Saturday, November 27
I've been trying to decide which EPL team to root for. I used to simply root for whatever team had a member of the US National team on it, but I soured on that once Tim Howard went to Man U. When I was in England this summer, I visited Sussex--specifically, Hastings and Battle. My wife and I fell in love with the beauty, history, and charm of this area. The nearest EPL team to Battle is Pompey (Portsmouth). So go Pompey! Silly? I guess so, but it takes a lot to be a European football fan in Southern California (most games start at 4:30 AM), so cut me some slack!
Friday, November 5
Well, all I can say about the election is... you really can't blame Kerry. He did just about everything he could to win. It wasn't enough, but I don't think people will be looking back at Kerry as a failure the way people still look back at Dukakis or Mondale or even (unfairly--since he actually won) Gore. Kerry pulled Democrats together, did all he could in the debates, took the mudslinging and kept fighting. What more do you want?
Well, to be honest, it would have helped if Kerry was less of a windbag and if he had been from Georgia or North Carolina, not Massachusetts. When I voted in the primary, I couldn't decide who to go with: Kerry or Edwards. I chose Edwards, largely because I thought he was more articulate and he wasn't a New Englander. I think I made the correct choice. Of course, Edwards didn't have the experience (in the military and in government) that Kerry had, but I don't think those things matter quite as much as people think they do. I still don't understand the Republican attacks on Edwards being a lawyer; who cares? He fought for working class people against big businesses. What's wrong with that? So, to me Edwards would have been a better candidate. Would he have won? Hard to say--after all, his place on the ticket didn't do much to help Kerry in the south.
But none of that really matters now, and none of it has any bearing on what Kerry did during the campaign. But it's food for thought for 2008, when (I hope) Edwards will be primed for another run, possibly against Jeb Bush (if you can stomach that thought--I can't). Then, in 2012 or 2016, it'll be Barack Obama's turn--he's the future, folks. Keep an eye on him.
Update: This map says it all, I think.
Well, to be honest, it would have helped if Kerry was less of a windbag and if he had been from Georgia or North Carolina, not Massachusetts. When I voted in the primary, I couldn't decide who to go with: Kerry or Edwards. I chose Edwards, largely because I thought he was more articulate and he wasn't a New Englander. I think I made the correct choice. Of course, Edwards didn't have the experience (in the military and in government) that Kerry had, but I don't think those things matter quite as much as people think they do. I still don't understand the Republican attacks on Edwards being a lawyer; who cares? He fought for working class people against big businesses. What's wrong with that? So, to me Edwards would have been a better candidate. Would he have won? Hard to say--after all, his place on the ticket didn't do much to help Kerry in the south.
But none of that really matters now, and none of it has any bearing on what Kerry did during the campaign. But it's food for thought for 2008, when (I hope) Edwards will be primed for another run, possibly against Jeb Bush (if you can stomach that thought--I can't). Then, in 2012 or 2016, it'll be Barack Obama's turn--he's the future, folks. Keep an eye on him.
Update: This map says it all, I think.
