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Wayne Besen
PO Box 25491
Brooklyn, NY 11202
It is with great sadness that I announce that Democrat John Edwards is leaving the presidential race. From the beginning, he was the idea leader and the voice of the struggling middle class. Unfortunately, the media never gave him a chance - as they wanted either Hillary or Obama to be the historic nominee. Time and again, Edwards would lead on policy initiatives, yet he was banished to the inside pages of the newspaper. He ran a classy campaign and will no doubt play a powerful role in the Democratic Party.
I wish he and his wife Elizabeth well and hope they take a much-needed vacation. Fortunately, Democrats are left with two inspiring candidates who are light years ahead of all the Republicans.
Meanwhile, Giuliani turned out to the bust of the campaign season - even surpassing the droopy and depressing Fred Thompson. Let's face it, Giuliani was a drag - and I'm not even talking about his preferred attire. I'm relieved Rudy is gone, as I did not trust that egomaniac to have his finger on "The Button."
So, now we are left with "Full of Mitt" Romney, who has enough money to campaign until the year 4000 - the same year, coincidentally, that Romney's opponent, John McCain, predicts we will leave Iraq.
To be honest, McCain scares me the most. Too many uninformed liberals and Independents think that McCain shares their views. He doesn't. McCain is a conservative hack with a record the Christan Coalition loves. While he is preferable to crazies, such as Mike "Huckster-Bible", he is still likely to appoint awful judges that will restrict rights and he is determined keep us in a war that will drain our treasury and spirit.
In the Democratic primary, Hillary Clinton won in Florida - a huge victory that gives her momentum - even though no delegates. If she would have lost, it may have been the end of her campaign - especially after Obama's impressive win in South Carolina.
Interestingly, Florida Democrats shattered the previous state record for turnout in a Democratic Presidential Primary.
"Florida Democrats have spoken, and they are being heard loud and clear. Almost a million and a half - and we're still counting!" Florida Democratic Party Chair Karen L. Thurman said. "Democrats clearly have the momentum in Florida and across this country. The nation's largest battleground state proved today that America wants change. No matter the challenges we face, Florida Democrats will deliver for this country in November just like they did today. This is an incredible night for the people of Florida!"
15 Comments:
Primaries need to held on the same date for all states. Most people have not even voted yet, and already some of the best candidates (Edwards, Biden, Kucinich) have been kicked to the curb by the media and 'the process'. Why should the first states get to vote for 5 or 6 candidates and by the time it gets to the rest of us, we only have 2 or sometimes 1 left!? A bunch of corn farmers in Iowa should have no more clout than the rest of us in selecting the next candidates for POTUS.
posted by Anonymous, at
1/30/2008 12:43 PM
I have the same complaint as Anonymous.
It seems completely asinine that the entire nation does not get to vote simultaneously.
And while I'm venting -- it is high time that we have a serious discussion about the Electoral College.
As a small blue dot in a red State voting is a complete and utter waste of time.
posted by Anonymous, at
1/30/2008 3:10 PM
Too bad the primaries don't mean anything. The first and only important primary was held months ago and the media and their owners / cronies were the only ones who got to vote. They picked Clinton and Obama, and have given them all the publicity, ignoring or marginalizing all others. On the other side there is no strong candidate: I don't think They really care, realizing that Bush has been such a disaster that they might as well let the Democratic wing of the Empire party win this time.
posted by Anonymous, at
1/30/2008 5:22 PM
I know politics can seem really disheartening at times but I hold out hope that with a Democratic president and Congress, the gay community can see some real progess in securing our basic rights.
posted by Shane, at
1/30/2008 6:38 PM
The entire electoral system is complex and absurd. Get rid of primaries, delegates and the electoral college altogether, hardly democratic. Go back to paper ballots and just count them with optical scanners after the election is over and shorten the campaign by limiting donations. No corporations should be allowed to donate either ending corruption and political favors once the nominee is elected to office.
posted by Anonymous, at
1/31/2008 9:21 AM
I have to agree, Robvert. Our electoral process is a total mess, and no one except those of us who actually care about the coutnry wants to change it.
posted by Anonymous, at
1/31/2008 10:47 AM
Ben, thanks. I'm also sick and tired of Clinton and Obama taking our votes for granted. What have they done to earn them anyway? They don't want us to marry, so who needs them? Mark my words, we'll see NO change whoever occupies the White House, democrat or republican and note how far down we are in the pecking order of things. They never mention LGBT equality, not one word during their campaigns. If more of us held their feet to the fire, then we might see movement, but dont expect much. Another four more years of mediocrity. Neither of them have the guts or integrity of Dennis Kucinich the only one who could have affected real change unlike any other in history.
posted by Anonymous, at
1/31/2008 2:44 PM
However, Robert... If Clinton or Obama DON'T win, you could see a serious roll back of progress and a GENERATION before LGBT equality advances.
Unfortunately Clinton and Obama know this.
I sadly know it to, so my vote is guaranteed. -sigh-
