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February 12, 2008
Looking To November?
Tonight was big for both John McCain and Barack Obama, as each man swept the Potomac primaries in Maryland, Virginia and Washington D.C.
McCain overcame a shaky beginning to the evening. As early returns came in from Virginia, he trailed Mike Huckabee, only fueling further media speculation about a repudiation of the Arizona senator by conservatives in the GOP. McCain eventually pulled away in Virginia, and moved out to big leads in Maryland and D.C. as well. His team must be breathing a big sigh of relief tonight. After a lousy weekend result, including controversy surrounding his narrow win in Washington state, the last thing McCain needed was more weakening of his already shaky frontrunner brand. Still, there is a notable lack of enthusiasm among Republicans for their presumptive nominee which does not bode well for November -- though things obviously can change very quickly in politics.
It was another boffo night for Barack Obama. He won today's three contests in blowouts, running his current winning streak to eight states, and continuing to crescendo toward what could quite a finale on March 4th. Simply put, Obama is building momentum that is going to be very difficult to stop. One could almost sense this watching Hillary Clinton speak at a rally in El Paso tonight. (It is telling that she was nowhere near today's primary states, nor the two upcoming February contests in Wisconsin and Hawaii.) The smile was there, as was the normal substance in her remarks, but one could detect deflation in her mood, and given what's transpired over the last few weeks, who could blame her?
By contrast, Obama rocked the house at a packed arena in Madison, Wisconsin. And we began to see the Illinois senator perhaps move beyond the primary and turn his attention toward his likely general election opponent. He took some direct, if respectful shots at John McCain, in the midst of his otherwise lofty remarks. McCain, almost serene in demeanor and surrounded by fellow aging white guys (note to the McCain team -- not a great visual), offered an eloquent, if sing-songy oration about conservative principles and the duty to serve the greater good, and landed his own veiled jabs at Obama about the folly of youth.
Tonight we glimpsed the contrast the two likely nominees will set for the American public this fall. Obama -- tall, vital, unconventional and inspirational. McCain -- wizened, wise, principled and solid. It will be fascinating to watch how that contrast is drawn and received by voters. What was also evident in both men, and something that has been sorely lacking in our recent political discourse -- class. Fleeting though it may be, as the nasty attacks are sure to emerge, it was refreshing to see these two aspirants for the most powerful position in the world acquit themselves as statesmen. We sincerely hope it continues; God knows the country is ready for it.
Finally, if McCain and Obama are to be our two major party nominees (by no means yet a certainty), it is to us a clear signal that the country is ready to move on from the poisonous national political environment of the last 15+ years. Here are two candidates who in different ways defy convention. McCain, though a rock-ribbed conservative, has never been afraid to assert his independence. And Obama... well, as he says, he shouldn't even be here!
We can only continue to shake our head and say it again -- what a year.
Posted by houtopia at February 12, 2008 09:35 PM
Comments
Looks like Hal is at it again spreading rumors and pointing fingers in the TX HD27 race. As most of you remember he's the dem propagandist that has been spinning for Reynolds since late last year. When verified public information came out on their candidate regarding his behavior as a attorney and the concurrent running sanctions by the TX Bar association for issues involving four of his seperate clients Hal (Half-empty) went into high gear from his blog-site and Fort Bend Democratic Club clique.
They've spent a great deal of time deflecting this and even staged a friendly interview with a even friendly blog waiting to ask the serious questions at the end, which Mr. Reynolds claimed were not his fault but a result of a family members death and a junior partner in his firm. If this interview is true then Reynolds admission to the TX Bar is false. This further raises TRUST issues and they also failed to discuss that one of the clients has a civil suit. If you get a chance to read the complaints you will find that his admissions to the bar were correct and the subsequent interviews and deflection stories should be questioned.
One of the actions claimed by one of his former clients would even seem criminal if any of us engaged in such activity. Better check the facts before you vote in this one. The cover story is good, but it doesn't run very deep when you scratch below the surface.
I find it amazing that Hal (half-empty) would try to counter-spin this for so long and point the finger at the incumbent (Olivo) without providing any proof, but this is the political GAMES we have been trapped into. Thanks to this individual poster and his dem club supporters.
Good luck Dora Olvio, I sure hope Reynolds is defeated and exposed. We don't need these type of power seekers in office. Calling Dora a Craddick dem is like calling Obama a republican. Don't be fooled by this poster (Hal). He is speaking for the Reynolds campaign and has been for sometime. IMO, Hal is the liar!
Posted by: TellAll at February 17, 2008 03:10 PM