Monday, January 21, 2008

What's That Smell?


Tom the Dancing Bug By Ruben Bolling

My thanks to any of you who have continued to check in during my period of existential ennui. I'm almost ready to join my friends who believe in astrology; its explanation is as good as any for the tumult in my corner of the world.

I'm going to try to ease back into blogging without an agenda, just riff a little and see how it goes.

Which brings me to the above cartoon, shamelessly stolen from Salon.

Dear friends who have weathered past campaigns with me know me as one who chooses a candidate early and supports him or her with a clear vision. But when I look at the 2008 presidential race I peer into a kaleidoscope.

In 2004, I did not think it would be possible to ever, ever, ever want to elect a Democrat more than I did at that moment in time. I was wrong. But my present fervor is matched only by my indecision.

A gnat is buzzing around my head, buzzing "Electability! Electability! Electability!" I am susceptible to punditry in ways I haven't been before.

My heart is with Edwards' populism. Except when it's with Obama. I quiver with excitement at the thought of any of the six intellects involved in the married couples serving as a quartet of leadership. Hillary and Bill and Michelle and Barack and Elizabeth and John.

But reality is harsh. I live smack dab in the middle of Red America, and I can tell you something. Don't let caucuses and primaries fool you. Many, many, many people simply will never vote for Hillary. And I mean people who might otherwise vote D in November. Yes, I know, it makes no sense. I honestly don't think it has anything to do with gender. But it is. And it breaks my heart.

And Liberal Republicans (yes, Virginia, they exist) feel similar despair on their side of the ballot as well.

Poor Liberty.