October 8, 2007
by Steve Hammons

Will the people voting in the Democratic primaries and the Democratic Party as a whole once again sabotage themselves?

Will they "snatch defeat from the jaws of victory," as some have characterized it?

There seems to be a recent history of this, and by the looks of things, history may repeat itself.

I am not a political expert, just an average, middle-aged American born and raised in the Midwest heartland and now a proud Westerner living in and loving the American Southwest.

Generally, I am centrist and moderate, if those terms have meaning. And, I also have some libertarian views about government not intruding too much on our freedoms.

Although I try to be a warrior, I am not a "chicken hawk." I turned 18 and was in college toward the end stages of the Vietnam War in the early 1970s. I was issued a draft card and a draft lottery number but didn't get drafted.

Sometimes, I side with somewhat typically Republican views on some things and sometimes with typically Democratic views on other issues.

Often, I see there is some kind of happy medium between polarized views of both extremes.

I also try to use common sense, my gut feelings, intuitive perceptions and my life experiences to guide me.

And, I have become much less interested in politics and Washington, D.C. in recent years for a number of reasons.

Here's my two cents in a simplified way.

CLINTONS IN WHITE HOUSE AGAIN?

Hillary Clinton is reportedly leading in fundraising and popularity with Democratic primary voters.

Well, leading in fundraising means, in some cases, that the candidate is leading in taking bribes of sorts doesn't it?

Apart from claims that Hillary Clinton is somewhat deceptive and vague, and that she is trying to be a war hawk (possibly to please some of those political and financial backers), do we really want Bill and Hillary back in the White House?

I give credit to Bill Clinton for the eight years of relative peace and prosperity with his centrist policies, though some of his official moves were questionable.

And though I am not a prude, his sexual activities in the Oval Office with a college intern were a factor that helped George W. Bush get elected, which, of course resulted in the invasion and occupation of Iraq and many other serious situations, with more possibly on the way.

All things considered, I really wouldn't feel very comfortable voting for Hillary Clinton.

READY FOR OBAMA?

Then there is Barack Obama. He seems like a good enough person. Smart, likable and has his heart in the right place. He had an interesting upbringing that exposed him to many cultures and experiences.

He is somewhat inexperienced, but that can be a positive in some ways.

I could vote for him.

However, it is questionable whether Americans are ready for a president who is half-black and half-white.

And, opponents will attack him for having reportedly attended a Muslim school as a kid and the fact that his name is Obama . sounding so much like Osama.

Hey, I kind of like the guy and recently learned I am distantly related to him (not on the Cheney side of the family).

But, is he electable in a general election?

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EDWARDS ELECTABLE?

How about John Edwards? He comes across as more mature than when John Kerry tapped him for his vice-presidential running mate.

Edwards is standing up as a voice of working people and the middle class, and advocating significant changes in the often corrupt way things are done in Washington.

A lot of what he says sounds good to me. I could vote for him.

But, things like his baby face and his $400 haircuts could hurt him.

Yet, as a southern white male, he has many, many advantages in winning a general election. That's just how it is.

OTHER GOOD CHOICES

If some of the other Democratic candidates made surprising moves in popularity, that would be fine with me.

Bill Richardson seems to have a lot of pluses. Part-Hispanic and somewhat of a centrist, he seems to have common sense and a moderate manner. And I like the fact that he is from the Southwest.

You know, a lot of Americans in the West, South and Midwest just don't want more New Yorkers and easterners in power.

That said, Christopher Dodd and Joe Biden would probably make good presidents too.

In my mind, Edwards, Richardson, Dodd and Biden are more electable in a general election than Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. This is something for Democrats to think seriously about.

Dennis Kucinich - well, you have to like his nerve and his willingness to get out there and show guts in saying what he believes. And a lot of it is worth saying. But, is he electable?

CHOICE FOR VP

Whoever is nominated, they should also take care to choose a good VP running mate.

Al Gore, in my view, made a big mistake by picking Joe Lieberman as his running mate. Many people didn't like Lieberman then, and fewer like him now.

This choice made many people feel that Gore lacked judgment and common sense.

John Kerry's choice of Edwards was not as bad, but many people viewed Edwards at the time as an inexperienced rookie, too young (or at least he looked too young) and maybe not macho enough.

Choosing a VP running mate is obviously one of the most important tasks of a presidential candidate. It says a lot about a person's judgment and how he will staff the executive branch.

Again, in my opinion, Gore could have done a lot better on this and Kerry could have done better too . nothing against Edwards.

COMMON SENSE

Well, that is my two cents on a general overview of what seems to me are some of the dynamics in play with the Democratic presidential candidates.

The feelings, perceptions, gut instincts and psychology of the American people are in some ways very complex and in other ways quite simple.

Many of us have learned that just because someone is a white male and are from the geographical heartland, it doesn't mean that they are a good candidate and will make a good president.

It seems that the American people are really ready for a significant change, not business as usual in Washington. I know I sure am.

Will the Democratic primary voters and the Democratic Party make some of the same mistakes they have made in the past?

Will they self-sabotage just enough to throw the election again? Or, throw it into doubt so that they lose the election even when slightly more Americans actually vote for the Democratic candidate?

This seems to be very possible.

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Steve Hammons [send him email] has worked as a journalist, editor, counselor, juvenile probation peace officer, public safety urgent-response specialist, teacher, instructor and US Government researcher. He graduated from Ohio University with studies in communications/journalism, health education/psychology and pre-law. Hammons's two novels, Mission into Light and Light's Hand, tell the story of a US joint-service military and intelligence research team investigating emerging special topics.