Isn't this a great campaign!!!

[bklyncowgirl]

This is American Idol, the Super Bowl and the Kentucky Derby rolled into one.

Hillary Clinton, once described as a sure thing for the Democratic nomination, now racing head to head down the stretch with the Chicago Kid, Barack Obama and she is fighting back tooth and claw. Obama, once dismissed as green and inexperienced, has proven that he is not just brilliant but has incredible staying power. Clinton is hard as nails and has shown personal reserves that no one ever thought she had. They are racing eyeball to eyeball, nose to nose and the crowd of pundits, bloggers and ordinary citizens are on their feet and screaming themselves hoarse.

If she wins, she'll make history. If he wins, he'll make history.

Who would have thought that Barack Obama would ride an endorsement from Oprah Winfrey to a first place finish in Iowa?

Who would have thought that a rare moment of emotion would send women out in droves to support one of their own in New Hampshire?

Who would have thought a few months ago that Bill Clinton would shoot off his mouth and send black voters racing to the polls to support Barack Obama in South Carolina. (Rumor has it that he's been wrapped in a straight jacket with duct tape over his mouth somewhere in a basement in Chappequa in order to keep him from taking to the media. Just kidding Clintonites)

Who would have thought that each candidate would be touring the Super Tuesday states, each with their personal cheering section of Kennedys?

The Democrats aren't the only ones having an exciting campaign--but ours does seem to be more fun. It helps when your turnout is almost double that of the other party and you can almost feel the excitement.

Who would have thought that John McCain, almost declared DOA this summer, would come into Super Tuesday as the Republican front runner while Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity wail and gnash their teeth?

Who would have thought that the hero of 9/11, once touted the GOP front runner, would find himself lucky to have finished ahead of eccentric libertarian Ron Paul in Florida and be reduced to following John McCain around begging crumbs from the great one's plate?

Who would have thought that the masters of Jesus-land would be unable to convince their followers to throw their support behind the candidate of Big Money, Mitt Romney?

Who would have thought that Mitt Romney, with his Ken Doll looks and made for GOP success story, would get his ass kicked by a folksy, guitar-playing, preacher turned populist politician in Iowa?

Who would have thought that the moderate wing of the Republican party--once considered as defunct as the Diplodicus--would stage a comeback of sorts?

Who would have thought that the Republican coalition would be in a shambles, that Democratic party pragmatists would unite with feminists, gays and latinos to support Hillary Clinton or that reform minded Democrats would join African-Americans and young voters in a coalition for Barack Obama. We're watching age old alliances morph before our eyes.

Despite all the mud-slinging and griping about how the issues are being ignored, one thing is pretty clear to this old political junkie:

IT JUST DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS, FOLKS!

[Raven]

1. This old political junkie agrees!

I remember listening to JKF get the Democratic Nomination on a fuzzy transistor radio in my bunk at summer camp.

It's kind of fun not having the talking heads and the pollsters tell us who won three weeks before the election.

It's really fun watching a bunch or desperate, incompetent Republicans bloody eachother while trying to buy an election that they can't seem to buy.

But the best part is that, for me, whoever wins the Democratic nomination will have my vote happily.

[bklyncowgirl]

2. I'm too young to remember JFK much, but this IS exciting.

I forgot another great thing which you brought up.

Who would have thought that the pollsters and pundits would continue to get it all so very wrong?

This is fun.

[neutron]

5. Cult Lemmings vs Reality Check

Wonderful watching each Hollywood Celeb's eyes roll to the back of
his head like a domino board of Droids.

[OneBlueSky]

19. well, this old political junkie disagrees . . . vehemently . . .

this campaign is a disgrace . . . where is the discussion of the BushCo crimes and impeachment? . . . of true universal healthcare? . . . of banning electronic voting? . . . of the illegality of the war in Iraq? . . . of environmental devastation and global warming? . . . of poverty? . . . and, especially, of corporate control of government? . . .

unless and until the candidates start addressing the issues that really matter, this campaign is nothing but window dressing . . . and it won't matter one lick which one of them is selected as the Democratic candidate . . .

[H2O Man]

3. In the movie

"Cinderella Man," the trainer of heavyweight boxer and improbable champion Jimmy Braddock asks him, "Is there anywhere else you'd rather be?" This primary gives us a ringside seat to history in the making.

[bklyncowgirl]

4. Yes it does.

Best thing, despite the nastiness, I'll have not problem supporting the Democratic candidate. I'm an Obama supporter for various reasons, mainly having to do with the IWR and some issues related to the Clinton administration, NAFTA etc. but Hillary's shown herself to be a hard fightin' woman and I can support her in November.

[neutron]

6. I'm just hoppin' up and down like a ping pong ball

hit by a cult droid.

[caseycoon]

7. It could be better if we hadn't lost the best candidates. n/t

[BeyondGeography]

8. It's Ali vs. Frazier and they're still talking about that nearly 40 years later

No doubt this is one for the ages.

My guy is Ali, by the way, but I am mindful of the fact that he lost the first fight before confirming his status as The Greatest.

[bklyncowgirl]

9. Yup, that was a great one. I was an Ali fan too. nt

[Jawja]

10. Great analysis

and I agree. This is the most excited and inspired I've been in a long time over politics and I've witnessed a bunch.

By the way, K&R

:thumbsup:

[Kittycat]

11. Great post.

[Kber]

12. I couldn't agree more!

I'm really enjoying this.

[tavalon]

13. You really believe this is real, don't you?

As fiction goes, it ain't bad, but it isn't reality, well not consensual reality. More like Bushian reality, the kind that gets made up on the fly. It's interesting that you compare it to three forms of entertainment. So on some level, you know, don't you?

[rucky]

14. It's all relative to the observer. n/t

[tavalon]

15. I got taken in once during this season

I stepped back and applied the old adage, butchered by Bush, Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. I'll vote for the anointed when the time comes. In the meantime, I need to start remembering to not click on GD Primaries. It's hard to watch the rest of you.

[rucky]

17. A nose-holding vote is the same as a hoot-n-hollering vote.

Why mock other people's enthusiasm, as long as the ends are justified?

[troubleinwinter]

16. Yeah, it's high entertainment. Even your post doesn't mention Edwards. At least we are entertained.

[UALRBSofL]

18. He just doesn't get it

This is a monumental election cycle. There isn't a traditional candidate on the democratic side. This is why there is a huge turnout. I live in Florida and we had no candidates here, our vote didn't count but he had a record breaking turnout. Don't be so pessimistic. And for the record YES WE CAN YES WE CAN VOTE HILLARY ! ! ! !