The Presidential Candidates

Over a year ago I took a look at five potential presidential nominees both Republican and Democrat. Of the five, only two seem to be still in contention while a host of new possibilities have appeared.

Most of the new entries I think it’s safe to ignore, but this time around I’m going to talk about six.

Mitt Romney – Rank = 6
We disagree on just about everything it appears or, at least, we disagree about his current updated positions. I can’t shake the feeling that this guy is saying whatever it takes to get votes at the moment. He’s shuffled to the right fighting for the nomination and who knows? Maybe he would shuffle left for the election? I can’t have confidence in someone who plays that kind of game.

Now let’s talk about his Mormonism. Mormons believe things that appear to be demonstrably false. Regardless of how implausible you find Christianity in general you have to concede that, as unlikely as it seems, it might be true. Accepting the Book of Mormon as scripture, despite contradictory archeological and genetic evidence, strikes me as lousy decision making. Do we really want another idiot with lousy decision making skills in the White House?

John McCain – Rank = 5
McCain was my #2 man last time around but since then John has slid to the dark side. I understand that you have to look like a right wing fruitcake in order to get the support of the religious right which, for the moment, wields tremendous influence in the Republican Party, but McCain is starting to sound like a convert. I can no longer see myself supporting McCain.

On the personal side, I think John’s just too old, ten years ago maybe, but not today. I’d like to see a younger man in the oval office.

Barack Obama – Rank = 4
I just don’t think he has the skills and experience. The last time I talked about Obama I said he couldn’t possible be any worse than some past presidents and was, justly, chastised for that. We need to go for the best that’s available and not settle for someone that’s simply better than past mistakes. Hell, finding someone better than Bush would be easy. About 90% of the population would be better than Bush but most of them shouldn’t be president either.

Clearly you can’t talk about Obama without addressing the question of race. Suffice to say that the question of race means absolutely nothing to me. I would have voted for Colin Powell in a heartbeat and still would. Someday I expect to vote for Barack Obama for president as well, but not in 2008.

Rudy Giulianni – Rank = 3
I never had the impression that Giulianni was all that great a mayor. He just happened to be the mayor on 911 which catapulted him into a fairly favorable national spotlight. Hell, they cheered the Giants in Kansas City the following Sunday too. While I don’t feel uncomfortable with his position on most issues, I have to wonder how effective a president, who is so out of tune with his own party, could possibly be?

On the personal side, anyone that’s been divorced three times leaves me a little cold. If I’ve had to suffer and stay married to my first wife, everyone should suffer and stay married to their first wife. Nah, only kidding, I love my wife. But again, one has to wonder about the decision making talents of a man who married the wrong woman three times?

Hillary Clinton – Rank #2
She’s growing on me a little. Sort of like a creeping fungus. Maybe I’ve been contaminated by the many people who really hate this lady but I just don’t feel comfortable with her. I’m really afraid she would be more of a polarizing entity than a healing entity and, after Bush, this country needs some healing. I’m afraid Hillary would just make the schism worse. I also don’t think she can get elected

This is sort of unfortunate because, on the issues, we line up pretty much 100%. I might even forgive her for supporting the start of the war in Iraq, but only if she admits she made a mistake.

John Edwards – Rank #1
Edwards has admitted that voting for the war in Iraq was a mistake. Perhaps that’s the main reason I prefer him over Hillary. I also believe that he’s viewed as more moderate and, perhaps, just perhaps, he can begin the process of putting the country back together again.

You will notice I’m ignoring the whole $400 haircut thing. That was a really stupid thing to do but at least he appears to have chosen the right woman which strikes me as much more important. I think having a woman with the courage of Elizabeth Edwards keeping John in line would work out just fine.