As Harrogate has been writing frequently and at length on this blog, the Democratic part is currently in the process of screwing itself by delving into Cult of Personality aesthetics rather than confronting the actual dangerousness of the Republican Party. But somehow all those posts got erased, probably by a stoned Ron Paul supporter. Therefore Harrogate will here attempt to recap the analysis he has been developing.
But because Harrogate is somewhat proud of Hillary Clinton overcoming weeks of often overtly sexist bashing at the hands of the media, he will put off his despair at the prospect of her getting the nomination, and inevitably losing the general election to a dangerous Republican, for another post.
Want the Health Care crisis and Poverty ignored?
Want to protract the Iraq debacle ad infinitum and open the door for bouncing, baby new wars to boot?
Want to continue to hear an ignorant President on national television talking about the pressing need to "preserve marriage," "defend Christmas," and the like?
Well, do ya?
If you want these things, then it is no wonder that you are enjoying the Obama versus Clinton show. But as Harrogate said, Clinton gets a "bye" today for her kickass defense of vacation-home turf last night. So, on to Obama, and the fascistic glorification of newness and vigorous youth that his campaign has thus far channelled with resounding success.
For months now lots of fun has been had by American Democrats hyping Obama. What is being lost in all the fervor is that, were Obama to get the Democratic nomination he would possibly be the worst candidate to do so in a long time (and that's saying something!). Obama, in short, is an empty suit. His ardent supporters typically defend their support on the basis of emotionality: "You just don't understand, you have to hear him speak" and "something is happening in America" are the vapid kinds of things you will hear in that quarter.
About the only substantive things Harrogate has thus far been able to glean from Obama is that the guy is foolish enough to believe that uncivil discourse is the big problem facing America today! That if elected, Obama's friendliness and inviolable coolness would be enough to bridge the ideological divides separating Democrats from Republicans.
Kumbayah. Meanwhile, in the general election he would be destroyed by a dangeorus Republican. But hey, his supporters would get to "be part of the excitement," and that's what matters, right?
5 comments:
So I agree with most of your points, but the bottom line is that no one else has stepped up to the plate, no one else is going to run. And anyone that people like you and I would really want to be president likely wouldn't get elected either--and those candidates are far from ideal anyway. At some point it makes more sense to stop complaining about whose running and support the candidate you like the best (note: I didn't say the ideal candidate you'd like to see elected).
I want to add that either Clinton or Obama is going to get the nomination, and if either one of them is remotely politically savvy whoever gets the nomination would put the other person on the ticket. Personally, I think that might be unbeatable.
Of course madam, you are right about the need to support the best of what is available. And whichever Democrat gets the nomination, Harrogate will pull for hard, because of the GOP dangerousness.
But now is primary time, time to infight. The self-brutalization that is going on here has an element of health to it, helps us figure out what we really want from our party. When the smoke clears we'll get behind whomever is standing.
That being said, Harrogate distinctly prefers Hillary Clinton to Barack Obama. And he will say why on a thread in the near future.
But for now Harrogate's gotta go, not just because this response is long, but also because Ron Paul and a bunch of glassy eyed young white men just dropped by to recruit Harrogate's support.
To reply to M's second comment, there is no way in which the winner of the Obama/ Clinton race will put the other on the ticket. If one half of the contest is relying on the use of implicit racial attacks by political surrogates, there will be a very small chance of political reconciliation, even if it were to be necessary to defeat the other party.
Besides, the goal is not to win a record number of votes in blue states; the goal is to reach 270 electoral votes. The best bet for either Obama or Clinton is to bring someone in who has a reasonable chance to win a red (or purple) state in November. This means who can flip Florida, Ohio, or Virginia and Arizona, or Virginia and Colorado, or Virginia, New Mexico, & plus one. This, of course, is keeping everything in tact from 2004.
If Kerry would have won Ohio or Florida, he would have won the nomination. If Gore would have won his home state, he would have won the nomination.
Actually, in polls across the US, especially in swing state, Obama does much better then Senator Clinton, largely because almost half the country dislikes her.
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