Upon hearing of Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont’s call for Senator Hillary Clinton to drop out of the presidential race I wanted to say to him one of the most profound statements that ever fell from Dick Cheney’s mouth, “Go fuck yourself.”  Remember when the Vice President snapped at Leahy in the Senate Chambers?  Yes, even the Prince of Darkness can have a moment of brilliance.  Well, allow me to imitate that sentiment for the millions of people who have voted for Senator Clinton so far in this primary, the ones who volunteer for her, the ones who have donated to her campaign.  Leahy made his courageous call in Vermont, a state that voted overwhelmenly for Senator Obama, and on public radio no less if that doesn’t say Obama demographic I don’t know what does. Had he been facing some of the uncool, tubby, wind breaker wearing , middle of the country type people who I have met while volunteering for Hillary Clinton he might have been less flip. His party would do well to consider these people.

The error with Leahy’s comment and similar ones from pundit’s and writers is that it blames Clinton for the lack of a presumptive Democratic nominee.  The fault is not Hillary’s or Barack.  They are both doing what they set out to do what other contenders have done for about two hundred years now.  Campaign hard for the job of the presidency.  The blame lies squarely with the Democratic Party itself.  The party in which Leahy is supposedly one of its wise elders.  Well, the wisdom of this Party’s nominating structure is jacked.  Proportional delegate allocation in the primary and caucus is the reason there is no clear winner.  Leahy suggests that (www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/03/28/america/Clinton-Leahy.php) Hillary can’t get enough pledged delegates for the nomination.  Well, neither can Barack Obama.   The system that the Democrats set up reminds me of the Ungame.  A non-competitive board game that my alternative schooling mom made my brother and our friend’s play.  She didn’t believe in competition.  The Ungame said, “There are no winners, and no losers.”  Basically, it went against human nature.  So, we would play the game and after 5 or 10 minutes of seeing that no one in the game was ahead or behind of any one else we would start to beat the crap out of each other.  We needed the release.  Someone had to conquer. Someone had to be defeated. 

The Democrats own system of Ungame is putting many on edge.  It’s the DNC’s fault.  Additionally, that the party that claims to be the voice of the voiceless employs the caucus system is a scandal.  I went to Texas for their primary to help with the caucus for the Hillary campaign.  A system that demands that people show up at a certain time and day (about 7:15pm, Tuesday evening) disenfranchises a staggering amount of people.  As I called to ask, no, beg people to come to the caucus I realized how in my own bubble world I was.  I heard people say that even though they had voted for early for Hillary and really liked her they couldn’t’ come because they couldn’t drive at night, had to take care of kids or grandkids, worked a night shift, or didn’t’ have legs and lived out in the country beyond where we had volunteers to drive them in.  Now, if you are an Obama supporter you might say, oh well, our younger, affluent core of voters got there just fine thank you.  But, one day this may affect your candidate.  And Senator Leahy and other party grand Pooh-Bah’s would do well to consider these forgotten people and change the rules of the primary and ABOLISH the caucus rather than throw Clinton under the bus.  The Caucus is only there in order to keep the control of the nomination in the hands of a few hard-core, active party members. If the Dems had winner take all the GOP would already have its next target. All Democrats should look at the Democratic Party’s exclusionary nominating process and borrow Mr Cheney’s words again and tell the DNC to “go fuck themselves.”

I was on “Red Eye” on  Fox news the other night.   I enjoy the lively unscripted banter of the show.  I did it once before.  I was less than impressed when one contributor called Hillary a something “shrew”. Wow, no gender bias there!  I was able to have a moment to call the sexist language out.  Sadly, unlike racial remarks the sexist language goes unchecked.  Linda Douglas ( former LA local TV news gal) who now scribes for the National Journal said on “Hardball” that when Hillary showed her anger at Obama for his misleading mailer she “sounded like a mother, a scolding mother” .  And I’m sure she would say McCain sounded like a dad who hadn’t slept much when he said he would follow Bin Laden “into the gates of Hell”.  Yes, woman can be sexist as well.

Many woman friends ( and my mom) have all said that whatever happens in this race  our feminist consciousness has been reawakened.
I am heartened that in the last few days there has been some comment that Obama has been treated with more love from the media and there has been a tad more scrutiny of him.  Also, seen more support for Hillary.  Gov. of Ohio, John Glenn, Cher. The best one lately is this one from Jack Nicholson http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mOa3sXjqE4&eurl=http://www.perezhilton.com/

I now know how Republican’s must feel now when you rarely ever see anyone in the media and entertainment back your person.  It doesn’t seem funny and cute it’s alienating.  It makes you turn them off.  I learned that the hard way when I was on “the x show” on FX and was vocal about supporting Gore.  I was astounded at the hate mail I got.  On my present show I am non partisan.  We did a fun segment ( my suggestion) on primary fashion.  I can talk positively about them all.  Better that way.

So, been doing more phone banking and Monday I am headed to Austin.  I will be there for 48 hours.  Got to help Hillary.  It’s the last stand and I want to know I did what I could.  The caucus is going to be tough.  It’s a stupid, stupid structure and one the Texas Democratic party needs to revisit post haste.  It disenfranchises many voters.  One has to vote and then come back and show up at the same polling place at 7 pm on Tuesday and vote out loud.  So, it’s rigged so that only hard core Dems who are young, able bodied and free of commitments can be there.  I have spoken to many Hillary voters who cannot caucus. They are handicapped and housebound, they don’t drive at night, they are taking care of children.  I have grave doubts about her ability to win that part of the Texas contest.  I will be there to help work the precinct.  I can guide people about the rules.  At the training I went to they said the Obama people are very aggressive and bus in union people and it’s questionable if they really should have been voting.  Edwards’s people reportedly told people, “You don’t want to vote for a woman.”.  I am the UN peacekeeper of Texas voters, so to speak.

Can’t wait to have some good Mexican food.

I am so depressed.  While many others were having Obama fever I took the Hillary vaccine.  I knew she wouldn’t do well at the Potomac Primaries, but it was a tad worse than I thought it would be.  If someone doesn’t find a dead hooker in Barack’s trunk before March 4th it’s all over.

Okay, so in the last couple of weeks… I went to a private reception for Hillary following that cool debate in LA where they were so nice to each other.  I ran into some old friends (women) who work and live in Venice,Ca.  They were glad to see me.  They said they had been surrounded by strident Obama fans and they felt they had to keep their true identities as Hillary supporters on the down low, or it might adversely affect business.  I could say many things about how the Obama people bug me more than he does… but Joel Stein already said it best. (http://www.latimes.com/news/columnists/la-oe-stein8feb08,1,5769667.column?ctrack=1&cset=true)

I figured that even though my friend Bonnie and I forked over $500 each to get into this shing-ding it would be a typical Democratic dullsville.  A few cubes of cheese and the candidate would be miles away.  Hey, Republican’s give bad parties too.  Years ago my dad “treated” us to Governor Wilson’s second inaugural ball in Sacramento.  His girlfriend at the time was done up like a mother of the bride at a Filipino wedding and the venue was a large, concrete floored cave. Wilson and wife showed up for a minute to wave to us from up high on a perch in the cave. We got drunk and ran into her old boyfriend and drank more. The cubes of cheese went fast.  But, anyway.  Present day, Beverly Hills and the Hillary people had chocolate cake –good stuff, not crap–out in a carpeted ballroom in the hotel they filmed “Pretty Woman”in.  I felt that Hillary’s story was a bit more inspiring than that one.

So,  unlike the Wilson gala.  We were as close to the stage as secret service would allow, which is about 3 feet.  We had to wait awhile, but we made friends.  A nice nurse from San Diego, an Indian businessman from the South Bay.  I did talk to a couple of other people, but when one guy said that Condi Rice has her job because she sleeps with Bush I turned a cold shoulder.  Not the female centered dialogue I was after.
Barbara Streisand introduced her. Yes, the famous one.  Very exciting to be right up close.  The exciting thing about Barbara Streisand is that she talks just like Barbara Streisand.  The inflictions, intonations. You can’t have watched “The Way We Were” as much as I have and not be moved.  She gave a good speech. And  I know Babs doesn’t like public speaking, so it meant a lot.
Then Hillary came out and Chelsea was there too. Chelsea is a star too.  And a great selling point for Hillary.    She gave a good speech.  I nudged Bonnie at one point while Hillary was speaking and said, “Look at my face”.  I had that wide eyed, half open mouth look of a happy guppy.  Shelia  Jackson-Lee, congresswoman from Texas was also there and I love her.  She has her own style and she is gutsy.  When the speech was done Hillary came down to shake hands.  Bonus!  This was shaping up to be my best political event ever. It was my most expensive, so there is that.  As she approached me I thought of what I could say that was meaningful, yet quick, since I had seen she seemed in hurry and was probably already tuckered out from the VIPS’s upstairs who paid $2,300 and got a photo with her.  There wasn’t time to remind her I had talked to her at length in 1994 when she was on the show I produced, Dr. Dean Edell.  Back then Whitewater was the buzz.  Oh, the old days.  Lot of hooey that was.  Now, the buzz was on the first viable woman candidate. She grabbed my hand, and I hers, I looked her right in the eye and said, “I believe in you.” She said, “thank you.” With a smile and moved on.  I thought for a minute is that true?  Do I?  Do I believe she is a strong, smart, tough as nails woman with a good heart?  A person whose political objectives while not always lining up with mine (resolution to go to Iraq), hits the mark more than not.  A person who has the guts to be President.  Yes, I do believe in her.  I got a little choked up.  Meanwhile, Bonnie got her for a while.  She told her she had a 6 month old daughter and she was here for her.  So she could tell her she supported the first woman president of the United States.  Hillary said, “God, bless you.”.
We were elated as we waited for valet parking.

That Sunday, before Super Tuesday, I was restless.  I finally bit the bullet, did something I hate to do: I phone banked for Hillary.  It was in a real estate office in W. Hollywood.  It’s gotten more automated since I did it from my cell phone in my apartment for John Kerry. (can hardly believe that I did that.  Seeing how he threw Edwards under the boss.  I remember that Bill Clinton got out of his sick bed following HEART surgery to go campaign for Kerry in ’04.  Guess Kerry has a short memory.  But, I was desperate to get Bush out of office.)
Here is a running commentary of my pre-super Tuesday calls.

I love old broads.  If they are clinging to life they are my kind of voter. They love Hillary and they vote.  Usually vote early.  They were also great when Kerry ran.  When I say I am a volunteer for Hillary and could I count on their support or did they know who they were voting for.  They don’t say, “oh, I don’t know”, or “yeah, I guess.”  They want to chat and tell you how much they are supporting her and think anyone who isn’t is nuts.  They want to know how the phone banking is going.  This day I was only calling California.  When weeks later I called Wisconsin the people weren’t as fun.

I love Latin ladies.  They were so nice as I told them in Spanish my number is Daphne.  Yeah, got a little confused.  But, they love Hillary.
Men are mean.  Younger men ( under 50) are either undecided or mean.

Some good quotes.  “Girl power!”

“They call for Romney, McCain and I said I’m not voting for either, don’t call me.”
“How’s it looking?”.  Truth was the majority were for Hillary, but I am a nervous caller because I hate to intrude on people and if I get one rude person it can color my experience.
One lady said she had voted for absentee for Edwards, “I don’t know what I will do.”.  I said, yeah, that’s a bummer.
There’s always one.  “Hillary Clinton can go bury herself in a hole…” I hung up.  And it was an older sounding lady. She was bucking the trend.
“I’m voting for the man.” A cranky woman said. Obama I asked? “The Man”  the lady repeated.  McCain I asked?  I had a form to fill out.  “The Man.” She repeated.  I decided the woman hating woman meant Obama.  I hung up and marked his name.
I felt like I was there for days.  It was under 3 hours.  Democracy at work…I guess.

Now, it’s before the Texas and Ohio primary.  Many of my friends and I are feeling blue.  My mom said she can’t watch TV anymore.  The media has been so biased against Hillary.  They are always looking for fault and no one ever writes or comments that Obama errs.  How can I not think the country is sexist when she is the more qualified candidate?  I am so disappointed in the many women who have not supported her.  One friend told me that Hillary has “too much baggage.”  What politician who has been around as long as she has doesn’t have baggage.  Some people say she is only were she is because her husband was president.  To that I say two things.  1) many women in politics are there because of their families.  Congresswomen have routinely been handed the seat of the husband’s if he dies in office.  What about Bhutto?  As she was the head of a Muslim country for a time! 2) then why fall over yourself when Caroline Kennedy endorsed Obama.  A woman’s who cred rests on being born to a President, not even the partner of one.

The fat lady hasn’t sung.  I have given more money, I have made a few more calls..should do more.  And I thinking seriously of going to Texas for a few days.  I did also harass my one friend in Austin to Caucus for her. Thank God for the gays.  They love her.
Obama said after Super Tuesday that he believes Hillary supporters would go to him, but it’s not clear that his would go to hers.  Oh, really Mr. Smug.  We will see about that.  I hate to say it.

I am sorry that this brings up the history of Seneca Falls, but it does.  I am sorry that this makes me feel like a child in the ‘70s’ and the ERA is going to failure, but it does.  I will make one more stab at this. But, Obama supporters, and Moveon.org, and Air America and their ilk need to know that they are not currying favor with Hillary supporters and some of us will not be taken for granted if he gets the nomination.

Okay after the non-stop stream of debates even managed to turn me off of the primaries, the Iowa Caucus has brought this political junkie back!  After a spirited Caucus party at my sister Carole’s ( a collaborative effort of Puerto Rican roast pork, mashed potatoes and peas and do it your self or as I call them, Pro-choice sundaes) I am pouring over every word and image from both sides of the political spectrum.  Some while my daughter plays with a toy, more after she has gone to sleep.
I predicted Obama’s win, didn’t know Huckabee was going to do quite that well.

I’ve been on the fence about Hillary so far, but now it’s going to change.  She has that thing that can bug.  I don’t know why.  I met her years ago and really liked her and respected her.  I think she has done great in the debates.  But, I didn’t want to come out strong for her, partly because I can’t stand the haters who will shriek if they see me with her bumper sticker.  While I’m glad that any person of color can do well in national politics the Obama victory has underscored for me that my bread is buttered for my own gender above all.  And if a woman can get to the White House—a woman who will make the Supreme Court appointments that I agree with, than I am on board.

I have also been taking note of the sexist dialogue that seeps in to journalism in regards to Hillary Clinton.  An LA Times writer said that at her rally at the end of the caucus she was  “almost scolding” you mean like a mom?  Does Edwards scold? Or is he impassioned?

1-8-08
Now it’s the night before New Hampshire and I just let Vivien watch way more than her allotted time of “the good night show” so I could watch some political news I missed.  Hey, It takes a village, right?  Well, sometimes mine is electronic since my husband works 5 nights a week.  Kudos to Dan Abrams of MSNBC who rightly poised the question, “is the media ganging up on Hillary?”  One of my favorite conservatives Pat Buchanan agreed.  Obama is the bright shiny object and even Brittney being carted off in a gurney can’t take the spotlight of him right now.  Will it last past his probable win in New Hampshire?

Best moment for Hillary in Saturday debate:  “well, that hurts my feelings”  her comic timing was pitch perfect on that.  Obama had done well in the debate till then.  When he said without even looking at her, “your likable enough.”.  That was nice from a front runner. Besides his lack of experience the chief thing that bugs me about him lately is lack of sense of humor. So prim.

Enjoyed the Rebublican debate.  With Chief Hall monitor, Mitt Romney.  You know it’s bad when Guiliani seems like the most compassionate one in the bunch.  Thompson and McCain seem pooped.  Huckabee didn’t shine and Ron Paul is fun, but why’d he get in and not Dennis Kuckinch?

I watched the video of Hillary tearing up but, she didn’t seem to be tearing up to me. It probably matters less than if John Edwards hair ever looked messy.  He may be pretty, but he looks like he could be mean as a snake.  He just spoke to Anderson Cooper like he was bum asking him for a quarter.  Aren’t you complaning about a lack of media attention?

Most exciting video of the night: Chelsea Clinton speak!  I’ve never heard her speak before.  A quick bit of her working the phones.  The Clinton’s have made some mistakes in their lives, but they did a good job of shielding her and raising an upstanding person.  Won’t see her being taken to Cedars in a gurney.

The one way to be a rested mom is to sleep when your child sleeps. But,

It’s really hard to get sleep when the only time you are able to read, watch mature themed shows and movies, have sex or read Elle Décor is after your child goes to sleep.  It’s about hour to two hours of peace.  But, I really need to sleep.  Still I have this pile of things to read I can’t get through and the longer the pile sits there the greater import they seem to have.  I mean Westways magazine, is it really that important that I read the monthly mag from the Auto club? Apparently it is because it’s been in my pile for months.  I’ve been trying to find a few moments to read Elle Décor, not only is it an issue from January,  I don’t even like it!  But, my sister gave it to me and damm it, maybe I will find a design gem in there.

When Vivien was a newborn I likened my life to the movie “Groundhog day”.  Everyday was exactly the same, feed the baby, burp the baby, get the baby to sleep, repeat.  Now I think my life is like that famous episode of “The Twilight Zone” where Burgess Merideth is the bookworm with thick glasses and all he wants to do is read.  One day he emerges from the bank vault where he works and had been taking a reading break, of course, to find a bomb has dropped and all life is gone.  He is thrilled. He can finally read.  He stacks the books he longs to read and just when he is about to settle in his glasses fall and break. Now his eternity lies before him, he can’t read and he is alone.  Hell.  Okay, well, I don’t wear glasses, but I am becoming a bit obsessed with reading.  I feel bad sometimes that my perfect 2 year old beauty is prancing around wanting my attention  and I have one eye on the business page of the LA Times.  I check myself, god, look at her, she is a miracle nothing is more important.   Hmm, yes, right, but out of the corner of my eye I catch a 4 week old People, and did I read that one…?  It’s one of the great things about nursing that no one ever tells you, so much time to read.  You nurse a newborn 45 minutes a feeding several times a day. That’s a lot of printed matter.

Now, I am not this way in a vacuum.  My mother always preferred to have printed matter in front of her.  On the minus side it meant as we begged her to play with us she would calmly say, “No, developmentally you should create your own play”.  She knew that because she had read it.  Right there, because she would barely look at us as she picked up a book.  On the plus side, it meant she was very patient.  She would hang out at parks, shopping centers, wherever we wanted to go.  She was fine, as long as she had a seat and something to read.  And really it could be a newsletter from the Hare Krishna, she just had to lay her eyes on printed English.

I married another reading addict.  I have learned that if my husband is reading and I want him to hear what I am saying I have to physically touch him and say, “I need you to listen to me right now”.  You know like he’s a kid…who’s developmentally disabled.

So, why would I rather read then experience life? Well, one can’t live and know everything so you get that from reading and also the truth is motherhood—I will say it—can be boring.  Yes, the thing you strive for your whole life can be dull.  I crave the stimulation of new thought and information that my child-particularly in her first year of life—can’t give me. Sure, there are plenty of times when I am in awe of who she is, that I helped create her, that I have never felt so consumed with love.  But, geez, I didn’t leave my brains at the epidural.  Like any good mother I would willing throw myself in front of bus to protect the life of my child.

But, do I have to put down the Sunday New York Times? 

Note: Don’t hold me to the quotes, I am paraphrasing.

Well, my time is here. The first debate of the season. I watch with the devotion that some hold for Dancing with the Stars. I’m like a pig in… well, you get the picture. Thursday night it was the 8 Democratic candidates. And who knew there were eight? One should get his own show, one is a total kook and two were very well dressed. I wish the media didn’t anoint “front runners” so early on. I recently saw Bill Clinton speak ( sigh, so smart, after 8 years of Bush hearing him talk was Draino for the brain) and he said the same thing. That’s with his wife getting to be one of the anointed. He was saying a good case could be made for Richardson, Dodd and Biden. And after watching the debates I think he is right.

Achey, Cranky Garver, Victory Kucinich

Who had ever heard of this Garver guy? Love him, although he could wear. A cantankerous lefty who provided much appreciated comic relief with a bit of subversive politics. The person who benefited the most from the cranky old former Senator from Alaska was Dennis Kucinich (congress member from Ohio) who looked positively mainstream in comparison.

Kucinich did very well. I expected him to sound like a hippie from Berkeley and I still would have held him dear for his recent proposal to impeach Cheney (why has it taken so long?). But, he was actually very clear, intelligent and hung with the center candidates quite well. He sounded downright credible. Gotta love the only guy who did vote AGAINST the war. When Williams asked “show of hands who supports Kucinich’s bill to impeach Cheney.” Not one raised their hand. Note even the kooky dude from Alaska. ( “oh, I get a question, I’m an elder statesman and I thought I was a potted plant.” You kids stay out of my yard!) With that camera pan of hands on the podiums I could only think, “pussys”. Kucinich then got a little time to flash his constitution and make his case. I very well might send him some money for having some balls, let alone being right. I would give him the victory for the debate. He comes in with little money, name recognition or media love and knocked every question he got out of the black college ballpark. And briefly engaged in the only true moment of debate with golden boy Obama.

Snow capped sincerity

Senator Chris Dodd (senator from Connecticut) got my vote for most genuinly moving, without being schmaltzy (take note Edwards and Obama) answer for his response to supporting gay civil unions in his state. Brian Williams of NBC moderated. Williams has a rod so far up his keister I don’t know how he bends over to tie his shoes. Mr. Self important tried to rattle Dodd by asking him what was the difference between gay marriage and gay civil union. Dodd sidestepped that one and said that when he talks about this issue he says that he has two young daughters and maybe when they are older they might chose to be a different sexual orientation than his own. He thinks how would I want them to be treated? That he would want not want them discriminated against. AHHH. Accepting of his children and looking forward. Good response since who doesn’t have a gay relative? I never knew anything about the guy before apart from the state he is from and that he has snowy white hair. Now I have a clearer take away.

Isn’t nice she didn’t bake cookies?

Was bracing myself for that side of Hillary that is cringy. That side that seems phony or harsh. I think that is partly why she can leave a negative impression. Of course the other reason is because we have a bunch of misogynist in this country, women included. But, Hillary did very well. She seemed totally knowledgeable about the issues, ragged on Bush and scored with her decisive response to Williams “what would you do as President if the US had a nuclear attack…”. Obama and Edwards looked nabby, pamby in comparison. Obama “first I would make sure our emergency measures were in place…” Hmm, think you should have that about that before, president FEMA. Edwards “ make sure who really did it.” Yeah, makes sense but give the people what they want. Clinton “I would retaliate swiftly, decisively.” Yeah. She was saying loud and clear, “I may be a broad, but my finger is on the button I can push it.”

She similarly scored when health care came up. Everybody sounded like a brochure, kind of general and frankly, I couldn’t concentrate on what they said. Hillary tossed it off. She might have well have said, “Obama, I was crafting a universal health plan while you were buying a map to find the Illinois state house.” And Hillary, loved the jacket, black t and pearls. Just perfect!

Rambling Joe, Tightens it up.

And who would have thought I would have been impressed with Joe Biden ( senator, Delaware)? First off he can look odd. His hair can look odd. Someone has gotten to him. His hair looked better, colored a bit blonde I think, maybe a light spray tan, fine with that. And a lovely light blue tie which is very in this spring. In a sea of gray suits he stood out. Next to newbie’s Edwards and Obama his depth of the issues and the ease at which he discussed them was impressive. He deftly handled the “aren’t you to verbose question, can you reign it in.” He answered only. “yes”. Scoring the biggest laugh of the night. Funny is appealing.

Too much time on the phone?

Richardson, hmmm. Even thought he is a dark horse I was always kind of keen on Bill Richardson, governor of New Mexico. He started off well, been around the block. But kind of unraveled a bit towards the end. When he got a question about Castro he wanted to go 4 questions back and let us know that he too would drop a bomb on our enemies. Ah, yeah, great, cowboy, but what about that Cuba question? Maybe he doesn’t want to just be known for his diplomacy. What is with his ear? I was oddly fascinated at first, could hardly focus. It seemed large, too long perhaps. I spent the next few minutes being kind of appalled at all their ears till the camera came to rest on Hillary. Thank goodness for diamond stud earrings. I did like that Richardson admitted he was the last to say AG Gonzales had to go because he was Hispanic. And, why not? Don’t we all pull for our own? If I was mentally impaired I would support Bush. If I had anger management problems and hated humanity I would back Cheney.

Honey, we need to talk…

At one point Kucinich said “this is not American Idol.” Oh, I almost wish that it were. Except I don’t think Ryan Seacrest needs any more jobs. American Idol is watched by about 30 million people. This debate, maybe 400,000. If it was “American Idol” , I hate to say it but the first one I would vote off would be John Edwards. Yes, even before Garver, because he adds comic relief, call him Sanjaya. Now, I have always liked John Edwards. And darn it that four hundred hair cut looks good. And who doesn’t love his wife and their personal story is heartbreaking. But, as I was watching him I thought this guy could have a really successful daytime talk show. Seriously, he has a folksy Dr. Phil thing, the sweet Mr. Rogers thing. A male Oprah? She does good, right? I know he is a person of accomplishment and he has the right philosophy for a Democratic candidate, but he just doesn’t seem to have the depth of knowledge compared to others. I was getting a little uncomfortable watching him. I already have that with our present president (and uncontrolled rage). Now, if I was on the stage Thursday night not only would I have stumbled over several questions I would probably have pee running down the side of my leg from nerves. But, this people push themselves forward. I cringed when he would steer a question into one of his stump speech anecdotes. The poor family, the hard working dad. When asked about his wealth wish he had said, Hey, FDR was filthy rich and look what he did for the poor!

Beat the clock or the anchor

A fumble for moderator and answerer was Williams “who is your moral guide? And answer with one name.” Well, come on the safest thing in America they could do would be to sputter out Jesus Christ. But, whether it’s JC or a dead parent that question is a gimmie to a candidate. It’s not a short answer, it’s a dumb question. They have to be able to say, my aunt Zelda, who took my siblings and myself in as she fought TB and harvested crops and her organs. She never complained and taught us the golden rule. Blah,blah. Poor Edwards. Looked like a deer caught in the pompous NBC headlights. He said nothing for maybe 6 seconds, a long time in TV. Then mentioned his lord. As I yelled at the screen, “say your wife”. He then said Elizabeth, “the best person I’ve ever known.” Then he seemed to get in his stump speech mode, got that grin on his face and started on his father Joe. Thankfully, he was told they were out of time.

McSnooty

Of course, Snotty Williams had to chide that since that took so long he wouldn’t ask that question of anyone else. Gosh, Brian isn’t that terrible that people who are running for the highest office in our country don’t want to give you your sound bites! God, the nerve. Apparently, people seem to want a leader who has thought about the issues, is informed and makes reasoned, sound policy. But, bossy boots Brian wants blurbs. Obviously, it’s this kind of journalism that helped pave the way for the Bush administration to waltz into Iraq without serious questioning from the networks. Get Bush’s sound bite and move on. Brian’s got a show to run!

Okay, now to the matinee idol, Barack Obama. He speaks a tad to much in feel good generalities for me. The audacity of hope anyone? This is also an Edwards problem. But, just when I think Obama’s metaphorical plane doesn’t have enough fuel for lift off he gives it enough depth, enough gravitas for take off. He didn’t do badly at all. He didn’t shine though. And I couldn’t help but think at times, what you do know, kid? Except for Edwards everyone else on that stage has three times or more greater experience than he has. And bad comic attempt of the night goes to BO. When asked the question about one’s own flaws he started with, “well, I’m sure my wife would have her own list.” Wa-wa. Ah, Barack we don’t know you well enough for that. And more importantly, it’s hack.

Highlights

One of Brian “ why can’t they give me one word answers?” Williams asked was about what mistakes the candidates thought they had made, or weaknesses of theirs. Biden scored with his ( again paraphrasing) “ I underestimated how bad this administration was and overestimated what I thought my influence on them could be.” I was thinking, yeah, wondered why you went along with their program for so long. Clinton did well to sound a mea culpa for the way she handled her first go at universal health care. Richardson, was a contender saying he speaks before he thinks.

Republicans are at it next week. Can’t wait. So fun with no incumbent and they are a real rag tag bunch. Can’t wait to see how they handle running when there are virtually no coat tails from a two term president. Since it will be held at the Reagan Library, look for LOTS of references to the Giper. Just like current fashion the Republicans have to go back to the 80’s for inspiration.