Monday, January 07, 2008
CAMPAIGN BRIEFS
As if we had not all had enough of pundits giving their opinions about candidates, the Militant Moderate is about to add his current impressions in brief about the major candidates contending for the right to serve as our president.
This writer thinks that the presidency is such an important position in our country that few, if any, are really qualified to fill it, and therefore we should be extremely cautious as to whom we let into the finals of the contest. It may well come down to which candidate has the fewer strikes against him/her, and which has better odds of serving us than doing us harm.
Mitt Romney
He has a nice appearance and nice manner. His positions are all over the board, and now he is playing out his arch-conservative role. There seems little depth, and mostly just political pragmatism in his convivial style. He might be less dangerous than some, if one ignores his own comments and looks at his record. He supports Bush, but how sincerely? He is iffy.
Rudy Guilliani
His manner and facial expressions turn many of us off. He does not seem as “American” as others. He rides the memories of his 9/ll photo-ops, trying to project the image of protector against terrorism. There is a bit of the demagogue about him. He has no humanistic record other than on abortion and immigration, and he has recanted those. He is too conjugally tainted for the religious base. He supports Bush, and seems just as stubborn.
John McCain
A lot of independents and some democrats have liked John McCain in the past, but his positions on the Iraq War and his support of Bush have turned some of those against him. He has lost lots of respect. Conservatives don’t like his position on immigration or campaign finance reform. Still, McCain is a lot like the rest of us, and seems like a regular guy, albeit with flaws. He might well be the safest candidate from his party for America.
Mike Huckaby
An “aw-shucks” Baptist minister and Arkansas governor, Huckabee relates well to a certain clientele -- some might say evangelicals and red-necks. But he does indeed appear to be a personable fellow with a good sense of humor. Other than his total inexperience in national and international affairs, the influence of right-wing religious zealots which accompany him, and his crazy tax plan, he might be considered. One wonders what other crazy ideas lurk unseen. He supports Bush. Do we need another president who thinks God speaks to him?
Barak Obama
Obama is a highly intelligent, highly inspirational, but inexperienced young man. He has a galvanizing charisma from the rostrum. Were he seasoned in government and world affairs, he might be unbeatable. Certainly, the country needs a leader who can inspire, after the fashion of John F. Kennedy. There might be some uneasiness about a black civil rights lawyer in the presidency. Oprah tended to bring a racial consciousness that had normally been ignored in the campaign. But he’s a good prospect.
John Edwards
Edwards has been around in politics, if not in actual governance. His consumer trial lawyer background scares some in business, but appeals to common people. He is a populist, appealing to grassroots, working class people. He has struck a responsive chord with a theme of corporate greed and corruption of government by money and lobbyists. He remains a good prospect.
Hillary Clinton
Although considered by some to be lacking in the likeability factor, Hillary is the most qualified to become president. Most of her positions are solid and logically developed. Wisely she avoids being trapped in some positions, such as specifics on Social Security, which would antagonize large blocs of voters. She is a middle, mainstream democrat. The wide desire for “change” works against any established candidate. She is known factor, and the country would be safe in her hands.
Bill Richardson is not really a major contender. The loss of other well qualified candidates such as Joe Biden and Chris Dodd is regrettable. Although more knowledgeable and more seasoned than others, they were seen as “old guard.”
People are unhappy with the government we have had, and they want a change. Properly or not, it seems that voters blame Bush, incumbent republicans, and incumbent democrats (in that order) for not straightening out the mess in this country.
Dr. Edwin E. Vineyard, AKA The Militant Moderate
This writer thinks that the presidency is such an important position in our country that few, if any, are really qualified to fill it, and therefore we should be extremely cautious as to whom we let into the finals of the contest. It may well come down to which candidate has the fewer strikes against him/her, and which has better odds of serving us than doing us harm.
Mitt Romney
He has a nice appearance and nice manner. His positions are all over the board, and now he is playing out his arch-conservative role. There seems little depth, and mostly just political pragmatism in his convivial style. He might be less dangerous than some, if one ignores his own comments and looks at his record. He supports Bush, but how sincerely? He is iffy.
Rudy Guilliani
His manner and facial expressions turn many of us off. He does not seem as “American” as others. He rides the memories of his 9/ll photo-ops, trying to project the image of protector against terrorism. There is a bit of the demagogue about him. He has no humanistic record other than on abortion and immigration, and he has recanted those. He is too conjugally tainted for the religious base. He supports Bush, and seems just as stubborn.
John McCain
A lot of independents and some democrats have liked John McCain in the past, but his positions on the Iraq War and his support of Bush have turned some of those against him. He has lost lots of respect. Conservatives don’t like his position on immigration or campaign finance reform. Still, McCain is a lot like the rest of us, and seems like a regular guy, albeit with flaws. He might well be the safest candidate from his party for America.
Mike Huckaby
An “aw-shucks” Baptist minister and Arkansas governor, Huckabee relates well to a certain clientele -- some might say evangelicals and red-necks. But he does indeed appear to be a personable fellow with a good sense of humor. Other than his total inexperience in national and international affairs, the influence of right-wing religious zealots which accompany him, and his crazy tax plan, he might be considered. One wonders what other crazy ideas lurk unseen. He supports Bush. Do we need another president who thinks God speaks to him?
Barak Obama
Obama is a highly intelligent, highly inspirational, but inexperienced young man. He has a galvanizing charisma from the rostrum. Were he seasoned in government and world affairs, he might be unbeatable. Certainly, the country needs a leader who can inspire, after the fashion of John F. Kennedy. There might be some uneasiness about a black civil rights lawyer in the presidency. Oprah tended to bring a racial consciousness that had normally been ignored in the campaign. But he’s a good prospect.
John Edwards
Edwards has been around in politics, if not in actual governance. His consumer trial lawyer background scares some in business, but appeals to common people. He is a populist, appealing to grassroots, working class people. He has struck a responsive chord with a theme of corporate greed and corruption of government by money and lobbyists. He remains a good prospect.
Hillary Clinton
Although considered by some to be lacking in the likeability factor, Hillary is the most qualified to become president. Most of her positions are solid and logically developed. Wisely she avoids being trapped in some positions, such as specifics on Social Security, which would antagonize large blocs of voters. She is a middle, mainstream democrat. The wide desire for “change” works against any established candidate. She is known factor, and the country would be safe in her hands.
Bill Richardson is not really a major contender. The loss of other well qualified candidates such as Joe Biden and Chris Dodd is regrettable. Although more knowledgeable and more seasoned than others, they were seen as “old guard.”
People are unhappy with the government we have had, and they want a change. Properly or not, it seems that voters blame Bush, incumbent republicans, and incumbent democrats (in that order) for not straightening out the mess in this country.
Dr. Edwin E. Vineyard, AKA The Militant Moderate
