Interesting Story about Rielle Hunter

Wow.

This is odd.

H/T Kleinheider.

Personal Reflections On Edwards Scandal

I had the night to think about the whole John Edwards thing. I didn’t think about it much because I decided to have a beer and stare at the tube but I did let it role around in my cranium.

Bear with me.

My initial reaction about it was “Idiot Boy! What were you thinking?”

This morning, it’s about the swirling hypocrisy surrounding all of this. You see, I didn’t want Edwards, who I have always sort of admired, to be in the same category as Larry Craig, Ted Haggard, Bill Clinton, Newt Gingrich and countless others.

I realize that politicians are people. I’ve done things that would be cool with some people and seem immoral to others. I get that. We are human.

Edwards is included in a group that I didn’t think he would be in but he is. We move on.

There is a level of hypocrisy that goes with each and every one of those sex scandals. Words are meaningless. Actions, well, that speaks volumes.

But I just can’t get over he would cheat on his wife when she is battling cancer. (Gingrich did that too.) I find that appalling. I’ve seen several people I love dearly fighting this horrific disease.

Honestly, I could care less what goes on in the bedrooms of the world. You stay out of mine, I’ll stay out of yours.

I was hoping that Edwards would come out and say “Yeah, we have an open marriage” or “I did it. Elizabeth knows and she isn’t happy but we survived it” which he kind of said but not really. The thing is that this is such an embarrassment for him but also for his wife, whom I like very much. He’s shot his political career in the foot, but he could have handled all of this differently. Say adios to any chances in the next administration, Edwards.

Baby Boomers in politics amaze me. I’m not one of them, but I have to say, they have changed the world.

I don’t necessarily mean that as a compliment.

People can do the nasty with whom ever they want to. I honestly don’t care.

But don’t act surprised and contrite when people find it distasteful. Adultery is like cancer. Most folks have been impacted by it in one way or another and when they find out about these things, they personalize it. And if they have been impacted by adultery and they hear of this sort of news, then folks who did what the guys up there did are immediately put on the putz list.

Cheating is easy but I do agree with Aunt B.:

I would like to reiterate, though, that monogamy does not have to be the ideal state of every relationship and lots of successful relationships do fine without it. But it is hard for any relationship–between spouses or between candidate and country–to survive on lies.

It’s the lies that get me as well.

People get through cheating issues, but is it really ever the same? I’m not judging but then again, I guess I am. I’ve been on the Elizabeth Edwards receiving end many eons ago and it wasn’t fun . If the whole situation had been “You do your thing, I’ll do mine” I would have. Set the tone up front and then follow the wave.

I hope that makes sense. Be up front about it and for God’s sake, put your penis back in your pants when your life partner is sick.

That disturbs me the most.

Just saying.

Update: This is important to read as well. It’s about what John Edwards didn’t do.

Dear John Edwards …

You are an idiot.

Liked you, but you so screwed up.

AND, the National Enquirer broke it?!!?

Asshattery.

I expected more from you.

Your message was good. Your wife has cancer.

What was little John Edwards thinkin?

Men are weird.

Updated: People make mistakes but I’ m irritated with John tonight. Big time.

Grrr,

Newscoma

Harold Ford Jr. Advises Barack Obama

I saw this on Twitter from the Memphis Flyer.

Harold Ford. Jr. has a column in the June 2, 2008 edition of Newsweek. Here is a snippet:

The night Barack Obama is expected to accept the Democratic nomination will be Aug. 28, the anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” address from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. King had a dream, and Barack Obama is part of its fulfillment.

We live in a more just and open country than we did 45 years ago, a country where an African-American may be elected president. That doesn’t mean the country is perfectly just, or that we live in a new, post-racial era. But concerns about race in this election are overstated.

Do many rural or working-class people have questions about Obama? Sure. But these are less about race than about culture. Obama has not lived their lives.

The last two sentences I agree with. But, I think I would like to add that none of the candidates truly understand rural America but I also agree it’s more about culture from what I’m hearing in the trenches. That is the reason that John Edwards resonated so strongly here in northwest Tennessee.

It’s a compelling read.

The Coveted Endorsement

In my little neck of the woods, I have to tell you, the John Edwards endorsement of Barack Obama is a bigger deal than you might think. And I agree with Goldni that I think the timing of this was very much balanced for positive press after West Virginia.

Prior to Super Tuesday, I really had to give a lot of thought between Edwards and Obama. I read the issues (including Hillary Clinton’s) and when Edwards dropped out January 30th, my decision was pretty much made for me. I’ve also said that if Clinton won the nomination, I would throw her my vote. It isn’t much but it’s mine.

The people that I know really like Edwards and here in northwest Tennessee, he has always been very well-received. The populist platform, regardless of the $400 haircut that keeps being brought up, resonated with a lot of folks here which does have a blue-collar base.

Now, will his endorsement make a difference? Yes, but news cycles these days don’t last very long. The video for Chocolate Rain has had a longer life-span than political news stories these days.

He has 19 delegates. He does seem to balance the two remaining candidates as well. When Bill Richards came out earlier for Obama, he honestly took a beating from the Clinton camp. With Edwards waiting, he won’t go through what Richards went through. Someone asked me yesterday did I think Obama would name Edwards as his running mate.

I told them no but then again, I’ve been wrong before. I just don’t see it. Of course, I also thought Mike McWherter would run.

With all of that said, Obama got the cookie he’s been waiting for with Edwards’ endorsement.

How long will the buzz last in the blogosphere and in mainstream media?

Hard to tell.

Did John Edwards Say Him?

A little bunch of nothing which started making the rounds this afternoon. Or is it something?

Did John Edwards say at the end of this clip from Morning Joe “I just voted for him on Tuesday?”

You decide.

No official endorsement but interesting.

John And Elizabeth Edwards

Nice interview at the Ticker this morning with John and Elizabeth Edwards. I thought it was interesting but they say a lot without saying anything.

When it comes to Hillary Clinton, John Edwards praised the New York Democrat for her tenacity, saying she “shows a real strength that’s inside of her.” But the former North Carolina senator also said Clinton represents a “lot of the old politics.”

Meanwhile, Elizabeth Edwards said she is a strong proponent of Clinton’s healthcare plan, though is disappointed the New York senator accepts donations from lobbyists.

As for Barack Obama, John Edwards said he wants to “see more substance under the rhetoric.” But he gave Obama praise for wanting to “bring about serious change and a different way of doing things.”

Elizabeth Edwards said she is impressed by the fact Obama has “motivated so many young people to be involved,” though she does not like his healthcare plan and said his advertisements on the plan have been “misleading.”

John Edwards later added he thinks it’s a “great symbolic thing to have an African-American who could be president.”

That sentiment, People reports, caused Elizabeth Edwards to roll her eyes:

“What about the great symbolic thing about a woman?” she asked.

I like the banter between them though. They seem very comfortable. I like that. In many ways, they have become the first couple of the Democratic Party. Not bad.

Obama, Clinton And Superdelegates

So Barack Obama had a good weekend. He swept the primaries and caucuses, won a Grammy and, for these last couple of days, had the Midas touch.

I think it’s very interesting how he has younger folks headed to the polls in droves. With that thought out of my cranium, let’s take into consideration that things shifted in the political world this weekend.

First of all, Ron Paul must really be a Republican if he says he won’t run third party. I honestly thought Dr. Paul would venture out on a revamped Constitutionalist ticket for the Libertarian party. Shows how much I know.

Hillary Clinton had a rough weekend but don’t count her out yet. Those pesky superdelegates could change everything.

From the Associated Press,

Of the 796 lawmakers, governors and party officials who are Democratic superdelegates, Clinton had 243 and Obama had 156. That edge was responsible for Clinton’s overall advantage in the pursuit of delegates to secure the party’s nomination for president. According to the AP’s latest tally, Clinton has a total of 1,136 delegates and Obama has 1,108, following Obama’s victory Sunday in Maine’s caucuses. A candidate must get 2,025 delegates to capture the nomination.

The numbers illustrate not only the remarkable proximity between the two candidates, but also the extraordinary influence superdelegates could wield in determining who becomes the nominee.

The story goes on to say that Clinton wields more power with the Democratic party political insiders on this one.

Here’s my thing. I really don’t want either candidate to take on the role of the victim. I think it goes without saying that anytime anyone, Obama or Clinton, falls behind then the tone moves into the underdog vibe.

Clinton may not have won the primaries this weekend, but she is by no means the underdog here. The next couple of weeks could change on a dime. And it has to do with superdelegates and not so much for the popular vote.

I enjoy seeing both of the candidates play up their strengths with confidence. I realize I might be naive here and I realize that it’s a dog and pony show at this point but on a personal level I don’t enjoy seeing the manipulation of and by the media on this. It’s politics not Melrose Place. And, let’s be honest, superdelegates are basically just politicians. So, the voters have to depend on them to name the nominee. Once again I say there are deals being made and in this election I’ve seen a little bit more transparency about the whole process this year (I think the internet has a bit to do with this) but the key question is simple.

Who will the superdelegates go for?

Obama or Clinton?

I’m not so sure who it will be.

And I see a shift going back to the electability issue which enrages so many folks but is a valid dialogue. So, the question is, who can beat McCain? And who will John Edwards endorse and does it matter at this point?

Talk amongst yourselves.

John Edwards Asks To Remain On Rhode Island Ballot

Sabrina Bates, chief staff writer extradonaire, found this story this evening and sent it to me.

It’s from Turn to 10 from Providence•New Bedford. 

John Edwards dropped out of the Democratic race this week and initially, his campaign asked the secretary of state to remove his name. But NBC 10 has learned that Edwards’ campaign has since asked for Edwards’ name to remain on the ballot.  

Interesting.

Vibinc Says …

Vibinc offers a very thoughtful analysis of what it’s like to be a yellow-dog democrat. For me to even pull one snippet out wouldn’t do the whole piece justice.

Head his to his home on the web to read his thoughts on the democratic race for president.

Edwards Out But Why?

I’m sort of surprised that John Edwards decided to bow out. The cynic in me thinks there is more here than meets the eye as that’s usually going on with politicians. We see one thing, but other stuff is going on as well.

You never know.

In all honesty, I don’t know why he didn’t do any better. I was leaning heavily toward voting for him even though I knew he wasn’t going to get the stage in Denver.I thought he’d stick around and gather up a smattering of delegates and start brokering deals.

That’s how it’s usually done. Politicians wheel and deal.

I’m sort of surprised that Edwards didn’t do that. Or did we? Once again, you never know.

And that cynic is me is asking “What happened?” Because I think something did. Either personal or a deal down the line perhaps?

Not sure.

A member of my staff is a HUGE Edwards supporter and she is somewhat heartbroken although she is a realist as well. She liked him and every day I would get an update on him from her, something I rather enjoyed over coffee each morning. It’s the enthusiasm that she shared that brightened my morning. I wish I could have 1/4th of her energy and passion about this race, but I don’t.

And now we are down to four choices. Two republicans, two democrats…

It is what it is.

Anthem Of Change

It backfired. The whole Hillary/Bill wrassling tag team blew up in their faces yesterday when Barack Obama beat the tar out of the two. And I can’t just write about Hillary as her name will be on the ticket but it’s a twofer deal. And it’s a deal I’m not grooving (Apologies to Mack) on right now although I might have been more open to it just two weeks ago.

I think Obama’s anthem of change is creating a great deal of inspiration and thought because it hasn’t been negative and apparently hitting a chord in non-traditional voters (although John Edwards hasn’t been as negative as well which I think deserves mentioning.) The whole race/sex thing, although it will be a factor with voters and there is no getting around that, was created as a wedge issue this past week by The Clintons and mainstream media ran with it. But it wasn’t as big of an issue as The Clintons made it into in South Carolina. We will have to see if it seeps into the states voting on Super Tuesday.  And it reeks dishonest and politics as usual to me and I don’t like it. Bill Clinton went about three steps too far and Hillary let him. And I liked Bill in office but I’m not liking what I see today.

The Clintons made huge missteps this week and Hillary’s campaign paid for it. She needs to rethink her strategy but anything as this point will seem contrived, I’m afraid. One thing I do know is that The Clintons aren’t dummies and they’ve bounced back before.

I can’t help but believe that John Edwards is done as a viable candidate for the White House at this point because if there was any state he should have taken with some ease was South Carolina but I don’t think he’s out of the running of being a very important factor as we stumble toward the Denver convention. He has delegates.  So who will he swing those delegates to because it might change things up? I don’t know at this point. In the world of politics, there is always something else going on.  Does he have a chance? In a “traditional” presidential campaign, I’d say no.

But this isn’t a traditional campaign year.

There isn’t getting around the fact that Obama is striking a chord among the American people including myself. I find myself watching him speak of his message of change but taking over the Bush Administration is going to be a challenge for whomever wins the White House.

Now, who is best to deal with this mess? And why should they get our most precious commodity right now?

That would be our one vote.

I Have Some Time To Figure Super Tuesday Out

I saw some pretty contentious posts yesterday after the South Carolina Democratic Debate. Usually it was on the left. I’m from the left, so I paid attention.

I said last year that whoever stands on that stage in Denver later in the year is going to be the one getting all of our votes. Same with the Republicans.

Now, with that said, I’ve not endorsed anyone yet (like my endorsement makes a bit of difference to any other voter but I’m just saying.) I’ve not endorsed because I don’t know and my vote makes a difference to me.

So, I will say this:

John Edwards: I like him. I do. I thought he handled the brawl between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton pretty well the other night. There are things about the way he handles the issues that speak to me personally. I talked to ViBinc the other night and he made some very good points about health care and spoke to me about why he digs him. It was a good conversation. I like what David had to say as well about, and I know we aren’t supposed to talk about this word, electability. I’ve also had some correspondence with Russ McBee who actually broke down why he’s supporting Edwards very effectively that gave me a lot of pause. But, I’m an old hippie, and electability makes a difference to me. I don’t like Edwards’ statements about same-sex marriage. And there is a piece of me that wonders what he really, truly wants out of this race. Has his time passed? I truly believe that people run for office for different reasons. But I’m weighing giving him my vote on Super Tuesday.

Barack Obama: The whole Present/Not Present allegations thrown at the Senator don’t wash with me. You can easily look up on the Internet the amount of votes that Hillary Clinton has missed as well. That debate argument seemed contrived and petty to me. Obama also speaks to me. I do like his message of change and I have spent a great deal of time reading his issues. I don’t think there is anything wrong with feeling a bit of hope about my government and that’s where Obama excels. As political bloggers or junkies, we have to keep in mind that is how people vote. So, along with his message of hope and change, I’m reading the issues that are important to me and seeing if his plans hit upon those said issues. I also like the enthusiasm he creates in some of the younger voters I read on the web and that are in my community. So, I’m weighing giving him my vote on Super Tuesday.

I’ll be honest. I’m tired of the Bush, Clinton, Clinton, Bush, Bush line of faux political royalty that has been a staple in this country since 1988. I don’t think Hillary Clinton would necessarily be a terrible president and I’ll vote for her if I have to. She does say some things I don’t disagree with her. She just doesn’t convey as well to me the things I’m looking for politically at this time of my life that the other two do. That’s just me.

Politics are uncomfortable. I get that. And it bugs me that the Democratic-controlled congress hasn’t been very effective since the election in November of 2006. I realize, however, there are folks out there that have been doing the heavy lifting in getting their candidates elected for which I’m appreciative. I’ve learned from you.

I need a bit of hope. I just don’t know who’s going to give that to me.

Who will make the difference? I have until Super Tuesday to figure it out.

I only have one vote. And it’s mine.

South Carolina Democratic Debate

 
First hour went to Edwards.

Second hour went to Obama.

Of course that’s just my opinion.

They all kept saying they were going to face John McCain in November which I thought was interesting. Immediate reactions from CNN can be found here.
Random thoughts. I don’t think Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton like each other too much and found that them trying to hammer the hell out of each other was distracting in the first hour. John Edwards did stay on task that hour. He made points on his statements about poverty.

So, let’s look at what they say they say the issues are on their websites:

Obama, Edwards who has an 80-page book for download and Clinton

I think I’m just going to start reading the issues ’cause man, do I need an aspirin right now.

Butt Kickings Abound In Presidential Race?

“Oh, I’m in the race. I’m in the race for the long-term,” he said. “Got my butt kicked and now I’m going to get up in spite. Going to fight for all the things that I care about — and those causes have not gone away and haven’t changed.”Edwards said McCain “is starting to look like the Republican nominee and I think it’s important for us to have somebody to run against McCain who can beat him and the national polls show that I’m the one who beats John McCain in the general election.”

From a story from the Associated Press. Currently, I actually know more folks on a personal level that have committed their vote to Edwards although it remains to be seen on Super Tuesday. On the other hand …

Now the Illinois senator himself is taking on the former president, telling Good Morning America that he feels as if he’s running against both Clintons.

In the interview, Obama reportedly says that the former president has been misrepresenting both “my record of opposition to the war in Iraq” and “our approach to organizing in Las Vegas,” as the controversy over Saturday’s Nevada caucus vote continues to grow.

And of course, for our early morning cornucopia Chuck Norris called John McCain old.

Norris is 67 incidentally. (Insert Norris quote here about how he could whup on someone, cure cancer, etc.)

Let’s see, in the last 20 years it’s been Bush, Clinton, Clinton, Bush, Bush …

If I wrote music and could actually sing, I think there is a song in there somewhere. I vote Kanye. Or Laurie Anderson.

Yeah, that sounds groovy.

Good One, Badger

 

Go to Craven’s World and read what she has to say about the forgotten candidate.

Going Aganist The Grain Of Traditional Politics

I’m seeing so many changes in the political machine that what I thought I knew isn’t really relevant.

I’ve been on the fence between John Edwards and Barack Obama for some time. I’ll be honest, I’ve not been happy with anybody and I didn’t want to get too excited about anyone. And, I’ve been studying everyone’s platform. I didn’t like Edwards stance on mandatory health care and that he gives us the populist speeches that I’m not completely sold on although I like what he’s saying from a philosophical standpoint. I’ve never felt 100 percent sure of him. I feel like he means what he says, but I’ve still felt a bit of hesitancy about him that I’ve had trouble pinpointing.

I’ve always liked Barack Obama, but I felt like I’ve needed to educate myself about him (he has given great speeches over the last few years, but a great speech doesn’t make a good politician. I just didn’t know much about him as a leader). But those very same speeches made me drawn to him and he says things I like. A lot. But I kept wondering if he could translate his message to a rural vote. I think about the rural vote a great deal as I live it, and I know how fickle the rural voter can be. But I like the guy. He is inspiring. He won’t have the Iraq War vote haunting him. He’s been upfront about his recreational drug use, he seems to be more globally savvy (I didn’t say experienced but I think he has more experience than the MSM gives him credit for) and he seems more unifying than, let’s say, Hillary Clinton, who I think is one of more divisive candidates in recent history.

So I watched Iowa, and quite frankly, I was surprised with the final results. I don’t know why really. I thought Edwards might take it because it seems like he’s been running for president for about two decades. But Obama made history in the fact he got new voters out and the undecided liked him. He inspired people to go in the bitter cold to the polls.

You see, I didn’t have faith that people would get out to vote for change. I didn’t think that would happen. I had lost my ability to believe that people would follow their convictions.

And I was wrong.

Even GOP candidate Mike Huckabee got a new vote out. Both winners offered a message of change, and both winners benefited from it.

I read this and it breaks it down.

The strategy went against the traditional blueprint for winning in Iowa and showed the importance of attracting voters outside the small, insular circle of dedicated party activists who have dominated past caucuses.

I really need to pack up my cynicism and pack it in the attic, don’t I? Seven years of our latest White House administration will do that to you.

In five days, we have New Hampshire and we are going to see the formation of several things. Iowa is pretty conservative, N.H. not so much. I expect Ron Paul will do better in that primary.

On Twitter last night, (and may I say, the folks there broke the story much quicker than Mainstream Media did), there was a conversation about a possible third-party candidate. People were sharing information, relevant links from Iowa’s bloggers who were on the ground watching the primary happening. If you like politics, you might want to see how Twitter worked last night. I was out at a family function and by the time I got home, I received more information on that social media networking system than I did from CNN in some cases. And the conversation was inspiring.

Yeah, everything I thought I knew I didn’t know at all.

This is going to be an amazing campaign year. And for the first time, I’m starting to get a little bit excited about it.

And dang it all, if I don’t just love talking about hope rather than fear. I’ve said that before.

ManBearPig Politics

 

So Edwards, Obama and Clinton are all in a dead heat in Iowa. Obama is getting the Superman treatment, Edwards says Obama is too nice and Hillary Clinton is trying to get Bill not to eat another cheeto because they are bad for him all while telling voters if she can protect Bill, she can protect Americans. Although Edwards says he will add Bill to his White House if he wins the presidency.

Of course he will. Bill Clinton is more popular than anyone running in 2008. (Of course, that’s just my opinion. It’s also my opinion that I think Al Gore probably laughed at ManBearPig because he has a sense of humor, which others don’t share with me.)

Sorry, I’m a progressive and I just couldn’t pass that up. I offer my apologies ahead of time.

The GOP candidates are fighting like my dogs do over a scrap of macaroni and cheese or the last bit of a hot dog. Man, McCain and Huckabee apparently want to run together because they sho’ don’t like Romney.

“APOLOGIZE!!” Huckabee is screaming at Romney.

***crickets***

“NOW!” Huckabee yowls, joined by the scratchy voice of John McCain. It is a symphony of Republican tenors that rivals only the now-deceased stylings of Luciano Pavoratti.

***crickets***

Nashville voters should be scratching their heads and getting on the phone so their vote makes a difference because right now, there are questions.

So here it is. I will not vote for a presidential candidate in a primary who is trying to offer me fear. I will vote for one that gives me hope.

And that laughs at ManBearPig. (Wait, he’s not running. Damn.)

If politics bores the heck out of you, go here. It’s a picture of a puppy.

Keep this man away from it.

Drowning In Boredom On The Washington Express

The primary season is making me, in a word, yawn.

Let me ask a couple of questions. First of all, how different are the candidates in the Democratic Party? How much different are the candidates in the Republican party? Seriously, I’d like to know the difference. I mean we know Mitt Romney is a Mormon, we know Mike Huckabee seems nice enough, we know Rudy Guiliani is friends with Bernard Kerik which speaks volumes to me at least. We know Ron Paul, of all people, is getting the hipster attention. We know Fred Thompson isn’t the fireball we thought he’d be.

Heck, if I was a Republican, I’d be watching John McCain but I’m not voting Republican anyway, so it doesn’t matter.

As for the Democrats, I said months ago that these folks needed to be talking to people like me. Knock me out, impress me.

Instead, you are making me want a nap.

I see John Edwards as the most electable of the candidates, quite frankly, but mainstream media is banging on the Obama and Clinton gongs so loud who can hear the Richardsons and the Dodds?

You know, our elected officials just gave President Bush a huge Christmas present.

Yeah, Harry Reid and crew are blocking appointments, which in the long run is probably a good thing.

A nine-second session gaveled in and out by Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., prevented Bush from appointing as an assistant attorney general a nominee roundly rejected by majority Democrats. Without the pro forma session, the Senate would be technically adjourned, allowing the president to install officials without Senate confirmation.

The business of blocking Bush’s recess appointments was serious. It represents an institutional standoff between Congress and the president that could repeat itself during Congress’ vacations for the remainder of Bush’s presidency.

Nine seconds is better than nothing.

The Rural Factor

I’ve been looking at quite a few websites over the last few days about where presidential candidates stand for rural citizens.

Many times, I will comment in my usual whimsical ways about (snark) about the different aspects of what a candidate is doing or that George Bush picked up a book and the world was genuinely surprised until he had to give it to Laura to read because he didn’t know what the word “pony” meant or whatever. You know the drill here at Casa Coma.

But, the thing that is really hurting our area is that we need industry. We need better broadband access (Thanks Maddox and Herron on that one), We need jobs terribly. I think because we live in a college environment, we do have some opportunities that some other rural communities don’t have and for that I’m grateful.

But which candidates are going to be actively advocating for the rural vote. Right now, it’s aggressively been sought in Iowa by John Edwards, who did make a visit after an internet contest back a few months ago to Clinton, Ky. There were thousands who attended and he did show up but, quite frankly, it was a Public Relations spin and we all knew that even at the time.

I’m eager as a rural citizen to see what is going to happen on a couple of levels. I read some where, and I can’t find it so I offer my apologies ahead of time, that the Democrats need someone who is like Mike Huckabee.

I’m not talking about his issues, I’m talking about how he has made a connection with some of his party and effectively pissed off the other side, but he sticks to it although I disagree with that philosophy completely. I think Edwards might be able to make that sort of connection that Huckabee has on the right but he is going to have to have a philosophy and stick to it. Huckabee is interesting to me as a progressive. He has a mission statement, he sticks to it and I love that he at least has a sense of humor but he isn’t who I want in Washington in 2009.

Edwards does make personal connections as well when he visited the area, but he hasn’t seemed to found his voice and this is his second chance. Everyone who has ever met him talks about his charm and that when you hear him, he sorta speaks to you not around you, but this whole mandating health insurance thing isn’t going to work for me. Hell, I have health insurance that sucks big-time, but I have it. If I didn’t need it, I would be freelancing full-time (and probably making more moolah than I do now), but the insurance keeps me where I’m at until I can find another place with, you guessed it, health insurance. Homer tells of a friend of hers who is working (she’d rather be home with her kids) specifically to have health insurance for her family. She brings home $40 bucks a month (Not a week, a month) after she paid. The money is going for insurance.

This isn’t uncommon. I can’t fly with that.  That’s, of course not a rural thing, but a people thing.

The rural thing, for me at least, is about industry. It’s about opportunities. It’s about that manufacturing jobs are leaving and have been for years. Off the top of my head, I can think of seven plants in my area that have closed recently. I can also tell you that the population of my county as of earlier this year has been reduced by about 3500 residents. And with that, the smaller businesses suffer.

So, there are no real answers I guess. Which presidential candidate is going to take care of the areas that don’t have voters in the hundreds of thousands? Something like 22 percent of roughly 19,000 people voted in this county in the last couple of elections.

Why?

Because they didn’t feel their vote mattered.

And, quite honestly, with the way 2000 and 2004 went, does it?

I’ll vote until my fingers bleed, believe me. I just wish I could fall in line with a candidate that I liked, that spoke for me. And, yes, I would have actively campaigned for Al Gore again.

This time, I’m thinking of electability and I think that’s the first time I have done that. I just don’t know who that person is yet.