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Feel the Bern(ie)

I've started paying a little more attention to things regarding the presidential nomination/election. It's heating up, and in a week Iowa will hold the nation's first caucuses (thank you, spell-check, for that one - I don't think I'd have ever gotten that one right!). It's important to realize that these caucuses are not to be mistaken for the Caucasus - which are a mountain range forming a part of the southern border of Europe and the northern border of Asia. So this:


Not this:


But I digress.

This election has focused a lot on the Republican race, which has boiled down to a man whose mouth is so small it's a wonder such horrible things continue to issue forth:


And everyone else (not pictured for brevity).

The Democratic race, which has not garnered as much attention, because Hillary Clinton, former presidential adviser/First Lady, Senator, and Secretary of State has been the presumptive nominee almost since birth... I mean, since she announced she was running. I read today that several Obama cabinet members are supporting her bid, which frankly reminded me of this:


(Sorry - I couldn't find a good video of that clip...)

Running against her is Bernie Sanders and some other guy who is probably entirely forgettable. As I can't remember his name, he's obviously entirely forgettable. 

Bernie is many things, but he's probably the most likely to win against Trump. As such, I would encourage anyone who does not want an absolute buffoon as president of these United States. He's also quite likely to win against Ted Cruz, the only actual person likely to win the nomination (although that may be because he's a Canadian citizen...)


Just kidding. I met Mr. Cruz once at a Chamber of Commerce deal in Texas when he was running for Senate. He was a nice guy, warm and engaged and intelligent. I'm sure he'll do a fine job as president if elected. I mean that in all sincerity. I don't agree with his politics on many things, but I do think he'll do his level best as president. But I still don't think he can beat Mr. Sanders. 

We'll see how things shake out in the next couple of weeks. Should be interesting.

Here's an interesting opinion bit on the Clinton/Sanders dynamic:


The truth is, I wanted Mrs. Clinton to do better. As a feminist, I thought it might be encouraging to see a female president - not just because she'd bring a different perspective to the job, but because she may serve to inspire more women to enter politics - particularly young ones. But I think (as the article points out) she may be running into problems with what I would call the "Mitt Romney" issue - she comes off as being too cold, too distant, and therefore unfeeling and impersonal. I don't believe that's true, either of Romney or Clinton, but that's how they're perceived, and perception in this game is everything. EVERYTHING. 

It may be too late for Mrs. Clinton. Like I said, we'll see. 




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