Election News

I know it's still a year and a half away, but until Bush and Co. start bombing Iran, which, according to the Jerusalem Postm they are set to do as of this Friday, I'll make a few more comments on the election of '08.

First, the Hillary news, courtesy of Drudge:

Hillary Clinton's campaign today announced it will report $36 million in total receipts for the first fundraising quarter, which ended March 31, 2007. The staggering number reflects the strength of support for Clinton from every walk of life and every part of America...

In March of 2003, the highest total reported by a Democratic campaign in its first-quarter fundraising report was $7.4 million and the top four candidates combined raised just over $23 million. In March of 1999, incumbent Vice President Al Gore reported $8.9 million for his first quarter.

What I truly love about America is that anyone can become president. As long as they can raise millions of dollars. The common criticism that Hillary is unlikeable is a shallow one; few people can be trusted tomorrow with commitments they hastily make today. A promise not to vote for Hillary is not to be taken seriously unless the person promising shows serious inclination to avoiding the election entirely, voting for the other party, or "throwing away a vote" on a third-party candidate. Most people simply aren't willing to do this.

Democrats will flock to whomever the party anoints, especially if Bush goes ahead and bombs Tehran. A large number of Republican women will also no doubt strike a blow against the patriarchy and elect Mrs. Clinton.

Now, onto her would-be-challengers:

In just three weeks, Fred Thompson has improbably transformed the contest for the Republican presidential nomination. It is not merely that he has come from nowhere to double digits in national polls. He is the talk of GOP political circles, because he is filling the conservative void in the Republican field.

Republican activists have complained for months that none of the big-three contenders -- Rudy Giuliani, John McCain and Mitt Romney -- fits the model of a conservative leader for a conservative party...

Thompson's popularity reflects weakness among announced Republican candidates, as reflected in the Gallup survey. Sen. McCain, no longer an insurgent but still not accepted by conservatives, is stuck in the 20-25 percent range. Former New York City Mayor Giuliani has dropped precipitously from 44 percent to 31 percent, amid attacks on his ideology and personal life. Most startling, despite a well-financed, well-organized campaign, Romney has fallen to 3 percent...

None of the big-three Republicans has been so consistently conservative as Thompson on tax policy, national security and abortion.

I've not given too much thought to a Fred Thompson candidacy, but it's good to see that some in the Republican party are tiring of having to support a moderate for President. Reagan is dead, but it might be nice to have someone who vaguely approximates him to carry the Republican torch. Ostensibly, Thompson fits the mold.

Although I like the idea of having a President named "Fred", I highly doubt that Mr. Thompson will stick around long enough to get the Republican nod. His role is to serve as decoy, to distract those who follow politics and are nonetheless bored and unimpressed with Guiliani, McCain and Romney. If my instincts are correct, we will see another Thompson-esque candidate emerge once the public is bored with this one. The Presidency is still Hillary's for the taking.