Clean Sweep

I just may have to get off my lazy ass and start posting over the weekend on occasion. Apologizes for the late posting—duty called—but I doubt any of you were completely at a loss without my words of wisdom.

Well, as you probably have heard by now, Obama swept the Democratic primaries and caucuses this weekend. I am sure this news will give him a boost come tomorrow in the Potomac Primaries. The two Republican primaries on Saturday were a draw—one going to Huckabee (Kansas) and the other to McCain (Washington) although apparently the Huckster says that one is too close to call for McCain. Whatever.

Meanwhile, the delegate count for Clinton and Obama couldn't be any closer. According to CNN, Clinton has 1,148 to Obama's 1,121. Talk about a nail biter. I have to admit I am fascinated at how close the two of them are. I know that I paid a fair amount of attention to the primary process during the 2004 election, but prior to that it either wasn't an issue (incumbent VP's running) or I was too young to care. Yup, 1992's Clinton vs. Bush was my first election. Ahh . . . the good 'ole days.

But enough about facts, you come here for hyperbole and supposition right?

Well, while the Huckster continues to stand firm in his continuing in the race, I still believe it is going to be McCain. Duh. And my gut says that Obama is going to pull it out from Clinton as well. Of course the last thing the GOP wants is for Obama to get the nomination because they can't go after him for the obvious reasons—his race. Of course they can't go after Clinton for the obvious reasons either—her gender—but they can AND WILL attack her for her husband and his record. For many people that will be all the ammunition they need.

What else . . . this David Shuster dust up about him saying the Clinton campaign is "pimping" out Chelsea Clinton. UGH. Listen, I don't like the word choice (I guess dude was trying to sound hip or relevant, who knows), but when it comes right down to it, is it any worse than some of the things the media has said in the past? Frankly, they weren't very kind to Chelsea Clinton when she was growing up in the White House. The girl went from a pre-teen to a teenager to a young adult during Bill Clinton's tenure as president. And I defy any of you out there reading to say they got through those years without many an awkward outfit/hair-do/photo.

Finally, let's all lift our glass of sparkling apple cider to Ms. Amy Winehouse for her Grammy wins. Now please, take your beehive and get some help. It would be a crying shame to waste all of that talent.

Mitt Waves Bye-Bye

Romney has "suspended" his campaign. When the heck did this terminology come into vogue? Dude has dropped out, leaving things wide open for McCain. I would imagine that the Huckster will cash it in soon as well.

Show Me the Money

First, a little reminder for my South Carolina readers (you know who you are);

Tomorrow is the Democratic primary. Get out and let yourself be heard. Take your kids and show them democracy in action. It will be good for them.

Now, I wasn't able to watch the last Republican debate before the Florida primary last night, but I had my own husband debrief me on his opinions this morning (for the parts he stayed awake through—sorry people, we are not night owls).

The best part according to him was Huckabee questioning the reported tax rebate that is currently in the works. Hey—I love money as much as the next person and God knows I could always use a bit more, but this idea is about the most hare-brained I can think of.  Here is a link to his exact words, but to paraphrase he said where are we getting the money, probably from borrowing from China and then what are people going to do? Go out any buy Chinese-made products. So who exactly does that benefit, economy-wise? Not the American people.

The man may be a religious whack job, but he made a sound point there.

And for my Florida readers, your day is coming next Tuesday, February 5, although since the democrats are blowing this off due to Florida's monkeying with the date, maybe you'all should just stay home. Unless of course, you are voting for Ron Paul! Poor dude only got a few minutes of air time in comparison to the other conservative blowhards.

Holy Shit

Please tell me this scares everyone as much as it does me. My eyes are still bugging.

Huckabee has explained his support of Constitutional amendments banning abortion and same-sex marriage as being an easier change to make than changing "the word of the living God." He goes on to say that it is easier to amend the Constitution to reflect God's standards than it is to change God's standards.

Alrighty then. Listen, I do have my own personal, religious beliefs. But whether or not I believe in a higher power, be it God, Allah or the ancient Druid tree in my back yard, this is not what America was founded on. We were trying to ESCAPE religious persecution. Our founding fathers wanted to SEPARATE church and state.

Do we all need a refresher course on the Constitution? Perhaps a civics class needs to become required in school again?

I have actually had some slightly warm, somewhat fuzzy thoughts about Mike Huckabee, at least so far as I am capable of for a Republican. But this is scary, scary stuff. Americans need to think long and hard about what is important to them in terms of the future of our country. Do we want to live in a place where the government tells us how to live and what to do with our bodies, our free time and our lives? Or do we want to continue to have the self-determination that men like Jefferson and Madison believed would make our nation great (and has)?

And the Fat Lady Sings, but not my Heart

Well folks, the votes are in. Let me preface this by saying I was lying in bed last night mentally writing the perfect post, but was of course too freaking lazy to get up and actually type it in. So you will just have to trust me that it was extremely insightful and erudite and what I recreate below will have to do.

I have tried not to read or hear too much about the results prior to writing this because I wanted to focus on my gut reaction and not be infiltrated by a bunch of punditry. First of all I don't really consider Huckabee's win a surprise at this point. He had massively pulled ahead of late and it seemed pretty much a lock. The problems for him will arise in New Hampshire. While his "positive" message may still hold him in steed, I think his religiousity will bite him in the butt so to speak with the liberal northeasterners of that state. I did hear something this morning that said something like 20% of N.H-en's identify themselves as evangelical (frankly I am stunned the percentage is that high). But enough about the GOP, you know I don't really care about them anyway.

On to Obama. I confess, I am a bit surprised that he took the lead in Iowa. I have said all along that between the three front runners, I would be happy to have any of them. But as I have already confessed a warm spot for Edwards, he was certainly my fave (although I secretly flagellated myself for taking the white male candidate as my chosen one—apologies to my white, male readers, of course—why oh why, can't it be Elizabeth Edwards running so I would have one less thing to feel guilty about). And then of course the feminist in me couldn't not hold a corner of support for Hillary Clinton. No matter what you feel about her or Bill, the woman is BRILLIANT and certainly just as worthy as any other candidate on the stage so far. But she does have some baggage.

That all being said, I liked Obama. I was certainly impressed by his message at the last democratic convention. You felt that the guy had something. And of course there is the Oprah support. Hard not to respect the power/voice of O. But I haven't found myself wowed by Obama during this campaign. I have seen the debates, and I know the man has the brains, but nothing has blown me away. Now, Michelle on the other hand I have been very impressed by. (Can we have the spouses run???)

Recently I read a piece on Salon that dealt with how many writers/pundits/talking heads are describing the differences between the democratic triumvirate (Clinton, Edwards, Obama) as boiling down to style basically, that substantively they were mostly the same. And more than likely that is the case. So the style thing, for Obama, is about hope, pardon me, but a very MLK, Jr. kind of thing for lack of a better example. And I get that. God knows America needs that. But if that is Obama's shtick, he needs to bring it home. It isn't enough to say it, you have to make me feel it. And right now, I am not feeling.

None of that is to say that I wouldn't support Obama 100% should the nomination end up being his. But I want him to make my heart song if that is the case. And right now, that muscle ain't carin' a tune.

382 days to go . . .

At the dedication of his gubernatorial portrait, Austin, Texas January 2002:

"I want to thank you for taking time out of your day to come and witness my hanging."

I dare to dream, W. I dare to dream . . . do they still hang for war crimes? Could we make an exception in his case?