It's an exciting time. There is a politician with a big smile, new ideas, and a knack for connecting with the American people. He's promising change and a new way for politics and politicians to represent the real America, the middle class; To hold responsible those who have led us down the wrong road for the past eight year and to right those wrongs. It's infectious. The whole country is catching the fever and its spreading. With an unpopular President in the White House and a woefully ineffective Congress its time for an "outsider" to sweep in and change the world's perception of the United States.
I've heard this tale before. The first time I voted in a presidential election I couldn't wait to pull the lever. I was voting for change, for a fresh start, to sweep out the old and bring in a more youthful, more hopeful time. I wasn't necessarily voting for the candidate but for his ideals, his passion, his place in history representing a new generation.
Sound familiar? Four years later I realized that my exuberance needed to give way to more pragmatic thinking. That ideals and words are important, but that leadership demands experience and the ability to get things done. It means reaching across the aisle. It means knowing how Washington really works. It means being able to communicate to the American people that change requires action and sometimes those actions are painful. But that you have a plan - a real plan, not just rhetoric.
So if Barack gets you out to vote - God bless him. I hope that he isn't "all hat and no cattle" as characterized by Hillary Clinton. Because if he is then you'll be where I was after I voted for change - and Jimmy Carter.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
GOP - It's Over, For Now
With Super Tuesday and the "Potomac Primaries" behind us one thing has become clear - it's over. McCain is going to be the nominee. Is there any purpose in Mike Huckabee continuing to run his race and come in second place? Huck can't win in Ohio and he won't stand much of a chance in Texas either so why continue to fight on? The only rationale I can can come up with for 2008 is that Huck continues to march in an effort to please the hardcore right wing of the party in hopes of future backing. If that's the only reason then it's time to stop.
Every Republican in this campaign continues to cite the Reagan influence and what he stood for. The reason he was successful was because people from all walks of life believed in him as a person and as a leader - not because he was from the right wing or the center. In 1980 Ronald Reagan narrowly defeated a very, very unpopular President in Jimmy Carter. Carter won the Presidency on a platform of "change" and a "new beginning" away from the ills of the Nixon/Ford White House and the shadows of Vietnam. I wonder if Huck sees that point of history as a parallel to today and continues to campaign not for 2008 but for 2012.
Every Republican in this campaign continues to cite the Reagan influence and what he stood for. The reason he was successful was because people from all walks of life believed in him as a person and as a leader - not because he was from the right wing or the center. In 1980 Ronald Reagan narrowly defeated a very, very unpopular President in Jimmy Carter. Carter won the Presidency on a platform of "change" and a "new beginning" away from the ills of the Nixon/Ford White House and the shadows of Vietnam. I wonder if Huck sees that point of history as a parallel to today and continues to campaign not for 2008 but for 2012.
Friday, February 1, 2008
Why the GOP Needs Hillary
Barring a series of stunning upsets on Super Tuesday and beyond, John McCain seems to be the certain nominee for the GOP. Not that upsets can't happen. Every new primary brings to light public opinion polls that have proven to be widely inaccurate prior to the actual voting day. However, given the fact that Rudy is gone, and has since endorsed McCain, and the slew of other big name endorsements that McCain has received (including the Governator) it seems that the Straight Talking Express is on the path to victory. Victory in the primaries, yes, November may be a different story.
So why does John McCain need Hillary? He needs her to be the Democratic nominee because she's beatable. If Barack gets the nomination then it becomes a contest of experience versus a wave of change. Given the state of the economy and the public's disenchantment with Washington, I believe that the wave will become a tsunami and that the GOP will be swept out to sea.
On the other hand, Hillary represents old school politics and disappointment for a large block of democratic voters. Young and minority voters want Barack. If Hillary gets the nod then I believe they will stay home in November. And stay home in record numbers. Conversely if Hillary is the nominee, the GOP base will turn out in droves, not because they love McCain, which they clearly do not, but because they can't stand the thought of Hillary Clinton as President of the United States.
The GOP has always been adept at picking running mates that appeal to voters outside of the core constituency of the nominee. Big George called Ronald Reagan's fiscal ideas "voodoo economics". That didn't stop him from accepting the Veep spot. After all he became the first sitting Vice-President to win the Presidency since Martin Van Buren followed Andrew Jackson. That's a strong argument for getting in line. I wonder if Mike Huckabee has any problem with that? I doubt it. Think Barack would play second fiddle to Hillary? Not a chance. No way.
So why does John McCain need Hillary? He needs her to be the Democratic nominee because she's beatable. If Barack gets the nomination then it becomes a contest of experience versus a wave of change. Given the state of the economy and the public's disenchantment with Washington, I believe that the wave will become a tsunami and that the GOP will be swept out to sea.
On the other hand, Hillary represents old school politics and disappointment for a large block of democratic voters. Young and minority voters want Barack. If Hillary gets the nod then I believe they will stay home in November. And stay home in record numbers. Conversely if Hillary is the nominee, the GOP base will turn out in droves, not because they love McCain, which they clearly do not, but because they can't stand the thought of Hillary Clinton as President of the United States.
The GOP has always been adept at picking running mates that appeal to voters outside of the core constituency of the nominee. Big George called Ronald Reagan's fiscal ideas "voodoo economics". That didn't stop him from accepting the Veep spot. After all he became the first sitting Vice-President to win the Presidency since Martin Van Buren followed Andrew Jackson. That's a strong argument for getting in line. I wonder if Mike Huckabee has any problem with that? I doubt it. Think Barack would play second fiddle to Hillary? Not a chance. No way.
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