THE TYGRRRR EXPRESS

I often refer to the blinking VCR theory, which states that even people who are almost always wrong can accidentally be right twice a day.

I now need to offer the supernova theory, which allows for even the arbitrarily volatile among society to accidentally show a glimmering flash of truth every incredibly long once in a while.

Hillary Clinton is wrong about virtually everything that matters in this world. It is not because she is stupid. Far from it, she is an intelligent woman who seems to soak up policy information. It is that her conclusions on most issues are simply impractical, unrealistic, and recycled ashes of past failures of others.

In addition to her inability to be correct about what matters in this world, she is also not a very nice person. In fact, she is quite nasty. When confronted with this, she then plays the innocent girly girl routine, claiming that any criticism of her is an indictment of all women, and that men with the same qualities would be seen in a positive light. This is false. Margaret Thatcher was a great leader. George Herbert Walker Bush has shown an incredible graciousness towards Bill Clinton, as has the current President Bush. The dour looks on Hillary Clinton’s many scowls during State of the Union Addresses shows she is unwilling or unable to show the same graciousness. Most people have opponents. She has personal enemies.

Yet despite that fact I look at Hillary Clinton and see very little politically that is positive for society, I must separate my ideology on the supernova occasions when she is right. She actually had an unscripted moment, and a lot was gleamed from that.

At a recent trip to the circus, aka the democratic debates, Hillary Clinton was overheard telling John Edwards that she wished they could have a debate without all of the lower tier candidates sucking up air time. She was criticized by many people for this. Her comments supposedly reinforced her image as an arrogant, haughty queen who thinks everybody else is beneath her. While on many occasions this perception may be reality, I am forced to say the four words I did not know could possibly exist inside of me…Hillary Clinton was right. My head almost exploded thinking this, but I am giving Lady MacBeth her due.

For all the many reasons to dislike her, Hillary is a legitimate candidate surrounded by clowns. The fact that anybody can run for President and automatically be on the same stage with serious contenders is a flaw in the debate system. Anybody who states that with exposure comes a rise in the polls has it backwards. One proves viability first in the polls, and then deserves the exposure that comes with viability.

Despite his lunatic meltdown that ended his 2004 candidacy, Howard Dean flew under the radar, and demonstrated his viability. It was only after he rocketed to the frontrunner position that he began getting coverage. He earned it fair and square. He then crumbled under tougher scrutiny, which was also fair. He may have peaked too early, but he peaked without any help from the media.

I have often referred to the republican candidates as Giuliani, McCain, Romney, and the Seven Dwarfs. I have since added Fred Thompson to the list of the “big dogs,” since he has proven his viability. I have nothing against the other candidates, who I will not even deign to mention. I am sure they are fine men. They are also wasting valuable air time.

For those who think this view is haughty, where does one draw the line? When Gray Davis was recalled like a defective product, Americans had Gary Coleman, porn star Marey Carey, and comedian Gallagher sharing the stage discussing politics.

Some may say this is an aberration, but can anyone tell me why Mike Gravel and Ron Paul are on my tv set during a serious debate of serious issues? One man’s “gadfly,” is another man’s intrusion. Neither of these are glowing terms. The debates may get better ratings, but at the expense of lower quality. I guess anything television touches truly does turn to poison.

Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards are the legitimate candidates on the democratic side. The republicans have their four big dogs. The rest should simply go away and quit wasting time. If they want to be Vice President, they can send their resume and cover letter to the remaining presidential nominees. Yes, they have aright to run, but the U.S. Constitution does not give them the right to be taken seriously.

At some point the children need to go to sleep and let the adults talk business. This is how things get done. The nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates requires that a candidate have 15% in the polls to participate in the debates during the general election. This is why Ross Perot at 19% participated in 1992, and the same reason why Perot at 8% in 1996 was excluded. Between the libertarians, peace and freedom, green, american independent, socialists, communists, anarchists, and others (remember the natural law party, where every issue could be solved with transcendental meditation?), at some point sanity had to win out.

The primaries are an anarchist’s dream. There is no structure. It is hard to have a serious conversation about relevant issues (not that the democrats would anyway, but at least they would have no excuses) when there are young screaming kids on the stage demanding attention.

Dark horses do not win in today’s society in presidential races. The idea that people will come out of nowhere to win does not happen. The horse and buggy gave way to the Ford Model T a long time ago. The invisible primary, for better or worse (most would say worse) lasts over a year. That is more than enough time for candidates to either develop credibility. The candidates that complain that money equals viability are simply the candidates that are failures on the fundraising circuit. Like Ben Affleck says in “Boiler Room,” “People who say money is the root of all evil do not have any.”

As much as many liberals despise the free marketplace and capitalism, the winnowing of candidates into tiers is the free marketplace working effectively. I personally think Hillary Clinton is totally wrong for the job of President of the United States. However, plenty of people disagree with me, and their opinion trumps mine.

Just because the minority in this country has rights does not mean hey get decision making power. The majority does, and should, rule. It is why, despite being one of my favorite comedians of all time, Gallagher did not become Governor of California.

Many people like Gallagher. They just do not see him as a serious and viable candidate. This is all Hillary Clinton was trying to say during that unscripted moment. Some politicians would issue phony apologies, but luckily, Hillary never apologizes because she never sees herself as wrong. In this case, she is not wrong.

We are trying to judge who will be the next leader of the free world, the person who will be leading America during World War III. A series of debates that gives the serious candidates only a few minutes to speak is bad, but the current system that gives them only milliseconds is worse.

The Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears played in the Superbowl last year. The Oakland Raiders went 2-14. They had every right to attend the game as spectators and sit in the stands, but they did not earn the right to be on the field. The season winnowed 32 teams down to 12, and the playoffs winnowed further down to two teams.

It is time to stop this nonsense of letting every candidate endorsed by at least half their own family members share the stage with candidates who are supported by millions. The person making minimum wage should not be taking a seat with the billionaires at estate sales and auctions. Life is not fair.

Hillary Clinton was 100% right to be frustrated at being forced to contend with nonsense. Now if only she could have a platform so that more people could hear her speak. Then they would know she was right about virtually nothing else.

eric

This entry was posted on Friday, July 13th, 2007 at 5:03 pm and is filed under POLITICS. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.