Tuesday, January 20, 2004
Post-Iowa thoughts and other stuff
I have to admit I haven't followed the Democratic nomination race in any great detail thus far. Amongst the mainstream contenders there didn't seem to be much differentiation policy-wise based on the little I had read or seen. However, I tuned into MSNBC last night to watch the results of the Iowa caucus and formulated a few thoughts/comments as the candidates gave their post-caucus speeches:
- Momentum trumped Organziation as Kerry and Edwards bounced back from being way down to #1 and 2 in the caucus while Dean flamed out with a disappointing and distant 18% third place showing and Gephardt, who has years of campaign experience in Iowa and was counting on a first place showing in the caucus, came in fourth.
- Kerry looks polished but still a bit canned and stiff as a candidate. He's not quite as bad, but I got Al Gore 2000 flashbacks watching him speak.
- Dean will probably come out of Iowa hurt the most, not just by his unexpectedly poor showing, but also his attrocious post-caucus speech which had me questioning whether he's really built for this. His policy & substance-free wrestling match-style bravado and repeated state-by-state run-downs epitomized the largely issue-less camapaign he seems to have run so far. Dean's argument that he shoud be the Dem's nominee seems to have been based mostly on the fact that he was leading in the polls. He may have captured the imagination of many with his internet fundraising acumen and MeetUp-fueled organization building, but I think he's gonna need to really show and prove from here on out if he wants to stay in this race and be competitive.
- While I'm sure it was basically just a variation on the stump speech he's been giving throughout his campaign, John Edwards really caught my attention and ended up impressing me the most with his speech. He's been pilloried in the media for his sunny optimism (like this is a bad thing?), but as I heard him speak last night, he really struck me as the kind of guy that 1) could really go toe-to-toe with Bush in the election race and be both competitive and electable 2) was saying the kind of things that would resonate with both the Democratic core and undecided swing voters and 3) was the kind of figure who could help heal and bring this country, which has been sharply polarised on a variety of issues but in particular any issues relating to the Iraq War/War on terror, together.
I'm not sure where Lieberman stands in this polls, given that he (and Clark) both sat out the Iowa caucus, but this is now looking like at least a 4-way race now between Kerrry, Edwards, Clark and, an increasingly weak, Dean. Like many, I have a whole lot more research to do before I feel I can make a decision as to which candidate to support, but now that I've take my first look, I at least have the beginnings of some context within which to make a final decision.
Of course, Bush has now stolen the spotlight and any political media coverage from the Dems by scheduling his State of the Union address for tonight. Expect more empty words disguised in the rhetoric of his "compassionate conservativism."
Worth considering: History shows the stock market does better under Democrats. (CNN Money via David James Group)
Sharpton falters on campaign trail: D.C. voters, local black politicians not impressed; he may be happy with hype. (Crain's)
Download classic tracks from the Warp records catalog via their Bleep Music download service.
Jadakiss "Kiss of Death" mp3 for you (courtesy HipHopGame.com).
Is Beezel's "See About Ya" feat. Bone Crusher and David Banner on Def Jam South going to be this year's "Never Scared"?
The return of the 45th generation Roman: "You're Fit and You Know It" is the first single from The Streets sophomore album as reported in the Jan. 3rd NME.
Janet Jackson produced by Dallas Austin (most recently of Kelis Tasty fame)? This could be GREAT look for her. (MTV News)
Sorority/Fraternity Life meets Bad Boy's Making the Band? The new Black college reality show College Hill begins airing on BET starting January 28.
The anti-Newlyweds? Dave Navarro and Carmen Elektra in 'Til Death Do Us Part: Carmen & Dave starting tomorrow on MTV.
And Puma has teamed with designer/architect Philippe Starck to create a new minimalist/modern sneaker line to debut this Fall. (via trendcentral™)
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- Momentum trumped Organziation as Kerry and Edwards bounced back from being way down to #1 and 2 in the caucus while Dean flamed out with a disappointing and distant 18% third place showing and Gephardt, who has years of campaign experience in Iowa and was counting on a first place showing in the caucus, came in fourth.
- Kerry looks polished but still a bit canned and stiff as a candidate. He's not quite as bad, but I got Al Gore 2000 flashbacks watching him speak.
- Dean will probably come out of Iowa hurt the most, not just by his unexpectedly poor showing, but also his attrocious post-caucus speech which had me questioning whether he's really built for this. His policy & substance-free wrestling match-style bravado and repeated state-by-state run-downs epitomized the largely issue-less camapaign he seems to have run so far. Dean's argument that he shoud be the Dem's nominee seems to have been based mostly on the fact that he was leading in the polls. He may have captured the imagination of many with his internet fundraising acumen and MeetUp-fueled organization building, but I think he's gonna need to really show and prove from here on out if he wants to stay in this race and be competitive.
- While I'm sure it was basically just a variation on the stump speech he's been giving throughout his campaign, John Edwards really caught my attention and ended up impressing me the most with his speech. He's been pilloried in the media for his sunny optimism (like this is a bad thing?), but as I heard him speak last night, he really struck me as the kind of guy that 1) could really go toe-to-toe with Bush in the election race and be both competitive and electable 2) was saying the kind of things that would resonate with both the Democratic core and undecided swing voters and 3) was the kind of figure who could help heal and bring this country, which has been sharply polarised on a variety of issues but in particular any issues relating to the Iraq War/War on terror, together.
I'm not sure where Lieberman stands in this polls, given that he (and Clark) both sat out the Iowa caucus, but this is now looking like at least a 4-way race now between Kerrry, Edwards, Clark and, an increasingly weak, Dean. Like many, I have a whole lot more research to do before I feel I can make a decision as to which candidate to support, but now that I've take my first look, I at least have the beginnings of some context within which to make a final decision.
Of course, Bush has now stolen the spotlight and any political media coverage from the Dems by scheduling his State of the Union address for tonight. Expect more empty words disguised in the rhetoric of his "compassionate conservativism."
Worth considering: History shows the stock market does better under Democrats. (CNN Money via David James Group)
Sharpton falters on campaign trail: D.C. voters, local black politicians not impressed; he may be happy with hype. (Crain's)
Download classic tracks from the Warp records catalog via their Bleep Music download service.
Jadakiss "Kiss of Death" mp3 for you (courtesy HipHopGame.com).
Is Beezel's "See About Ya" feat. Bone Crusher and David Banner on Def Jam South going to be this year's "Never Scared"?
The return of the 45th generation Roman: "You're Fit and You Know It" is the first single from The Streets sophomore album as reported in the Jan. 3rd NME.
Janet Jackson produced by Dallas Austin (most recently of Kelis Tasty fame)? This could be GREAT look for her. (MTV News)
Sorority/Fraternity Life meets Bad Boy's Making the Band? The new Black college reality show College Hill begins airing on BET starting January 28.
The anti-Newlyweds? Dave Navarro and Carmen Elektra in 'Til Death Do Us Part: Carmen & Dave starting tomorrow on MTV.
And Puma has teamed with designer/architect Philippe Starck to create a new minimalist/modern sneaker line to debut this Fall. (via trendcentral™)
