Squaring the Culture

I’m watching the Sunday political talking heads instead of worshipping at church today because I’m sick as a dog (bronchitis), so I’ll take a few quick stabs and head for bed.

First off, I watched Stephanopolis and Russert, and between both shows their round table experts contained exactly ONE Republican, and that one a moderate (George Will). The rest are center-left, unless you think Gwen Ifill of PBS is hard left. Not exactly an objective bunch, but not a bad panel to be talking about Democratic politics.

The Florida and Michigan delegates are currently not seated at the Democratic convention because of violations of party rules for when their primary elections were held. To seat the delegates at all requires a rule change in-flight, something Democrats seem remarkably prone to do and remarkably insensate about why you shouldn’t. To not seat the delegates risks a party rebellion over the eventual nominee. The rhetoric about “disenfranchisement” is flying thick and fast.

Fast Eddie Rendell (former Mayor, Philadelphia, current Governor, PA) squared off against Tom Daschle (former Senator, ND) on Russert’s show regarding the Obama vs Clinton takes on the Florida and Michigan primaries. The cow patties did fly, but neither one is to be believed. Ergh.

Both states have declared that state funds will not pay for a repeat primary. Both candidates have declared that campaign funds will not pay for the repeat primary. It seems the general consensus that rich donors will be paying, if anybody does, although Will mentioned that he reads the McCain-Feingold law to make that illegal. This will be another cool diversion in the season, and could easily kick off the bloodbath in the Democratic party that we’re expecting. Democratic Party Leader Howard Dean needs to take the lead in this, and frankly, I don’t think he has the chops to see it through peacefully. I think Dean is a lightweight, and will muff this situation.

Samantha Power, senior foreign policy adviser to the Obama campaign, had to resign after saying what everybody knows: that Hillary Clinton is a monster, that she’ll do anything and say anything to get elected, no matter how divisive or false, and that you just look at her and say “Ergh.” If Hillary gets the nomination, expect that candid observation to get recycled. While I think it’s a pity that the campaigns can’t speak candidly, I understand; that’s one of the reasons blogs are such a good thing. We can still tell the truth.

Daschle let the mask slip for a moment on health care, supporting his position (and Clinton’s) that health insurance should be mandated by law. His general argument was that not only should the poor be covered if they can’t afford insurance, but that individuals who can afford insurance should be made to act responsibly. “Ergh” squared, and that’s a lot nicer than what I said to the screen when he said that. The general position of the Democratic party is simply “We know better than you how to run your life,” and they err and actually say that from time to time. I have a message for Senator Daschle: if I choose, for my own reasons, not to purchase health insurance, that is my right, and he has no right to decide for me whether this is responsible or not. I did not elect a Mommy to the Senate, I elected a Representative. Arrogant JERK.

Both panels practically grew starry-eyed at the thought of an Obama-Clinton or Clinton-Obama ticket. The pressure will definitely be on to make that happen, but I don’t think it will. Clinton was present while Al Gore was Vice President for 8 years, and she’s got better sense than to let herself get stuck into that corner. Obama could credibly opt to be Clinton’s Vice President, but if she gains the nomination through backroom deals at the Convention, he won’t.

A little doggerel from a painful but entertaining film, The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio, to wish you all a great Lord’s Day:

You should go to church each week
and pay the Lord a visit,
So when they bring you there feet-first,
God won’t say “Who is it?”