Got Clarity?

At first the staggered Republican then Democratic primary and Caucus schedule seemed awkward. In reality though the pace has allowed each parties' collection of candidates take center stage for a night. Tonight it's the Democrats turn.The cable news breakdown looking at the shifts voter behavior from New Hampshire to today's Democratic vote in South Carolina has been informative but left most of us still scratching our heads about where Election 2008 is heading. Early buzz has it that Edwards may be surging up to second place. Stay Tuned.

Oh Alright...

Stop pestering... Doctor Tomah's Fresh Picklestm has sent in the Championship picks.
Look to the Chargers and Giants to both cover.
Remember the Doctor enjoys and watches playoff football he never bets it... so be responsible.
No Analysis Required. For Entertainment Purposes Only.

What Will Happen Next?

This Saturday January 19 the march to the nomination for the Democrats and Republics grows increasingly cloudy. Hillary's organizational win in New Hampshire and walkover in Michigan one would expect the pressure of expectations to be on Barack and to a lesser extent Edwards.
Not true. The Democratic proportional process of rewarding delegates is giving anyone with staying power a say in the Convention. Unless true consensus is reach within the next couple of weeks-and let's be real, nothing has been going to plan- February will solidify a 4o% Hillary, 40% Barack, 20% Edwards and others, delegate breakdown. Get ready you late and ignored primaries, your states will soon be everybody's best friend .

The Republicans have a problem with the people running as opposed to the Democratic one of process. Their split is not due to the rules of the game but rather the lukewarm reception the candidates are getting from the party faithful. No group in the fractured base has the power to unifiy. The Romney(establishment), McCain(fiscal conservatives and moderates) and Huckabee(Christian and blue collar) must start poaching the "hybrid voter" from each other's camps. The voter who carries a bit of each strain of the Republican base but willing to lean toward the vision and strength of one candidate they don't agree with in all areas. Reagan and his team was successful at this poaching. The ultimate example of this type of voter considers John McCain on one hand and Barack Obama on the other each as a possible president. These are not the undecided but rather the disillusioned.
Disenchanted with "more of the same, stupid" politics they tend to see the corruption in the government along with appalling lack of good judgment as more immediate threats to America's future than the economy, terrorism or the environment.
The political chess game that is Election 2008 is showing a growing willingness on the part of voter to hear about and deal with the tough choices ahead. Those voters will go to the presidential candidate they feel will lead honestly.
Speaking of chess, the death of Bobby Fischer marks the passing of a cold war signpost to many and for the millionth time "troubled but brilliant" will be type next to his name. Sad as his later life was, many of us cheer his win over Boris Spassky in Iceland. RIP, now go rent Searching for Bobby Fischer.

Also for a great look at the growth of chess and politics during the middle ages(we have more in common with that age than you think!) please check out Jenny Adams' book Power Play at the link provided. Thanks.
http://www.upenn.edu/pennpress/book/14222.html

Please Be Special.

That's what Voters are looking for this election cycle. The hero, the gunslinger, the special one with the high mitochlorian count. The People want a president they trust, being the strongest force in any room.
Mr Clinton may have been a condecending jerk with his "I can't make her younger, taller, or a man..." (notice the use of I..jeesh, what a jerk). But he was hitting upon the latent wish of most voters to have a strong inspiring leader instill purpose and direction into a floundering economy and uncertain(at best lame duck) foreign policy. Hillary Rodham Clinton strikes many as smart, competent and qualified as a candidate for president but not inspiring.
Likability was never really her problem IMHO. Honestly did any one really like LBJ or Nixon("Sock it to me")? Jimmy Carter was considered folksy at no time, even in revisionist history, was Carter consider a laugh riot. Ronald Reagan was a fringe, a fruitcake former governor doing a walk-on for The Dean Martin Special with Nancy. But eventually the time and candidate meet. The People respond wishing to chart a new course and choosing a new Captain to manage the tacking.
This thirst for adventure by the American people has been inevitable. Building over the last four decades.
What?!? The last four decades?
Yes.
Think. The Middle East, the Energy crisis, political and health care reforms have remained static, not advancing toward resolution. Please tell me have these issues become safer, efficient and effective in 2008?
All of these problems have roots in the the late sixties and early seventies. Derailed by war, scandal and corrupt personal ambition the modest attempts to solve these issue have lead to stalemate at best.
Regression in terms of the Middle East. Just now are automakers coming out with Hybrid and Hydrogen fuel cell technology after forty years. Forty years of research!
This nation went from Einstein's letter to FDR to ending the Second World War in less then ten.
In the thirties and forties for goodness sake's.
So talk to to the hand. Seriously. Because this hand and and seventy million more will be voting for some change.
Big time.