The Hillary locomotive

Yesterday we attended the Chamber of Commerce Economics Club meeting at which Bob Jensenius from the Chamber did an informal poll on the presidential election.

Fascinating. Jim and I get into discussions all the time about whether Hillary Clinton is electable, even though she has been the frontrunner among the Democrats so far. On the plus side there's the perception that she's the most Republican Democrat running, and the Republican pickins are slim this go-around. On the minus side there's the whole legacy from Bill Clinton's administration that had its victories, but also its share of icky (that's the technical term) publicity.

Back to the informal poll. This was a group of businesspersons, and the tone of the room said they were mostly Republicans. When the whole room was asked by show of hands who would be the Republican presidential nominee the majority clearly said Rudy Giuliani. When asked who the likely Democratic nominee would be they raised hands for Hillary's name loud and clear. And when asked who they thought would be the next President of The United States the group said resoundingly Hillary Clinton.

I've been hopeful before (Al Gore, John Kerry) about getting another Democrat in the White House. If yesterday is any indication it sounds to me like the Hillary locomotive is genuinely under way even outside the Democratic Party and it'll take a big event to derail it.

The '08 presidential race - in search of global leadership

I know it's really early in the 2008 presidential race but I'm really betwixt and between (as my mother used to say) about who I support in the Democratic race. To be really committed to a candidate I need to agree with their views. I need to like the way in which they communicate. But I also add track record into the equation -their experience at operating on a global level.

By global I'm referring to a holistic perspective. I guess other people might agree with that perspective and that's why a lot of governors have beaten senators in the race for President. They've got experience running their states as a microcosm of a national government, balancing their revenues and expenses and protecting their interests in the larger national stage.

Or perhaps the governors have simply avoided the downside of having a national track record in the spotlight and under the magnifying glass. The only way for a legislator in either house to avoid being wrong on a position is simply not to have taken one.

The other way that I view global experience as important is that our national leader needs to understand what's going on around the world and have an appropriate (as defined by me of course) perception of the United States' role in it. This has been the most frightening piece of the Bush administration to me. Our president has displayed a shocking ignorance of the longstanding conflicts in the Middle East, and even an inability to name key world leaders accurately.

No wonder that Bush has resorted to the global strategy of a seven-year-old - punch them first so they'll be too woozy to punch you back. Oh, and don't worry about whether they're actually the one who pantsed you in gym class - if they're not the guy who did it they'll get the message from seeing the other guy's bloody nose that they'd better back off. Yeah, right. And I won't even get into the fact that he didn't personally have to do the punching. He sent his loyal citizens to get broken knuckles on his behalf.

I think we should learn from the many mishaps of the current administration when we choose the next one, but this situation is sort of like applying for a new job or thinking about dating a new person: it's risky to choose something or someone just because they're NOT what you've had. We need to be choosing someone, not just avoiding someone else.

At times I like Hillary the best. She's got the experience on the largest stage and I think she has the gonads to stand up to bullies, domestic or international. I don't think she's under any illusions, and yet sometimes I think that interferes with her ability to be inspirational. Barack has it in the inspiration department in my opinion. And I really like how Joe Biden calls it as he sees it.

It'll all reveal itself in time, but we need a Democrat who can put these last two terms of foolishness behind us and get on with the real work of being the America we can be.

Are enough Americans listening?

Thought all of you would want to listen to this essay from MSNBC, if you have not already. Use your browser and go to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aCNFDdZ0uc

As we proceed in our local elections on our local voters' issues and concerns, are enough local citizens really listening to who will do what about local issues?

Are all the local citizens that are eligible to vote, also registered to vote?

Do they go to the polls on primary and general election days and actually vote?

Ask your family members, good friends, and neighbors whether they are active voters.

Encourage and support them in discussing the issues of concern to them (even if they are not the same as your opinions/views) because healthy dialogue is a VERY good thing.

Share this YouTube link with them and with everyone you know.

Are enough Americans voting? Voting to protect their children, their parents, and their wallets from those who believe themselves above the Constitution, from those so wealthy that they distain the middleclass, the working class and poor of America?

Are enough Americans even listening?