It's interesting to watch the political drama unfolding. We have two parties looking to decide on a candidate for the November 2008 Presidential Election. And who is at the center of the debate, it's none other than the current president.
Two articles appearing today in the LA Times analyze the races and make this interesting comparison.
By and large, despite his unpopularity in the country, almost to a man (they're all white men on the GOP side), they're basically pledging to continue the current Bush policies -- on everything from Iraq to taxes to Guantanamo Bay. The pledge is a more and better Bush -- continue the policies -- just do them more competently.
Still, many Republicans are betting that their party does not need a new direction to win in 2008. They believe it will be enough for their candidates to demonstrate more competence than the Bush administration seemed to in handling the Iraq war and Hurricane Katrina and in controlling government spending.
For the Democrats it's all about change, but change with style. Everything about the two front runners signals change. One is a woman, the other is an African-American Male. Yes, there are others running, and it's too early to count anyone out. But still that Hillary and Barack are running 1 and 2 is significant -- because no one's making a big deal about Hillary's gender -- just her connections, nor Barack's ethnicity -- just his experience. Wow, how times have changed.
And the thing that's ripped up the form book is not Democrats. It's President Bush. With an unpopular war driving his approval ratings to record lows and his party reeling from scandal to scandal, Bush has created an environment in which Democratic voters -- and many independent voters too -- seem to be looking first and foremost for change.
All across the country, they appear ready to overlook such historically deal-breaking issues as race and gender and under-nourished resumes, focusing instead on personality and character in their quest for something new.
I'll tell you, I'm ready for change, especially if the status quo is more war, poverty, and growing gaps between rich and poor.
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