Voters are doing all right, so far
Remember, before the caucuses and primaries began, when the presidential race was all about raising money?
It's about delegates now, but money still makes headlines.
The big stories are how much Barack Obama is raising and how much of his personal fortune Mitt Romney is pouring into his campaign.
I don't have problems with either approach.
If hundreds of thousands of Americans are energized enough by Obama's candidacy to contribute, fine by me. That's a legitimate means of participating in the democratic process.
As for Romney, well, he was smart enough to make a ton of money. If he wants to plough some of it into his campaign, I'd say that demonstrates his commitment. And he's not beholden to anyone but himself for that money (at least until he tries to reimburse himself later with donated funds).
I actually have begun to believe that this year's front-loaded primary schedule is working pretty well. I had my doubts at first. But it has separated the contenders from the pretenders. For advocates of a national primary, Tuesday will come pretty close.
Let's face it: It costs a lot of money to run a credible almost-national campaign. John Edwards derided Obama and Hillary Clinton as $100 million candidates, but if he could have raised $500 million he would have spent it (probably half in Iowa). They had more supporters, they raised more money, they got more votes. Sounds kind of fair to me.
Now there are four candidates with a realistic chance of becoming our next president: Obama, Clinton, Romney and John McCain.
You know what? I could live with any of them. They're all capable people. I have my preferences, which likely will strengthen as the campaign proceeds, but I'm impressed so far by the job my fellow Americans are doing sorting it all out. A whole bunch of them will weigh in Tuesday. I'm sorry we're not part of the fun here in North Carolina, but I'm willing to trust the judgment of voters in 22 other states and wait for my chance.
Comments (3)
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Now there are four candidates with a realistic chance of becoming our next president: Obama, Clinton, Romney and John McCain.
You know what? I could live with any of them. They're all capable people. I have my preferences* Doug
Well! I am moving to Costa Rica if you think you can live with those candiates. You got one candiate who wants us to stay in Iraq for a 100 years and keep going broke during that time and another who claims that the Auto industry in the United States will last for another 100 years with massive government support at the expense of the taxpayers. Than you got one Candiate who says that all Americans will have health care at no expense while the rest of the middle class taxpayers pay for it and finally you got the last candiate who says that we must send our military industrial complex under UN command to free all citizens in Africa from the Muslin slave trade even if it takes another hundred years.
Buy Gold Doug!
but I'm willing to trust the judgment of voters in 22 other states and wait for my chance.* Doug
Wait a minute! Now you have change your postion about trusting the voters except when comes to Judical candiates?
Buy Gold Doug!
Posted on February 1, 2008 12:22 PM
I agree with Connie Mack, if Romney does not get the nod. I sit out my first election since I could vote in 1960. Before someone post you conservatives will give the election to Clinton, who cares, she not a liberal as brother John.
Posted on February 1, 2008 12:30 PM
I sit out my first election since I could vote in 1960.*Other Doug
I agree with the other Doug! Not only will I sit out the election, but I will refuse to fly with John McCain if he is the pilot. I am still trying to fiqure out how one almost finishs next to last at the Academy and still becomes a War hero?
I did find out the last in the class was well known in military history when he capture Midway island in 1972 and held a company of Japanese fishermen hostage for two months until Japan offically surrender. He was known to his classmates as " Being last Charlie"
The 895 th grad became famous when he ended his naval career in 1973 by sailing into the Chicago river and sunk two Candian barges thinking they were escaping with the coal from the Chicago Trade Center which was own by Teddy Kenndy family at that time.....You will find him in Jane's Navel Book of great Navy battles under " Give up the Coal Jones"
Will McCain, who finished 894th out of 899 at the Naval Academy and who lost five jets, return competence to the White House? To paraphrase Oscar Wilde (and, no, Oscar was never a fighter pilot), to lose one plane over Vietnam may be regarded as a heroic tragedy; to lose five planes here and there looks like carelessness."
Posted on February 1, 2008 7:11 PM