The Blue Donkeys (April 2008)

Politics, always a contentious topic. No matter what side you're on, there's enough good/bad to make one question their seating arrangement - and the alternatives, too. And despite proudly calling myself a Limosine Liberal I do admit to a few conservative leanings.  For instance, I'm a big believer in freedom of speech but actions such as, say, flag burning is a no-no for me. Also, I don't like the idea of a welfare program that makes it financially unattractive for the family to start working again.

With perhaps a few other exceptions, I'm basically blue. And what with all the colossal (if that's a big enough word to capture all the egregious malfeasance) screw-ups from the current Administration, this should be a great time for us Donkeys. Well, it's not for we have a notorious reputation for blowing the big games and this coming Presidential Election is no different (even my favorite football club, Arsenal, wins the tough ones; sadly, only the tough ones in 2008...).

We have two quality candidates each of whom entered the race with a few "handicaps", some organic in origination, others developed over time. Both would be quite good in the White House; both would be a much better alternative but that's no longer the question at hand. It's now a matter of choice between the parties: our (now) two versus their one, a man who despite his age and dubious Party pandering tactics is not a bad guy at all. 

What will be interesting in the weeks ahead is how the resolution plays out: we have two viable candidates but only one can have the nomination. On one hand is a very hard-working and knowledgeable lady whose life has been spent in politics. Despite the occasional yarn and a name-based legacy that gives her big negative ratings even before she says a word, she could clearly do this job. On the other hand is a terribly bright, young man - and a gentleman to boot - who finds himself coming of age at a very propitious time. He's got good or at least pretty good experience, those who know him love him, those who hate him respect him (mostly) and he, because of his organic past, represents a tapestry that America has had a hard time embracing since, well, forever.

In political races, the "best man" does not always win. In this Century the best man or even the "winner" doesn't even win. In November, the best man may not even be a man but by then it will have already been decided. I hope that the Democrats can rally around not just the best man but the one who will be able to win the national election and make our country great again. If they (if we) cannot, perhaps it's still not yet our time...