Seven states across the nation up for grabs last night, and five go to John Kerry. On the flip side, Joe Lieberman finally faced the music and bowed out of the race (So much for that “three-way tie” in NH.)
Well, call me an establishment sellout, but I’m close to putting this one in the fridge. I was glad to see Edwards take my and his home big, but I think Clark’s ekeing out of Oklahoma will hurt Carolina’s Finest on the momentum front. (That being said, Edwards is looking like a grand Veep.) And Dean, well, his 0-7 strategy was a gamble anyway, but I personally don’t believe he’s hitting the right notes to make a comeback anymore. Kerry a Republican? That’s just plain goofy. I’m all for running on campaign finance reform, of course, and I agree with Mark Shields that Dean’s made an enormous contribution in that regard…but I think spinning the “outsider” rhetoric just for the sake of it is lame. (Might as well say “Vote for me! I won’t know what the hell I’m doing for the first two years of my administration!”) Besides, it’s hard to run as the outsider who’ll change the insidious culture of Washington once you’ve nestled the likes of Al Gore to your breast. I’ll still put up Gore’s primary performance last cycle as an order of magnitude more shady than anything that’s gone down this time around.
So, if Kerry’s our horse, I’m ready to circle the wagons. He’s already up ten on Bush according to Gallup. And, having just seen California freak-show Darrell Issa on late-night CNN frantically go the “Dukakis Dukakis Dukakis” route, I’d say we have a real chance to win this thing. Between this and the atrocious State of the Union, I’m starting to get the sense we’ve been grossly overestimating Karl Rove’s political savvy. And, if the Big 47 holds up…it means trouble for the GOP that even Rehnquist, Scalia et al can’t solve this time. Bring it on.
I don’t know, Kevin. Is there anything to be said for the fact that we still have a few big primaries to go, or is what we’re seeing now a firmer coalescing around Kerry? Is the horse race really over?
I’m almost wholly undecided — probably go with Edwards when the primary comes around to Virginia here in a few days — but if Dean’s gamble pays off, even a little bit, then it’s still up in the air, don’t you think?
I get that it was Kerry’s day yesterday with the big wins, especially in Missouri. My only point is that the Dean People — true believers that they are — have plenty of time between now and the next primary to get real motivated. I think it could be that this thing still has some play in it.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m with you — let’s knock this out of the park (baseball references now that football season is finally over) and focus on the real dragon down at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. The polls show an opening, like you say. But are we there yet?
Well never say never…obviously, everything can change in a political instant. That being said, Kerry’s support seemed pretty broad across the electorate yesterday. As for Dean, I’ve heard this “Seattle Comeback” story before with Bradley, and it didn’t work then either. And I don’t think he’s helping his case with his shrill “everyone’s a Republican but me” schtick.
I’m jaded. Even before I was a Dean fan, I was pissed that people in NH, Iowa, SC and a few other states that decide who I get to potentially vote for. It is just so wrong. I think ALL the primaries should be held on the same bloody day, so that EVERYONE has a say.
Before 2000 I had one foot out the door to leave the Democratic party. I can guarantee that if Kerry is the standard bearer I will. Sorry, but he just comes across as a career polititian with his nose in the air.
If it ends up that Dean is not the candidate, I will hold my nose and vote for the candidate who runs against Bush, but that’s it. I don’t care anymore that the two parties have out a stranglehold on the whole bloody process (locking out candidates who don’t belong to either of the big two, etc).
Kerry makes Michael Dukakis look like a cheerleader.
Besides it won’t matter. The networks have all decided that Bush serves their interests best and will clobber anyone who threatens their way of life.
*sigh*
http://www.blackbetsy.com/shoeless.htm
As a White Sox Fan, and as an advocate for putting Shoeless Joe in the hall, I must point out that while I appreciate the appropriateness of the reference, Lieberman doesn’t appear to have the athletic ability to be worthy of being a bat boy… See the website above to join the campaign to get Joe in the Hall…
edwards could always sweep super tuesday in the south. one never knows about these things… i also wonder if kerry’s playboy past and throwing someone else’s vietnam medals in the water will come up again. dean looks cooked though. but… he could always have a shot at california.