Super Fat Tuesday

It’s too bad that we had to have the Worst President in History to bring us to this, but it is nice to see an energized electorate. The public was pumped up for the midterm elections in 2006 and things are really hopping now. I believe every primary and caucus state so far has had record turn-outs. I wonder if this will last, or if people will slip back into their apathy and we return to having less than half the eligible voters participating.

On Thank You, South Carolina:

Hawaii writes: I keep wondering about this - it seems that ALL the establishment Democrats are throwing their weight towards Obama. I figure there could only be a few main reasons why so many of them are going in the same direction:

1. (optimistic world view) - Obama really is the best candidate by far.
2. (practical world view) - The Dem establishment has decided Obama has the best chance to win in a general election.
3. (cynical world view) - They think that Clinton is too politically savy and that Obama will be much easier to manipulate to get what they want from.
4. (pessimistic world view) - Clinton and Bill are manipulators who have angered those in the party for years and they hope to free themselves finally of the Clintons.

I hope it is either 1 or 2 but I fear it is 3 or 4. If Clinton and Obama do not stop fighting it out and bloodying the Democratic voters in their cage match fighting - and start taking the higher road quickly - I will be voting for Edwards despite my fears that the man knows nothing about economics. At least he appears to have the long term good of the country in mind (sort of like McCain - I like him personally, but he’s wrong).

CP adds: Good analysis, hawaii. Maybe it’s some of all 4? If Clinton wins the WHite House there will be hell to pay for those who endorsed Obama. I like Edwards and it’s too bad he’s up against others who are in a better position with money and media attention. Don’t think he’ll win, so I wonder if he’d run for VP with CLinton or Obama? No way Hill will run with Obama if he gets the nomination or vice-versa if she wins. As time goes by you can tell that they hate each other.

I lost track of which Kennedy is supporting who. Kathleen Hall Jamieson was on Bill Moyers last week parsing Kennedys, but to me a Kennedy is a Kennedy. Obama got the endorsement of some of the major Kennedys, while Clinton got some of the minor ones. The big news would be if a Kennedy came out and endorsed McCain.

As for non-Kennedys, several red state senators have endorsed Obama: Taking Sides in the Senate. Endorsing Clinton would make them vulnerable amongst their constituents. Still, they could have just stayed quiet, so it’s interesting that they came out for Obama.

Endorsements have a lot to do with ideology and electability, but it also helps if one has not made a lot of enemies. Clinton has her share of supporters but has also rankled quite a few within her own party. Obama hasn’t been around on the national scene long enough to make a lot of enemies. But just because someone is seen as Ms. or Mr. Congeniality doesn’t mean she or he is the best candidate.

rrgirl: I’m looking forward to the running mate selection. within the field of front-runners, there are both formidable and disastrous match-ups, both in terms of electability and long-term influence. can they learn to live with each other? do they have to? will any of them have enough delegates before the convention to be able to avoid negotiating? and then there are the dark-horses sitting out the primaries…I get chills at the prospects. none of the above may still be an option come summer.

judie4mets: I’m anxious to see what will happen here in NY. Alot of people like Hillary, but alot don’t. I think she’ll win but if it’s close it’ll almost be like she lost. Edwards, Clinton and Obama are all decent candidates. They seem to not like each other, though, and none of them would be a VP for the others. I don’t think Rudy will make it past Florida so it’ll be down to McCain and Romney.

CP: Two more down. Would Rudy run with McCain? No way he’d team with Romney. Seems like nobody likes Romney. Edwards is a southerner and could balance the ticket with Obama or Clintion.

Yeah, once the candidates are selected the next fun thing is to see who gets picked for running mates. I don’t think anyone will be foolish enough to pull a Dan Quayle again.

I haven’t paid a lot of attention to the Republican race because I figure that I’m not going to vote for any of them — unless something goes really goofy on the Democratic side. Still, I’ve tried to stay reasonably informed. I don’t know what it is about Romney, but just about every time I’ve read a statement by him or seen him on tv the one word that comes to mind is “prick.” (Dick Cavett is kinder than I, terming Romney “bogus.”) Perhaps it’s because he projects an aura of not just perfection but a certain smugness as well. Dan Patrick said on today’s show that one thing he likes about Bob Knight is that he is flawed. (Then again DP seems to hate Bill Belichick, and there are few who have been as successful and flawed as Belichick.) Flaws aren’t bad, as long as you dont’ have a fatal one.

Cavett also notes the bonus awaiting the person who wins the presidency in November:

… let’s all remember that there is one blessing that all of the candidates can revel in and enjoy: They needn’t have any fears about being inferior to the incumbent.