election non-surprise

[cellio]

I'm kind of sad that John Edwards dropped out of the Democratic race. He wasn't going to win (on first ballot at the convention), I don't think, but he has enough of a following that it seems like he could have influenced the front-runners had he stayed in. On the other hand, he was probably drawing more votes from Obama than from Hillary ("sleaze as usual"), so if it helps Obama win the nomination it won't be all bad. He hasn't made a formal endorsement, but this might count. Still, if the Dems don't slap Hillary down hard and soon, they risk blowing the election, either by nominating a slick divisive candidate or by doing too much dirty campaigning before rejecting her.

(I'm not for Obama, but I'm against Hillary. I really wish we didn't have institutionalized two-party rule in this country; it discourages innovation.)

Did anyone else catch the complaint from the NH chapter of NOW? (It was in the news yesterday or the day before.) They complained that Kennedy "betrayed women" by not endorsing Hillary. Earth to NOW: you are doing harm to your candidate if your entire platform is "she's a she". Not that I mind, but I'm just sayin'.

Comments

[byronhaverford.livejournal.com]

Am I allowed to agree with absolutely everything you said, if I'm a Republican?

NOW is a victim of its own success. Having successfully raised awareness of women's political issues, they now incite a backlash by overplaying their hand. And if they don't even have the backbone to criticize Bill Clinton for his womanizing, then they have failed even at their core mission.

[alaricmacconnal.livejournal.com]

Hey, you beat me to it! I also agree and I'm registered as a Republican as well :).

Once a group becomes successful (er, powerful), they tend to overlook how they got there (as you said, failing their core mission). This is not only NOW, but all the big interest groups.

More parties, we need more parties (political, that is :).

[cellio]

Am I allowed to agree with absolutely everything you said, if I'm a Republican?

It would be hypocritical for me to say no, given as I'm not a Democrat either. :-) (Though I might temporarily register in whichever party seems more relevant for the primary.)

National NOW did try to back away from NH NOW's statements, but it's kind of too little too late. As you said, they've lost their way.

[buoren.livejournal.com]

I'm a registered Democrat, and as a member of the "Anybody but Hillary" camp, may I invite you to register in the Democratic Party?

What NOW fails to realize is that many of us would be happy to vote for a woman for President if it's a particular person we respect. If it were Jodi Rell (R-CT) or Kathleen Sibelius (D-KS) or Diane Feinstein (D-CA) I'd be happy to vote for "the woman" But this is Hilary Clinton we're talking about; she wouldn't have the name recognition she had if not for her husband being the President of the United States and, regardless of what you thought of his policies, somewhat of a slimeball.

[cellio]

NOW: yes. A vote against "that woman" is not a vote against "women", and if they can't or won't get that clue, no one should take them seriously.

I'll probably register for the Democratic race unless something surprising happens before I have to decide. "Surprising" would be on the scale of Huckabee making a big come-back. (I think he's the only candidate who scares me more than Hillary, though many displease me.)