This entry was posted on 1/5/2008 7:22 PM and is filed under uncategorized.
I am burned out with RSL right now and don't know enough about college soccer to have any clue who RSL should take in the draft.
I am still in shock about the Iowa caucus, at least on the Republican side. I still cannot believe that Huckabee won. It really makes me question the intelligence of the average person in Iowa. I guess the infamous Jesusland map is pretty true. For those who haven't seen it, this came out after the 2004 election.
Iowa is firmly inside of Jesusland. Really, being a fundamentalist Christian is all Huckleberry has going for him. Can you imagine that joker being in control of the largest nuclear arsenal in the world? Isn't that a scary thought?
Really, Iowa and New Hampshire sort of exemplify the split in the Republican party. The unholy alliance of the neoconservatives and the fundamentalist Christians is destroying the old line of the party and it's sad. It is sad really. The neoconservatives have adopted the fundamentalists and co-opted them into their hair-brained schemes, especially Iraq. Really, I think that the neocons really aren't into the religious stuff, but are willing to spout the words so they can get into power and the fundies are too stupid to see they are being used.
In actuality, other than McCain, I don't like any of the Republicans. I don't like Huckleberry because he scares the hell out of me. For example, the concept of energy independence he talks about is nothing more than a pipe dream. We need energy security, which means that EVERY country on earth needs energy security. There is no way around the fact that we live in an interconnected, global economy. It is a fact, not something that may happen in the future, it's already happened and is only going to increase in pace. Everyone's energy needs need to be met, not some over others. That's part of what breeds things like terrorism, inequality of opportunity. That's another point that Huckleberry has no clue about, illegal immigration. Realistically, our economy would not function without the cheap labor that illegal immigrants provide. What really needs to happen is immigration reform. Right now, it's next to impossible for someone to enter the country legally. It can be done, but requires a lot of money (something that minimum wage workers can't afford) and a good lawyer. Even then, the process is extremely slow. Why would someone spend the money and time to come in legally when they can come in illegally without the hassle and red tape and get a job. These jobs are essential to our economy and will not be filled for a similar cost with other labor. I will save my ideas for this for another post, but suffice it to say, we need politicians who try to make the realities of the world into the ideals they promise. Huckleberry has no clue how to do that.
I do believe McCain and Romney do know how to turn the current realities of the world into the ideals they want. Unfortunately, I'm not sure they can have the appeal in the republican strongholds, especially the South. Without the Southern vote, Bush would not be president. Romney, I believe, has little appeal in the South for much the same reason he lost in Iowa-his religion. McCain, while not a Mormon, is still a liability in the South as he's viewed as an outsider, while Huckleberry isn't. Giuliani has very little hope of making it through the primaries as a Republican, which I think is a good thing. Rudy, as evidenced during his time as mayor of New York, really doesn't respect civil rights and we would have more things like the Patriot Act in force if he were to be elected. That's not why he won't win as a Republican (he's WAY too liberal), but I will not lament him losing, even though I share opinions with him on many matters.
The race between Obama and Clinton is really interesting. I really don't like Hilary Clinton. I do not trust her. She to me is an enigma. She started out as a Goldwater girl, until she met and fell for an up and comer Democrat. She has ridden Bill's coattails ever since. I have gained a lot of respect for Bill in the last few years after he left office, but I am still not sure what to think of her. She has not distinguished herself in the Senate. I really am not sure if she's as yet made any stances in regards to policy. I don't know if she really is what she is trying to portray herself as. The one thing that I really don't like about Hilary is that she's so divisive. You either love her or hate her with nothing in between. I do like Obama. I actually read his book and loved it. I think he's the most electable Democrat in the field. His lack of experience does not concern me as it should mean that he will most likely surround himself with good people. The hallmark of a good president is who he chooses as advisers, for example FDR himself wasn't the smartest President we've ever had, but he did know when he go good advice and would generally follow it. I think that was also a key to Ronald Reagan's success and even Nixon's foreign policy with letting Kissinger run the show. Now the key is choosing GOOD advisers, which is the problem with the Bush administration; he never listened to Colin Powell, who made a lot of sense, and instead listened to his other advisers like Rumsfeld and Cheney. Edwards I see as a dark horse. I really don't see him having and more substance than to be a Vice President. I really can't see him running the show, but he would be a great partner for Obama, and that could get really interesting when the convention rolls around if the race is still close between Obama and Hilary.
Really, if you look at the Republicans, McCain stands the best chance of winning in the general election, especially if Hilary wins the Democratic nomination. He has the widest appeal I believe and doesn't have the main liabilities that Huckleberry (opening his mouth and showing how stupid he is) and Romney (being a Mormon) have. New Hampshire will really be interesting and will tell a whole lot more about how the race will turn out.
