The eighteen to forty year old bracket, have not seen politics like this, since the Nixon fiasco ("Watergate"), if ever. Not counting Nixon, people that are under the age of, maybe forty-six, have not had a mad season, like the one the American people are embroiled in now. Mike Huckabee, Barack Obama, Ron Paul, John McCain, and Hillary Clinton, all have not only run a beautiful, well spoken, and politically sound campaign (to this point), but they have all made the people of America stand up and come out to vote, in massive numbers. Some may say that it is because of the "first black candidate" (even though he is also half white?) and others will say that it is because of the "first woman candidate," for the President of the United States (even though she has been groomed for this, for 40 years, and her husband was president seven years ago). These two reasons have helped in the numbers, so have talking points like "change and new hope." However, the bottom line is there has been more stories and figures, this political season to get out for, then possibly ever before. Regardless of the reason, the candidates have been spectacular.
Starting with Mike Huckabee, just because he is now out of the race, as of Tuesday. A former Baptist minister and governor of Arkansas (for ten years), Huckabee was a "third tier" candidate. Republicans like Rudi Guiliani, Mitt Romney, Duncan Hunter, and Ron Paul (plus several others) were all on display at the first debate. However, each one took a dive, some sooner than others, but Mike Huckabee (and McCain, who will be discussed later). Mitt Romney was the lynch pin, for the talk radio and television talking heads, but all the good press in the world, could not save his flip flopping and (let's face the facts) Mormon record. Rudi Guiliani, some said the heir apparent, to the presidential throne, waited until Florida (outside of debates) to begin running. Wrong move for Rudi, because Florida ended up being the last state for him, before getting the boot. Aside from Ron Paul, who raised $5 million in one day, on the Internet, the rest of the Republicans were all knocked out. All except for a bass guitar playing, Baptist minister, with a great sense of humor, who also had a great sense for getting his message across. Mike Huckabee started out dragging his own suitcase, alone, thru airports and venues to talk to the potential voters in Iowa. His "Huck-a-bus" was all over the state, barnstorming Iowa, and low and behold he wins Iowa. John McCain was left for dead, broke, and fired his whole crew, at this point. However, Huckabee, went thru all of the debates, all of the states, and even outlasted every other Republican (except the nominee). Only in America, can a man who was the first to go to college in his family, a minister, bass guitar playing, governor, with no funding and little name recognition, come in second in a Republican Primary.
John McCain, a war veteran and POW, in the Vietnam War, is the Republican nominee now. However, just seven months ago, he was broke and fired his whole staff, for lack of performance and policy differences. The press said that he was done, and he had very few in his corner at all. All of the radio and news people, for the Republican party, tarnished the man's record and reputation. Anne Coulter, said that she would vote for Hillary Clinton, before John McCain, at one point (she has backed off the rhetoric, of late). Now John McCain has become the biggest come back kid, in the Republican party. Tenacity and pure guys, got John McCain to the end, and across the finish line. Now, he is the only Republican to have a chance at being President in 2008.
Barack Obama, a biracial man, from Illinois, and a freshman senator is one of two democrats left in the election process, on the Democratic side. Obama cannon balled into the mainstream, with his speech, at the 2004 Democrat National Convention. In 2007, Obama was facing a high, double digit lead, behind Hillary Clinton. However, he used his massive intellect, great political speeches on the stump, and the press ate whatever he was dishing out, to become the front runner, by November. To this date, he has not looked back (although Hillary has the wind at her back now), and is the front runner to become the first black President of the United States. I do not know what makes his Afro-American genes more important, than his Caucasian genes, but for some reason the black genes in his body, are worth more to the voters, press, and the democratic party. Which is 100% fine, but somewhere down the line, somebody has to realize that the man has 50% of a Caucasian DNA pool. Barack Obama is still the dominate speaker, front runner of the party, and most of all he has injected more excitement into this campaign than any other person.
Last, but certainly not least (EVER), Hillary Clinton, the first woman to run for President, is on a huge rush, at present. She had wins in Rhode Island, Texas and Ohio, but she is still behind in delegates and the popular vote. However, she is a Clinton, and the Clintons control the Democratic party. Bill Clinton is a rock star and Hillary is far from being out of the nomination. Everyone in America knows about Hillary and her husband (his exploits and good things, too).
Whether voters like the candidates they this year, or not, they cannot complain they do not have any choices. Most of their policies are the same, even McCain has a past of passed bills with the other side of the aisle (McCain/Fiengold, McCain/Lieberman, the Gang of 13 Decision, etc. etc...), with Obama and Hillary varying with very little. However, the American people have their first woman, Afro-American, War Hero/P.O.W. candidates, in history, to choose from in 2008. When November roles around, this could be the single biggest set of election campaigns, in United States history. One thing is for sure, for the last two generations of voters in the United States, it definitely is the biggest election sequence of their lifetime.
Starting with Mike Huckabee, just because he is now out of the race, as of Tuesday. A former Baptist minister and governor of Arkansas (for ten years), Huckabee was a "third tier" candidate. Republicans like Rudi Guiliani, Mitt Romney, Duncan Hunter, and Ron Paul (plus several others) were all on display at the first debate. However, each one took a dive, some sooner than others, but Mike Huckabee (and McCain, who will be discussed later). Mitt Romney was the lynch pin, for the talk radio and television talking heads, but all the good press in the world, could not save his flip flopping and (let's face the facts) Mormon record. Rudi Guiliani, some said the heir apparent, to the presidential throne, waited until Florida (outside of debates) to begin running. Wrong move for Rudi, because Florida ended up being the last state for him, before getting the boot. Aside from Ron Paul, who raised $5 million in one day, on the Internet, the rest of the Republicans were all knocked out. All except for a bass guitar playing, Baptist minister, with a great sense of humor, who also had a great sense for getting his message across. Mike Huckabee started out dragging his own suitcase, alone, thru airports and venues to talk to the potential voters in Iowa. His "Huck-a-bus" was all over the state, barnstorming Iowa, and low and behold he wins Iowa. John McCain was left for dead, broke, and fired his whole crew, at this point. However, Huckabee, went thru all of the debates, all of the states, and even outlasted every other Republican (except the nominee). Only in America, can a man who was the first to go to college in his family, a minister, bass guitar playing, governor, with no funding and little name recognition, come in second in a Republican Primary.
John McCain, a war veteran and POW, in the Vietnam War, is the Republican nominee now. However, just seven months ago, he was broke and fired his whole staff, for lack of performance and policy differences. The press said that he was done, and he had very few in his corner at all. All of the radio and news people, for the Republican party, tarnished the man's record and reputation. Anne Coulter, said that she would vote for Hillary Clinton, before John McCain, at one point (she has backed off the rhetoric, of late). Now John McCain has become the biggest come back kid, in the Republican party. Tenacity and pure guys, got John McCain to the end, and across the finish line. Now, he is the only Republican to have a chance at being President in 2008.
Barack Obama, a biracial man, from Illinois, and a freshman senator is one of two democrats left in the election process, on the Democratic side. Obama cannon balled into the mainstream, with his speech, at the 2004 Democrat National Convention. In 2007, Obama was facing a high, double digit lead, behind Hillary Clinton. However, he used his massive intellect, great political speeches on the stump, and the press ate whatever he was dishing out, to become the front runner, by November. To this date, he has not looked back (although Hillary has the wind at her back now), and is the front runner to become the first black President of the United States. I do not know what makes his Afro-American genes more important, than his Caucasian genes, but for some reason the black genes in his body, are worth more to the voters, press, and the democratic party. Which is 100% fine, but somewhere down the line, somebody has to realize that the man has 50% of a Caucasian DNA pool. Barack Obama is still the dominate speaker, front runner of the party, and most of all he has injected more excitement into this campaign than any other person.
Last, but certainly not least (EVER), Hillary Clinton, the first woman to run for President, is on a huge rush, at present. She had wins in Rhode Island, Texas and Ohio, but she is still behind in delegates and the popular vote. However, she is a Clinton, and the Clintons control the Democratic party. Bill Clinton is a rock star and Hillary is far from being out of the nomination. Everyone in America knows about Hillary and her husband (his exploits and good things, too).
Whether voters like the candidates they this year, or not, they cannot complain they do not have any choices. Most of their policies are the same, even McCain has a past of passed bills with the other side of the aisle (McCain/Fiengold, McCain/Lieberman, the Gang of 13 Decision, etc. etc...), with Obama and Hillary varying with very little. However, the American people have their first woman, Afro-American, War Hero/P.O.W. candidates, in history, to choose from in 2008. When November roles around, this could be the single biggest set of election campaigns, in United States history. One thing is for sure, for the last two generations of voters in the United States, it definitely is the biggest election sequence of their lifetime.
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