And then there were... well, just as many as there were yesterday
Kyle recently discovered my dirty little secret: for all my interest in politics, I haven't actually ever voted. I am registered to vote, but in Maryland. And I don't exactly live there any more.
But come Thursday, I expect that to change. No, I don't mean that I'll move to Maryland. But I have to get my Illinois state ID card, so I'll register to vote then.
Regardless, my failure to uphold my civic duty in the past hasn't exactly prevented me from taking something of an avid interest in the current Democratic race. To that end, even, I've started up a new hobby while at work: I read through as many as 10 Op-Ed pages throughout the day. Let's see, so far my list includes the NY Times, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune and the Sun-Times, Wall Street Journal, the LA Times, the Boston Globe, the Baltimore Sun and the Orlando Sentinel. I'll admit that with that last one, it's mostly that they have the best name for a paper - ie. Sentinel. Also, it's good to know how the old folks are doing down there. I also go through Salon.com and cbsnews.com, to get something of an online perspective.
I figure, it's the Op-Ed pages that can really impact how Americans perceive the news. I mean, it'll be most clearly there, in the editorial columns and what not, that any biases that are subtly present in their reporting will be seen. And it's the news that tells Americans who to vote for, or at least, what to think about the people running. It's too bad that Fox News and MSNBC don't have some sort of online Op-Ed features, since it's the 24-hour cable news channels that do this to the greatest extent.
But anyway, yeah, that's my hobby. Reading Op-Ed pages. For a while, I was keeping up with the Sunday morning political roundtables, but come lately, it's tough to get up that early on a Sunday morning.
So with my recently, quasi-decently informed opinion on this country's political matters, I thought I'd sketch out my feelings about the Democratic candidates. Also, my boss just left the office for a 4 day trip in Amsterdam so it's not like I have to do work anymore.
To begin with, I first took notice of Dean, but quickly discounted him because I didn’t see him as someone that I wanted to be President. I mean, I certainly agree with him on a lot of issues, the healthcare system and the Iraq war chief among them, but I just didn’t think that he’d make a good president. He didn’t seem Presidential enough. I wasn’t really able to better explain that sentiment, though, and besides, I read a little about Kerry and decided that he certainly seemed Presidential in ways that Dean did not. Also, he seemed like he had better experience. So I decided to like Kerry.
However, I never heard much from the man. I don’t mean personally, though given his penchant for personal, direct appeals, were I living in Iowa, I very likely would have heard from him personally; I mean, what was he saying, and what was he doing? The answer to both was not much of anything.
Someone told me at about this time that she is a Dean supporter, and what spoke to her was Dean’s passion, and his ability to connect to people. At about the same time, I read an article that said, in effect, that perhaps while Dean doesn’t at first seem Presidential, maybe that’s just what this country needs. The man needs a chance, it went on to say, and there are times when you just have to take that leap of faith. Which, I did, I guess. Kerry’s lack of… well, everything except for some presidential-looking hair didn’t inspire me, but Dean’s courage to speak his mind, for better or for worse, and courage, in general, to directly oppose a popular, sitting President was enough to convince me to take greater stock in the former Vermont governor.
I’ve never really held it against him when he says something that is attacked by pundits and newspapers; his alleged gaffes don’t matter to me. Maybe that’s because I agree with what he was saying, even if I would have preferred to say it in more delicate terms, shall we say. I think that he has excellent experience, coming from 12 years as governor of Vermont. A small, not terribly representative state, sure, but at least he did something – balanced budgets, universal healthcare for minors, etc. What has Kerry done while in Congress? The easy answer is ride on Sen. Kennedy’s coattails. And, really, I think that would be the correct answer, too.
And what I came to realize is that more than anything, I want to see Dean in the White House. While I strive to not be an explicit contrarian (as in, I don’t like things because other people do), maybe it’s precisely because he doesn’t “seem” presidential that I want Dean to be President.
I don’t think Dean could beat Bush in the general election, barring any unforeseen crises that develop, or embarrassments that get uncovered. I mean, I like Dean, and I really like what he wants to do with our country. However, I don’t think he can overcome the image that the media has created for him (and I’ll admit that, maybe, some of that image is warranted), and most people would rather Bush than the Dean that they see on television and read about in the papers.
But I’ll tell you what – if Dean were to A. get the nomination and then B. win the presidency, I don’t know that there could come a day when I would be more proud to be an American. I’m not looking for a President willing to work with and making compromises with Congress. Quite frankly, this Congress has shown itself to be unswervingly opposed to making any compromises. Ever. I want a President that will stand up for what I and he believe in. And, well, I think that that Gov. Howard Dean, M.D. could be that man. And for him to triumph in the face of all the shit that he’s been put through (and I respect that when you decide to run for President of the United States of America, you are going to leave yourself open for a big ‘ole shit-flinging contest), and for him to triumph against the entrenched, conservative-friendly media (no, I’m not really a conspiracist, really!), well, god-damn, because then that age-old American dream and ideal that anyone, anyone can be President would at last be true.
Granted, if a drunk louse of an asshole can be President, then really, anyone can be, too.
But like I said, I don’t think Dean can win. I don’t know that he’ll get the nomination, or if he’ll even win a primary. I don’t want to sound like I’m giving up on the man, and really, there have been only one primary and one caucus so far, and it’s not like Dean is doing poorly. Rather, it’s that he’s not fulfilling the expectations that were set on him just a few days ago. But, hell, if this is what I’m thinking, and I really like Dean, imagine what everyone else in this country must be thinking.
So does that leave us with Kerry? Well, for me, he’s not Bush, and quite frankly, that’s good enough. Clark is kind of a joke, I think, and Edwards is a tool. A pretty tool with a pretty smile, but a tool just the same. And Leiberman? Well, he’s actually a Republican. And the day that this country elects a divorced vegan to the White House is the day that I’ll lop off my left testicle. I kid you not (please note that this offer expires in 11/08). And Sharpton… well, he’s Sharpton.
Maybe you’ve heard of the bumper sticker that reads: “Dated Dean, Married Kerry”. Well, for me, right now, it would be more like “Dated Dean, Settled for Kerry”. Oh, burn!
***
On an un-related note, I just finished Claudius the God and there was a quote in there, which I will now repeat:
Okay, after looking through the book, I can’t quite find it. Also, I may have made up the part about reading it in a book. So, the quote that I was thinking of went something like this (but again, I don’t remember the source at all, and this is my own paraphrasing): the key to wit is brevity. Certainly, as I am always reminded, this is a lesson that I ought to take closer to heart. To that end, all I can ever really say is:
“My name is Dan; eat my fuck.”
DDM
email me
Kyle recently discovered my dirty little secret: for all my interest in politics, I haven't actually ever voted. I am registered to vote, but in Maryland. And I don't exactly live there any more.
But come Thursday, I expect that to change. No, I don't mean that I'll move to Maryland. But I have to get my Illinois state ID card, so I'll register to vote then.
Regardless, my failure to uphold my civic duty in the past hasn't exactly prevented me from taking something of an avid interest in the current Democratic race. To that end, even, I've started up a new hobby while at work: I read through as many as 10 Op-Ed pages throughout the day. Let's see, so far my list includes the NY Times, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune and the Sun-Times, Wall Street Journal, the LA Times, the Boston Globe, the Baltimore Sun and the Orlando Sentinel. I'll admit that with that last one, it's mostly that they have the best name for a paper - ie. Sentinel. Also, it's good to know how the old folks are doing down there. I also go through Salon.com and cbsnews.com, to get something of an online perspective.
I figure, it's the Op-Ed pages that can really impact how Americans perceive the news. I mean, it'll be most clearly there, in the editorial columns and what not, that any biases that are subtly present in their reporting will be seen. And it's the news that tells Americans who to vote for, or at least, what to think about the people running. It's too bad that Fox News and MSNBC don't have some sort of online Op-Ed features, since it's the 24-hour cable news channels that do this to the greatest extent.
But anyway, yeah, that's my hobby. Reading Op-Ed pages. For a while, I was keeping up with the Sunday morning political roundtables, but come lately, it's tough to get up that early on a Sunday morning.
So with my recently, quasi-decently informed opinion on this country's political matters, I thought I'd sketch out my feelings about the Democratic candidates. Also, my boss just left the office for a 4 day trip in Amsterdam so it's not like I have to do work anymore.
To begin with, I first took notice of Dean, but quickly discounted him because I didn’t see him as someone that I wanted to be President. I mean, I certainly agree with him on a lot of issues, the healthcare system and the Iraq war chief among them, but I just didn’t think that he’d make a good president. He didn’t seem Presidential enough. I wasn’t really able to better explain that sentiment, though, and besides, I read a little about Kerry and decided that he certainly seemed Presidential in ways that Dean did not. Also, he seemed like he had better experience. So I decided to like Kerry.
However, I never heard much from the man. I don’t mean personally, though given his penchant for personal, direct appeals, were I living in Iowa, I very likely would have heard from him personally; I mean, what was he saying, and what was he doing? The answer to both was not much of anything.
Someone told me at about this time that she is a Dean supporter, and what spoke to her was Dean’s passion, and his ability to connect to people. At about the same time, I read an article that said, in effect, that perhaps while Dean doesn’t at first seem Presidential, maybe that’s just what this country needs. The man needs a chance, it went on to say, and there are times when you just have to take that leap of faith. Which, I did, I guess. Kerry’s lack of… well, everything except for some presidential-looking hair didn’t inspire me, but Dean’s courage to speak his mind, for better or for worse, and courage, in general, to directly oppose a popular, sitting President was enough to convince me to take greater stock in the former Vermont governor.
I’ve never really held it against him when he says something that is attacked by pundits and newspapers; his alleged gaffes don’t matter to me. Maybe that’s because I agree with what he was saying, even if I would have preferred to say it in more delicate terms, shall we say. I think that he has excellent experience, coming from 12 years as governor of Vermont. A small, not terribly representative state, sure, but at least he did something – balanced budgets, universal healthcare for minors, etc. What has Kerry done while in Congress? The easy answer is ride on Sen. Kennedy’s coattails. And, really, I think that would be the correct answer, too.
And what I came to realize is that more than anything, I want to see Dean in the White House. While I strive to not be an explicit contrarian (as in, I don’t like things because other people do), maybe it’s precisely because he doesn’t “seem” presidential that I want Dean to be President.
I don’t think Dean could beat Bush in the general election, barring any unforeseen crises that develop, or embarrassments that get uncovered. I mean, I like Dean, and I really like what he wants to do with our country. However, I don’t think he can overcome the image that the media has created for him (and I’ll admit that, maybe, some of that image is warranted), and most people would rather Bush than the Dean that they see on television and read about in the papers.
But I’ll tell you what – if Dean were to A. get the nomination and then B. win the presidency, I don’t know that there could come a day when I would be more proud to be an American. I’m not looking for a President willing to work with and making compromises with Congress. Quite frankly, this Congress has shown itself to be unswervingly opposed to making any compromises. Ever. I want a President that will stand up for what I and he believe in. And, well, I think that that Gov. Howard Dean, M.D. could be that man. And for him to triumph in the face of all the shit that he’s been put through (and I respect that when you decide to run for President of the United States of America, you are going to leave yourself open for a big ‘ole shit-flinging contest), and for him to triumph against the entrenched, conservative-friendly media (no, I’m not really a conspiracist, really!), well, god-damn, because then that age-old American dream and ideal that anyone, anyone can be President would at last be true.
Granted, if a drunk louse of an asshole can be President, then really, anyone can be, too.
But like I said, I don’t think Dean can win. I don’t know that he’ll get the nomination, or if he’ll even win a primary. I don’t want to sound like I’m giving up on the man, and really, there have been only one primary and one caucus so far, and it’s not like Dean is doing poorly. Rather, it’s that he’s not fulfilling the expectations that were set on him just a few days ago. But, hell, if this is what I’m thinking, and I really like Dean, imagine what everyone else in this country must be thinking.
So does that leave us with Kerry? Well, for me, he’s not Bush, and quite frankly, that’s good enough. Clark is kind of a joke, I think, and Edwards is a tool. A pretty tool with a pretty smile, but a tool just the same. And Leiberman? Well, he’s actually a Republican. And the day that this country elects a divorced vegan to the White House is the day that I’ll lop off my left testicle. I kid you not (please note that this offer expires in 11/08). And Sharpton… well, he’s Sharpton.
Maybe you’ve heard of the bumper sticker that reads: “Dated Dean, Married Kerry”. Well, for me, right now, it would be more like “Dated Dean, Settled for Kerry”. Oh, burn!
***
On an un-related note, I just finished Claudius the God and there was a quote in there, which I will now repeat:
Okay, after looking through the book, I can’t quite find it. Also, I may have made up the part about reading it in a book. So, the quote that I was thinking of went something like this (but again, I don’t remember the source at all, and this is my own paraphrasing): the key to wit is brevity. Certainly, as I am always reminded, this is a lesson that I ought to take closer to heart. To that end, all I can ever really say is:
“My name is Dan; eat my fuck.”
DDM
email me
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