Election Season Frustration
Boy, this is an intense election season and there’s so much to blog about. But, I’m off to SF International to pick up our friend from Uganda. Before I go, I need to share two things — one I’ve wanted to talk about for a long time.
I just listened to an excellent interview by Terry Gross on Fresh Air (National Public Radio). Usually, I can’t get beyond her bigotry and predictable questions, but this time she did a great job and, if you are one of those people hoping that the UN will solve any international problem of any size or scope… well, in New Jersese fuhgeddaboudit! She interviews James Traub about his new book, The Best Intentions: Kofi Annan and the UN in the Era of American World Power. Stream the interview and pay attention to the author’s eyewitness discussion of the Darfur situation with the the Sudanese officials, who view the meeting as an opportunity to humiliate the world, mock the UN and provide ample proof that people like George Clooney are naive, deluded and dangerous to the serious business of dealing with evil regimes.
Then, I wanted to point out the fact that my party, the Democrats, will show us in this mid-year election where we are headed. Historically, the out-of-power party (in this case, the Democrats) in a second term President’s mid-term elections will gain 37-45 seats in the House and 6 in the Senate. If the Dems pick up 30 or more, they are still a viable political party. If they pick up 15 - 30, they are in trouble and lack vision and direction — there’s still hope. If they do not take both the House and the Senate, the party is in freefall and it’s time for progressives and liberals to look elsewhere. As I say, I really wanted to go into detail and have no time, but Ann Coulter beat me to it and offers a much more in-depth and provocative analysis than I ever could. You need to read this, if you’re interested in the future of the Democrat Party.