Hasta la vista, Romney

Considering Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has been busy pushing a state healthcare proposal that is pretty much a carbon copy of the reforms Mitt Romney instituted in Massachusetts… Considering that the good old “Terminator” is vocally pro-abortion, a position identical to the one Mitt Romney faithfully held before his recent run for president… Considering they both are kinda hunky guys that entered politics after making their millions in the action-packed private sector… I was a little surprised to see Arnold backing John McCain and not good ol’ Mitt. But, then again, there are some shared points of view between the former POW and the former Barbarian. McCain’s immigration position is much closer to Gov. Schwarzeneggar than the typical Republican’s tough-talking, “round them up and send them back” attitude. And both the Mackster and Schwazzie speak the language of “global warming” like a couple of Al Gore wannabes, instead of the odd, non-committal “climate change” language that most of the GOP uses. You know, sort of like water-boarding not being actual torture, more like a water sport, I suppose. And of course, McCain is against torture (including waterboarding, if waterboarding is actually torture, which it may well be, but he’s not saying that it is.) And here, I’m pretty sure Arnold concurs. But most of all, they have both honorably and bravely served their country ––one in Vietnam, the other in the movie Predator. Which is pretty much what this endorsement signifies: more theater in the greatest show on earth. American politics.

The vetting of a President

Giuliani’s gamble came up bust. John Edwards is packing it in. And Hillary gets more votes in Florida––a contest that the DNC said they were not going to count––than the Republican victor, John McCain. All of which makes Super Tuesday a bit more super. Not Super Bowl super, you understand, but pretty darn super. The two-person Democratic race will be all the more defining without Edwards siphoning off voters and delegates. We will discover whether the two Clintons can go a straight week without race-baiting and––with their combined “experience”–– whether they are capable of behaving more…oh, I don’t know…presidential? We’ll see if the endorsement of Barack Obama by three living Kennedys gives him more street cred with Democrats or just frightens off the independents and the alleged Obama Republicans. And we’ll see if McCain really has this thing in the bag. And if Ron Paul can find another hobby.

Cheaters never win. Or do they?

Okay. I say we give it to her. I mean, she wants this thing. So much so, she was a pouting little no-show for her South Carolina concession speech. So much that she is allegedly planning to sweep into Florida Tuesday night and proclaim her latest victory. Wait just a second! That can’t be right! Can it? The Democratic National Committee has declared Florida off limits to Democratic candidates. No exceptions. Oh, but that surely couldn’t apply to a Clinton. They are a political dynasty. You know, like those Bushes. America’s very own royal family, as it were. And by the way, Hillary is also contesting the delegates from Michigan and Florida who the DNC has said will not be counted at the convention. You know, for the sake of democracy and what not. I mean, this chick really means business. So I say we give it to her. She’s the candidate. Mr. Obama, stand down. Wait your turn. I mean, she’s been wanting this since…okay, I ‘ll say it…day one.

Populism takes it on the chin

Pitting the “people” against the “powerful” is as old as American politics itself. But, for whatever reason, populism hasn’t been getting a lot of traction this year. Populist candidate, John Edwards, came in third out of three in his own home state. And while Mike Huckabee has been the biggest of oxymorons: a populist Republican, his campaign has steadily been losing steam. Apparently, the “little guy” no longer thinks he needs a champion. Or maybe the “little guy” just realizes that it’s the powerful that have all the…um…power? Perhaps, in a bad economy we are less interested in punishing the fat cats, and more interested in them doing well. You know, so the rest of us can be gainfully employed. Perhaps, that’s what people in Florida like about Romney. He is a filthy-rich captain of industry with more money than God. He might be able to fix this economy thing. Maybe the “little guy” has subconsciously embraced supply-side economics. Maybe the unemployed and the under-employed have an easier time demonizing the illegal immigrant than the Man. Maybe today’s “little guy” isn’t really a Democrat after all. Maybe he is more of a Republican than Mike Huckabee. Just maybe.

The L-word

Conservative pundit Andrew Sullivan has eloquently posited: “We may in fact have finally found that bridge to the 21st century that Bill Clinton told us about. Its name is Obama.” Sullivan’s point is that Obama’s candidacy marks a break with the vitriolic baby boomer cultural debate that has informed and infected politics for the last 40 years. Senator Obama has not simply re-framed the argument, Sullivan maintains, he has moved beyond it. Well, all that is about to change as soon as the heavy-hitter endorsements begin to roll in. Take Ted Kennedy’s forthcoming endorsement of the Illinois senator. There has probably been no more effective icon of the evil left wing than Mr. Kennedy. As you will recall in the last election, John Kerry was villified by the Republican machine for having a voting record that was “more liberal than Ted Kennedy.” That is, when the Massachuetts Senator wasn’t busy flip-flopping. With friends like Teddy Kennedy, who needs enemies? So as Obama seeks to change the political narrative––as pundits liken him to a breath of fresh air––that entrenched Me generation with its Vietnam and sexual revolution hang-ups just keeps showing up. And all of a sudden, the fresh face of new tomorrows starts to look conspicuously the gin-blossomed face of bygone Irish Liberalism.

The black vote for the black guy

Barack Obama has won South Carolina. But Hillary Clinton has won the race. You see, a week ago, Obama was the idealistic, insurgent Democratic candidate who happened to be black. But thanks to the Clinton campaign, he has emerged as the black presidential candidate. We’ll ignore all those affluent, college-educated Democrats and independent who chose Obama other Hillary Clinton. We’ll gloss over those young white students that this hopeful hopeful has energized. The new narrative is the black guy got out the black vote in that predominantly black primary state. You know, like Jesse Jackson did on two separate occasions. How quaint! It conveniently makes Clinton’s second place win look inevitable, and frankly, inconsequential. Jesse Jackson won seven primary states in his day. No cause for alarm. We big-hearted Clintons like to see it when black folks do well. Just not too well. It’s Hillary turn, and don’t you forget it.

John McCain or John Rambo?

After 7 years of a mangled foreign policy that plays like a bad Michael Bay movie––an action-packed extravaganza full of mustachioed villains, exploding Humvees and Clint Eastwood catch phrases: “Wanted dead or alive;” “Bring it on;” “Mission accomplished”––it is little wonder that the emerging GOP front runner is a decorated Vietnam war hero. Or that his wartime heroics consisted chiefly of doing hard time in a Viet Cong POW camp. He’s also a bit of a hot head. Which you’ve gotta love. Our very own Rambo. Maybe that’s why Senator McCain is Sylvester Stallone’s pick for Commander-in-chief. Maybe, that’s why TV action hero Chuck Norris is Huckabee’s Hollywood sidekick. Or why, actor Fred Thompson treated his run for the oval office like it was just another casting call. Look tough. Talk tough. Be tough. Cue the explosives. Bring up the music. Fade to black.

No nod for Giuliani

 

Well, the New York Times has spoken. The newspaper still read by many Floridian New Yorkers has made its decision. And Rudolph Giuliani is not their candidate. In fact, while giving McCain the thumbs up, they went out of their way to give Rudy the shaft. They summarize Mr. 9/11 as “a narrow, obsessively secretive, vindictive man.” Ouch! For the Democrats, they confess that an Obama  presidency is “enticing” but feel Senator Clinton is the more equipped to fill those big, presidential heels. So at least one New York-based candidate has received a New York nod from the paper. As for Giuliani, his lead in Florida has been all but obliterated. It looks like it will be a shootout between McCain and Romney. And in the recent Republican debate, it was the economy, not terrorism, that got all of the attention.  Which, all in all, is a bit of a disappointment. For the last 7 years, narrowness, secretiveness, and vindictiveness have been some of the President’s most endearing qualities. Oh, well.

Kucinich drops out

Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich has removed himself from the running. This, only days after Republican hopeful Fred Thompson has stepped aside. One man, a committed Liberal; the other man, a dedicated Conservative. So different, yet so much the same. Good family men who have decided to step away from the ballyhoo of presidential politicking to spend time with their families. The two men, pictured above with their lovely daughters, have yet to endorse… um…sorry…their lovely wives…have yet to endorse a candidate. Really? Those sweet young things are their wives? No friggin’ way! These dudes are old enough to be…Right! Chicks dig power…Got it… But I digress. My apologies. So let us thank both men for their years of public…Daaang, Momma…Um…public service and dedication…Heck, these dudes have my vote.

Spouse Power

A candidate’s spouse has always played a significant role in presidential politics. They are expected to smile, look devoted, exchange adoring glances and hold hands in public. That was then, this is now. Bill Clinton has hardly played the shrinking violet. He has been an attack dog, a crowd-pleaser and, more importantly, the most formidable potential First La…Husband? in American history. And the Clintons’ unflagging tag-team attacks have definitely worn down Barack Obama. So it is time for him to unveil his secret weapon: Michelle Obama. Accomplished, articulate and fetching, she is everything that a First Husb…ur…Lady should be. But this week in South Carolina, she is something else: Black. Not the bright-skinned, mocha latte black of her bi-racial husband. Nope. A complexion that is wonderfully and gloriously black as the ace of spades. A clear signal to wary African-Americans in the south. It says that Obama is not only young and gifted. He is black. A black man who embraces his race. A black man who doesn’t think he is above marrying a woman who is a few shades darker. A black man who is totally authentic. It’s a message that white folks may never notice. But for black voters, it’s a message that speaks volumes.