2008: The Year of the Senator
In the current contest, Senator McCain prevailed, despite an uneven political record, over a wealthy empty suit and a goofily named 
hillbilly to claim the Republican nomination. Senator Clinton, once the presumed nominee, presided over a tone-deaf campaign marred by savage infighting and counterproductively grandstanding antics by former president Bill Clinton. Senator Obama coasted on charisma, eloquence, symbolism and the genius of David Axelrod until the Rev. Wright eruption sidetracked his escalating momentum. Obama will go into the general election facing far more intense media scrutiny, under the shadow of an unfolding Illinois scandal involving his former patron, political fixer Antonin “Tony” Rezko, which is likely to engulf other Democratic politicians here, notably Governor Rod Blagojevic.
Are any of these candidates ready for prime time ?
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Diodotus:
April 18th, 2008 at 4:27 am
What does it matter if none of them are ready – the disadvantage you identify is symmetrical across the board, so it cancels itself out, eh?
John M.:
April 18th, 2008 at 7:32 am
I think we could be in trouble with any of them.
Interestingly, this is the first election without and incumbent president or vice-president running since 1952. (Eisenhower v. Stevenson)
John M.:
April 18th, 2008 at 7:33 am
I think we could be in trouble with any of them.
Interestingly, this is the first election without an incumbent president or vice-president running since 1952. (Eisenhower v. Stevenson)
Dave Schuler:
April 18th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
As the late Mayor Daley said on occasion, somebody will be elected.
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Special note should be taken that, internationalist rhetoric notwithstanding, they’re all interventionists. They differ on the circumstances and places where they think intervention is the proper course of action but they’re all interventionists.
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I also note that, although they all feel comfortable with using our military as an instrument of our foreign policy, they don’t seem to feel comfortable with having a military large enough to fulfill all the obligations they want to put on it.
Dave Schuler:
April 18th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Today’s Day by Day seems appropriate.
Eddie:
April 19th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Fantastic post and something I have not read about before from anybody in the media or the blogosphere. I suppose this makes the VP pick that much more important, especially in McCain’s case because of his age. Gov. Sanford looks better and better by the day after reading this.