A bit too far
The term "silly season" is used these days to denote more and more things.
I have heard it used on the NASCAR circuit to describe the rather long Sprint Cup season, the highest-ranking driver series on that circuit.
And I've also heard it used of late to describe the road to the Presidency of the United States, particularly the overly long and needlessly costly primary process used to select candidates from each of the major parties for the general election.
It's accounts like the following, perhaps, that has earned the election process that rather dubious distinction.
Both parties have had a difficult time coming up with an outstanding nominee to carry their flag this fall. It appears now that the Republicans have settled on Sen. John McCain as their standard-bearer, where on the Democrat side, the initial favorite, Sen. Hillary Clinton, has encountered surprsingly strong opposition from Sen. Barack Obama.
In fact, Obama, a relative unknown to most American voters, has seized upon recent successes in the primaries to take the advantage of late on the Democratic side.
Now, Hillary Clinton is not used to being on the losing side in a popularity contest. Her husband, former President Bill Clinton, was a two-time winner in his Presidential campaigns, and his wife won fairly easy election to her current Senatorial post in New York state.
Still, it would appear the Clintons might be a little nervous at this point. With convention time drawing closer, it would appear at this point that neither Democrat nominee will be able to secure a sufficient delegate advantage to earn a first-ballot nomination at the convention.
And in these waning days, a recent endorsement for Obama has caused the Clintons further consternation.
New Mexico governor Bill Richardson, himself an early candidate on the Democrat side before dropping out, has endorsed Obama for the Presidency. This has disturbed many in the Clinton camp, because Richardson has been seen as one of the staunchest Clinton supporters there is...some even contend that Richardson owes his political life to Bill Clinton.
One of the leading spokespeople over the years for the Clintons, James Carville(a prominent figure in the Clinton Presidential administration)has actually come out and called Richardson a "Judas" for switching his allegiance from Hillary Clinton to Sen. Obama.
For his part, Richardson just contends that there has been enough contentiousness in his party's nominating process thus far, and so he's siding with Obama as a sort of "unifying" move. He reaffirms his admiration of and for the Clintons.
But Hillary Clinton, as best I can tell, feels a sense of betrayal by Richardson's endorsement.
But what really alarmed me about this latest event in the campaign is Carville's incredible analogy.
If Richardson is a "Judas", what does that make Clinton in this analogy?
Look, whatever your feeling might be about either Bill or Hillary Clinton, it's an incredible stretch to liken either of them to Jesus. To say it's a curious choice of words on Carville's part is an understatement, to say the least.
As I type this, Carville continues to defend his analogy, arguing that he wanted to use something "strong" to adequately describe his shock at what he obviously feels is Richardson's ingratitude.
Well, he used something "strong", all right.
And these people wonder why many Americans tend to view their elected officials as arrogant and condescending toward their constituents.
There is no word on whether Sen. Obama has sent Richardson 30 pieces of silver(or its' modern equivalent)in the mail as yet.-:-)
Posted on Mar 25, 2008 - 12:18 PM | [0]
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