I've been contentedly trolling my favorite blogs for months as the political races have been heating up. Now, on the eve of the eve of the Iowa caucuses, I'm speaking my piece.
First, for my favorite candidate, Barack Obama. I'll be brief at the risk of running into effusive paragraphs of support for this outstanding leader.
Obama's public service has engaged him with REAL PEOPLE from the start. That's an important distinction IMHO as he has embraced citizens with mortgages, student loans and insurance bills in favor of big money corporate interests. He is a magnetic presence with populist charm. His wife is brilliant, talented, warm and magic on the stage. He represents a return to American values of hard work while still CARING enough to help those in need. After 8 years of the idiot prince "divider/decider," Obama is EXACTLY what we need to make us feel like American isn't a bad word.
God bless Kucinich for throwing some 11th hour love in Obama's direction. Every little bit counts.
Huckabee on the other hand... While I appreciate him stealing Romney's thunder and yanking back the curtain on Mitt's chimera-like position switches, I have become increasingly fearful that he is a scary blend of Bill Clinton and Dubya. He has a personal charisma and folksy appeal that come from America's nostalgic fascination with all things Southern. He's lost a ton of weight (more on that later) and is telegenic in a televangelist sort of way. His "little guy from a little state" routine plays well and blunts the GOP field in a surprisingly complex matrix.
He trumps Thompson by being "Southern" without the "Hollywood" tag. His Baptist minister bonafides positively KILL 3-time marriage loser/pedophile friend-having/corruption plagued Giuliani. Plus, his ministership reaches to fundie Christians while reminding them that the LDS church is a cult (I see you Romney). His weight loss exudes a vigor that plays well against McCain's older, stiffer, war-torn cragginess. Plus, his executive office experience lends a more presidential air than everybody except Romney (who has more campaign trouble as the race continues).
On paper, it's easy to see why he has emerged from their tangled ranks as the presumptive front-runner. That's the Clinton in him. Only problem, he's frighteningly dim. I mean intellectually incurious a la Dubya level dim. From his misunderstanding of foreign relations to his overly facile interpretations of domestic issues and penchant for pulpit-friendly soundbites, he's Dubya wrapped up in a kindler, gentler shell... and that's scary.
First, for my favorite candidate, Barack Obama. I'll be brief at the risk of running into effusive paragraphs of support for this outstanding leader.
Obama's public service has engaged him with REAL PEOPLE from the start. That's an important distinction IMHO as he has embraced citizens with mortgages, student loans and insurance bills in favor of big money corporate interests. He is a magnetic presence with populist charm. His wife is brilliant, talented, warm and magic on the stage. He represents a return to American values of hard work while still CARING enough to help those in need. After 8 years of the idiot prince "divider/decider," Obama is EXACTLY what we need to make us feel like American isn't a bad word.
God bless Kucinich for throwing some 11th hour love in Obama's direction. Every little bit counts.
Huckabee on the other hand... While I appreciate him stealing Romney's thunder and yanking back the curtain on Mitt's chimera-like position switches, I have become increasingly fearful that he is a scary blend of Bill Clinton and Dubya. He has a personal charisma and folksy appeal that come from America's nostalgic fascination with all things Southern. He's lost a ton of weight (more on that later) and is telegenic in a televangelist sort of way. His "little guy from a little state" routine plays well and blunts the GOP field in a surprisingly complex matrix.
He trumps Thompson by being "Southern" without the "Hollywood" tag. His Baptist minister bonafides positively KILL 3-time marriage loser/pedophile friend-having/corruption plagued Giuliani. Plus, his ministership reaches to fundie Christians while reminding them that the LDS church is a cult (I see you Romney). His weight loss exudes a vigor that plays well against McCain's older, stiffer, war-torn cragginess. Plus, his executive office experience lends a more presidential air than everybody except Romney (who has more campaign trouble as the race continues).
On paper, it's easy to see why he has emerged from their tangled ranks as the presumptive front-runner. That's the Clinton in him. Only problem, he's frighteningly dim. I mean intellectually incurious a la Dubya level dim. From his misunderstanding of foreign relations to his overly facile interpretations of domestic issues and penchant for pulpit-friendly soundbites, he's Dubya wrapped up in a kindler, gentler shell... and that's scary.
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