So, these last few days, and these last two days in particular. Much like my reactions to Super Tuesday, I’ve only scattered thoughts at this point, because there’s been so much to trawl through — and in many cases, laugh at.
- Requiem for a lighter weight — I’m sorry, but this was patently obvious to anyone looking at this with a clear head: Mitt Romney was always a pipe dream. He was a useful running dog for a long time for people who wanted their movement conservative, thus one Mr. F. Thompson, in that people could point to Romney, say “Flip-flopper!” and embrace Thompson all the more. Then Thompson dropped out. Giuliani misfired. McCain pissed people off by existing, Huckabee pissed them off by not only existing but being affable about it. Romney became the great white hope — and boy, was he ever white — and the professional blowhard patrol decided maybe Hewitt had the right idea and fell into line. Then Romney collapsed and the following day Hewitt was the first to say ‘Never mind!’ Then McCain delivered some dull platitudes at CPAC while being well aware that the people who attend such things are a tiny minority of actual voters, a bunch of imported supporters clapped and a variety of observers, caught between realpolitik and their slavering over buzzwords, pretended that they’d always been at war with Eurasia. And now I hear the laughter.
- But nobody was more laughable than Dobson — this is pure footnote material but Dobson’s endorsement of Huckabee couldn’t have been more of a closing the barn door move if he had tried. Dead-enders and conspiracy theorists are already wondering whether a combination of Romney’s ‘suspended’ campaign and Huckabee’s expressed willingness to carry on and presumably score more delegates here and there could yet result in the upset of upsets at the convention. You know, I wouldn’t mind that, in fact if anything it would be the only possible conclusion to the nomination process that could be more screwy on the GOP side — that is unless everyone defects to Ron Paul. But I find both of these prospects a bit questionable at present. Anyway, if Dobson has inadvertantly killed off hopes that there’s going to be any sort of successor to Jerry Falwell as self-perceived Cardinal Richelieu, I’m all for it, but I suspect there will still be complaints.
- But what of the DEMOCRATS? — yes yes, things are tight, will go the distance, and so forth. Already the possibilities are multiplying — Puerto Rico will decide the nomination, the superdelegates will decide it, how Michigan and Florida are dealt with will decide it, Howard Dean will decide it. (Oh dear.) Again, though, I’m pretty sanguine about how things will shake down at present, and sanguine about other things right now, for now. Still almost nine months to go. I will note this, though — as this story suggests, had Michigan not moved its date, it would now be in a position to deliver a potentially very important decision on the nomination tomorrow. Instead that’s fallen to Washington, and this gives you an idea of what’s up when you see the crowd of people who were turned away from the Obama rally outside Key Arena — and this during a weekday:
A friend who lives in Michigan has been clear about her annoyance and contempt for the Democratic power players in the state and how they’ve potentially screwed a lot of things up. Right now they’re probably thinking that themselves, several times over…though perhaps they too relish the role of kingmakers. So many people do, I’ve noticed.
- And ending with Romney again, the most ridiculous ‘wait, WHAT?’ comment of the week courtesy of David Frum, the man who brought you the concept of the axis of evil:
Mr. Romney was made of very different stuff. He could enthrall a roomful of CEOs and economists with his mastery of economic details. Watching him absorb information was like watching an ultra-powerful wet vac deal with a garage spill. SHLOOOOOP –in it goes!
And in conclusion…I have a headache. But some aspirin will help.
Ned Raggett Ponders It All 