If You Think That I am a Hothead

Workout notes 2650 yard swim; I did a variety of things (drills, IM sets, paddle) and the whole workout took me 56 minutes. I was next to a good swimmer for part of the workout and that was humbling.

Ok, writing in my blog is an excuse to not do math research; the latter is hard; the former is easy.

Ok, actually, I am reading two non-math books: Dreams From My Father (Barack Obama; no ghost writer!) and Rewriting History (Dick Morris). Both are interesting; I am through the first third of both books and hope to finish these by the end of the vacation.

Both are interesting for different reasons: DFMY is written by someone who wasn’t famous at the time (O hadn’t even won his State Senate seat as yet) and so contains some rather embarrassing personal revelations, beyond the simple admission of drug use. The Morris book (written as a lengthy review of Hillary Clinton’s ghostwritten book Living History, which I did read) is interesting in the fact that it isn’t a simple hit-job; it does praise HRC many times. It’s whole thesis is that “HILLARY” is some sort of false “brand” for the politician Hillary Clinton; Morris claims that she is, well, a smart, ambitious, smart policy wonk who doesn’t have the people skills that Bill Clinton has and is more ideological (Bill was more problem solving oriented rather than agenda driven). Frankly, to this point, Morris’ book has increased by respect for HRC as, to be frank, I find HILLARY to be phony and superficial. Hillary Clinton, according to Morris, is neither.

Note: I know that Morris was canned by Bill Clinton for being involved with a hooker, so I view his writing as that of someone describing their ex.
And yes, it appears (so far) that the Media Matters criticism of his work has some merit.

I’ll write a review of these books when I finish them.

The main topic

Dick Morris has some interesting things to say; I swear it almost appears as if he is pulling for Obama. He starts out by saying that Ferraro is a Clinton surrogate out to try to win older white voters for HRC. He says that her claim that BHO is doing well because of his race is wrong. But then he says a bit more:

The fact is that Obama cannot and should not be held accountable for the ranting and raving of his minister, unless he fails to disavow these remarks. He has done all he needs to do in distancing himself from the likes of Farrakhan. And is success is due to his imaginative use of the political process to achieve what he has earned.

Obama out-organized Hillary by focusing on the small caucus states in February, by which time Hillary confidently expected the race to be over.

Obama out-messaged Hillary by refusing special interest PAC or lobbyist money, giving him a way to paint Hillary as the candidate of the Washington establishment.

Obama out-fundraised Hillary by understanding the potential of the Internet to raise quick and clean money and to permit reloading quickly.

Obama out-positioned Hillary by using her claim to experience (faux as it was) to paint her as just another cycle in the oscillation between Bushes and Clintons which has dominated our politics for two decades now.

Obama out-spoke Hillary by showing and eloquence and elegance that she cannot hope to match.

Obama out-targeted Hillary by focusing on young voters and grasping the amazing insight that in an election with a black and a woman, that age would be the decisive variable.

And now Hillary is trying, through her surrogate Ferraro, to make it appear that all Obama had to do was show up, show some skin and win.

Even for the Clintons, this is a new low.

Wow!

Ok, that was from a Republican. But even some Democrats are getting worried about the increasing negativity.

We have an historic nomination battle, driving record Democratic turn-out and commanding the nation’s attention. But, the Democratic race for President has lost its focus. We have John McCain to beat in November, instead we fight each other.

America needs to know our nominee will fight global warming with new jobs, technologies, and investment. Our nominee will expand health coverage to 10 million kids immediately, allow lifesaving research on stem cells, and work toward health care for all by the end of a first term. We will ban torture, restore habeas corpus, and build renewed respect for America around the world. A Democratic President will end the war in Iraq and bring our brave men and women home.

Let voters choose our nominee based on the best we have to offer, not the worst we can imagine. Join me in demanding Senators Clinton and Obama fight McCain, not each other.

If you want to sign the letter, follow the link.

Do you think that I am hard on hawks? Check out Science Avenger.

And if you think that I am hard on one of our Democratic candidates, check out an e-mail message I got from a female Democrat who considers herself to be a feminist! I had said that I had gotten into political fights:

>Other than that, I’ve been mostly getting in political fights.

She responded

I hope defending the choice of Obama, and not the BITCH.

Wahington went almost 70/30 for Obama. We be cool.

Note: Washington is a caucus state.

Strangely enough, I’ve become more at ease. I know that winning this nomination or the general election won’t be easy, and I’ve come to see HRC as someone who just plays rough in the political arena; she is a bit like the physical power forward who will throw hips and elbows but then scream for a foul as soon as she is brushed.

I don’t even dislike her, though I do have contempt for the lousy campaign that they have run and contempt for the whining that they have done because they have gotten their butts kicked so far.

Unless she blatantly cheats, I won’t have a problem supporting her in the general election if she indeed wins the nomination. Of course, I might express a different opinion 5 minutes from now, but I won’t be supporting McCain unless we decided to draft David Duke.