America has been debating the haves and the have nots, education and taxes since our inception. And well before our independence, the Constitution or Bill of Rights, have been debating religions role in our government. Let us not forget, the white people who first came to this land - Puritans and a disgruntled sect of Separtists. These extremist nuts who came here for "freedom of religion", really meant freedom to practice their own religion, but weren't necessarily as forgiving about other religions. Not much has really changed.
Including the role of media. Way back when, we might not have had the unforgiving and often times hilarous 24 hour news cycle. But each side had newspapers that supported their particular view of the world, and used those outlets to slander their opponents - and far nastier than some of the stuff thrown out today. Let's see.. Adams & Jefferson were both accused of sexual philanderings, Jefferson considered an athesist (not good), Jackson was positioned as a murderer, his mother a prostitue & was called out for marrying a woman who was an adulterer. And his opponent, the other Adams (John Quincy) was vilified for purchasing a chess set and a billard table for the White House. How very snobbish of him.
But our past doesn't take away from the insanity of today's race, nor lessen the entertainment (and outrage) that our current canddiates provide. Some of this stuff is really just too good to make up. Really, who is this guy??
The reality is the Republicans have two loser candidates who very doubtfully can get the electoral votes needed to win a general election. Whatever highly conservative crazies are coming out to vote in the Republican primary - and there will be plenty more who come out to vote just to pull the lever against Obama on November 6th - the reality is this country is split pretty evenly down the middle. So it's all about capturing the undecided. And come the general election, the two candidates - whoever they end up being - will be looking to capture those swing voters that will give them the wins in the states they'll need to hit 270. This includes targeting Independents, Women, Hispanics and Youth voters. And the more Santorum and Romney keep talking, the more these swing groups are swinging towards Obama. Which is why at this point, I'm enjoying their ineptitude, as opposed to imaginging the worst - seeing one of these clowns elected as our next president.
The Republican's dream that another candidate is going to save them at this point is utterly ridiculous. And has been for months, even though the media loves to fuel that anticipation fire. (What else have they got to talk about for 24 hours.) The reality is this: Candidates must have two things, a well organized, wide spread & efficient organization and money. No candidate can just pop up and "run." Even a few months ago, if a "new" candidate had wanted to enter the primaries, it would have been virtually impossible, because there's a huge amount of organization & political finegaling to even get on the states ballots. And going forward, even if it turns out in a few more months, there is no clear winner between Romney and Santorum, yes, someone theoretically could jump in - creating serious background negotiations at the convention. But as John Heilman said in his article in New York Magazine this week, "Don't hold your breath, particularly since none of the putative white knights evince the slightest interest in putting themselves in the near-suicidal position of having to assemble and fund a general-election campain on the fly with only 67 days left between the convention and November 6." Upshot - it's not going to happen.
In my Friday Rant a few days ago, I said "Run Rick Run." Heilman had the same sentiment, ending his article with "Go Rick Go." But his interest in Santorum surging forward is less because of the joy Democrats will have watching a match up between him and Obama, and more because if Santorum wins the nomination - and loses (an inevitability) - the Republican party will literally impode and be forced to rebuild itself. I applaud Heilman's loftier goals of wanting two strong parties in this country. But I say, be careful what you wish for. Things don't always turn out as you expect they will. This election certainly hasn't.
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