Stealing My Thunder

I had this whole rant started yesterday, and was working on the fine tuning. Then my old fashioned paper Newsweek came in the mail, and Jonathan Alters said exactly everything I was trying to say, but of course more eloquently. So, either you can read his essay or mine. Same idea:

Please make her stop. Someone, please, show Senator Clinton how to bow out gracefully.

I tell my kids a million times a day that they can be more successful at getting what they want if they don't whine. Be nice, use your polite words. I expect the same of her. I have reached my limits with her campaign, and her.

The episode that put me over the edge was during the most recent debate (which I confess I did not watch), complaining that she's called on first all the time. Give me a break. It didn't seem to bother her when there were 8 candidates and she was called on twice as much as others. Or when she was getting all the free passes from press as the so-called front runner for the first YEAR of this campaign. YES she's being treated differently...she's being treated like the candidate who had a 30+ point lead for months and wasted it with arrogance and "inevitability."

And I'm so sick of being called sexist if her voice reminds me of a nagging spouse or parent. If her tone is grating to me? She's a lousy public speaker and is short on the charisma. That's not my fault, that's her's. There are plenty of women's voices I could listen to lecture me all day long--Elizabeth Edwards, Cokie Roberts, Robin Roberts, to name just a few. Hillary's also trying to sell something--experience--that is not very glamorous or motivating. It IS like being nagged to do something because you should, not because you want to. She should have listened to people like supporter NH Rep Jim Splaine (scroll down for his comments) rather than Mr. Overpaid Penn.

And don't even get me started on the plagiarism deal. She flat out stole John Edwards' closing line "No matter what happens, we'll be fine. I'll be fine." Did she credit him? No, nor did her team credit Eddie Vale (Edwards' NH Press Secretary) when they stole the words off his press release word for word, right down to the ellipses (you'll have to search Blue Hampshire for that, I don't have time).

If/when Hillary Clinton loses this nomination, it will be her own fault. Not because the press played favorites or that voters like me are sexist or worship Senator Obama as a deity. It will be because she and her team changed themes every week, they whined when they didn't get their way, they overspent their money, and their arrogance turned off more voters.

I'm so over the Clintons. Sorry, Bill.

Not Wasting Any Time!

Well, that didn't take long at all...just as Laura predicted!


A few nights ago, the phone rang after dinner. Caller ID said "Democratic Party," so I knew it was going to be for me. It was. Here's what the woman said, "I heard from some of your friends on the Edwards campaign that you were a great volunteer for them, is that true?" My first reaction was to think "who said that?" then I found it funny that she ended with a question asking me to confirm my own fabulousness. The thought of that just made me laugh out loud.

She was asking me to participate in the state party's new initiative, The Neighborhood Leader program, which I have heard of thanks to emails and newsletters I've been receiving about it. It seems like a reasonable way to get new-ish volunteers to commit to a small, accessible goal. Now that I am a slightly experienced volunteer, I felt empowered to tell her my limits: I will not canvass, and may or may not be willing to do more phone banking. If I do phone banking at all, I prefer to do it with others and not alone from home. I don't love it, but will do it, maybe. I'm not completely there yet, but leaning.

What I didn't say was that it might depend on who the presidential nominee is.

Here She Goes Again

Once again, I'm not toeing the party line. This time, it's not the lesbian line, it's the populist/liberal line. The moveon.org line (no, I won't sign the petition, thanks). Here's my crime: I kinda think "Super Delegates" are cool. I like them, I want them to vote any way they want.

There, I said it. Is that so wrong?

This is NOT the general election. Each of the Political Parties is selecting their nominee. This is the their game. This is obvious if you watch how different every state and each party has been choosing their nominee. Caucuses are a great example of this--great fun but you have to show up, be informed, participate. Some caucuses have a "round two" like Iowa's, where you can realign if your candidate is deemed unviable. Republicans have winner take all, Dems get gritty and allocate delegates by Congressional District.

Super Delegates are party elite, that's true. In some cases we--common voters-- elected them. In other cases, they were elected by those who chose to get involved in the local, county, or state party. That's cool with me. I didn't get involved in the party and didn't vote for them, but I'm ok with the fact that others did.

Maybe I trust my Super Delegates more than the average voter because I know who most of them are. Reps. Carol Shea-Porter & Paul Hodes...I trust them completely. Governor Lynch with a 78% approval rating in NH--what's not to love? Chairman Ray Buckley, who is still publicly undecided, I trust him too. He's been through a lot just to become our state Chair, and I know he does not take his responsibility lightly.

A fellow blogger I "met" during the NH Primary has a signature to his emails that says "Decisions are made by those who show up." I didn't show up at any of those party meetings or elections. That was my choice. Maybe next time I will. Those who did show up got to vote. I can live with that.

Where Did Everybody Go?

Unlike Howard Dean, I am LOVING how this is dragging on and on. The more voters across our country that can participate in selecting the nominees, the better. Especially when those voters are in the US territories and District of Columbia, who generally do not get to vote. I love that Vermont will get a vote that matters. I love how everyone lamented that we'd have a prolonged general election and now the worry is that it will be too short! The only thing I don't love is that Ohio, once again, will be a major factor. What's up with that, anyway? Why is it always up to Ohio??

The other thing I love about this process is that it is further proof that Iowa and New Hampshire are not the deciders. AND, all those states who moved UP their primaries, to get more influence, may actually have less in the end. And speaking of...IMHO, Michigan and Florida delegates broke the rules and should not be seated. Even on the elementary school playground, you know that you can't change the rules in the middle of the game.

In other news: the Edwards blog has finally shut down. I had no warning because work has been busy & I hadn't visited in a few days. There was a pretty tight community there, and it's a bit sad to see them disperse. I just wish I had had a chance to say goodbye. NH Prez Watch has stopped posting as well, but he's shifted focus to a new project (quickly becoming my new fav): PolitickerNH. GraniteProf is still around, though not posting as often. He's still popping up in the media, and building his following at UNH.

I'm an academic advisor/career counselor at heart: I'm still following the career paths of the activists, staffers, press, and trackers I got to know over the past 12 monts. A few have resettled in the Washington DC area, and I'm hoping to reconnect with them during my next trip (for The Washington Center) in April. My Advance pal, Susie, accepted a job the the Jeanne Shaheen Senatorial Campaign so she's sticking with Manch-Vegas. Now that Shaheen's last in-party rival has dropped out, all her energy is focused on the opponent: Sen. John Sununu. He's not very popular 'round these parts lately. I think it will be cool for her to be able to work for the Shaheen Machine, and have a successful campaign--I have no doubt Shaheen will win--on her resume, post-Primary.

OT random though: Isn't it interesting that the two major candidates we have for this NH Senate Seat both have last names (and families) of Arab descent. Just an observation...kinda cool actually.

Super AND Fat Tuesday

I'm gun shy. That's why I can't say outloud that I have moved my support to Obama just yet, though I am clearly leaning that way. Not completely but leaning.

I'd decided to just wait and see how Super Tuesday goes. Or later if I have to. I, for the first time in my life, have fear of commitment!

I'm on the rebound. I just got dumped and I can't even think of dating again, politically speaking.

Not that it matters; I've already voted. But I'm watching my pals from the Edwards campaign leave Edwards' Facebook groups in droves. LGBT Friends & Allies for John Edwards, John Edwards is Good, UNH for Edwards, NH for Edwards, CT for Edwards, and even John Edwards Touched Me and I Almost Passed Out. Former paid staffers aren't publicly committing yet. I'm sure most of them are job searching (and soul searching), so they are keeping their social networking profiles neat and clean. But many on-line activists/volunteers that I've come to know and respect live in Super Tuesday states, so they had to make a switch and quick. So far, they are overwhelmingly to Obama. It's just weird to see them switch so quickly.

But all these contacts would be "elites"on the Scala Scale--white collar, post high school graduates, maybe not volvo moms but not welfare moms either. I don't really know or associate with many working class dems anymore besides my parents. Pathetic.

So, today I'm trying to focus more on Mardi Gras than rooting for a candidate. And I will play it safe (and boring, IMHO). I'll join One Million Strong for Whomever Gets the Nomination on Facebook, when someone creates that group.

Suspending My Disbelief

Well, the dreaded day has finally come. "My guy," as my friends and colleagues affectionately call John Edwards, is out of the race. Or rather, "suspending his bid" whatever that means! No one can claim to be shocked, but there is a bit of disappointment or anger over the timing. Why not stay through Super Tuesday? Just one more week! Why leave after a pretty successful fund-raising week? Why not stick it out for one more debate after a great performance and good reviews? I have to rely on the trust I have developed for him over the past 12 months, because answers are not there. But one thing is certain...well two things:

1. He ALONE set the agenda for the Democrats in this cycle.


2. We have NOT seen the last of John Reid Edwards yet!

When I broke the news to the kids on Wednesday morning, Griffin got a little upset and started to cry. "We're still going to vote for him" he announced, playing spokes-twin, which is usually Annie's role. I know a lot of Edwards supporters who agree with Griff on this. I tried explaining that not enough voters supported him, and that now we are waiting to see if Hillary or Obama will be the nominee. "Not Hillary, Mommy, remember, she voted for guns (war)!!"

So, like Edwards supporters everywhere, I am carefully considering my new choice...not like it matters. I have no vote left until November. If/when I decide, I will then decide if that support is strong enough to become involved again. How much I could sincerely advocate for either candidate is the question.

What now for me? I have been thinking about how to remain engaged on the local level. SMucci at Blue Hampshire has raised some interesting questions about local vs. national involvement. I've met a few state reps and non-profit leaders in this process, and will try to nurture those contacts. Laura Jones, now former President of UNH College Dems, warned me that next cycle, my name will be at the top of the Dover activists list, and I can expect to be called & courted early on in the Primary. That could be fun, or annoying, but mostly flattering.

Last night, I ran out to do some errands after dinner. A pick-up passed me as the driver was beeping & waving the peace sign. It was JJ, spotting my Edwards sticker again. We played cat & mouse at a series of traffic lights, and I got to see his vast collection of political bumper stickers on his tailgate. It was a sad, slow-motion sort of wave and parting.

Peace, JJ. Peace for us all.