Iowa Has Spoken

The primary season is begun. The stragglers are dropping away, many more will follow. Besides the fact that the next American President is going to be an even bigger loser than George W. Bush, what do we know?

We know that Americans are too embarrassed to vote for the candidate they really like. If the Republicans were voting true, they would go with someone like Tom Tancredo. That would say things about them they aren't ready to admit, maybe not even to themselves. Dems should be wild about Dennis Kucinich, samo-samo.

So what do the two clear winners in Iowa, Huckybuck and Obama, indicate. Are these two men really the embodiment of the skills, traits and intelligence we are seeking in the leader of the free World? Surprisingly enough, maybe.

Let's get the easy part out of the way first. These guys are both smart. The pre-primary debates have shown us they are poised public speakers. They are interactive with an audience and capable of thinking fast, on their feet. They watch what they say and say as little as possible in the most engaging way possible. In this respect, both are completely different than George W. Bush, who cannot speak or think at all well and is only comfortable on his feet with the hind legs of a sheep tucked into his boots. Huckybuck seems smarter and more charismatic. This could be because he is defending the traditional values high ground, always an easier thing to do.

Obama is better looking. So is his wife. So are his children. His message is vibrant, dynamic and appealing. He is The "New" man, multi-culti, inter-racial and intellectual. He offers a revision of the American dream. This entails change on our part. Americans like to think of themselves and their culture as dynamic but they distrust change. Their first concern is what have I got to lose, not what have I got to gain. Still, being the "New" man is better than being the "Black" man. Normally, someone like Obama wouldn't have a chance but the American people's disgust with the present situation is pronounced. It will be hard but he could win. The key for him, will be to play up the attractiveness of what it says about America, that we would elect a man like Obama, while promising not to change anything much at all. So far, so good

Huckybuck is a "kinder, gentler" redneck. He has lived all his life with integrated schools and the EEOC. He's not going to burn any crosses or string anybody up, or tolerate those who do. While the churches he goes to and the social organizations to which he belongs are racially and socially homogeneous, everybody agrees that this is by choice and everybody is more comfortable that way. He is not comfortable with homosexuals but accepts them grudgingly because it's the law and he believes in law and order. Similarly, he is anti-abortion. He doesn't approve of bombing abortion clinics or shooting the doctors who work in them but would address the issue from a legal standpoint. He walks a fine line between the views of the progressive and regressive segments of society hoping to get at least some support from one faction, while keeping most of the latter. Has he evolved far enough to be a successful candidate for President in today's America? Nothing makes me think otherwise. So far, so good.

Next week, the contest in New Hampshire looms. After that, South Carolina. We're going to know a lot more in the next few weeks. For the last year the smart money has been on a Hillary/Rudy race. It may happen, after all is said and done. I don't think so. I'm not sure either of them will make the cut. I'm not that sad about it.