Newscoma

Tonight, as I’m in one of those tired modes, let’s talk about Eugene Sledge and my grandfather.

There is a connection, believe it or not, to me at least.

I’ve been watching “The War” on PBS. Today, over at MCB, Ned Williams asked about the Ken Burns documentary.

I am not going to sit here tonight and pontificate about the comparisons between that war and this war. I’m just not up for it tonight. I feel like my brain is in a blender and it’s just a damn good thing I know the difference between razor blades and dog food, or the kind and smelly canines who live with me would be in trouble. (They had kibble. Thank goodness.)

Yeah, I’m that tired. Working, fretting and working some more. Thus my life these days.

Anyway, I have been watching and will turn it on again tonight.

What am I getting from “The War”?

I’m getting my grandfather. My dear sweet grandfather, a message from his generation, in this documentary that is reminding me that he once was a young man too. A man, who joined the Marines at a very young age. I’m getting the voice of his time.

And, my friends, this is not bad at all. I have a picture of him in his uniform, his face so handsome that it would break your heart. His cap, sitting just a bit askew on his head and a smile, man, that would knock the socks off of a holy woman. He’s beautiful.

But what I’m seeing are the things he didn’t say in this documentary. He was in the Battle of Saipan. He told a few stories, but kept many to himself. I know of the time he killed a nurse shark, because the men were hungry. I know about taking a bath with real soap and being shot at by a sniper.

I know he was damaged from his time there, but never broken. He learned too young about death and war, about young men dying for their country. He knew, though, in his mind it was something he wanted to do.

And, I adored him. Just adored him.

So, to answer the question, I’m getting whispers from my grandfather as a young man, unfortunately at war. Not old enough to drink, yet old enough to fight.

And, I needed it.

There is no political commentary here tonight. I’m watching a documentary that I’m enjoying.

Because, although I’m alone this evening, I can feel my grandfather’s presence.

And as for Eugene Sledge, read about him here. He had a voice. And, in some ways, I here it in my grandfather’s quiet Southern drawl that I haven’t heard for more than 26 years.

Photo from Wikipedia from Battle of Saipan and National Archives

Folks are talking about the political primaries right now and what the presidential candidates are doing and saying which, of course, is always a bit different than their actions. Right now, everyone is on their best behavior. And, I can honestly say, I’ve never seen a presidential campaign anything like this. Ever.

GoldnI says she’s not voting for John Edwards in the primary and gives a detailed, very reasonable analysis of why she doesn’t think he’s the right man for the job:

The decision to accept public financing says a lot about where they are right now. Sure, it’s really easy to say “Well we’ve always supported public financing, so this is about taking a principled stand, it’s not a money calculation, and we hope the rest of the field will be as PRINCIPLED as we are!”

Only problem is, what happens if the “rest of the field” doesn’t take the bait? Then they’re raising as much money as they can (for both the primary AND the general) while you’re constrained by limits that you wouldn’t otherwise have.

Jon at Mushin No Shin has given his first political donation. Here’s why:

I just made my first financial contribution EVER to a major party candidate. Yeah, it creeped me out a little. But Bill Richardson is the first major party candidate I ever thought was actually right for the job. I use the phrase “right for the job” quite precisely. It doesn’t mean I think he’s my ideological soulmate. It means I think he has the right combination of experience, leadership, and “good enough” positions on every major issue to actually do the job we’re hiring someone to do …

Aunt B and I are on the same page I believe here. She discusses a Hillary Clinton presidency:

I just don’t believe it’s good for us to have power pass back and forth between two families.

Bill tried to convince America that it’s not a dynasty, but it feels like that to me.

Finally, Sean Braisted wrote about Barack Obama last Thursday and Iowa.

The Quad City Times is reporting that Michelle Obama, wife of Barack, said that “[i]f Barack doesn’t win Iowa it is over.”

That is certainly what Edwards and Hillary want people to believe, but is it really that true? Iowa is one of the whitest (about 96% white) states in the Union with about 3 Million people overall, the country as a whole is about 77% white. They have a large farming base, which is not true of a majority of electoral votes. Also, in order to win Iowa, you have to be very good at retail politics…but what the hell does retail politics have to do with the Presidential election in this day and age?

In political circles where I live, a lot of folks are talking about who has the capacity to win the election on the democratic ticket.  I’m hearing Edwards name a lot, but I also think that has to do with him being a Southern Democrat. Another name I’m hearing, as you would guess I think, Al Gore, but I don’t think he gives a damn about being president. Energy Czar under a democratic president, yes. Prez, no. I don’t really buy that too much but I’ve been trying to listen to some of the college students that live in the area.

Two names I keep hearing from them is: Ron Paul and Bill Richardson. This, of course, is completely unscientific.

I find that very interesting. These are kids that are not tied up in the politics, just randomly talking about politics at large. I tend to believe that Bill Richardson was initially running for vice-president as much as anything, but I’ve noticed in social networking systems and in my email that Richardson is making a subtle, yet deliberate push right now.

I honestly don’t think we need to dismiss him as a middle-of-the- packer anymore.

With that said, I’m still undecided. I know I’m expected, probably, to jump on someone’s wagon, but I haven’t.

I just haven’t been reached yet by a candidate. Isn’t that what they are supposed to do, reach us with their message. We’ll see if that happens anytime soon.

After the last seven years, I’m having trouble believing anybody.