Closing in on 2008
While a lot of what goes on in the media focuses on how early the Presidential campaign season starts, it does take a lot of time and attention, from voters, that is. Or it should. All politics is local, as Tip O’Neill said, which means we mostly only know the politicians having some personal effect on us individually. As much as the President has a national profile, it’s the repercussions of his actions and policies that mean anything to us. “Congress” exists as a collective entity not unlike the circus. It’s only after some spectacular clowning that we notice anything in particular happening there, unless our Rep. or Senator brings home some tasty pork that doesn’t just get eaten up in the State House. But some of these politicians achieve national notoriety separately from previous runs at the White House. John Kerry went into government with a name and stayed more or less in the national consciousness, which should have helped him more than it did, when he ran in ’04. John Edwards, on the other hand, was known mainly to the media pundits, until he threw his hat into the ring. Now, he’s a contender. Barak Obama, on the other hand, stood up and delivered an address at the Democratic National Convention, and now he may run for President. And he could win, too, even against Hillary Clinton or Edwards, both of whom are often touted as favorites. Frankly, I’d rather any of these three than Biden or Kerry, and I don’t consider Dennis Kuchinich especially viable. Whether Governors Vilsack or Richardson can turn their executive credentials in their favor remains to be seen. Meanwhile, a solid announcement from any outstanding candidacy-contemplators would be worthwhile, if just so we’re not left cramming for the election too late in the piece to get a good handle on why one or another of them deserve the job, let alone who presents the best chance of taking on whomever the Republicans throw up. Much as I like Obama, he’s going to take some studying.