Beyond the Valley of Super Tuesday

[randy_byers]

I enjoyed watching the returns last night until 9pm Left Coast Time, and watching all five major candidates speak. It was the first time I'd seen Hillary speak in this campaign, and I was impressed, particularly by her shout out to science and stem cell research and tackling climate change. Wouldn't it be great to have a president who believes in the value of scientific research? It made me feel better about the possibility that she'll be our next president, although I hate her foreign policy advisers (who all think or thought the invasion of Iraq was a good idea) and think Obama is better on foreign policy (normalize relations with Cuba, attempt a grand bargain with Iran) and has a better chance of enlarging the Democratic coalition.

On the Republican side, Huckabee seemed really likable when he talked about how he'd be forced to sing the school songs of the various rivals-to-the-Razorbacks in the Southern states that voted for him, but then he started talking about policy. Squirrel-eating motherfucker ain't half of it.

ETA: Eli Sanders at the Slog has a nice overview of some perspectives on the upcoming Washington State Democratic Caucuses. One of the interesting insidery bits is an analysis of the calculations that Democratic Governor Christine Gregoire and (my) Democratic Congressman Jim McDermott might be making as they consider who to endorse. McDermott owes the Clintons bigtime for raising money for him in his legal defense against charges by the Republicans (specifically House minority leader John Boehner) that he broke the law when he made public the taped phone conversation that brought Newt Gingrich down. What a tangled web!

ETA: I've been reliably informed that the tape that McDermott made public didn't actually bring Gingrich down, but had to do with complicated backroom finagling the details of which have already slipped my mind and are not easily reconstructed via Google. My apologies for this poor contribution to global knowledge.

Comments

[ron-drummond.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I've been pretty impressed with Hillary too in this campaign -- she's smart and knows her stuff and comes across on the stump as pretty thoughtful. But I'm really growing to like Obama a lot, and he's definitely my main pick for now -- and Michelle Obama has defintely closed the deal on Barack for me, she kicks ass!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqCYFpUAJ2Q

Huckabee's scary for sure -- he sincerely thinks the universe was created in 4004 B.C.E., and his political history shows clearly that like Bush he only sees what he's decided beforehand he's gonna see. But he's been getting all pally-pally with McCain, and you can just about guarantee he'll be McCain's V.P. choice -- if McCain wins, I'll be praying for his good health even more fervently than usual.

[randy-byers.livejournal.com]

Yes, that very thought about Huckabee as McCain's VP hit home for me last night too. On the other hand, my biggest laugh was when Mark Shields on PBS said that McCain should take his mother with him wherever he goes on the campaign. She's 96 years old and "a miracle of nature," as Shields put it. She was on the stage behind him last night looking just great. He could offer her as proof that he's got another 25 good years in him.

[daveon.livejournal.com]

I saw an interview with his mother so health doesn't seem to be a problem. If I could vote and had felt inclined towards McCain then Huckabee as a running mate would finish it.

[randy-byers.livejournal.com]

Yeah, and McCain promising us a Hundred Year War doesn't help his case very much either. I don't think he quite gets it that Americans like their wars short and sweet, not long and drawn out.

[daveon.livejournal.com]

I am tempted to say that at least he's being honest about what happens if you want to have ideological wars.

[randy-byers.livejournal.com]

Good point. And I suppose it appeals to anyone who thinks the War on Terra is the new Cold War.