Obama/Hillary '08, thoughts...

While in Germany, I have the chance to look at the presidental race from afar and I can tell you that the world seems to abuzz over Obama, so it seems that with or without Clinton, the White House is his to have.

However, I would be stupid to think that the republicans are going to go down easy as a democratic president with the power of a guy like Obama will show the world just how underminded and criminal the last eight years of American politics have been.

The question is, does Hillary pose a greater threat to the candidate than she is an asset? Will she try to steal the show or will she help groom the incoming Senator from Illinois? The questions seem simple enough, but only one thing is for certain: If the democratic leadership and Obama choose Clinton, they will see more voters that come out to vote republican because of this media fed hatred that the Clintons have in the public persona.

Personally, I love Bill and I think he has been nothing but stellar on the campaign as he has no problems in calling things the way that he sees them, which further upsets the right and fuels a fire, which in turn looks negitivly on the Clinton campaign.

The fact is, I am disapointed with Hillary. She had this thing in the bag and was conditioned for this run, groomed for it since moving to New York and running for president, but I think she went against her own judgement and entered the race too early and was a little too cocky about it. She stopped appealing to me fairly early on in her campaign because I think she lost her personality and wasn't having a conversation with America, but moreso a lecture to the American people. She is a part of the old party, ie John Kerry, Al Gore, etc that the Average Joe has an issue seeing eye to eye with. Obama's lack of experience translates into the same thing that real world Americans can see, passion and compassion. Somewhere along the line, Hillary looks like she lost that--and I don't think she really did, but her people made it seem like she did.

The fact is, this was the highest turnout in history and this slapdicks that work for the DNC need to work hard to keep that momentum alive and keep McCain, a guy that has tried so many times to run for the top seed, seem like the tired old man he really is.

There is something so stately about Obama and he carries himself well, with his stories and they way he reacts with the press and the public--its hard not to compare him to the late greats of American Political history. One thing about Hillary that was never really looked at was that she doesn't have any political leaders before her to mimick--she was walking the road herself.

Which is where I am dissapointed and worried. Race and gender have the same issues, but in this campaign in woman versus black man, the race card won. I am worried now that there isn't a gender card, McCain and the Republicans are going to have to get into race if they want plan to win. However, this is a slippery slope and not one that frail old McCain can handle. He would do well to keep selling himself as the new boss, same as the old boss, fear mongering, homeland security, talks don't cure anything but bombs do, propogandizing Republicanism that he is famous for.

I don't think this country is ready for the race discussion and I hope that it doesn't turn into one, especially for international diplomacy, but the republicans are a desperate bunch.

For now, lets enjoy the moment. Either way, Obama should not be concerned with McCain if the game is played fairly, with or without Hillary. My personal choice is Joe Biden for vice-president. Read more!

A moment of politic

I don't mind telling you that I voted this week as an absentee. I voted for Joe Biden because the primary is where you can feel free to vote for the best candidate. For me, that person is Biden. He has dropped out and I might be one of the only people that votes for him, but I think of all the the people running, he is the one that could actually accomplish something.



His record is good and he is known for reaching across the aisle and working through issues-- he doesn't make proclamations about things which he knows he can't deliver, but most importantly, he is one of the top people when it comes to Foreign Policy. He has good views on the middle east and seems to do his homework.


But, as usual, its all about the high profile candidates. I am very concerned that Obama and Hillary are essentially going to cancel each other out in the end, leaving the important undecided and indy voters to vote for McCain.



Pary lines will vote with party, but what do Hills and O'Bama really do to make those undecided vote for them? O'bama clearly doesn't have experience and too many people are rubbed the wrong way with Clinton's personality. I myself have seen such a dramatic change in her over the last couple of years that I side with those who just have a bad feeling about her.



McCain scares me the most of all these people. He is the king of the flip-flop and is a war-monger. He has no plan for Iraq unless there is "victory", which there isn't going to be, EVER. Having another sponsor of war enter the White House is a huge mistake, but I think that the majority of voters will side with McCain more than Hillary or Obama because he is a war vet and that trumps a woman and a person of color any day of the week.



The dems have made another tragic mistake in allowing this to happen-- when you put the three stereotypes in the race togehter, you are asking this country address some pretty serious issues which on the surface, it seems we have accepted and are working through them, but I think that once the national focus is on this issue, the outcome is going to be very different.


I also think Hills came out way to early and started campaigning-- people are tired of what she is saying now and Obama has gained a lot of momentum simply by being the "not another clinton" candidate. (**To that effect, Bill Clinton has really surprised me in the things he has said during this campaign**) I am not sure who her advisors are, but she needs to stop listening to any of them and start to show people that she is in this for the people (but I don't believe it-- she is a career politico).


Hills will get the nomination, but the real question is how many Obama supporters will suck it up and throw their support behind her-- I don't think nearly as many as it would seem to dominate McCain. I think this is going to be another nasty fight which leaves people very, very bitter about the process and the state of our leadership.


Sure, McCain will be better than Bush-- but we don't want better, we need a new direction. Although, I don't think Obama is the way to go, or Hills or any Republican. I will support Hillary or Obama if they get the nomination, but my expectations for any change to the future is gone. We are at the hands of the market for the first time in a long time, and its not a good feeling.


Thoughts? Read more!