Lynch Soup; or: Why a “hanging” metaphor isn’t always meant as a racial slur
Okay… Sorry this might be a bit rough but I’m posting on the blackberry (which you did know I had BAS… I just think you forgot…remember my excitement over being able to “poat” from the bb?)
I know this has been said many times before by political commentators much smarter and more savvy than I, but WHAT a strange political season this has been. McCain, who was pretty much out of the running a couple of months ago, clinched the republican nomination tonight…
And Clinton and Obama are still at it… I hate to tell them, but they’re effectively strangling the democratic party… Think about it… Now McCain can begin an actual presidential campaign, not a nomination campaign. And with democrats pretty much split (and pretty much emphatically… People feel pretty strongly For their candidate and against the other) he can pretty much jump on a “unity” for change kind of ticket…
I don’t care what the polls are saying (they keep going back and forth on “electability” when factoring whether C or O would be better pitted against McCain)… I think a unified party will always have a better chance than a “house divided.” After these G. W. Bush years I truly thought it impossible to get another Republican in the office this time around… But now I think there’s a good chance…
And who will Republicans have to thank?
The presidency is greater than one man (or woman) Senators Clinton and Obama.
(I was going to insert a “hanging” comment here b/c I thought it appropriate in light of the strangulation of the democratic party’s hopes and the need of one of the Senators to cut the rope for the good of the party. But political correctness has me editing it to this comment…
Usually I don’t stand too long on the p.c. or censorship soapbox, but I have just realized that the freedom afforded people in this country to express themselves using “the pen” rather than the sword is seriously suffocated when every metaphor or illustration can be twisted to offend…)
Damn political correctness…
Senators? One of you had better cut the rope… Neither of you may have broken your neck when the barrel was kicked out from beneath you, but your slow asphyxiation is quickly choking your party’s chances for the presidency.
Or if that’s too offensive for the Obama fans (hey, I like some of the things the man stands for too) try this… Senators? One of you needs to get out of the kitchen. Too many cooks ruin the soup, and as things stand now, we’ll be eating the same OLD conservative soup for the next four years…
This message brought to you by an equal opportunity alienator…
I’m gonna have to disagree with you on this one, Kara. I don’t think either person should quit, and for a number of reasons. I think there is more interest in this campaign than normal (always a good thing, imo); the last democratic debate was the most-viewed cable tv airing EVER. And I don’t think democrats won’t vote for whomever wins the nod just b/c it wasn’t there person. Plus, Obama and Clinton are getting way more media coverage than McCain (well, the media always slants towards the democratic side, but still … there’s not really a story with McCain clinching, but there is with the other two fighting for delegates).
But my real reason for not having them drop out is this: Both Obama and Clinton HONESTLY believe that their proposals are best for our country, and neither person has a clear lead. Dropping out of the race when you still have a realistic chance (insert Huckabee joke here) AND when you have conviction would be ridiculous! If I believed I had some idea that would take our country to the next level, and had a chance to implement it, I would fight at all costs. I mean really, which one should drop out? Both have a ton of delegates. Add the media coverage to this, and I don’t think we’re in a bad place (yet).
So I have another metaphor to add: Don’t hate the player, hate the game. Its the voters fault for not picking one person, not the candidates. And there needs to be a decision made before the primary (or maybe not, maybe more media coverage w/o a clear winner).
PS-yesterday was national grammar day … thought you’d like to know that.
Yay…
I love when people have opinions! They don’t have to be the same as mine… feel free to disagree all you like. I’m just excited that someone else actually has an opinion…
You’re right about Obama and Clinton getting a lot of air time… but I think it’s causing those in each camp to root more firmly in their camp rather than in their party… and I’m afraid that’s not going to be good over all… especially if we don’t have a clear front-runner before the convention… which is looking unlikely at this point…
McCain now has 9 months to run a presidential campaign… and get his share of media… The democrates are looking at a 2-month presidential campaign now…
I totally agree that increased interest is GREAT! My fear is that too much interest early on is going to sour voters for November…
Well, considering Clinton has gone on record saying she’s considering a joint ticket (but not sure who would have what position), I’m pretty sure the camps aren’t getting too polarized. I can’t imagine democratic supporters not voting because their nominee doesn’t get the nod, but I guess it could happen. And there is still hope to have a clear front-runner in a couple months (its only March, if we know by the end of April, I think the dems will be okay).
Also, keep in mind that God plays a part in this too … I wish I knew how, but I know that He does influence ruling powers (even democracies). Not that this diminishes our personal responsibility, but that He is in control.