In the wake of the debt ceiling debate disaster, Americans have experienced an unprecedented loss of confidence in their leaders' abilities. Approval ratings for Congress are in the single digits and President Barack Obama's public image is suffering greatly as well. In these precursor days to the next election, this instability has led some to openly discuss supporting a liberal alternative to Obama's centrist approach to government. One voice in particular, that of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, has suggested that the best way to get our current President back on track is to shake him from his complacency with a challenger in the upcoming presidential primaries. We talked to a few of the names mentioned as potential challengers to see what they think of taking on a sitting head of state on their own side of the aisle.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT)

Whoa, whoa, whoa! I just suggested that we think about what it would mean if Obama had a challenger. I wasn't putting my own name in the hat. In fact, I'd like to argue that my statements didn't even imply an existence of the hat. No, I think that whole "My suggestion is, I think one of the reasons the President has been able to move so far to the right is that there is no primary opposition to him, and I think it would do this country a good deal of service if people started thinking about candidates out there to begin contrasting what is a progressive agenda as opposed to what Obama is doing" thing was more of a prompt for a thought experiment than any kind of call to action. I mean, he's the President and I'm just a widdle old Senator from a very small state and anyway, I think we're all grown-up enough to admit that a true American Liberal doesn't have a snowball's chance of winning. Let's be realistic here.

Hillary Clinton

Me? Run for President? Why, that's a silly idea. Yes, positively preposterous. Who in their right mind would vote for a former Senator who presided over a state in its time of greatest need and actually helped it not only overcome but thrive in the aftermath? Who would vote for a person who has been a respected Secretary of State? Who would vote for someone who basically represents the antidote to the recent marginalization of female politicians? Who would vote for someone whose family presided over the greatest period of prosperity in the history of the United States? No, I don't think I would be a very good choice given today's political climate.

Former Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI)

Wait, you know I'm Jewish, right? You honestly think this country would vote for a Jewish President? I mean, I wish people would consider it, but I'm not that much of an optimist. Obama lost half the country because they wrongly believed he wasn't Christian. Also, I'm actually, truly progressive. I've authored and passed bills to regulate finances in both the private and public sectors, I was the only Senator to vote against the Patriot Act, I was behind universal healthcare before it was cool and I openly support the legalization of same-sex marriage. I'm a solid leftist, I'm not ashamed of it, I'm exactly what this country needs and I couldn't win more than a half a state if single malt scotch squirted from my nipples.