Last Call on "Primary Eve"
Oh what a ride it has been. It's primary eve (actually Dixville Notch has already voted and been tallied) and I'm still wrestling with my first primary vote!
I went to Phillips Exeter Academy and saw Governor Richardson. Now, I disagree with his platform because I lean to the right, but it's a shame his message was disregarded for the keyed-up rhetoric of Senator Obama and Edwards, and to a degree, Clinton. Governor Richardson didn't sound like a stump speech. He spoke to the issues. The only other Democrat that I saw who did that was Clinton. And she even succumbed to the rhetoric wagon. Obama & his hope and Edwards & his anger have consumed their rallies and stump speeches. Richardson had rational views, in line with party ideology, on climate change, education, Iraq, and health insurance. He has been both a legislator and a governor... and even a diplomat. He supports campaign fianance... an issue that is love-hate with many. Campaign fianance both hurts politics by creating a system that favors the guy with money. But it helps politics by letting people make their candidate that guy with money! Richardson seemed optimistic and he seemed to have a band of support, but the Obama wave is going to sweep the Democrats away.
I walked down to the steps of Exeter Town Hall to hear Senator McCain. Amazing, isn't it? Two-in-one! I had started to warm up to the Senator. His performance in debates were phenomenal (and sarcastic), and he seems like a middle of the road guy. Yet, his tone in his speech was so strident. He endearingly called us his friends, and he threw platitudes at New Hampshire and its people. Heck, I agree with him on Iraq. But he was so over-the-top. He fiercely called for revenge against Osama Bin Laden and a fight against terrorists. Yes, I agree with all that. But it was rhetoric. Not policy. I can't stand rhetoric. I thought the Straight Talk Express was back in town, but once again, I was disappointed. Several of my friends laughed at McCain's rhetoric. He sounded as angry as Edwards at one point. In a way, it's sad. I love McCain's policy views. I realize it was his second-to-last campaign stop in New Hampshire in his last presidential primary. But somehow, I expect more from him. I expected the McCain of debates and of the Senate Floor, not the McCain that I saw. I do hope he wins New Hampshire, if only to derail Mitt Romney. But I can't give him a vote just because of that.
Now, Mike Huckabee sure has made the rounds on Late Night TV. Crossing the picket line for Jay Leno on Wednesday night, while appearing on the Late Late Show with Craig Fergueson on Thursday night. He appeared with Letterman tonight, and will be with Colbert on Wednesday (his fourth time on that show). In fact, Huckabee was such a long-shot candidate, when he first went on Colbert's show, he promised Stephen Colbert (a comedian playing a faux-ultra-right-wing pundit... think Bill O'Reilly) the Vice President's spot. Huckabee still promised this spot to him in appearances two and three (April and August). We'll see in appearance four.
Anyway, my point with Huckabee on late night. He is witty and personable. He is the Reoublican Obama. But it isn't just hope he speaks for. Huckabee speaks for issues. Maybe its his folksy demeanor, but he keeps entrapping me on these late nights. I know he's got the Evangelical support, the so-called Religious Right that is ruining the GOP. We took a chance with President Bush over McCain. Can the Republicans afford another Evangelical as their presidential candidate? Huckabee seems like your regular joe. His charisma keeps drawing me back. Yet, our differences on social issues... and I know it will be important to HIS base, makes me reluctant to cast a vote his way. He is, however, someone I wouldn't mind seeing in November.
Ron Paul crossed the picket lines and was with Jay Leno tonight. He too, has been on Colbert's show. (Thank goodness late night is coming back... the media companies really just need to give the writers what they want) Ron Paul is the only Republican that truly stands for the Constitution. I haven't seen him in person. I know his congressional record. I saw him vote NO in the US Congress more than any other congressman. He has been principled and he keeps to the issues. He's a former libertarian and the libertarian inside me is calling out to let Ron Paul take the Republican Party back to its small government, pro-state rights, economic conservative roots. Ron Paul has raised his money from people like you and me. It's amazing... he has raised more money than even rich Mitt has. In the end, I think I am voting for Ron Paul because I agree with him on almost all of the issues (save Iraq).
As a parting point, I emphasized congressional power in most of my posts. As, presumably, my final post, I want to impress upon everyone just how important Congress is, no matter how impotent it acts. Congress is Article I of the Constitution for a reason. It is the first branch of government, in a government of equal branches. It's important to expect from our Congressmen and Senators the same things we expect from these Presidential candidates. Check where they get their money, check how they vote, ask them those tough questions that make their eyes bulge and their voices go silent. Ask them to work with both parties for the middle road... it's the only way YOUR chosen presidential candidate can get anything done with OUR Congress.
It's a great field, you can't go wrong. I'm saying Ron Paul, but don't hold me to it until that ballot is getting eaten by the machine down in Exeter Town Hall.