Sox Lose, Yanks Lose, Push

Sucker-punch way for the Sox to lose this afternoon. Close the gap from 6-0 to 6-5, get two on in the ninth and have Manny whiff on a pitch up and in. The good news is, the Yank-Mes lost too in what would be heartbreaking fashion if they had hearts to break, so the lead remains at 5. For one, I'm not worried. The Sox have been playing like crud and the Bronx Bums have been lights out for over a month, and the lead is still there. The likeliest scenario is that the Rose Hose start to hit and the other team slows down, so I'm not worried. You hear me? Not worried.

Recommended Reading

When he is remembered at all, Franklin Pierce is usually remembered for his alleged shortcomings. He was the only elected President to seek a second term and fail to secure his party's nomination. He was inaccurately painted by political opponents as a military coward and an alcoholic. And the Kansas-Nebraska Act passed during his administration is viewed by many as the overture to the Civil War.

All of this obscures the compelling story of a remarkably skillful state-level politician and able administrator. Pierce's Cabinet as President was the most stable in history, with no changes during all four years. He achieved marked diplomatic success with Great Britain and greatly improved the modernity and professionalism of the United States armed forces. He was a polite and intelligent man caught in the throes of a brutal sectional rift that no one President could have forestalled.

Wallner's two-volume biography of Pierce chronicles his rise from Hillsborough, NH as the son of a veteran of Bunker Hill through his Congressional and Presidential careers. It is a period in our history worth revisiting, and a man who deserves far better than his traditional cellar position in Presidential rankings.

http://www.nhhistory.org/store/det.asp?UPC=1008112

If Vision Mattered

Politics has always been a team sport. We root for those wearing our colors, red or blue, to the point where Democrats will celebrate the victory of a conservative Dem over a progressive Republican. The most lethal symptom of this zero-sum affliction is that vision and leadership have taken a backseat to the phantom of electability. Boldness is cast aside for bland mass appeal. This self-destructive delusion led us to nominate John Kerry in 2004, and similarly for the Republicans to select President Bush in 2000. Hillary Clinton would only be the latest presumptive recipient of this bandwagoneering.

But what if we cared about vision? What if we cared about actually making the country better?

In 1968 Robert F. Kennedy inspired millions to look outside ourselves and wonder what we could do serve America. How could we bring the most unfortunate among us inside the American Dream?

Obama and Clinton are sprinting for the middle with glittering generalities and banal pronouncements. Neither is acknowledging the vast gulf that separates privilege from poverty, or the damage that does to America.

John Edwards is. He's been talking for five years now about issues that affect hundreds of millions of working Americans, from universal health coverage to jobs and affordable college. Why would we care about that? We've got a team to root for.

Outside Looking In

Senator Chris Dodd visited Exeter yesterday afternoon and was good enough to stop by a gathering of perhaps 50 people at our house. He was personable, passionate, and extremely gracious. It is a shame that the Hillarama has obscured the opportunity of some candidates of Dodd's caliber to get noticed (or funded, for that matter). He has made a long and distinguished career of public service, and has unimpeachable credentials on such core issues as health care, education, and foreign threats. Senator Dodd, his wife and children were charming and funny, and too many Democratic primary voters will never get to see that.

Lemmings are Democrats, or Why We Refuse to Win

The Hillary Clinton locomotive is steaming along the track, and as per 2004 the bulk of Democratic primary voters are all to glad to jump on board, convinced that a nominee is needed by Christmas. If polling is to be believed, we appear also to be convinced that Ms. Clinton should be that nominee.

Are we that stupid?

The only way the Democratic party can guarantee a loss in November 2008 is to nominate Clinton. She is without a doubt the most divisive figure in modern politics (I'd cite President Bush, but you can't be divisive if everybody is equally tired of you), and her nomination would immediately alienate most independent and swing voters, precisely those prepared to consider a Democrat in 2008. Part of the problem is her access to the money and organization built by her and hubby Bill fifteen years ago. Part of the the problem is the liberal nature of Democratic primary voters (just as Republican'ts suffer from their neo-con base). The biggest issue is women, who make up a huge number of those Democratic primary voters. It seems that the merest possibility of voting for a woman for President is so intoxicating for women that it hardly matters if that person is the best choice to send into the general election, or to serve in the office. I'm all for a woman President. My boss is a woman, as are many of the upper management where I work. My generation and younger, who grew up with equal rights, pretty much ignore gender in politics. But it's killing the Democrats right now, and if we nominate Clinton then we stand to get waxed come November 2008.

If we wanted to win, we would take a long look at John Edwards, Joe Biden, Bill Richardson, or Chris Dodd. Even Obama is intriguing, though I am unconvinced he is ready. What I fear is a reprise of 2004, when Kerry became our nominee and we all followed him off the cliff.

No Brief Candle

Thanks to old GB for providing the title for this experimental dip into the blogosphere. The intent is to discuss here politics from a moderate Democratic perspective, and occasionally sports from an emotionally crippled Boston fan's perspective, and to generally rage against a world that deplores idealism in all its glory. I'll try to post regularly, and see where this takes us. Off we go!