2008 Woodie Awards
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My '08 primary primer
By Jacob Shelly on 9/10/07
With the "surge" in Iraq a failure and incompetence still the governing philosophy of the White House, the presidential primary campaign is a gracious reminder that this national nightmare is in its last throes. The bar has been set low for the 44th president, but the stakes tower.
Nineteen candidates now strut across debate sets and state fairs. Nine Republicans and eight Democrats, each convinced they alone are the tonic for the United States' malaise. Unfortunately, most of them are wrong. Who are these would-be presidents, and how scared should we be?
In the cases of Rudy Giuliani and John McCain, very scared. Like George W. Bush, each candidate fantasizes on the prospects of being America's War President. Both campaigns largely dismiss domestic policy making for the glamour of sword wielding. Like Bush, each candidate will find that Giuliani's idea of "staying on offense" strains our military, increases global terrorism, strengthens al-Qaida and reduces domestic security.
In the cases of Fred Thompson and Mitt Romney, mildly scared. Like Bush, Thompson hopes that adopting a cocky Southern swagger will disguise his stunning lack of intellectual curiosity. And Romney, who sweats sleaze, continues to search for an issue he hasn't flip-flopped on during his remarkable career of shameless pandering. Instead of being driven by a particularly dangerous platform, a Romney or Thompson presidency would reflect the Rovian conviction that power is to be pursued for its own sake.
As for the rest of the GOP field, amusement is probably more fitting than fear. While Tom Tancredo blathers about the menace of brown people and Duncan Hunter tries to remember why he's running for president, Sam Brownback continues to whither in anonymity. Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul are discovering that their modicum of integrity is a black mark among many primary voters.
The Democratic contenders provide a welcome contrast. Across a litany of pressing issues, each candidate appears eager to address demands for security, justice and basic sanity. But this motley field is checkered with critical distinctions.
Nineteen candidates now strut across debate sets and state fairs. Nine Republicans and eight Democrats, each convinced they alone are the tonic for the United States' malaise. Unfortunately, most of them are wrong. Who are these would-be presidents, and how scared should we be?
In the cases of Rudy Giuliani and John McCain, very scared. Like George W. Bush, each candidate fantasizes on the prospects of being America's War President. Both campaigns largely dismiss domestic policy making for the glamour of sword wielding. Like Bush, each candidate will find that Giuliani's idea of "staying on offense" strains our military, increases global terrorism, strengthens al-Qaida and reduces domestic security.
In the cases of Fred Thompson and Mitt Romney, mildly scared. Like Bush, Thompson hopes that adopting a cocky Southern swagger will disguise his stunning lack of intellectual curiosity. And Romney, who sweats sleaze, continues to search for an issue he hasn't flip-flopped on during his remarkable career of shameless pandering. Instead of being driven by a particularly dangerous platform, a Romney or Thompson presidency would reflect the Rovian conviction that power is to be pursued for its own sake.
As for the rest of the GOP field, amusement is probably more fitting than fear. While Tom Tancredo blathers about the menace of brown people and Duncan Hunter tries to remember why he's running for president, Sam Brownback continues to whither in anonymity. Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul are discovering that their modicum of integrity is a black mark among many primary voters.
The Democratic contenders provide a welcome contrast. Across a litany of pressing issues, each candidate appears eager to address demands for security, justice and basic sanity. But this motley field is checkered with critical distinctions.
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JCW EI S2k1
Jared
posted 9/10/07 @ 11:18 AM EST
Is this article serious? If you are taking the to actually write an article in your school's newspaper about the Presidential candidates, you should at least take the time to write something more about Obama's "career" in Illinois; what has he accomplished other than being appointed "The Next Bill Clinton. (Continued…)
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