BARACK IS DA BAMA

I have a problem. For the first time in my voting history, I can't say that I have a slam dunk choice for the Democratic presidential nominee. And to make my dilemma worse, it looks like my vote will actually matter this time around. Because you see, those pesky New Hampshanuts didn't obey the polls and vote for Obama like everyone said they should. Well, Hillary's rally at UCSB on Friday reminded me that Super Tuesday is just around the corner, and it's clear that no more speeches or debates are going to help me. Nope, I have to stop sitting on the fence and make a decision. So, here goes ... Trekking Left officially endorses ... Barack Obama!

Want to know why? I'll break it down:

JOHN EDWARDS - I like John; I really do. And I feel a little bad for him. Without even getting into his personal struggles, the guy came so very close to being VP in 2004 and then followed that by campaigning his butt off for longer than anyone else. Plus, he's been the first candidate to come out with many key initiatives (e.g. universal health care coverage). Yet, the man can't seem to get the traction needed to be a serious contender. What's this country coming to when a rich white guy can't catch a break? Seriously, though, if I strongly felt he could bring more to the presidential table than the others, I would vote for him without blinking. But all things being fairly equal, I'm just really liking the idea of a woman or a black person being president. Maybe that shouldn't be a major factor in my decision making process, but I don't care. Now is the time to break some barriers in this country!

HILLARY CLINTON - Hillary is such a complicated figure. I have so many conversations with my friends about her, and it seems that every one's feelings are all over the map. For me, it can mostly be boiled down to two things ... Firstly, I want a candidate who's playing to win, rather than someone who's playing not to lose. I am so done with the middle of the road, say nothing, don't take any chances, court independents, listen to crappy consultants kind of politics that plagues the Democratic party. That was a losing strategy for Gore & Kerry, and it's a loser today. It seems to me that Hillary is totally using that same awful playbook. Secondly, and more importantly, I don't think people on the Left truly understand how deeply the hatred goes for her amongst much of the citizenry. Heck, you don't even have to look past the comments on this blog to feel that. And I can't tell you the number of times I've heard some independent or moderate conservative on the teevee say that they would vote for any Democrat but her. My gut tells me a general election that comes down to a few votes in one state like Florida or Ohio will go to the Republicans if she is the nominee. To be clear: the problem with her electability is not that she's a woman .... it's that she's a Clinton.

BARACK OBAMA - I think the key to winning the next election is to inspire hope and make Americans feel good about being Americans again. We simply can't thrive as a country with another 4 or 8 years constantly feeling as if some boogeyman is going to blow us up. We need a respected, calming figure who can show the world what America is really about. I believe that Barack Obama is that person. Not only is he inspirational, but he's shown an uncanny ability to attract independents, young people, and even some Republicans. Now, I know there is this feeling amongst some that latent racists tendencies will prevent many people from actually voting for a black person. That doesn't seem to be a factor so far with Obama. However, for the sake of argument, let's say that it might play a role in the next election. I say, let those votes go. Who wants'm anyway? Finally, there's the lack of experience thing. All I'll say there is that 5 out of the last 6 times we changed parties in a presidential election, it went for the less experienced candidate. And might I add that George H.W. Bush aggressively played the experience card in the race against Bill Clinton.

I probably shouldn't end without talking a little bit about the leading Republican candidates. Hmmm, okay, McCain is the only one who doesn't give me the heebie jeebies.

Well, maybe the heebies.

HOW IOWA CONTROLS THE UNIVERSE

Pssst, I have a secret ... your vote in the in the next Presidential Primary Election doesn't count. That's right, your vote is worth about as much as a US dollar. You can read all the newspapers you want, watch dozens of debates, and analyze national polls until your blue in the face. But passionate as you might be, Iowa is going to decide who is your best candidate for president. Because you see, there is a dirty little secret -- that everyone knows -- and that's the fact that whoever comes out ahead in Iowa, New Hampshire, and (to a lesser extent) South Carolina wins the whole shebang. It doesn't matter that two minutes before those primaries you are in love with someone else. Nope, you are going to see what Iowa does and then you are going to jump off the same cliff.

Now, I'm no psychologist, but it sure seems odd to me that California with its gazillion people would care what some tiny midwest state thinks. But care we do. If you don't believe me, just ask Howard Dean. He was my favorite in 2004 and was ahead in all national polls going into the primaries. But Iowans and New Hampshir...ites(?) decided that Kerry was more "electable," so Dean was done. Super Tuesday was Super Pointless.

This phenomenon troubles me on many levels, but the thing that disturbs me more than anything is the fact that Iowans and New Hampshir...shiers(?) are downright arrogant about it. A few months ago, I was watching C-SPAN shoot interviews with some ordinary people in an Iowa restaurant after a candidate had just eaten there. You know the type of establishment I'm referring to: the one where Fox News likes to point out how the Pantsuit didn't leave a tip (she did). Anyway, I don't remember the exact quotes, but the interviewer asked these people what they thought of so-and-so candidate being ahead in the polls or whatever, and the responses were almost universally the same ... Joe Iowan sitting on the bar stool would say something like, "I don't care what the rest of the country thinks. The candidates need to come here to Iowa, talk directly to me, and we will decide who is the best." Great. So, let me ask you a question California: do you think Joe Iowan isn't going into the primary with a bias against the front-runner? Is that any better than having a bias towards them?

After a rockin evening at Sings Like Hell, I had a debate about this topic with Big Table. It went something like this ...

AVERAGE MAN: I think there should be a national primary.
BIG TABLE: I disagree.
AVERAGE MAN: No, I'm right.
BIG TABLE: You're so smart. How could I have ever doubted you?

At least, that's how the conversation went in my head. Seriously though, Big Table points out that a national primary would simply trade Iowans deciding your vote for money deciding your vote. In other words, if we don't have the checks and balances of the Iowa Caucuses, then the nation will just pick whoever has the most ads on TV. Okay, I'll buy that for a dollar. However, I think there is a solution for both of us ... Jonathan Soros recently wrote a New York Times Editorial titled Vote Early, Count Often in which he argues that we should have national primaries but give all people the option to mail in their ballots early. And we should count the ballots as they arrive instead of waiting until election day. That way, eager and informed voters can still give a certain candidate "momentum" going into the election and counter the big money. The key, though, is that it's national and that we all have the opportunity to fill the role previously held by a handful of Iowans and New Hampsh...anites(?).

Whatever the solution, though, we must have some flavor of a national primary. Iowa has a population of around 3 million; California has a population of approximately 34 million. Yet, we let them determine our fate in these oh so important elections. That would sort of be like Isla Vista choosing Santa Barbara's mayor every time. It's simply not fair to us, and it's not fair to a candidate who runs a rock solid national campaign for 12 months and then has one bad day in Iowa. In the case of Howard Dean, apparently Joe Iowan didn't like all those "kids" coming into their state and telling them for whom to vote. Note that Dean had a strong base of young supporters who canvassed in Iowa. How dare they?

But don't think Iowa and New Hampshire will go down without a fight. After a bunch of other states moved up their primaries this year, you would have thought we kicked all the IA and NH dogs in the face. They immediately followed suit and moved up their primaries as well ... because of course, it's their god given right to decide who the rest of the country should like.