U.S. Presidential Candidate Races

It sounds according to the news we get in Canada that the Republicans' Presidential Candidate Races are side shows next to the Democratics. I find this interesting because if this is the case, two things need to be talked about more than they have. First, is that this side-show status of the Republicans may be an indictor of how tried the American public is of a Republican politics and the trouble the Republican ideologies have gotten their country into in terms of the economy and world politics (i.e., Iraq, middle east, etc.). The second, if these events are an indictor of how the Presidential elections are going to be, then it will either be the first African American or female President elected.

In relation, to the first of these regardless of who finally gets elected as President their administration is going to be left with these concerns. I think it is important to understand the question should not be whether or not going into Iraq was needed or justified, but what do to now: it is obviously too late to turn back-time. After the election I am predicting two things if the Democratic win (1) there will be movement in the markets (nothing to worry about—simply resulting from the uncertainty of what the new Administration will do—things should clam down right away, and (2) there will be breath of relief around the world (and in particular in the U.S.). However, following this breath, there will be this wall of ‘what now’? It will dawn on people that the U.S. simply cannot get up and leave Iraq or the Middle East. The reason for this is for the effects on the economy of the U.S. and the world (i.e., lost oil, increase in price of oil, etc.)—in particular of concern to the Americans is how a downturn or increase in costs at the world economy level will affect them. I cannot help wonder if the Middle Eastern governments and people of those countries will react to changes in U.S. According, to the news we get in Canada it will be welcomed by the people themselves, but a silence is around the expected government reactions (but on the other hand I do not expected foreign governments to comment of each other elections or domestic issues, at least to the media).

As for the second of these I think what surprises me the most, is there is so little talk in the media (or at least from the American channels we get here) about the real probably that next President of the U.S. could either be African American or a female. The reason for this, at least, for myself is I was brought up in a generation that while great strides in human equality was expected to occur and brought-up to think as everyone as equals there was an undertone that this day would not arrive anytime soon (at least not in the lifespan of anyone alive at the time). I regret there is not more discussion of the demographics of the votes for Clinton and Obama in their Candidacy races and whether or not things are expected to change come Presidential election time: granted some of this may depend on whom the Republicans elect as their Presidential Candidate. There is only a little talk about their voters’ demographics: Clinton—women; Obama—young people, minorities, middle-class whites.

I would be interesting to hear more discussion on whether or not Hillary Clinton will benefit, in terms, of votes because her husband was President? Personally, I think it will hinder her if anything because those that did not like her husband’s Presidency will not vote for her to be their candidate. On the other hand, I wonder if she is getting any sympathy votes because of her husband cheating on her? I think if she does become the Democratic Candidate, it could be the case, then her husband being the former President will hurt her not only because those that did not like his Presidency may stay away from her (granted this is guilt by association), but I do not think she will benefit much because of innocence by association (people voting because they liked her husband’s administration): the reason for this is I think most of them, whom would vote down this line, would do it anyways because they might be loyal Democratic voters (in other words they liked his Presidency because he was a Democratic and they will vote for her because she is a Democratic). I also wonder how much in the eyes of the American electorate are her successes (while her husband was in office) credited to her husband, or will she be seen to stand on her own two feet by the American electorate if she wins the Democratic Candidacy.

I would also like to know why Clinton and Obama? Who encourage them to put themselves up for Candidacy? Did either choose to enter because the other did (or because of the difference of views the other holds): in other words, do these two people represent a split within the Democratic Party’s ideology/ideologies?