Wednesday, January 21, 2004

Farewell to Gephart

Ok, I knew he wasn't going anywhere, but I couldn't understand why all my friends who are in elected office (or were at one time) are such fans of his. They were all rooting for him, and now I think I understand.

Richard Gephart is a good man. He had good ideas, despite his attempt to win through unions in Iowa. His ideas were sound, and his integrity was unimpeachable. I hope that he finds a niche for himself, or is asked to join the cabinet of the newly elected president.

Why those of us who are not pundits are not surprised by the results

Kerry and Edwards. Makes sense to me, but why is everyone else acting like the world and flipped over? Dean expecially, did you hear his Iowa scream-a-thon that night? Ick, poor poor taste.

Let me put it this way-- too much organization can kill a good thing.

Grass roots shmass roots, people who don't spend their every moment dreaming the dreams of political upheaval could care less. Same with unions, even people in unions feel rail roaded when their organization tries to ride herd on them.

You have to have the feeling of freedom of choice. Deansters, quick being sore losers and get back to work. The more you whine, the more we don't care.

On to New Hampshire, and may the best candidate win!

(go Clark!)

Monday, January 19, 2004

Kerry's Hair

Ok, I've wanted to talk about Kerry's hair for a while now, because I feel it is key to his surge in popularity recently. Some one on his crew finally changed his stylist, who finally went at his much talked about mountain o'hair with something stronger than a pair of scissors. They downsized it to such an extent it now resembles real, natural hair, not a large white rock.

I am sure Kerry held on to his hair, because he thinks it looks ethnically Irish, but it turned his head into an upside down pyramid, made his eyes look dark and hollow. It was the anti-Samson effect.

Now it looks like hair. A subtle change really, but enough that his face is no longer overwhelmed by the hoary superstructure. Its almost.. a Clinton haircut.

Clinton had the king of haircuts for politics. First of all, he had a lot of hair which is of course good. Secondly, he really styled it, so it wasn't hard looking(think trent Lott's fake 'do), or big(old fashioned Sharpton) or even small, like Clark's tends to look. It was just icing on that big ol' cake of friendliness.

And so Kerry is becoming more friendly. Have you noticed he has gained votes, like Edwards, by simply not being meanish Deanish or a Union suck up, like poor Gephart. Without that distinctly Northern 'do, he looks more universal, less East Coast. The man is no Kennedy beauty.. he can't win on glamour. But he can win on military credentials and long term senate experience.

So you wonder if I'm pushing for him? Not really, but my father says he won't vote for Edwards, after he found out the man made his money suing obstetricians for "bad babies." And Clark is doing some image working of his own, and I think he looks cute in sweater vests.

Okay, I think we should pay close attention to what Paul O'Neill said about how the Bush admin. operates. O's weakness is that he tends to tell the unvarnished truth. My Dad heard him speak a few weeks ago in a national meeting on health care quality improvement. O'Neill said, with regard to his relations with the Bush administration, he had learned that telling "the truth will set you free." Which it did rather unceremoniously. (Travels with Bono may have been a contributing factor, since Bush has no taste in music)

I have come to the conclusion that Dubya only listens to Rove, Norquist and (maybe) Cheney, depending on who gets to him first. Condi's nothing but a Pretzel screener, and the rest of them just take orders. Especially Bremmer. What a toady. Why do people continue to make believe that guy administers ANYTHING...