For the next year or so, I will from time to time, give my thoughts on what’s unfolding in the upcoming race(s) for the US presidency. I will try to keep it real, in hope of generating some debate on the threads (something that seems to be waning in recent times). Lately, I have started to wonder if the “blogs” are losing their novelty status; or is it that people are just getting back to their usual spaces of political-disenchantment? In these here parts, there appear to be few lively threads anymore.

As the presidential primaries approach, I am getting the sense that Democrats think they have a lock on the “win” next November; I don’t share that view. Despite the ineptitude of the Bush administration (in too many areas to enumerate here), next November would be a dogfight no matter who the Republicans nominate. Not withstanding the Iraq debacle- which will be still going on then- Democrats need to be very careful that complacency doesn’t set in. Because they are out-raising the Republicans by barrels full of “mullah”, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t lots of landmines between here and the White House. As important as it is, money isn’t everything in politics folks. Just a personal observation, that’s all.

Let me go on record by saying that Hilary Rodham-Clinton would be the worst choice for Democrats (if I haven’t said this before). As much as I love Barack Obama as a candidate and also as a human being, I am starting to fantasize an Al Gore (president) with Barack Obama (vice-president) ticket. Am I alone on this folks? Tell Cousin Rocky what you think.

Recently, Hilary Rodham-Clinton did a “one-eighty” turn, when she suddenly announced that if elected president, she would sit down with the leader of Iran and do a “face to face”. She also implied that she would meet with other so-called “rogue” leaders in the same capacity. What was edifying about all this was Hilary’s continued lack of honesty and substance on many an issue. Some people call her perpetually waffling positions “triangulation”; I call her perpetually waffling positions: dishonest. We really don’t need another lying Clinton (or Bush) in the White House folks; we really don’t; enough already!  read more »

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Breaking out of Oslo: Al Gore has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, together with the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change IPCC.

The New York Times:

OSLO, Oct. 12 — The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded today to Al Gore, the former vice president, and to the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change for its work to alert the world to the threat of global warming.

The award is likely to renew calls from Mr. Gore’s supporters for him to run for president in 2008, joining an already crowded field of Democrats. Mr. Gore, who lost the 2000 presidential election to George W. Bush, has said he is not interested in running but has not flatly rejected the notion.[...]

The Bay Area has been the staging area for an online movement to draft Mr. Gore to mount another campaign for the White House. A San Francisco-based Web site, www.Draftgore.com, claims more than 165,000 signatures and comments on an online petition, including several placed early this morning congratulating Mr. Gore on his win.

The same group also placed a full-page advertisement in The New York Times on Wednesday, pleading with Mr. Gore to rectify his bitter defeat in 2000, when he won the national popular vote but lost the electoral college after the Supreme Court ruled against a recount in Florida.

Run, Al, run. Your country needs you.

Hat tip to Rochester Turning

If only...

Mayor Michael Bloomberg used his first public appearance since announcing switching from the Republican Party to being an independent, a press conference celebrating the alleged success of his 311 program, to showcase his policy creativity to the media.

Bloomberg's aware that his leaving the Republican Party would confirm to the media, his current constituents and potential presidential voters, that he's pursuing an independent Presidential candidacy, despite saying wink, wink, I'm not running, and knew the world would be watching his first appearance after making public his official political independence. This is why Bloomberg is using a press conference honoring 311, a program that he is particularly but unjustifiably proud of, as the location of his personal Presidential Debutante Ball.

Bloomberg hoped touting 311 success would perpetuate the myth that he's a non-partisan problem solver. But the emperor has no clothes. 311 is useless.  read more »