...but in a completely different way. I wrote most of this the night prior to Super Tuesday. Then I saved it, went to the gym, did 30 minutes on the elliptical, and decided not to post it.
Today, Catcora convinced me to go ahead and run it after the fact. And she may change her mind when she actually reads this. As you'll see, the timing of this post really doesn't really diminished my point.
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I haven't really *endorsed* a candidate, so instead I'll do my pre-election rant that will inevitably lead to a "when the shit goes down" declaration, but whatever....
Here's your options:
corporatist
product of Chicago machine
rich guy
soldier guy
libertarian guy
churchy guy
If you like Huckabee---then for *fuck's* sake, vote for him and stand up and defend your choice. But know this: churchy guy sounds eerily familiar to W and will definitely lose. But don't let that sway you from voting your conscience.
If you like Paul---then please, don't spam my blog. Thanks.
If you like soldier guy, sorry, but he already tried and didn't make it. I know Nixon ran a lot too, but that doesn't really bolster your argument very much. We're not big on retreads anymore. And while the Republican base might really enjoy the "Bomb, Bomb, Bomb, Bomb, Bomb Iran" show, it's gonna come back to haunt his ass in the general should he win the nomination. We are done with this war-mongering shit. Your turn at playing with the Big Guns is done.
Rich guy...well, no one likes the rich guy. They're like smokers. And thanks for spending all the extra money---it probably kept out some real contenders. He's also a "business candidate" which is fine and dandy for fund raising, but businesses don't vote. I'm sure you could get those laws changed though...might be a better investment for your money.
Besides, I hate to be the one to break it to the Republicans that don't know, but it doesn't really matter *who* ends up on the Republican side of the ballot, the Democrats *will* win the general election. That's a fact, Jack.
So before I launch into the Democratic option for Illinois voters, let's just get it out of the way.
I wanted to vote for Richardson. He didn't get a lot of money out of the gate. He seemed *boring* according to people I talked about it with. Bland. You're right---he's a diplomat. He wasn't there to score points. He was experienced. He was...okay, I'll move on.
Okay. So then, I wanted Kucinich. Because I'm still a bat-shit crazy idealist and I like what he says, what he tries to do, what he wants to accomplish. I'm down with it. But, because he's short or because he has large ears (as does the boy) or whatever irrelevant playground bullshit, he was marginalized. And whether or not he could be elected isn't really the point.
The point is that the primary process is supposed to be about an open exchange of ideas and views from the entire political spectrum within the party. When Kucinich and Gravel and Ron Paul and *who-the-fuck-ever* get excluded---it changes the debate. The limits of discussion are much narrower. The topics more defined. The diversity lessened.
Ironic, isn't it? In a primary season that brought us Hispanic, African American, and Female candidates, the diversity of ideas is so paltry. Those excluded represent unacceptable ideas---i.e. "the shit we don't really want to talk about right *now*...." and therefore those constituencies were not able to bring *anything* to the table.
So, of the remaining candidates, I really could care less who you vote for. I'd prefer if you voted Democratic because I'd like a bit of a change, but things probably won't change that much.
We're still gonna be broke. Shit is still gonna be fucked up. People still ain't going to agree about anything. Manufacturing is fleeing, the dollar (and stock market) are sinking. Mortgage lending bankruptcies, health insurance skyrocketing, energy crisis, broke-ass school systems...same shit, different day.
Why? It always comes down to having piss-poor choices. And I'll tell you why we end up with such piss-poor candidates year in and year out.
Because the process itself ensures it.
Iowa.
New Hampshire.
South Carolina.
^^^^^^^^^^^^
Focusing on these states has once again *limited my ability to participate in the process in any meaningful way.*
Those states that *could* have shown us a bit more across a wider spectrum were thrown under the bus---Michigan and Florida. Two of the *hugest* fucking states "don't count."
Huh?
So...on this primary eve, I say to you: it doesn't matter who you vote for. Any choice they wanted you to have is in front of you. The first states to vote were selected. The debates were carefully vetted and these, folks, these are your options.
Color in that circle and decide how you are going to move forward. Because it's not like any of these candidates are going to do one single thing if we don't hold their feet to the fire anyway.
Here's what should happen in the Happy Land of GameraGirl.
States are sorted. We're just talking broad strokes, so let's say big and little to make this analogy easier. You divvy up the states and then randomly draw from each category equally. Every four years, different states go first. Each week, we have a new round of voting until everyone has voted. No monkeying around with shit to control the process.
Debates are *not* private and no eligible candidate on the ballot may be excluded.(I'll leave my media rant for another day because it's a whole other can o' worms.)
I realize it would still mean that races would be decided for some before they got to vote.
But it wouldn't be the same fucking people in the same fucking states all the time.
I've heard that the Democrats and Republicans are Private Organizations that can make rules as they see fit regarding how candidates are selected, and if this is the argument they want to go with (i.e. Fuck off and die---we'll do whatever the fuck we want), then I understand that we really don't have a say about who these parties run as candidates for President.
But...if that's the case, why in the
FUCK aren't these two parties paying for their own "private" business. I don't see the Elks club or the Rotary club requesting their races be put on the ballots.
I know, I know, I'm salty and bitter.
Your point is?
