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The Iowa Caucus
By admin | January 4, 2008
I have to admit, I like politics. I don’t know why, I’m not much of a political person, and the debates and campaigning these days have all the entertainment value and credibility of Pro Wrestling. I think we are in an era of pop-politics..you know, where news reporters report on the candidates hair, or how nice their wife (or husband) is, or other things not really meaningful to the issues.
Of course there are issues. Like illegal immigration. The Iraq war. Health care. But who gives a hoot? What we really talk about are issues like “Is America ready for a black President?…” (Or woman President, in Hillary’s case). The “Jesus” factor. Will an evangelical in the White House be good or bad? Some people are party loyalist while others want the most conservative or liberal candidate. I think we have reached the point we do not believe the candidates are going to do what they promise anyhow, so we go on and on about other things that are significant in some way, but have little to do with actual running the country. And then there’s the media that likes to keep things stirred up.
One thing I have noticed, the candidates that do the best are better able to let all the mud thrown at them just slide off. If the mud sticks, they’re toast. And so far the best one at the game, imo, is Obama. He’s been accused of so much (his middle name is Hussein!), and at least one news person accidentally called him “Osama” (ouch!). And he is a minority. Yet he has steadily increased his popularity, and after all the caucusing is said and done, he came out on top, at least in Iowa. He’s even taken some mud from the Clinton camp, and walked away looking clean.
Hillary…lots of baggage. Edwards…looks like a college brat (does his mommy know he’s running for President?). And the Republicans…goodness…by virtue of just being a Republican have LOTS of baggage. Whatever you think about the Bush administration, they have not been able to let the mud slide off, a LOT has stuck.
I’m not endorsing anyone. I tend to think most politicians with the exception of Ron Paul and a few other obscure also-rans are just front men for corporate and business interest. But I do see changes on the horizon, and Obama might just be the icon that represents a new direction for the good ‘ol USA.
Topics: Politics |
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