Tennessee Bloggers Weigh In On The Democrats
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.
GoldnI is part of a rabid Obama college group, they don’t look at much realistically. IMO. The points in her post can be dabated and have been on Daily Kos many times with the comments from her like: “if you can’t stand the heat in the kitchen”, and a whole lot of swearing by others and name calling the “little Edwards supporters” which gets worse everyday..
Here are some links for Edwards information:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/10/1/101450/169
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/9/29/171618/666
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/9/24/115926/398
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/9/30/20948/7792
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/9/24/22621/5475
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/9/20/172315/555
[...] Newscoma is trying to get a feel for the political climate for Presidential politics and to do so she’s taking the pulse of our children: I’ve been trying to listen to some of the college students that live in the area. [...]
Well if that’s the feel you are looking at, there are plenty of groups on both myspace and facebook that include TN college age students and they can be found on all the candidates pages.
Good luck, if you are looking for the mentalitiy that name calling and cussing is the game, and traveling in a gang pack that thinks “Truth to Power” is all it. Then you possibly have found the right group.
There is more to our youth in TN than those who get their jollies from hurting other bloggers whether they are preceived to be from the 50″s or not.
Hey dk2, I can see you feel strongly about this. I just got to my computer and found that the first link was sent to spam because I only allow one link at a time to show up before the moderation filter hits it.
Actually, I don’t have a feel yet as I said up in my post. Actually, John Edwards is going to be near here on Thursday which I’m going to post after I get off from work, as I don’t blog from work.
Um, I didn’t get that from GoldnI’s post at her blog. I saw that she had just taken a position, and that’s cool just as yours is.
A dialogue, is always of value as long as people are talking. We on the left are all going to be behind one candidate after the Democratic Convention next year anyway.
As for the college kids statement, I live in a college town and am intrigued by what they are saying. I didn’t agree or disagree, it was just an analysis.
It’s best, for me at least, to listen to everyone.
I understand your position, I just hope there are others that are also relfected!
Thanks dk2
Newscoma does keep a keen ear to the ground. Keep up the good work!
Dennis Kucinich is the best man for the job, but we’re just not collectively smart enough as a nation to elect him I’m afraid.
Other than that, AuntB, whom I love
, makes the most important point. Clinton-Bush-Bush-Clinton…they’re all the same kind of scum. Two families that are very close and have been for a long time are actively trying to continue that disgraceful, self-serving dynasty.
If this country is ever going to move forward, we have to reject this Royal Family mentality that seems to have befallen voters in both parties. It’s pathetic.
No two presidential families have ever brought such back-to-back disgrace to America as those two. If Democrats drink that Clinton Kool Aid in the primary, the status quo wins. This party has potential with some changes, I advise Dems to not be stupid. Vote for new blood.
Kucinich, Edwards, Richardson, even Dodd.
But installing a Clinton, or any DLC candidate for that matter, is just opening ourselves up for defeat. Hillary is too dirty and way too much of a hypocrite to represent us. The Right will smear her all over the place (and rightfully so) and we will lose this election. That’s why the Right keeps supporting her in their media. They know she cannot win.
We’ve made some headway in changing things in the last two years, people. Let’s not throw it away by adopting a soap opera mentality when it comes to the white house.
No Bush’s, No Clinton’s. Never again.