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Something Marta and I have talked about a couple of times. IF you were a Republican who wasn't sure your party could continue in power after the 06 elections, what would you do to win? If you don't have an early strong candidate, you push the Dems that have baggage issues to the front of the media. You even perhaps give $ to these candidates to pump them up.
The luggage:
The Honorable Senator from New York, Hillary Rodham Clinton. A blue state. Lived in the White house for eight years. Fought for socialized health care. Her YouTube selection should have been Stand by Your Man. But a lot of people in the county don't realize the successful womens suffrage movement meant women could now hold the highest office. She didn't push for labor while on the Walmart board. Her other carry-on suitcase is a decade and a half of anti-Hillary press and slams from the right.
The Honorable Senator Barack Obama, freshman Senator for Illinois. Intelligent, worked in the right places, and rocked the house when he was on stage at the 04 convention. Now they (whoever THEY are) whisper he is only half black, so he isn't a real black candidate. Huh??? We have come so far since our country waged war on itself to make all men (and now women) equal. At least the term is half black, not the N word. Progress I guess.
I said before Marta and I voted for Jesse Jackson in the year of the STOP Jesse wave. We both voted with a ticket that included former member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Geraldine Ferraro. We Democrats can judge candidates by the "content of their character".
Senator John Edwards couldn't deliver on the South in 04. But Dem's lost the Solid South when President Johnson did the right thing and pushed through the comprehensive civil rights bill. Senator Edwards also was tied to a campaign that didn't fight for every vote. He is also way behind the leaders in most polls and in cash. The only current candidate I've met and shaken hands with.
Senator Al Gore could be the 900 pound gorilla if he enters before Labor Day.
The lower tier candidates all have things in their favor IF they ever get the attention to display it. Since I chose Edwards a little over a month ago, I have taken several looks at the lower tier. I could see voting for any of them should they come to the front row of the class.
Have the Republicans pulled the wool over our eyes by getting the baggage handlers out front early? Have they pushed us toward candidates they think they will have an easier time beating come November 08? Only time will tell. With all the earlier than normal primaries and caucuses, we might not have time to sort things out for our real winner.
Omaha Steve
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