Why Hillary Can't Win

The deal is done. Hilly's race is run. It's over. It's been fun. By Hillary.

By why so soon you ask? What makes you call the race so early? What about Texas? Ohio? It makes no difference. Put a fork in her, Hillary is done.

Still you persist... don't count her out! They counted her out in New Hampshire! Yes they did, and that was the only thing that saved her campaign. It won't happen again.

You think I'm unreasonable perhaps? You think I haven't taken into consideration Hillary's record? (No, not the imaginary 35 years of experience but the 6 she actually spent in legislature). Sure I took that into my evaluation.

Oh wait. I know. You're thinking that I've counted out the Clinton machine. No, no. I haven't done that either. I know it's there.

"Ah ha!" you say. "You've forgotten Hillary's charm!" OK, I know, you never said that but it was kind of funny to think of someone saying it ;-)

But, still, with all of the above said, Hillary still can't win. At this point, it no longer has to do with Hillary. Sure, up until a couple of weeks ago she was actually part of the equation. But now, Hillary is a bystander just as sure as John Edwards and every other Democrat. It has nothing to do with her abilities or inabilities any more. So, what is it?

HISTORY

It's that simple. History. Hillary is history, because history is now being made. People know that. They can feel it. Some people call it momentum, and that has shifted. But it's shifted because of history. It hasn't shifted because Obama is really a better candidate that is offering anything that any Democratic candidate (including Hillary) for the past 15 years has offered. Really, look at his record and his platform. But that's not why Hillary can't win. Hillary can't win because of history. And right now, Barack Obama is ready to make history. People can feel it. People want to be a part of it.

Of course, it makes no difference if his platform is light. Hope doesn't need reason. It makes no difference if his experience is shallow. Enthusiasm, vision and charisma have created a legion of followers that look at Obama as the next MLK, Jr. and JFK combined. And now, especially since Super Tuesday, people know that history can be made.

The campaign is no longer about policy, it's about being a part of history. Being able to remember back in a fond glow of the heady days of this campaign leading to the Democratic nomination. Hillary has nothing to combat that. Bye Hillary.

The Conundrum of the Modern MacPhilly

I find myself in a very interesting place politically and socially. A place where it seems I fit into no group.

Here's why...

I am too conservative for both the Republicans and the Democrats, yet far too Progressive (my leanings are Progressive as defined in the early 1900's not Liberal) for the Republicans.

I'm to Libertarian for either party, yet I certainly believe that Government should have a role, responsibility and accountability in the 21st century.

I believe that leadership should be respected. But I also believe that we should question and criticize our leadership.

I voted for Bush (mostly because I couldn't stand the thought of voting for Kerry - I live in MA after all), but also believe he should be impeached.

I empathize with the social ethos of liberals and their desire to touch all people, but also believe that the government shouldn't be involved in all aspects.

I empathize with the principles of a free-market economy, freedom of speech, the bill of rights and the right to bear arms. I also believe that when people violate those liberties should be held accountable.

I don't believe that government should legislate internet content (like porn for example) - but I believe that porn is degrading, demeaning, morally objectionable and injures everyone (including those that view it) that it touches.

I believe that no child should be left behind - but I believe that No Child Left Behind is bad policy.

I believe that teachers should be judged by standards (both siblings are teachers by the way) but don't believe that teaching kids to pass state tests is the way to educate children. (neither do the siblings)

I believe that I should have the option to choose where my children are schooled - without having to pay a premium to educate them out of the public school system. (Note: my kids are home-schooled now).

I believe in a personal and loving God. I believe that his love extends to all people. I believe that all people are created in his image. I believe that God is merciful and forgiving. I also believe that God is just and truthful. I believe that he is holy and has provided standards for us to live by. I believe we'll be held accountable to those standards.

I believe that I'm NOT perfect and that God will judge me along with everyone else. Until then, I believe that I'm responsible to tell everyone I know that God loves them and believes in them - even if they don't believe in him.

I don't believe that all religions are the same, but I believe that I am supposed to love everyone even if they don't believe what I believe.

I believe that greed is bad, but free markets are good. I do not believe that free markets are God.

I believe that no person should be homeless - especially in the US where we have so much.

I believe that no person should be without health care - but don't believe that the government should run universal health care. (talk about VAST inefficiency)

I believe in the freedom of religion - not freedom from religion.

I believe that politicians should have term limits.

What do you believe?

The more things "change" the more they stay the same.

Politicians will be politicians...

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0207/2908.html

Trust NONE of them!

Get Out and Vote! Even if it doesn't make a difference damn-it!

Hey, you can see it in the picture - that's where I am and that's what I'm doing. Exercising my constitutional right to vote. Sure, I know that living in the Commonwealth of MA that it was essentially "vote for the liberal of your choice day" (true - there were only 2 Reps and 1 Indy running for any major office). I knew that my vote was the same as spitting into the wind, yet, I still went out and did it. :-) Oh, and by the way, the Republicans in this state are so liberal they'd be considered liberal Democrats anywhere else in the union!

But, today I went out and voted. I got mad though. Why? Because there were so many people that ran unopposed! Why is that? Have we become so apathetic that we don't run either? So, we have no alternatives to the people in office and then no one comes out to vote. Seems kind of self-defeating, don't you think?

It looks like the Democrats are going to pick up around 30 seats. Actually, it's a pretty amazing number for the US to have that much turn over. I remember reading a stat once that showed that members of the Politburo in Communist USSR had more turnover than our houses of Congress. In this case that 30 seats is almost 7% of the seats available. Thinking about that - it's really pretty pathetic. We've got an unpopular war, an imperial and bullying President, issues with the budget, stem cell research and of course, abortion. With all that, we still only turn over maybe 8-9% of the total houses of Congress (including the Senate). Isn't that wrong?

Listen. I really don't give a Ding-Dong, Ho-Ho or King Don about labels. I care about getting stuff done. I'm a registered Republican, but I don't agree with a lot of the current Neo-con agenda or methodology. I think that the truth runs somewhere between a true conservative (fiscal), progressive (think 1920's progressive) and libertarian. I want fiscal restraint, I want less government pork but I want the government to help where it can and in a way that only the government of a nation this size can do. I'd love to know what you think.

Oh, if you've made it this far... I've got an offer for you. If you can prove to me that you voted, I've got a gift for you. If you like Mac stuff then you can have my book, A Mac Eye for the Windows Guy. If you'd like some great Palm software (PDA Essentials and TuCows say it's great!) then I'll give you any piece of software that you'd like. Just let me know!