15 May 2008
Political Notes, 2008: Part III.-- By John F. Triolo
A.
As expected...the harpy flies again! Senator Clinton's massive victory in West Virginia was hardly unexpected, nor was her opponent's miserable performance. Senator Obama has consistently been dismissive of the importance of the "white working class" to any victorious Democrat coalition. Mrs. Clinton's victory simply illustrates what everyone already knows: Obama's brand of superficial I'm-black-and-proud-but-only-when-you-say-so identity politics has failed to confuse or convince the majority of white voters. He scares them, mainly because he is (or was) a friend of their enemies (Rev. Wright) but also because he holds them in derision (e.g. the so-called "bittergate" scandal). One thing that is surprising is that not one of the arguments made or victories won by Mrs. Clinton has done very much to disrupt media coverage of Obama's coast into victory. Horrible as it is to speak on her behalf, Clinton's arguments about electability make a lot of sense, and the polls bear that out. The establishment media has simply decided that the race is over and Obama won, much like they did in the Republican primary for John McCain. They will brook no opposition until Obama is secure in the top of the post-convention ticket. The race is over before it’s over.
B.
Mrs. Clinton has very little chance of winning the primary race. This is obviously bad news for both her and her degenerate, over-educated hick of a husband as well as a great many of their political and financial cronies who probably assumed early on that the good time bus would roll through the White House again (in case they didn't steal enough towels last time). It also could been seen as bad news for those of us who have been enjoying the Democratic fracas these last months. The fun is almost over. However, we should not despair. Mrs. Clinton doesn't seem like the type to let her political world end with a whimper. I don't know what "bang" she has planned but it'll be vicious, nasty, unscrupulous and, for those of us on the sidelines, hilarious.
C.
All this week the secondary political story has been the republican loss in a special congressional election in the 1st District of Mississippi. President Bush won this district by 20% in 2004 and now a democrat has occupied the seat. That's bad for republicans certainly but it might be good for conservatives, at least social conservatives. What you probably haven't been hearing from the media is that the republican loser was beaten by a Democrat who ran to the right on social issues and advocated what could be described as a European-style Christian Democrat economic platform. if this trend continues, it might result in a Democratic super-majority in congress. However, it might also result in a moderate and ineffectual democrat party and break the stranglehold of Republican NeoCons on conservatism in the United States. This could be interesting-- stay tuned.
D.
Muskogee Oklahoma, famed in song and story, has just elected a 19-year-old as mayor. The youth has already stated his intention to serve as mayor for the town's 40,000 residents while continuing his college education. The initial impulse of some might be to criticize the townspeople for their imprudence. After all, the new mayor can't very well have much experience. How does he expect to do as good a job as a more seasoned political operative? Nay-sayers should instead look at the many experienced politicians from around the nation and ask themselves how he could possibly do much worse.
About the author: John F. Triolo is editor-in-chief of The Contrarians' Review.
