacious
John Edwards - charismatic, accessible and bright

House

Yeah, I am from the 25th, and this area is very conservative. For god's sake, I know a guy who dislikes Bush because he says he's a liberal! Good luck to Robert Rodriguez though, I've meet some people working for him and I've heard good things.

1. Russ Feingold (without any question)

2. Jack Reed (he's just so damn liberal!)
   
3. Barbara Boxer
   
4. John Tierney (I want to make a shirt that says "John Tierney is my homeboy!)
   
5. Ron Wyden (his filibuster was awesome, but CAFTA really pissed me off)
   
6. Louise Slaughter
   
7. Chet Edwards (simply his EXISTENCE is a huge fuck-you to the entire Republican party, plus he's more progressive than 17 other dems despite a 75% Bush district).
   
8. Frank Pallone

If I had to rank my favorite Republicans, it would be VERY VERY VERY hard, but this is how I would do it:

1. Walter Jones

2. Chuck Hagel
   
3. Ron Paul
   
4. Susan Collins
   
5. John Leach

the rest I wouldn't vote for them at gunpoint.

I'm surprised that he isn't on everyones list. A Democratic dream candidate if there ever was one: plain spoken, folksy, funny, likeable, progressive.

He is not yet too well known outside of Maryland, Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley, now running to take on Gov. Bob Ehrlich, has an innovative and solid record in a city that has shown real improvement under his tenure.  O'Malley has taken on tough, urban issues and has transformed Baltimore.  O'Malley is a national leader on sensible security and disaster preperation issues.  He is also a darn good Irish folk-rocker but, alas, has given up his successful band, O'Malley's March.  Mayors don't always get the respect they deserve, O'Malley may change that.  Watch him...

Surprised to see Conrad on your list.  What about his vote for Alito?  After all the criticism that Chafee got on this site and kos about his vote for cloture, I'd think Conrad's actual vote to confirm Alito would be enough to leave him off the list?

For the record, I like Conrad's dedication to a balanced budget, although I don't support an amendment to the Constitution mandating it.  He seems like an upright guy, but his vote for Alito was unnecessary, even in ND, I suspect.

Jerry Meek???? Ya gotta explain that one.

1) If DEMs want to have another republican as a
governor of MA, then go ahead, nominate Patrick.

2) rest of your list just plain stupid
(except Bernie): as far I am
concern DEMs have only 3 good candidates and we
all know who they are: Gore, Dean & Kusinich -
and they all 3 are absent from your list!

3) And of course Bernie Sanders is cool,
but he is not a "Democrat" and don't pretend
that he is independent: he is a SOCIALIST,
just ask him...

4) So my list is very simple - it has 4 winners:
Gore, Dean, Kusinich & Sanders

Senate, Tier 1:

1. Russ Feingold

No comment necessary.

2. Tom Harkin

It takes courage to stand up for progressive principles in a battleground state like Iowa, and Sen. Harkin is a dependable progressive voice in the Senate...look no further than Sen. Feingold's censure motion.

3. Barbara Boxer

Although, yes, California is a blue state, this does not necessarily ensure a progressive Senate representation...look no further than Connecticut! However, Sen. Boxer truly represents the views of her electorate.

4. Jack Reed

He's so unabashedly liberal, RI or not!

5. Robert Menendez

Although a newcomer, he has already shown himself to be a force to be reckoned with...look no further than his quick and decisive action on the Dubai Ports deal. Frankly, I think he has already shown himself to be a better senator in six months than Jon Corzine did in five years.

Senate, Tier 2

1. Byron Dorgan

An eloquent and principled policymaker.

2. Daniel Akaka

A time-tested progressive; truly understands his position as a voice for the people.

3. Ron Wyden

Nice going on the filibuster!

4. Richard Durbin

A skilled and intelligent leader.

5. Ted Kennedy

Deep blue, tried and true.

House, Tier 1 (sans explication):

1. Rush Holt

2. Debbie Wasserman Schultz
   
3. John Conyers
   
4. Raul Grijalva
   
5. John Tierney

House, Tier 2

1. Donald Payne

2. Louise Slaughter
   
3. Earl Blumenauer
   
4. Bernard Sanders
   
5. John Olver

and, I like the idea of Republicans I'd least cringe at voting for...

1. Lincoln Chafee

2. Olympia Snowe
   
3. Susan Collins
   
4. Chuck Hagel
   
5. Lindsey Graham

Sorry, but I also had to include the 10 people who make me most want to gag:

1. Marilyn Musgrave

2. Wayne Allard
   
3. Jim DeMint
   
4. Rick Santorum
   
5. Sam Brownback
   
6. Mel Martinez
   
7. Christopher Smith (my home rep)
   
8. Jean Schmidt
   
9. Todd Tiahrt
   
10. John McCain

Don't forget Hilda Solis of California.  

She's a true progressive, outspoken, smart and a groundbreaker for Latinas.  She'll make a great U.S. Senator someday.