The Individualist 11.06.07: Why Hillary Is Leading the Pack

Posted by Joe Rivett on 11.06.2007

Hillary has built a sizable lead. I'll tell you why primarily by bashing her competition or lack thereof.

Sometimes I hate what I am a part of. Hi, my name is Joe Rivett and I'm a political junkie. During my free time, I study polls. I tape Meet the Press every week. Other than Howard Stern, my radio is tuned to political talk radio. Out of the 100 Senators, I can almost name them all.

Unlike many political junkies, I'll admit that who is president isn't that important. I don't always vote. I am an independent. I am moderate and/or sometimes all over the place.

I think what makes my columns good is that I am not out to change your mind. I don't get personal. I like to tell it how it is. I like to give you a non-partisan perspective. I want to put you in the shoes of the average voter, not the average junkie.

The problem with junkies is that many have their favorite candidates and can't see reality. Don't believe me… Tell a Kucinich supporter that he would make an awful president and never have a chance in hell at winning. The junkies also seem to LOVE John Edwards and his war on poverty. And Obama, wow, junkies are infatuated with his newness.

Oh yeah, I'm forgetting someone. Hillary Clinton. The junkies HATE her. They can't understand why the Democratic Party is embracing her so much. Luckily I have the answer.

No Serious Competition

The first reason Hillary is doing so well is that she has no serious competition. Obama is a lightweight. Senator for two years makes you qualified to be president nowadays? I don't think so. Here is a question… If Obama weren't black, would anybody give a shit about him? I'm dead serious. If Obama were a white Senator from Illinois, would he get half of the media attention he's getting? Hell no. He hasn't done anything noteworthy in the Senate. Frankly, Obama is about as exciting as Fred Thompson.

The number three guy John Edwards isn't much better. He was only a senator for 6 years and he spent half the time there running for president and defending Bill Clinton during the impeachment trial. Had he ran for reelection he would have lost. He won exactly one primary state four years ago and somehow John Kerry thought he would make a good Vice President. He talks about his father working in a mill more than Giuliani mentions 9/11.

Bill Richardson has experience and charm but has looked dull in the debates. He is more of a panderer than Hillary Clinton. His plan to get the troops home in six months is not very feasible.

Chris Dodd is my favorite choice but no average American knows who he is. I told a coworker that Dodd was my choice and my coworker responded with: "Isn't he doing really bad in the Republican primary." He also doesn't look like the kind of guy you'd want to have a beer with unless you are a major political dork.

Joe Biden is great but he has a habit of putting his foot in his mouth. His racial jokes sound George Allen-ish when he stated "I've had a great relationship (with Indian Americans). In Delaware, the largest growth in population is Indian-Americans moving from India. You cannot go to a 7-Eleven or a Dunkin' Donuts unless you have a slight Indian accent. I'm not joking." The dumbass could have talked his way out of it but he had to say he wasn't joking! I love Joe Biden but referring to Obama as the first black clean candidate shows that he is worse than Howard Dean with gaffes. Biden reminds me of your favorite uncle that is so cool until he starts talking about his sex life at the dinner table and you find him uncomfortable.

Kucinich is liberal by Canada's standards. Yes, he is George McGovern on steroids. I'm more excited to see what he pulls out of his pocket than what he says.

Mike Gravel… Mike Gravel… uhhhhhhhhhhhhh yeah. I make more a year than he has raised for president.

There is only legitimate challenger, Al Gore, and he doesn't want to run.

Name Recognition

A lot of Democrats are going to vote for Hillary Clinton because they know her. It sounds stupid but it is reality. There are lots of Democrats that aren't political but vote in primaries nevertheless. I believe these Democrats will support Hillary based on name recognition.

Buy One Get One Free

Democrats love Bill Clinton. They miss the 90s when the economy was booming and there were no quagmires. Voting for Hillary gets Bill back in a major capacity and Americans are nostalgic. We love to remember the good old days. Why else would I still watch Saved by the Bell?

The Netroots/Blogosphere Is Overrated

The most popular presidential candidate on the Internet is Ron Paul. What does that translate to in a national poll? Three percent, one percent behind Duncan Hunter. On the Left, Kucinich makes Moveon.org and Daily Kos wet. Yet he is only at four percent, tied with Joe Biden.

There you have it, four reasons why Hillary is popular with a lack of competition being the best reason. The junkies are amazed that someone who has not been very anti-war is doing so well. I'm tired of the junkie predictions that Hillary's war waffling and triangulation is going to get her in trouble just as I'm tired of junkie predictions that Rudy won't get the social conservative vote. It is the common folk that determine elections. Common folk aren't as interested as junkies on how Hillary voted in the Iran Revolutionary Guard being a terrorist organization.

Mike Huckabee is Killing Fred Thompson

According to the latest Newsweek Poll, Huckabee moved up from 2% to 7% nationally while Fred Thompson dropped from 22% to 15% nationally.

Have a nice week!