Election 2008

Am I the only one around here excited about next November???
I don't know what it is, but I am already getting excited about the election coming up in 11 months. I know most people aren't paying attention, and I don't blame them - when a political talking head on CNN immediately began to talk about Election Night 2008 on Election Night 2006, I knew the American Public would be more apathetic and sick of politics than usual. With the accelerated primary schedule, incessant debates, and no real front runner for either party (sorry Rudy and Hillary), not many people are getting into this. Yeah, so everyone has an opinion on Hillary, Obama, Guiliani, etc. but these people wouldn't even have to run for election for everyone to have exactly the same opinion of them. "Hillary is soo polarizing; Obama is soo hot right now; hey, wasn't the Guliani guy involved in 9-11 somehow?" These are all preconceived notions of the candidates that don't really do them justice (but really Rudy, stop reminding us, we know where you were on 9-11...). I think there's a kind of backlash against these front runners, at least on the CNN/NPR circuit. Where would John Edwards or Mike Huckabee be without analysts making them the sexy predictions for dark horses? They don't have any money, they're not household names, and they're not breaking any glass ceilings. Yet to me, they represent the very thing we need in America - authenticity (and $400 haircuts). These two candidates have the luxury of not being front runners. They don't have to deal with the attacks from all sides rather, in Edwards case, they are the ones attacking. It's too early to tell whether or not Edwards' attacks will actually help him, or just help Obama, but its on the attack where Edwards meets his populist calling. Railing against the establishment in Washington, workers' rights, and poverty, Edwards can flow like Jay-Z, throwing in the bravado and anger he learned as a litigator against the powers that be. But what happens when he becomes the power? We'll see. Another orator that, not surprisingly to me, is making gains in the place where you can make gains interacting with real people (Iowa), is Gov. Huckabee. A former Baptist minister and radio man, Huckabee does his best when talking to small groups of real people. Nevermind the fact that he doesn't believe in evolution (7,000 years in the making), or that he is a pretty serious social conservative-he's a likeable guy. And a runner and Chuck Norris fan. I can stand by a man with those two interests. Also, in bizzaro-world where John Edwards gets the Dems nod, who better than a straight-talking, socially conservative minister from Arkansas to beat him? Certainly not a wishy-washy robot Mormon from Massachusetts or an anti-gun, pro-choice, multiply divorced guy from New Yawk. I wouldn't like it, but I think he'd be the best candidate vs. a Dem like Edwards. Iowa caucus goers are notoriously undecided, but I'd like to see Edwards go at least 3rd and stay in the race. Huckabee would be an interesting choice from the Republicans side, but whomever they nominate, it may be futile...