Real Thought

So, I have been remiss in my writing but I have an excuse, I have been immersed in trying to follow the Democratic and Republican races for their respective party’s nominations. Here is my breakdown of the race to the White House so far:

Iowa is a state with a very strange caucus system and as a result, the results are not really an indicator of who is really a viable candidate, nor does it really indicate a clear front runner; but a win in Iowa can give a candidate some “legitimacy” in terms of nomination politics. I was not surprised to see Barak Obama and Mike Huckabee win in Iowa. Both are relative “fresh faces” in terms of presidential politics and both seem to be trying to appeal to certain groups of voters. Barak seems to be appealing to disaffected or first time Democratic voters with his message of “change” and “hope” whereas Mike is appealing to conservatives who feel strongly about the Second Amendment, taxes and certain social issues like abortion, gay marriage and a weakened military. Both seem to be likable, well spoken if somewhat vague in specifics, candidates. It appears that Hillary is what I thought she would be all along, a forced, unlikable candidate who may have some grasp of the magnitude of the Presidency but her “experience” is overwrought if not completely fabricated. John Edwards seems to be a passionate candidate who has a very polished, if not slick, image and when you live in the largest house in your home state, appealing to the “common man” rings hollow. Romney appears patrician and McCain, while appearing solid and statesman like, still has to connect with rock ribbed Republicans.

Guiliani has more in common with moderate Democrats than he has with the Republican base and his insistence on running on his record as mayor of New York City probably will not create a viable candidacy despite his lead in the national polls.

Kucinich and Paul could perhaps from a “cranky fringe” ticket and run together. Thompson seems to not take his candidacy seriously and Richardson and all of the rest should just pack up and go home as Dodd and Biden wisely chose to do.

The New Hampshire primary is tomorrow and I will be back with a reevaluation of the candidates after the votes are in. Keep in mind that New Hampshire is not a typical state either although its primary is more “normal” than the caucuses in Iowa.