Been watching the political pundits dissecting the latest moves in the very complicated political process we have here in the United States. I was reminded that I began this series of political blogs to attempt to explain the politics in America to my blogland friends in the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada. And in the process I have learned more than I think on retrospect I wanted to know.
I have discovered for instance that there is nothing democratic about the primary process. There are attempts on the part of both parties to make it look more democratic but it really has not gone that far from the old smoked filled rooms of the 1800's except that they are not allowed to smoke anymore.
The puppeteers in the back rooms are almost visible in the Republican campaign. McCain starts using Bush's words and phrases and he comes from behind, Romney challenges with non-Bush policies and gets asked to step out of the race if he wants to position himself with the party in 2012. I even wonder if Huckabee is being asked to stay in and fight to make it look like the registered Republicans might have once had a choice . And as McCain heads to Texas to be endorsed by the senior Bush as the anointed successor you wonder why they even bothered to put on the show. And didn't the pundits say just a few months ago that being endorsed by any Bush would be the kiss of death?
Not meaning to pick on the Republicans only because I doubt there is any more democracy in the Democratic primary process though they made a more convincing show of things. But it is fairly clear they have lost control. Right about now they were suppose to be crowning another Clinton but the people actually got out and voted. Democrats across the nation are turning out for primaries and caucuses and are joined where allowed by independents. Hilary is clearly pissed. Someone in some room at some time told her she was a shoe in and now some of the rats (the super delegates) are fleeing the ship.
All this reminds me of standing in line to ride a roller coaster. My sister and I used to be junkies. You get off the roller coaster and immediately rush around to get in line again. The ride is under five minutes and the line can be that or 10 times that. You get more time to study the line than the ride. Everyone starts out really giddy. Lots of chatter and laughter and kidding around in line. And the closer you get to the front the quieter it gets.
If you have taken the ride before you know what is coming. You know you survived. You liked it well enough you are here again. And yet . . . there is this sense of anxiety. Is this the time the cars jump the track? The track collapses under the weight of too many trips by too many people? The drive mechanism jams and you are left suspended upside down in one of the loops.
Will the whole political process come to a bone shattering halt in mid loop? Have the men behind the scenes lost control and will they try to regain it. Or has something unique happened for once in my lifetime and the people will actually get a say in how it goes.
I so agree and this is a wonderful blog (as usual). I was telling my son earlier (and he agreed - said you saw that in the debate?) .. it seems as though Hillary is almost conceding .. and we talked about how it would be wonderful if he did choose her as VP. They agree on most things, which would make it a lot easier to move forward. Obama is the voice of the people .. and that's what our country is supposed to be about, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteYes .. I'm swooning .. I love to hear him talk .. I love the feeling of hope I have. Joshua (my son) went to the computer and turned on the video of Yes We Can .. my 1-1/2 year old granddaughter was even captivated .. lol .. we were all dancing around yelling, *Yes We Can* .. my son knows about all the words to that speech now. Obama is a great uniter. Unfortunately, Ann Coulter probably would only vote for Hillary ~ but that says something REALLY big about what's happening with republicans this time around.
All in all, we're a republic rather than a democracy .. we need to remember *We the people.. * Yes, we can!
Yesm we are a republic or were before GW turned us into a dictatorship. And people here are under the impression that the primary process is democratic but no. How the various parties come up with their nominee is up to the party and their are no rules outside what the party picks.
ReplyDeleteI think the Democrats try to represent the people more than the Republicans but it can still come down to the smoked filled room. But I do think there might be rioting in the streets if Obama is leading before the convention and the super delegates give it to Hillary.
I frankly like the idea of Bill Richardson as vice-president. He is such a good negotiator and would be a real asset because of his experience with world governments while Ambassador.