Why Barack and Not Hillary

I will get back to posting about the Walker family and the goings-on in my other favorite TV worlds after the new year. I promise. Particularly if the strike ever ends.


In the meantime, you should read this piece by David Brooks in today's NYTimes.

This Just In: Al Sharpton Bathes Every Day!

The New York Times reports today:

Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware, who announced his candidacy on Wednesday with the hope that he could ride his foreign policy expertise into contention for the Democratic nomination, instead spent the day struggling to explain his description of Senator Barack Obama, the Illinois Democrat running for president, as “the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy.”

Sharpton responded by announcing that he takes a bath every day. (I wonder if he really sits in the bath tub or if he showers!) Biden responded by trying to defend himself on the Daily Show. And Barack comes out smelling like roses...pun intended...as Biden clarifies himself by continuing to heap praise upon Barack: “My mother has an expression: Clean as a whistle and sharp as a tack.” Ain't American politics fun?

The Next President

NPR wondered today whether America is ready to elect a black president. The statistics are really interesting on this question. When asked, more than 65 percent of Americans think that a black person could be elected, but among blacks the number is much, much lower. Somewhere near 50%. If you think about it, it's a very odd poll question. The question isn't: would you vote for a black candidate (although I'm sure those numbers are out there somewhere). Instead, it's about your perception about what your fellow Americans would do. I haven't seen the geographic breakdown on the poll, but it would be interesting to see whether northerners have a different opinion than southerners on this point. I have a sense that electing Obama is possible, but I really don't know how I could possibly know. I grew up in Maine and have lived in Tahoe and Vermont -- not exactly a comprehensive introduction to the improving state of race relations in the U.S. I do *hope* that Obama could be elected. He seems to be the most intriguing politician on the radar at the moment.

Inaugural Post

So I've decided it's time to have my own blog. Seriously. I spend far too much time in the blogosphere now to not have my own blog in which to post various ramblings and links to things I run across on the Web. Plus, I'm on break from my last semester of law school as of tomorrow at 12 [or 12:30 depending upon how incompetent our new registrar turns out to be in getting my Tuesday exam started on time] and I'll probably never have so much free time again.

On this blog, I plan to talk about things I like to do... the chief things I care about at this point in time include raising a three year old, watching the Patriots (and other NFL gossip), and watching TV shows (especially ones that will make my friends and many of my readers wince -- who cares, I love 'em so deal with it!). I also plan to blog a bit about politics -- particularly as Barack's bid for prez gets underway (or not... we'll see)... he intrigues me. Despite my interest in politics and other things "serious," if you want to read my blog, you will have to deal with the fact that I will often post about Survivor or the O.C. or even *gasp* One Tree Hill if the spirit moves me. At other times, I will post about skiing with a three year old. Thus, I cannot assure you that you will enjoy all of my posts... but it's my blog... and I'll watch reality TV and teen soaps if I want to!