The Indepublicrat is glad for the arrival of 2008, because it seemed presumptuous to discuss the upcoming Presidential election when it was still only 2007. by The Indepublicrat
(centrist)
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
The Indepublicrat is glad for the arrival of 2008, because it seemed presumptuous to discuss the upcoming Presidential election when it was still only 2007. Although primary and caucus voting is earlier and more front-loaded than ever, we're still at the very beginning of the process at a time of infinite possibility.
In an ideal system, the election at this point would be like the fresh start of a professional sports season where every team has a 0-0 record. The unfortunate reality of the current race is instead more like a college sports season, where some teams start with a higher ranking and others have been eliminated from major bowl consideration before a single game is played. Still, these flawed versions of democracy and sports are all that we've got to work with so we might as well sit back and enjoy.
403 candidates have filed with the Federal Election Commission so far, but only 23 of those had the name recognition, connections, and/or organizational skills to raise at least $200,000 and have any chance of mounting an effective national campaign. And while 200 grand might sound like a lot of money to someone applying for most other jobs, it barely buys a seat at the table against candidates whose net receipts are approaching $70- to $100 million.
From that group of 11 Democrats and 12 Republicans, official dropouts already include: Republican Sam Brownback, Republican James Gilmore, Republican Tom Tancredo, Republican Tommy Thompson, and Democrat Tom Vilsack. That leaves 18 candidates with even a longshot chance of occupying the Oval Office this time around.
Almost certainly, the single best potential President of the United States was a person who chose to forgo the grueling election process entirely. He or she may be a cab driver with superlative people skills, a software engineer with exquisite attention to detail, a sharp-minded nuclear scientist, or a barista with an uncanny grasp of human nature. Of the group that did register, odds are that the best candidate was to be found among the 385 we never got to know rather than that select group of 18 that have effectively been whittled down to 6 or 7 by selective media coverage.
At this point in the race, not a single state--Iowa and New Hampshire included--have held a primary or caucus in which party delegates are apportioned. However, the two major parties both include "superdelegates" in their nomination counts. These important partisans will get to vote on the convention floor and have, in many cases, already made their endorsements public, which allows us to score the race as follows:
For the Democrats, Hillary Clinton is leading the delegate race with 77 endorsements among superdelegates in Congress. Barack Obama comes in second with 31, while John Edwards trails with 16, Chris Dodd lags with 10, and Bill Richardson limps into 2008 with only 7. Joe Biden only has one superdelegate in his corner, U.S. Senator Thomas Carper, who really couldn't be expected to choose anyone else over his fellow Deleware pol.
The Republican race for superdelegates is much closer with Mitt Romney (33), John McCain (29), Rudy Giuliani (25), and Fred Thompson (22) all within striking distance of each other. Duncan Hunter and Mike Huckabee trail with 7 and 4 votes respectively.
These are the only hard numbers we have at the moment, but the endorsements are "soft" in the respect that superdelegates are not committed to their endorsed candidates and may shift their votes at any time between now and the nominating conferences this summer. And some candidates who have gotten little or no support from the "professional" delegates on Capitol Hill--the Indepublicrat is looking at you, populist ousider Ron Paul--will surely do better once voting is opened up to the general public.
Welcome to 2008. Let the games begin!
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Happy 2008! Just some random thoughts about Freedom and the upcoming election....... after some drinks and a little nostalga.
Compiled by me...early in the morning.
If things don't go like us Ron Paul supporters plan.
Don't loose hope. The idea of freedom isn't new.
It just needs to be refreshed and respected from time to time.
Even the ones that we despise, just because they are asleep, give me hope.
I was once just like them. Give 'em time, they will wake up.
Most of us want to do the right thing...and the majority just need to be persuaded to do so sometimes............even if we disagree.
Eventually, the mainstream person will see .....that these ideas are not "crazy" just notions that are unfortunately rarely heard.
I don't want to get caught up in being too political, but I will say that most of us would agree that, deep down, we all know.... that todays politics is all mostly BS!
Those of us that are aware... lets do the best we can to change it...ground floor up if necessary/probably.....the RIGHT way.
I think the first thing we need to do...as Americans....is QUIT BLAMING EACH OTHER!!!!. you know you do it....so do I...lets all take a little blame for just OVERLOOKING...the dirty clothes room that we just wish would go away. There is always truth to the others argument. Sometimes it's virtually the same one. We just have to listen.
Sometime things like the Government they seem to big to do anything about. Just like being overweight or a drug problem, blatantly overlooking it don't make it disappear. If you we to help, we have to take some ownership.
We are Americans. Let's quit being so sensitive. ie...I'm fat and I know it. I'm just pissed off you're telling me !! Get over it!
Lastly I know that the true American spirit is based on courage and freedom! Hell, we all know those stories. The most powerful enemy we can create is our own. Lets just take another look at the world....step back and adjust fire so to speak. Don't create problems. Evaluate our strategy toward problems frequently. Not in a sign of defeat but for pure logical purposes toward victory.
We hear about terrorism a lot. I promise you this....if we settle down and and concentrate on becoming strong from within again, no force on this planet can stop us. From within is the only way we as a country can be defeated.
We have a little post-traumatic stress. Lets take a look in the mirror, calm down and start making some REAL choices for whats best for the majority, WE The People.
Instead of just listening to those wonderful tales, create ones of your own. These are the times that great legends are spoke of.
One I can be proud to tell my kids is that...... "let it not be said that I did nothing".
The country made the call before, and I answered. She is quietly calling us again and we need to not only answer ...but more importantly ...HEAR THE CALL
Just simply listen and take part. This is a new kind of revolution, the revolution of the thinker.
If we do not succeed on this occasion, then it is only postponed.
The struggle for TRUE freedom is an ongoing battle that is never completely won or lost. The struggles continues. Awaken others to the cause..... and never go back to sleep.
I know I'm preaching to the choir, But a little drink and some nostalgia caused me to write this. On the first day of 2008!
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