Dredging

I’m not a wonk by any means, but I do have more than a passing interest in the happenings of the political arena in my home country. Now that the the heavy hitters have already tossed their hats into the 2008 U.S. presidential election ring, it’s not too early to start drizzling some of my own thoughts on what promises to be an exciting and important campaign season.

First, can we pull the whole thing in and just get the election over with like, now? I wonder if there’s anyone out there at all who believes that Bush can save his presidency in less than two years; why give him the chance to blow it even more at the expense of countless more lives, billions of dollars, and unquantifiable amounts of squandered, global standing? Let’s just skip past that part so we can actually start fixing shit. Although I’d miss this, which gives me a fun kick nearly every morning I get into the office.

Second, let’s get to Bill Richardson. The governor of New Mexico recently announced his intention to compete for the Democratic nomination. The man is well-spoken, ostensibly intelligent, and very experienced in the chambers of American politics. He’s also, how shall I say, a complete dweeb who deserves his inevitable shellacking at the hands of candidates who I actually want to see lead my country.

Those of you too young or distracted to pay attention to the espionage case of Dr. Wen Ho Lee back in 1999 may remember that Richardson, then Secretary of Energy under the Clinton, was a maniac in throwing the Chinese-American scientist to the treason-screaming dogs. Many, including myself, believe he scapegoated Lee with his eye on riding the paranoia wave all the way to the running-mate slot for Al Gore’s 2000 bid. After the case fell apart and was revealed as nothing more than an empty witch-hunt, all that was left behind was a man whose career and reputation were shattered, and an untouched Governor Richardson.

It’s unbelievably disheartening to understand that, regardless of rhetoric, our elected leaders will always be vulnerable to ambition and political capital. Richardson will never have my vote, but he’s not the only one who will stomp on those the leverage-less masses in the name of political destiny. Politicians…they generally suck.

All of that, and yet I find myself falling in love with this man. Go figure.