Gary V. Powell, Author

Gary,

Okay, an open blog posting is too much like wet cement; you can only resist it so long. Besides, you didn’t make the post not expecting a response, or did you? I have waited for someone else to jump in, but lacking that, here goes:

I see in this election, three thoughtful, decent, well meaning, reasonably competent, but ultimately incomplete candidates. Thus far in a very long and exhausting campaign all have acquitted themselves quite well, which in a way is an indication of how they could perform in office. I think it is safe to say that there has never been a formula developed for picking great Presidents, they are so rare, even over 200+ years there have not been enough of them to create a reliable method. Obviously the one thing that everyone would like the most is the most elusive, experience. There is just no way to determine what experience is useful in making a President, other than being a President. It may be the ultimate on the job training exercise.

Hillary has observed first hand an effective President for eight years, but that hardly qualifies as hands-on experience. Obama and McCain don’t even have that, so I don’t see any of them as “experienced”

McCain has two weaknesses. Even among many of my “senior citizen” friends. (Which are becoming more numerous) he is regarded as too old. I don’t know that that is a fatal, but the rigors of the office take their toll on everyone. I am concerned about his endurance, even for four years. What is a “fatal” in my mind is his unwavering support of the war in Iraq. At this juncture, for any thinking person to label that fiasco as anything else is just asking for a repeat of the same mistakes. He is obviously too inclined to seek military solutions to political problems and he doesn’t seem to be able to grasp that opposing a military policy is different than disrespecting our troops. That is really dangerous for someone in government.

Hillary does have experience in policy matters, and seems to have formulated at least an answer to all of the countries problems. What is lacking is any assurance that any of those will work, much less be effective. After all, not all ideas are good ones. As for her elect ability, I really have my doubts. Over a year ago, Dick Cheney was quoted as saying that she would be a “formidable candidate”, which in Republican dirty tricks code means “we have the goods on her and can kick her ass”. The ‘Swift Boat’ contingent is literally drooling over the prospect of a Clinton candidacy. But this aside, her real weakness is a lack of vision. Simply having solutions to problems is not leadership. In my mind she has yet to be able to unite any significant group of people behind her, and is in fact very capable of being divisive. We don’t need any more government by a 51% majority.

Which leads us to Obama. After electrifying the Democratic convention in 2004, he has, despite very limited experience, and vague policy positions, been able to accumulate more delegates than Hillary. His message of tolerance, hope and change has struck a chord with many in this country. However, he has the vision and the message without creating much substance behind it. His ability (or anyone’s) to bring substantial change to Washington, if that is even necessary is questionable to say the least. But he does have a vision, is able to articulate it and people follow him. In my book that is leadership. But how and to where seems to be a real question mark.

So where does that leave me? I don’t know, but I have until next Tuesday at 6:00PM to decide. They are both intelligent, knowledgeable and dedicated people. Policy wise, I don’t think there is a whit worth of difference between them. The problem with a vote for one is that it is an exclusion of the other, and I think both deserve a place at the table in the next administration.

There has been talk of a “dream team” ticket of Hillary and Obama, or vice versa, which I think is worth exploring. What this country really needs is accomplished, intelligent, responsible, pluralistic leadership and I don’t think that either can deliver that singularly. Combined, it’s no guarantee, but with a crisis facing us at every juncture, I think the country needs both of their talents (and more too) and they owe the country the effort to make it work.

I avoided a post until Jeff broke the ice. When it comes to politics, I'm not the right guy to ask. I have strong opinions, but I cannot articulate them nearly as well as both of you did here.

Having said that, I feel that Jeff makes valid points about each candidate. I can't get on board for anyone yet.

We didn't mention Nader, however his candidacy seems invisible, and is likely to die on the vine. Or off it. Not a contender, wasn't last time either.

The elephant in the room is Bill Clinton. What can I say? A man with incredible talent, and yet a serious liability at this point. Imagine being a world leader, visiting Hillary at the White House. With Bill right there. Talk about a confusing situation! Different styles, different experience, and all that ugly history hanging out there. She would have to send him off somewhere for her time in office. ("Bill, go shut down the Iraq War, would you please?")

I don't know. Jeff, good luck next Tuesday. I'll follow it from the road -- it will be the biggest story of the week, I believe. Things are getting pumped up, as we get close to the primary.

How long have we been following this? Two years or so? Pretty soon the campaigns will last longer than the term of office.

Thanks for weighing in guys. Jeff, good job and articulating the plusses and minuses of all candidates. I declared in favor of Hillary last week--with my pocketbook. Out primary in next Tuesday. Obama will probbly carry NC.

Gary,

Since I sort of left things hanging, I thought I owed it to you to let you know…it’s Obama. After he visited Elkhart on Sunday (my old “in town” neighborhood no less) making him the first Presidential candidate since RFK in 1968 to step foot inside the city limits, I made my decision with a day to spare. The tipping point for me? He listens. While Hillary has given substantial thought to every issue we face, and thoroughly covers all of the talking points every time she speaks, Obama listens. He probably didn’t cover all of the policy issues, or hit all of the talking points as well as Hillary would have, but he looked people in the eye, put his arm around them and heard their stories. He listened, charmed them and won them over. That was the tipping point in my decision even before I read that he stopped by the park to shoot some hoops before he left for Ft. Wayne!

PS - Does this mean that he will likely carry Elkhart, or Elkhart County? Not a chance, item two in the Monday’s paper was an article about a cross burning.

Jeff--as it turns out my vote for Hillary here and your vote for Barack both counted in the minority. It'll be interesting to see how it plays out from here on in. Regardless of the final selection, I'll support the Dem candidate.

Ever the independent, I'm still hanging. I followed it all last night on TV in my hotel, and thought of you both. They had Elkhart County shaded as dark blue, which meant Obama took it, as I remember. They mentioned IU several times, too.

Since I don't watch TV at home, this was my first time seeing either candidate speak live. I was struck that Obama did not appear to use any written notes, and yet he hit a lot of excellent points, without appearing to lose a beat along the way. Those are things that I never derived from reading the newpapers. He is very persuasive. I wonder if he can turn that into action.

I agree with Jeff's positive comments about him as well. I am still weighing his charisma against his percevied negatives. It will be an interesting summer that way, won't it?

As with every presidential election that I can recall, I'm stuck. Fortunately, we have time to let this get sorted out. I have a few hot-button issues, and the candidate who deals with them in the most credible way will get my vote.

It will be an interesting summer. As much as I support her, I'm thinking that for the good of the party, it may be time for Hillary to drop out and work for party unity. That's a hard pill for me to swallow, but we need to pull together.

Jeff, I'm sorry I missed seeing Obama live. I glimpsed Bobby Kennedy from my place in the crowd the day he came through Elkhart. Forty years later, I still get a tear in my eye when I think of what happened just a few weeks later. I'm sure you both remember that, too.

I think we all remember the summer of '68, and Obama's appearance in Elkhart has served to open some of those old memories if not wounds. It will be an interesting summer, but we can only hope that it is nothing like the one 40 years ago. It probably makes us sound old, but all three of us can say, as did our parents about the traumatic events in their lives: "We lived through that once...."

I was at work when Robert Kennedy came through, so I missed him. My parents took my younger brother and sister up to see him, however. My younger brother shook his hand. A Kodak moment, but they didn't have a camera along -- never expected it.

The memory of that summer gives me the shivers. I tried so hard to blot it out, and it colors my remembrances of Elkhart to this day. Unfairly so, and I am working on that issue. Bit by bit.

Remember the Apollo moon orbit over Christmas of 1968? It was such a high point in a bad year -- a moment of triumph for all of us, and a happy ending for a very tough year. I was elated. I am still in awe of what was accomplished, and the ongoing scientific dividends.

Back to the Democratic race. It seems to have an air of inevitability to it, from what I can tell. We will see how things progress between now and the convention.