It’s fashionable from time to time to compare the current age to Orwell’s 1984. This especially seems true during election years. But if you want proof that it’s 1984, what more do you need than that the Celtics and Lakers are in the NBA finals?
Quite a bit of ink has been wasted trying to explain why the Obama campaign seems to have so quickly written off West Virginia and Kentucky. Some Democrats (as indicated by commenters on this post) write this off to the campaign’s understanding that the area is populated with racist, bigoted rednecks who won’t vote for a Black or a woman. Perhaps this is true to a point. (Living in a place gives you a much more complex look at things; I have to think that the above-referenced commenters realize the picture is a little more complex, but then again they may not be used to places that don’t have, for example, gender-neutral restrooms or other indicators of inclusion that social liberals on the coast take for granted.) Nontheless, we all realize that these contests are won in the margins; losing to Clinton by a few less points in May helps build a stronger case in the fall, and while Kentucky appears to be part of the Red South, we recently booted a Republican incumbent from the Governor’s mansion and strong Democrats are lining up to face Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in the fall. A good showing in Louisville, Lexington and Northern Kentucky could boost the Dems chances in the Senate race as well as Congressional races; but this can only happen if the party takes an urgent, sincere interest in the state now.
And to say things are quiet is an understatement. There are more yard signs for the Senate candidates; among Presidential hopefuls, one notices a strange predominance of Ron Paul signs. Hillary Clinton signs outnumber Barack Obama signs by 2 to 1. I keep hoping to see a second Obama sign but frankly I’d be happy with a third sign for Clinton. The campaign emails I receive have dwindled to the point that I’m not sure if the campaign is just resting up and saving resources for the fall battle or become convinced that any Kentuckians who have show interest must have gotten the candidate confused with Jimmy Buffet.
I don’t know. For once in my life I guess I want to vote for the winning candidate. If Obama loses Kentucky as part of a strategy of saving resources and strengthening talking points, I’m all for it. I’m impressed by the way he’s come back at McCain and Bush for their criticism of his plans to engage Iran. He has McCain talking in circles and best of all, he has the media taking notice. This will be critical once policy differences start to matter. So I can forgive a loss now, but I’d be very curious to hear how the party sees the state trending this year. Is it as up-for-grabs as I think? Or is it just from working around those notoriously librul country folk?
The theory that I’ve maintained throughout the primary season is that no matter whether one’s candidate of choice wins the nomination, we’ll all come together against the common opponent in November. From time to time, Clinton’s campaign has done things that certainly push my limits (and perhaps the Obama campaign has pushed the limits of Clinton proponents as well) but in the end, their policy differences are easy enough to get over–one assumes that either candidate will be working toward the best interests of the nation.
Clinton’s “gas tax holiday” plan indicates otherwise. Beyond the surface objections–How does a nation with such a budget deficit, which already gave $600 back to every person, a huge hit to the treasury, plan to do this? How will this slow demand, which needs to happen in any case?–there are deeper and longer-lasting consequences to consider.
The bottom line is that Clinton is more than willing to sacrifice America’s long-term interests in order to get what she wants in the short term.
I hope that the blue-collar Americans that Clinton is trying to buy can see through this. But I’d already hoped they’d feel insulted that she doesn’t believe they can relate to such a high-minded fellow as Obama. You’d think that eight years under a destructive executive would convince us that having a bright, articulate President might not be such a bad thing after all. Yet certain bright, articulate candidates have campaigns working hard to convince us otherwise. So counting on intelligent discourse from The People on the value of gas taxes is probably a dangerous strategy.
Bricks in a herringbone pattern
Looking through a bench at the Kentucky Horse Park
cellusd's photo
Outbuilding near Chilesburg development
Vine wrapped around tree, Boonesboro State Forest, KY
Flowers and other vegetation growing along a brook (really a...
A Random Photo