What drives an individual to seek the highest office in the land at a critical time in history? Some run to satisfy personal ambition. Some seek a platform for important issues or political philosophies. Some run because they believe they can change the world for the better and some run as a means to other offices. Some run because they can. In the tortured process of presidential primaries, the greatest certainty is that the unexpected will happen. A frontrunner will stumble and fall. A little known, third tier candidate will emerge with widespread support as a threat to the established order.
In the current campaign, two presumptive heavyweights (McCain, Thompson) have fallen from the upper tier and another (Huckabee) has sprung from the marginal to contender status before a single vote has been cast.
Perhaps that explains why the second tier candidates throw in for the chase. In the media driven blood sport of presidential politics, anything can happen. We remember too well that Howard Dean was the Democratic frontrunner going into the 2004 Iowa caucus.
From a voter’s perspective, there are many reasons to vote for a second tier candidate. First, to register a protest or shape the policies of the eventual nominee while holding out for the possibility that lightning will strike. Second, to lend support for a candidate as a vice presidential nominee or member of the cabinet. Third, to inform the party and the candidates where you stand on the issues.
THE TERRORIST ATTACK CONTINGENCY: McCAIN AND BIDEN
The dirty little secret is that many of the candidates are running with the possibility of another terrorist attack securely in hand. If the unspeakable happens, the country will be looking for a hard line leader.
The closest thing to General George Patton in either party is Senator John McCain. Someday the gritty McCain may finally accept that the war is over – not the Iraq War, not Iran, and not the Global War on Terror but Vietnam. No one wants to say it because the man was tortured, he’s a war hero and the country owes him a debt of gratitude but the fact is he has been fighting the same war all these years.
Perhaps that explains why the second tier candidates throw in for the chase. In the media driven blood sport of presidential politics, anything can happen. We remember too well that Howard Dean was the Democratic frontrunner going into the 2004 Iowa caucus.
From a voter’s perspective, there are many reasons to vote for a second tier candidate. First, to register a protest or shape the policies of the eventual nominee while holding out for the possibility that lightning will strike. Second, to lend support for a candidate as a vice presidential nominee or member of the cabinet. Third, to inform the party and the candidates where you stand on the issues.
THE TERRORIST ATTACK CONTINGENCY: McCAIN AND BIDEN
The dirty little secret is that many of the candidates are running with the possibility of another terrorist attack securely in hand. If the unspeakable happens, the country will be looking for a hard line leader.
The closest thing to General George Patton in either party is Senator John McCain. Someday the gritty McCain may finally accept that the war is over – not the Iraq War, not Iran, and not the Global War on Terror but Vietnam. No one wants to say it because the man was tortured, he’s a war hero and the country owes him a debt of gratitude but the fact is he has been fighting the same war all these years.
We may have great empathy for McCain’s pain but when he lectures Congressman Ron Paul about appeasing the Third Reich and not having the guts to win in Vietnam (as if 60,000 American and 2-3 million Vietnamese lives were not enough), we have a right to be frightened. In fact, if we are not frightened, the nation is in grave danger.
Senator McCain may best be considered the likely vice presidential selection of Mayor Rudy Giuliani with his contingent of Neocon advisers. McCain would become the Dick Cheney of a Giuliani administration.
The Democratic equivalent to John McCain is Senator Joe Biden. Like McCain, he is tough as nails though not half as fanatic. His federalist solution to the Iraqi civil divide sets him apart and a sizable majority of Senators voted with him. He calls for a measured withdrawal but wishes to maintain a sizeable occupation force indefinitely. Biden is willing to deal on all major issues, including Free Trade, environmental policy and civil liberties.
Biden will never gain the support of the left or the antiwar movement but in the event of a terrorist attack, he is the policy alternative to Hillary Clinton and his tough guy image is far more convincing.
REAGAN NOSTALGIA: FRED THOMPSON
The Actor-Senator from good old Rocky Top should have been a frontrunner from the start but he showed up looking like he forgot to set his alarm clock. Like the current president, Thompson too often seems uninformed and out of touch. While invoking the name of Ronald Reagan, he appears to have taken his cues from Reagan’s second term when the darling of all conservatives consistently feigned deafness to avoid interaction with the press.
By the time he awakens, the race should be over but someone may consider him for the vice presidency if the operatives believe he can deliver the NASCAR vote.
MEMORIES OF McCARTHY: CHRISTOPHER DODD
Senator Dodd has quietly emerged as the frontline candidate with the strongest progressive positions on the Iraq War, Fair Trade, Green America and civil liberties. With his principled opposition to the restructured FISA bill that offers immunity to telecommunication giants for betraying their customers, Dodd gained the accolades of libertarians and progressives alike.
Positioned between Dennis Kucinich and John Edwards, if the war takes a dramatic turn for the worse (for example, if Muqtada al Sadr declares an end to the ceasefire), Dodd becomes a stronger antiwar alternative to Edwards. More likely, Edwards may offer Dodd the VP slot if he prevails. The Senator from Connecticut is well spoken, well informed and eminently qualified. It is a shame that his candidacy has not gained more traction.
A vote for Dodd is a vote against the war.
HILLARY’S MAN: BILL RICHARDSON
Governor Richardson is probably the most qualified individual in either party to step into the Oval Office and begin the job of rebuilding the nation’s international prestige. He is a diplomat with impressive credentials. Nevertheless, he is on the wrong side of the progressive ledger on the death penalty and gun rights. He has compromised positions on Free Trade and health care. Finally, while his stand on the war is reasonably strong, he was for it before he was against it.
When Richardson sacrificed valuable airtime defending frontrunner Hillary Clinton against the legitimate attacks of Obama and Edwards in a televised debate, he took himself out of the running for the top job.
His cards are on the table: He wants a job in the next Clinton White House.
Next Up:
Senator McCain may best be considered the likely vice presidential selection of Mayor Rudy Giuliani with his contingent of Neocon advisers. McCain would become the Dick Cheney of a Giuliani administration.
The Democratic equivalent to John McCain is Senator Joe Biden. Like McCain, he is tough as nails though not half as fanatic. His federalist solution to the Iraqi civil divide sets him apart and a sizable majority of Senators voted with him. He calls for a measured withdrawal but wishes to maintain a sizeable occupation force indefinitely. Biden is willing to deal on all major issues, including Free Trade, environmental policy and civil liberties.
Biden will never gain the support of the left or the antiwar movement but in the event of a terrorist attack, he is the policy alternative to Hillary Clinton and his tough guy image is far more convincing.
REAGAN NOSTALGIA: FRED THOMPSON
The Actor-Senator from good old Rocky Top should have been a frontrunner from the start but he showed up looking like he forgot to set his alarm clock. Like the current president, Thompson too often seems uninformed and out of touch. While invoking the name of Ronald Reagan, he appears to have taken his cues from Reagan’s second term when the darling of all conservatives consistently feigned deafness to avoid interaction with the press.
By the time he awakens, the race should be over but someone may consider him for the vice presidency if the operatives believe he can deliver the NASCAR vote.
MEMORIES OF McCARTHY: CHRISTOPHER DODD
Senator Dodd has quietly emerged as the frontline candidate with the strongest progressive positions on the Iraq War, Fair Trade, Green America and civil liberties. With his principled opposition to the restructured FISA bill that offers immunity to telecommunication giants for betraying their customers, Dodd gained the accolades of libertarians and progressives alike.
Positioned between Dennis Kucinich and John Edwards, if the war takes a dramatic turn for the worse (for example, if Muqtada al Sadr declares an end to the ceasefire), Dodd becomes a stronger antiwar alternative to Edwards. More likely, Edwards may offer Dodd the VP slot if he prevails. The Senator from Connecticut is well spoken, well informed and eminently qualified. It is a shame that his candidacy has not gained more traction.
A vote for Dodd is a vote against the war.
HILLARY’S MAN: BILL RICHARDSON
Governor Richardson is probably the most qualified individual in either party to step into the Oval Office and begin the job of rebuilding the nation’s international prestige. He is a diplomat with impressive credentials. Nevertheless, he is on the wrong side of the progressive ledger on the death penalty and gun rights. He has compromised positions on Free Trade and health care. Finally, while his stand on the war is reasonably strong, he was for it before he was against it.
When Richardson sacrificed valuable airtime defending frontrunner Hillary Clinton against the legitimate attacks of Obama and Edwards in a televised debate, he took himself out of the running for the top job.
His cards are on the table: He wants a job in the next Clinton White House.
Next Up:
THE LEADERBOARD: CLINTON, OBAMA, EDWARDS, GIULIANI, ROMNEY AND HUCKABEE.
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