Senator Barack Obama's crushing defeat of Senator Hillary Clinton looms large on the political landscape this Sunday morning. What does his victory say about America? Why didn't Senator Clinton display the proper political etiquette and congratulate Senator Obama on his clear and decisive victory in South Carolina? Why is John Edwards continuing his campaign? Lots of questions have arisen from the dusty fallout of the Democratic primary in South Carolina. Is the electorate ready to give former President Bill Clinton a pass and overlook his nuanced attempts to box Senator Obama into a corner and label him as the black presidential candidate?
One would hope that we as Americans would have travelled further down the path established by Dr. Martin Luther King and the civil rights movement. I understood his message of hope to represent an American aspiration to achieve racial blindness. Unfortunately, the Democratic Party's primary season has devolved into a subliminal fight over racial identity. Yes, black South Carolinians' came out in droves to support Barack Obama. So what! While I may object to many of his political viewpoints, Senator Obama has never portrayed himself as the black candidate. His seventeen minute speech thanking South Carolina's voters was inclusive, not racially exclusive. President Clinton's comparison of Jesse Jackson's South Carolina primary victory all those years ago with Obama's current victory is out of line. Senator Obama, much like most of us, is of mixed ancestry. His mother was white. Is this important? Not one whit! His strength is that he sees himself as an American and I seriously believe that the Clinton campaign should be called to answer for their subliminal use of racial quotes. How dare any campaign or political party use race in the 21st century. The Clinton campaign is making a serious effort to woo Latino voters by playing on the social tensions between blacks and Latinos. Latino voters need to ask themselves this question: Are your best interests truly being taken into consideration by any candidate's campaign if they are willing to subversively utilize race as a means of delineating themselves from their competition?
I believe that it is socially reprehensible for any campaign to play the race card. The people of this great nation are the vital force which cause it to move forward in a positive manner. As a people, we should not allow any candidate to be marginalized in any manner simply because of the color of his or her skin. As an independent, I want the Democrats to explain to me just how they can present themselves as an all inclusive political party and yet tolerate the use of race as a divisive tool during the primaries?
Senator Obama, whether you agree with his views or not, represents all that we as Americans should hope for. His rise to the Senate proves to the world that in America all things are possible. Has our country yet acquired racial harmony? Obviously not. Our strength as a nation lies with the active pursuit of perfection, fully knowing that while we may never achieve it, we are obligated as a people to never give up the chase.
I cannot wait for Super Tuesday. The ensuing days between now and then shall be very interesting. John Edwards needs to do the sensible thing and remove himself from the primaries. He came in a distant third in his home state. His campaign is now nothing more than a distraction from the real battle between Senators' Clinton and Obama. Who knows how it will all shake out but for political junkies like myself, it makes for great entertainment. All I ask is that we move beyond race and deal solely with policy distinctions between candidates.
De Oppresso Liber
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Political Change or Not:
Saturday has come and gone and the dust is now settling. It seems that the electorate is not quite ready to embrace unknown political entities. Senator Clinton took Nevada and Senator McCain won South Carolina. Mitt Romney secured victory in Nevada however, news of the Clinton/Obama struggle have eclipsed his victory. So, what now?
The next big event on the calendar is January 29th. We all shall see if the Giuliani plan in Florida bears fruit or not. Thus far, he has shown a mediocre to poor performance in gaining votes. Senator Edwards needs to concede defeat and take care of his wife. At this point, his continuance in the race comes across as more of an egotistic pursuit of ultimate power. His campaign says that he is moving on to South Carolina. We can only hope that the South Carolinians' discard his campaign onto the refuse pile of former politicians. Besides, it is extremely difficult to maintain a 30,000+ square foot home while traveling. You live in such a tiny abode and expect me to believe in your view of the "two" Americas. Give me a break!
The Democrats are creating a unique divide within their party. Nevada has shown us that Latino voters support Clinton and black voters Obama. How will this play out in future primaries and how will the eventual national candidate bring the party back together? Can these two groups unite? The black and Latino populations do not blend harmoniously in Los Angeles or Oakland, California. I wonder if the Democrats are treading in dangerous waters? The strength of their constituency lies with the minority vote. Will each side of the equation get out and vote in a national election if either side feels left out by Clinton or Obama?
It will be very interesting to observe the political fallout on Super Tuesday. Who will come out on top? What will be the political aftermath post-Super Tuesday? Will the upcoming conventions be nothing more than pomp and circumstance? Will the electorate ever tire of candidates pandering to them? Has anyone other than me noticed that Iraq has slipped into political oblivion? The surge is working so, will Senator Clinton "suspend her disbelief" and apologize to General Petraeus? Looking at the domestic front, why should I feel responsible for citizens living beyond their means, who purchased expensive homes at low adjustable interest rate mortgages and are now suffering under the financial brunt of those adjustable rate mortgages and exorbitant mortgage payments? Aren't these foreclosures the joint responsibility of both lender and borrower? Why is it the government's responsibility to bail out financial institutions and borrowers?
Ironically, everyone supposedly wants Washington D.C. to work in a symbiotic environment however, our political process forces candidates to court their political base. The political base is usually comprised of individuals and organizations that exist on the political periphery of the party platform. Their views, whether on the left or right are rarely inclusive and not receptive to consensus building. Some view this as a healthy adherence to a given set of values and beliefs. While this may be true on an individual level, it is in my view, symptomatic of the dysfunction surrounding our legislative branch of the federal government.
Thankfully, we have a plethora of candidates to choose from in 2008. I only hope that the electorate pays attention to their surroundings, the state of our nation and, the place it should occupy on the international scene.
De Oppresso Liber
The next big event on the calendar is January 29th. We all shall see if the Giuliani plan in Florida bears fruit or not. Thus far, he has shown a mediocre to poor performance in gaining votes. Senator Edwards needs to concede defeat and take care of his wife. At this point, his continuance in the race comes across as more of an egotistic pursuit of ultimate power. His campaign says that he is moving on to South Carolina. We can only hope that the South Carolinians' discard his campaign onto the refuse pile of former politicians. Besides, it is extremely difficult to maintain a 30,000+ square foot home while traveling. You live in such a tiny abode and expect me to believe in your view of the "two" Americas. Give me a break!
The Democrats are creating a unique divide within their party. Nevada has shown us that Latino voters support Clinton and black voters Obama. How will this play out in future primaries and how will the eventual national candidate bring the party back together? Can these two groups unite? The black and Latino populations do not blend harmoniously in Los Angeles or Oakland, California. I wonder if the Democrats are treading in dangerous waters? The strength of their constituency lies with the minority vote. Will each side of the equation get out and vote in a national election if either side feels left out by Clinton or Obama?
It will be very interesting to observe the political fallout on Super Tuesday. Who will come out on top? What will be the political aftermath post-Super Tuesday? Will the upcoming conventions be nothing more than pomp and circumstance? Will the electorate ever tire of candidates pandering to them? Has anyone other than me noticed that Iraq has slipped into political oblivion? The surge is working so, will Senator Clinton "suspend her disbelief" and apologize to General Petraeus? Looking at the domestic front, why should I feel responsible for citizens living beyond their means, who purchased expensive homes at low adjustable interest rate mortgages and are now suffering under the financial brunt of those adjustable rate mortgages and exorbitant mortgage payments? Aren't these foreclosures the joint responsibility of both lender and borrower? Why is it the government's responsibility to bail out financial institutions and borrowers?
Ironically, everyone supposedly wants Washington D.C. to work in a symbiotic environment however, our political process forces candidates to court their political base. The political base is usually comprised of individuals and organizations that exist on the political periphery of the party platform. Their views, whether on the left or right are rarely inclusive and not receptive to consensus building. Some view this as a healthy adherence to a given set of values and beliefs. While this may be true on an individual level, it is in my view, symptomatic of the dysfunction surrounding our legislative branch of the federal government.
Thankfully, we have a plethora of candidates to choose from in 2008. I only hope that the electorate pays attention to their surroundings, the state of our nation and, the place it should occupy on the international scene.
De Oppresso Liber
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Election Charade 2008
The Holidays have come and gone, people have made and broken their New Year resolutions, and the political race for the presidency has reached full stride. Let the lunacy commence! It seems to me that the candidates positions from both sides of the aisle are short on details and long on simplicity. The Republicans spend a large portion of their time attempting to position themselves as heir apparent to the Reagan era whilst, the Democrats scream for change. The Democrats seem to be running against President Bush. Maybe their advisers should remind them of term limits. Since VP Cheney isn't running, it is quite hilarious to watch them castigate Mr. Bush's presidency. I guess that the primaries force them to cater to their base. For their part, the Republicans seem to scuffle over who the "true" conservative is. I have a news flash for all of the candidates; the vast majority of Americans are centrists. They don't want to be overtaxed, told how to live, nor to be expected to become zealots for any cause on the left or right. Most of us are trying to make a living, enjoy our friends and family, and live unencumbered by the constraints of an imposing government. Lets look at some of the candidates.
On the democratic side, we are forced to observe the gyrations of Senators Clinton and Obama. Former Senator Edwards is a farce and though he would never admit it, his hopes for the White House are slim to none. His vision of the "two" Americas is beyond simplistic. Senator Clinton wants us to recognize her experience level. I'm sorry but, that dog don't hunt. A quick google search on Wikipedia reveals that her sole experience in government is her stint as the junior senator from New York. We have had several successful presidents with little experience for their new job however; I refuse to have my intelligence insulted by a candidate marketing a non-existent quality. Senator Obama is the agent for change. Change to what? He rarely provides insight into what change he is demanding. Former President Clinton was also a great orator however, I believe that what an individual says is more important than the cadence or velocity of their delivery. Bottom line, both of these candidates will push for higher taxes, bigger government agencies, withdrawal from Iraq, and universal health care.
The Republicans are fighting tooth and nail for the conservative mantle. Like Senator Edwards, Representative Paul is a peripheral candidate. His allegiance to the Constitution is admirable but his virulent isolationist views and his charges of "government conspiracies" overseas tends to isolate him from the realities of modern times. Mitt Romney seems likable enough however, his views tend to vacillate with time. In my view, he tries too hard to be all things to all people. Former Senator Thompson should have remained in his stint as the DA in Law and Order. He keeps trying to draw a line connecting him to the Reagan years. Time moves forward, not backwards and today's voter has little connection to Ronald Reagan. Voters want to know what you intend to do, not what you have done. Senator McCain is a maverick who unfortunately is weighted down by his stance on illegal immigration. On the other hand, he is the only candidate with a truly global view on our role as a country in the War on Terror. Former Mayor Giuliani is currently flying under the radar as he pursues victory in Florida. Like McCain, he is a terror warrior. National security is his strength. Mike Huckabee has arisen from nowhere. He is interesting because he is extremely good at not allowing himself to be boxed into a corner. He seems to be a burr under the saddle of the party elite. It will be interesting to see how the Republicans settle their differences.
As voters it is time for us to make some decisions. What are our priorities? Do we want higher taxes? If we want universal health care, are we ready for the inefficiencies of government? Are our views on right to life, choice, gay marriage, guns and religion important enough to impair our ability to see the big picture? Do you believe in the War on Terror or not? If you believe that we are in a military and philosophical struggle against Islamic Jihadism, do you see it as a regional or global struggle? Each of us needs to look within ourselves. Our individual decision for 2008 will have extreme consequences for ourselves, our nation, and the world.
De Oppresso Liber
On the democratic side, we are forced to observe the gyrations of Senators Clinton and Obama. Former Senator Edwards is a farce and though he would never admit it, his hopes for the White House are slim to none. His vision of the "two" Americas is beyond simplistic. Senator Clinton wants us to recognize her experience level. I'm sorry but, that dog don't hunt. A quick google search on Wikipedia reveals that her sole experience in government is her stint as the junior senator from New York. We have had several successful presidents with little experience for their new job however; I refuse to have my intelligence insulted by a candidate marketing a non-existent quality. Senator Obama is the agent for change. Change to what? He rarely provides insight into what change he is demanding. Former President Clinton was also a great orator however, I believe that what an individual says is more important than the cadence or velocity of their delivery. Bottom line, both of these candidates will push for higher taxes, bigger government agencies, withdrawal from Iraq, and universal health care.
The Republicans are fighting tooth and nail for the conservative mantle. Like Senator Edwards, Representative Paul is a peripheral candidate. His allegiance to the Constitution is admirable but his virulent isolationist views and his charges of "government conspiracies" overseas tends to isolate him from the realities of modern times. Mitt Romney seems likable enough however, his views tend to vacillate with time. In my view, he tries too hard to be all things to all people. Former Senator Thompson should have remained in his stint as the DA in Law and Order. He keeps trying to draw a line connecting him to the Reagan years. Time moves forward, not backwards and today's voter has little connection to Ronald Reagan. Voters want to know what you intend to do, not what you have done. Senator McCain is a maverick who unfortunately is weighted down by his stance on illegal immigration. On the other hand, he is the only candidate with a truly global view on our role as a country in the War on Terror. Former Mayor Giuliani is currently flying under the radar as he pursues victory in Florida. Like McCain, he is a terror warrior. National security is his strength. Mike Huckabee has arisen from nowhere. He is interesting because he is extremely good at not allowing himself to be boxed into a corner. He seems to be a burr under the saddle of the party elite. It will be interesting to see how the Republicans settle their differences.
As voters it is time for us to make some decisions. What are our priorities? Do we want higher taxes? If we want universal health care, are we ready for the inefficiencies of government? Are our views on right to life, choice, gay marriage, guns and religion important enough to impair our ability to see the big picture? Do you believe in the War on Terror or not? If you believe that we are in a military and philosophical struggle against Islamic Jihadism, do you see it as a regional or global struggle? Each of us needs to look within ourselves. Our individual decision for 2008 will have extreme consequences for ourselves, our nation, and the world.
De Oppresso Liber
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