Saturday, September 8th, 2007...7:59 am
Barack and Roll, Hoochie Koo
In an e-mail to supporters, Pima County Recorder F. Ann Rodriguez has declared her support for Barack Obama. No, I don’t know what the “F” stands for either.
In the 2004 primary, Rodriguez supported Wesley Clark. We came into the race late, and many legislators and elected officials had already signed on with a candidate (many of them with Joe Lieberman. Oh, 2004 was so long ago). Having someone of Rodriguez’s stature was helpful.
Rodriguez has a strong relationship with county row officers across the state (I think she chaired the county recorders association for a time), she could leverage this into a presence in other counties.
Tempe State Representative David Schapira has also endorsed Obama.
NB - Yes, I will continue to use the fact that his name contains the word “Rock” as an excuse to use songs as titles for the forseeable future.
23 Comments
September 8th, 2007 at 1:42 pm
Do these endorsements really mean anything to anyone? Like I’m going to check and see who the Pima County Recorder likes for the next president of the United States before casting my vote?
September 8th, 2007 at 1:46 pm
Obama is our #1 choice by far. He has been sounding all the right themes and is attracting voters of all stripes to his standard. At his best, he evokes all the ideals and values that got me interested in politics and public service in the first place. There is a genuine quality to his candidacy that can be used to reinvigorate hope in our purpose as a nation.
Edwards sounded good early on, but his feckless debate performances and the fact that he has retooled the 2004 version of himself soured me on both his prospects and core integrity very quickly. I respect Senator Clinton’s political skills, but she puts Democrats in the hole from the start due to her high negatives with certain segments of the electorate. Biden and Richardson have many fine qualities as leaders and Biden has been a mature, logical voice in the Iraq debate, but I think they are already out of the running.
As a prominent leader among Democrats and an astute politician, Ann’s endorsement of Obama comes with a great deal of credibility. I hope her backing will cause those still on the fence to take a closer look at Obama. For me, the choice is clear and I am proud to support his candidacy.
September 8th, 2007 at 4:09 pm
Liza -
You are right, few voters make their choices based on endorsements. Endorsements, though, can bring attention to a candidate. Also, some endorsements bring resources (ie- an organization or credibility) that can result in votes. This is expecially important in a primary that will have a low turnout.
September 8th, 2007 at 6:24 pm
State Representative Ed Ableser from Tempe has also come out in favor of Senator Obama.
September 8th, 2007 at 10:01 pm
no one can beat a Thompson / Huckabee ticket. Ted, mark this prediction.
Thompson /Huckabee vs HRC / Strickland.
winner: Thompson / Huckabee. 4 more years of R dominance at WH.
Sad. I know.
September 9th, 2007 at 1:11 am
Rico,
No.
September 9th, 2007 at 8:53 am
Fred Thompson has a record as a Washington insider, a playboy who sold out as a lobbyist and played footsie with Nixon (who rightly called him an idiot), while pretending to be an “impartial” advisor during the Watergate hearings.
Rudy Guliani, another clear Republican loser, had a point when he said that Fred “played my role on television.” At least Rudy actually had experience as a federal prosecutor before running for Mayor.
If Fred is the Republican candidate, bring him on.
September 9th, 2007 at 9:41 am
It gives me immense pain to say this, but the Democratic nominee will most likely be Hillary Clinton and, if so, she is likely to win the presidential election. I do not believe that a Republican can win without major election fraud, but that is still a possibility. Hillary’s VP is more likely to be a Clinton insider than Obama. I also think that Hillary Clinton, if elected, will be a one term president. She will inherit the horrific situation in the Mideast created by Bush/Cheney which she cannot reverse or improve because of her alliance with the Israel Lobby. Her inevitable failures with US foreign policy will reinforce the beliefs of many that a woman should not be a US president, and the Republicans will defeat her in 2012.
Ugly scenario, but I can’t see it any other way.
September 9th, 2007 at 10:37 am
Interesting analysis Liza. I had big questions about Hillary being able to win it all. I still do in some ways, but she has been running a great campaign and I think will be drawing new voters to the polls. I think some of us also don’t appreciate that boomer women were told over and over again in school that they would one day see a woman as President. This is the first real opportunity and I think there will be a massive rally around her, especially if she ends up facing one of the boring white men on the other side.
I still am quite concerned about her ability to appeal to voters in places like Appalachia. I have long believed that Southeast Ohio, West Virginia, Western VA, East Kentucky, West N. Carolina, East Tenn. were the key to Democrat victory in the Presidency. Each of these places are places that when Democrats win, they shift the tide and make these states competitive or wins. These areas used to be Democrat strongholds in many ways, they aren’t anymore.
Gore, Kerry, and I believe Clinton will have a hard time winning them over…an Edwards however could win those regions (like Mark Warner did in Virginia) and change the electoral map a little.
With all that said, I do think that Hillary can still win this. Questions remain big time about what the future will hold afterward….for any winner.
September 9th, 2007 at 10:37 am
X4mer,
hahahahahahaha best short post ever!
September 9th, 2007 at 12:33 pm
My candidate is the Democrat who wins in the primaries. My preference is John Edwards. Bill Richardson cannot be the candidate because he MUST be the Secretary of State so he can clean up the State Department - and heaven knows, that will be a horrific job. Bill Clinton has to go to the UN and restore American integrity and prestige. Biden has to go to clean up the Pentagon. I like Chris Dodds a lot and feel he is smart and trustworthy - It is between Dodds and Obama for VP. Hillary is a wonderful Senator from N.Y. and I’d like to see her be Majority leader. Gravel? So, maybe he could go home???
Democrats have an array of excellent candidates - as I look over at the Republican candidates, I feel saddened. I feel so sorry for Republicans that they have such a sorry bunch from which to pick their candidate.
September 9th, 2007 at 2:32 pm
The democrats criticize Jan Brewer in 2006 for supporting Dubya while also being the chief election officer in the state.
Isn’t it hypocritical for the chief election officer for Pima County proclaiming her support for Obama?
September 9th, 2007 at 3:51 pm
Like Francine and Kralmajales, my hopes are on John Edwards; I also agree with them that there’s a lot of high quality Democratic talent in the race.
September 9th, 2007 at 5:28 pm
If authenticity is vital to success in politics, then Edwards is the Democrats’ version of McCain or Romney. Were he to be the nominee, the attack ads about his changed views on national security, trade, labor issues, health care and NCLB would come fast and furious. He ran as a pragmatic centrist in 2004 (which was exactly how he voted in the Senate) and now he is a firebreathing populist? How do you transform yourself from a younger version of Fritz Hollings into the new William Jennings Bryan? It just doesn’t come across as anything but opportunism and gamesmanship and this lack of sincerity, coupled with his weak debate performances (which bring back memories of the lousy job he did against Cheney in the 2004 veep debate), are the chief reasons he is losing ground in Iowa and virtually everywhere else.
I will, of course, support the Democratic nominee, but I see both Edwards and Clinton as likely to bring disadvantages and liabilities into the general election that give aid and solace to the GOP. Obama is a fresh voice, a model of consistency and has an almost RFK-like ability to get people enthused about politics and governance again. Couple him with an experienced governor (like Kathleen Sibelius from Kansas), or a senator with national security street cred (like Evan Bayh of Indiana, who was also a governor) and he can run the table…with impressive coattails to boot!
September 9th, 2007 at 7:39 pm
John Edwards supporters really creep me out. Most of the time when I hear anyone say anything about him, they do it in this really weird, semi-robotic voice, like they’re speaking about their cult leader with a mixture of love and divine awe.
It’s just a matter of time before I have dreams of people in Edwards shirts chasing me down chanting “one of us! one of us!”
September 9th, 2007 at 8:53 pm
Since my memory goes back further than any one else on this blog, let me remind you of 1932 and a fellow by the name of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Take a look at his bio - as of 1932 - and ask yourself if there is anything there that would predict what he did as president to pull this nation out of the hopeless, miserable condition it was in in 1932.
John Edwards appeals to me for two reasons: his working class roots and his skill as a trial lawyer. To my mind, the greatest danger in the country today - and there are a lot of “greatest dangers”, believe me, is the role of corporations in influencing and affecting the direction in which this country is going. Their influence needs to be curbed and it is going to take a very determined President to do that. I believe John Edwards can and will do that, if he is elected.
September 10th, 2007 at 8:21 am
Kralmajales,
Circumstances have never been better for a Democratic candidate to break through the race/gender barrier to the US presidency. Thanks to Bush/Cheney, we have never before seen so many Americans ready for this kind of change. All things considered, it seems that at this time the gender barrier will be easier to break through than race. And, Hillary has it all - worldwide name recognition, the money, the campaign, and most importantly, she has Bill Clinton. If she wins the Democratic nomination, and I think she will, Bill will campaign for her in the most important swing states like Ohio. Also, her choice of a VP will be crucial to her winning. Cheney has redefined the VP position to an unprecedented level of power and importance. Voters will give more consideraton to the VP candidate than ever before. And, as you say, the Republican lineup just isn’t that appealing. How could any of them defeat Hillary and her charismatic, ex-President husband?
September 10th, 2007 at 9:55 am
X4MR- I’ll make sure and remind you of your witty gem when she loses OH, TN, AR, FL, MO, IA, and possibly NM. How would you like your crow served? Blackened? Lightly seasoned? Broiled?
Rex - correct about Obama, but see above states for his biggest obsticles.
SonoranSam- you seem to foget Thompson catapulted to national popularity during Watergate, asking the now infamouse question he already knew the answer to - “Are you aware of secret recording devices in the oval office.” That brought Nixon down. Never underestimate a B-list actor. Once he got in his red pick up in TN, he earased double digit deficits and went on to win handidly. Playboy rumors etc feed into the appeal a candidate like that has with a national (see: not tucson or other liberal bastions) electorate. Thompson is a very real threat.
September 10th, 2007 at 5:02 pm
Let me correct something really quick Rex and Randall. I am not sure that I really support Edwards, but I do think he would win states that the others just plain could not. It just may not matter though with Hillary drawing new voters and breaking the gender barrier as Liza says so very well.
I actually like Obama but worry that he cannot win. He is inspiring…enough so for me to donate to him first above all. I like that he appeals to youth, to my students…I like that he is fresh and new. I just don’t yet know if that is enough. Guess I will have to vote and see.
As for John Edwards, I have some of the problems that Rex does honestly. The worry about him is that he seems shiny and fake on TV debates…kind of slick even. As much as I love and feel for his wife, I also think some of his rhetoric about her roll in the campaign gets so very sappy and campy too. If he could be himself, if he could look like a fighter, and “bring it”, I might be more inspired.
Last, I am with Francine…whomever wins the primary is my candidate. As Liza reaffirms, the GOP has such a horrifying group. Even Republicans don’t like them all that much to be excited. Hence the entry of Thompson…and he is getting trashed right this instant for being boring, uninspiring, and frankly has no substance whatsoever. Giuliani’s line said it all…
Best!
September 10th, 2007 at 5:09 pm
Anyone see Romney’s sleezy “anonymous” hit page on Thompson…his campaign is too damn dumb to even pull off sleezy. This guy is a total boob and shouldn’t even be President of the Rotary Club.
Attacks over…now analysis. I think Thompson is Romney’s worst nightmare. All the polls I had seen up until now had him with momentum, but when Thompson comes in, he drops a lot. Splitting the unhappy conservatives in the party (I say unhappy because look at what they have to vote for!!!! I feel for em.) benefits Giuliani in big big way…and maybe even carves out a little tiny niche for a McCain comeback. McCain comes out looking like a true conservative with these flip-floppers in the race and he has twice the experience and twice the gravitas…its a shame they hate him so much for campaign finance and or occasionally embarassing them.
September 10th, 2007 at 5:18 pm
Forgive me…the link to the story about the Romney camp trashing Thompson…
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2007/09/10/antithompson_site_connects_to.html
September 11th, 2007 at 5:59 am
Kral, thanks for that link. The subtetxt to that story was that the same guy who ran Bush’s sleazy campaign against McCain in South Carolina in 2000 is now allied with Romney. I heard long ago that Romney was the fave choice of Jeb and Bush 41. Many of the Bush “Pioneers” are helping him with fundraising. Thompson, who supported McCain in 2000, is trying to be this year’s upstart. Romney is the candidate of the Establishment. More of this sort of crap to come, I’m sure, which can only be good news for us! This AIN’T 2000!
September 11th, 2007 at 12:00 pm
I think they are going to tear themselves apart Rex….honestly. I also think they are driving traditional business Republicans from their party with the rhetoric on immigrants and unabashed support for the war.
In the last debate, it was funny to hear John McCain call Romney on his attempt to be “wishy washy” (and maybe setting himself up to triangulate on the war issue?…to back away from it?). I loved how McCain caught him on his wording about the surge “apparently” working.
Romney is all fit to sound like a conservative to get the nomination and the base, but he will be the fastest to run away from the war when it comes election time…and flop back from his other flips. This must be why so many GOP are so dissatified overall and why they would align with a Thompson, even though they know virtually nothing about the man.
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