Edwards, Clinton, and Paul... Oh My !!

I do not know, nor have I ever met, nor am I in the employ of any of the following candidates.

The following was culled from hours of reading, watching and listening to the various information sources found in the public medias; and then pondering them.

I reiterate these impressions from my own inner self, a semi-regular American, for the joy of your perusal.

We're off to look for a wizard.



Edwards, Clinton, and Paul... Oh My !!



John Edwards -


John Edwards is transforming exactly the way I'd hoped he would. The experiences from sticking doggedly to his goal have pushed him to change. The whiney tone I found too often present in his appearances is being replaced with the solid stoicness of his deep commitment.

I can imagine John might be annoyed by a feeling of fickleness on the publics part. To him, his commitment has probably always felt strong, deep and true. But there is a certain composure people crave to hear; a certain solid ring of commitment within a candidate.

Mr. Edwards has been hitting this mark more and more frequently lately; and I'm convinced it's because he is settling into a strong and steady stride for this race.

His messages are being presented with more of the clarity found in simplicity.

He wants to raise the minimum wage to $9.50 by 2012 and index the minimum wage to grow periodically.

He wants to create jobs by investing double digit billions into establishing a clean energy infrastructure, expanding unemployment insurance, cushion state budget cuts and tax increases, and put a dent in the housing crisis.

John Edwards wants to support and encourage ingenuity by improving education, provide tax cuts to private sector innovators and invest in research through the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health.

He wants to protect the prevailing wage in government contracts, ban the permanent replacement of strikers by companies and cut the tax rate for low-income earners.

There's a long list of things John Edwards wants to do posted on his web site (Marathon For The Middle Class).

The topic of the Middle Class is well becoming a fortified ground for John Edwards. As long as he can continue to convince the middle majorities that he's sick of government that has ignored and abused these people, he will do well.

Edwards latest ad, of an unemployed working man choking up while telling the story of John Edwards assuring the man's seven year-old son that Edwards will work to try and get his Daddy a job again, is powerful. It not only hits the heart, it hits the Heartland.

Another rising source for wider appeal is Elizabeth Edwards. She comes across as one of the finest, good-hearted, middle class women you could ever want to meet. It's like, if you aren't married to a woman like this, you know someone who is; and knowing that person is dear to you.

I've always seen John Edwards as a decent candidate and a good person. I knew that he could be a good candidate, I just wasn't sure that he would be. I'm totally stoked by the stronger John Edwards.

Now the question is; will he turn into a great candidate?



Hillary Clinton -


Hillary has been the strongest candidate on the entire field. Her roots run deep, deep, deep; and that breeds a lot of confidence.

She has huge appeal.

She has never been just Bill's wife; and she was not just any First Lady. She's been something of a celebrity Senator and she has always been active, involved and not afraid to step into the light when motivated.

I'm not afraid to show some of the gender cards. Hillary's femininity works well in her favor.

In addition to appealing to the feminists and the gender equalists, the feminine that Hillary is also appeals to many men in our society; and I'm not referring to a sexual way. Psychology studies show that after folks of any gender or persuasion suffer under an abusive paternal authority figure, they tend to gravitate for the healing power of the feminine maternal.

And Hillary has always had a healthy maternal appearance.

As I said of Elizabeth Edwards, Hillary has much the appearance of a typical suburban house wife. She and Chelsea seem to have a good relationship. She and Bill seem to have a typical relationship. All this is comforting in the public's mind.

In respect to government, Hillary has already been well vetted. The Ken Starr investigation dug deeply and thoroughly through her past (and came up empty) and  she has been a senator since 2000.

Watching Hillary on the campaign trail has been informative, entertaining and reassuring. She's not shy or timid, but can be modest and humble. She makes eye contact and addresses the public directly. She doesn't talk down to people; either those on her staff, the talk show hosts or the general citizenry.

Her husband is an asset, and she sometimes obviously worries when she sees him talking with people. They've had disagreements that were met with amicability rather than rage or submission.

There is a huge amount of appeal to her, but it does not guarantee her winning; and she seems to know it.

She seems fully hard working, dedicated, knowledgeable and caring.



Ron Paul -


Ron Paul is a Libertarian champion.

He is beloved by youth and those who feel disaffected or fed up with government. He's the leader among groups of people who don't like either major party. In debates and media appearances Ron Paul says things that other candidates won't say, things that the general populous agree are true. He has a huge following among veterans and active military.

Ron Paul seems to be a beacon of our country's founding principles. The Constitution is his flag.

On November 5th, 2007 (Guy Fawkes Day) supporters for Ron Paul raised $4.3 million in 24 hours.

On December 16th, 2007 (Boston Tea Party Day) supporters raised $6.04 million in 24 hours; and caught Paul the moniker of The Six Million Dollar Man.

In total, Ron Paul raised almost $20 million dollars in the fourth quarter of 2007 alone.

He is staunchly anti-war, anti-big-government, and pro individual rights. His foreign policy views seem isolationist by comparison, but that is only by comparison.

Ron Paul is a Revolutionary candidate.

He is for lower taxes and decreased debt.

He is for protecting the property rights of individuals by curtailing the use of eminent domain.

He is for securing social security and abolishing the taxes laid on the recipients.

He wants to repeal the Patriot Act.

Ron Paul wants to return and reduce our government to the confines of the country's founding principles.

This may solve many problems and also create numerous others.

Regardless, Ron Paul has some of the most labeled revolutionary ideas.



-- Bonus Round --



Rudy Giuliani -


Rudy, Rudy, Rudy is almost out of the race; at least from my vantage point.

I see him waving back to us, over his shoulder as he walks into a Looney Tunes' sunset.

His undoing being that the Heartland sees too many questions, too many bothersome unknowns and too much unresolved controversy in this city fella's past and persona.

Thanks for trying, Rudy.

You did it your way.



On an election side note:

The most successful attitude among the candidates seems to be one of caring; caring about the people, what they think, how they feel, what they want and what their lives are really like.

It would seem that the truly viable contenders will be the candidate that convince that they really do care about regular folks and are dedicating themselves to work for changes that benefit the regular folk.

Regular folk are tired of being treated like they don't really matter.

We are, after all, integral to the yellow brick road.

And we are not fungible.



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03 January 2008

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Bill's Spirit is honored to have been selected as a member of Gather's "Election 2008 People's Press Corps"

Bill's Spirit is an Artist, Writer, Poet, Philosopher currently wordsmithing from a humble digital forge in small town Ohio.

The works of the man behind Bill's Spirit have been published in small alternative and amateur presses since 1986. Before that, they just filled notebooks, took up space on walls and gathered dust in piles and boxes.

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