another confession

[iniswitryn]

A little more than 3 weeks before the Pennsylvania primaries, I am still one of the undecided 9% of PA Democrats.

And - note to campaign volunteers and highly partisan argumentative types on both sides - the histrionics and vituperation surrounding this campaign are not making my life, much less my decision, any easier. In fact, they're really

Comments

[tangledstories]

I hate the whole "well, if MY candidate doesn't get the nomination, then I'll vote for the Republican candidate.". Yes, neither Dem candidate is ideal, but hell McCain scares the shit out of me.

[iniswitryn]

McCain doesn't freak me out quite as much as Bush, because he's somewhat rational and not entirely anti-science. Still - he says he's against torture, then proceeds to redefine "torture" to fit what he's opposed to - that is, techniques we don't currently employ under approval from the Attorney General's office - and not those he endorses - i.e. the interrogation techniques used by CIA under the Bush administration.

That sliding, self-serving, and morally reprehensible definition is a dealbreaker for me.

[horvendile]

I'll cry if Hillary loses PA.

Not that I'm trying to unduly influence you. I'm just letting you know. O:-)

[iniswitryn]

I would be utterly shocked if Hillary doesn't win PA. I think so would Obama. ;)

[horvendile]

Shocked like Louis was to find out that there was gambling going on at Rick's Cafe Americain?

[zaph]

I would vote for Hillary in November if she got the nomination, but I'd also be working on plans for leaving the country permanently, because I am thoroughly convinced she cannot beat McCain.

Electability matters.

That is all.

[iniswitryn]

I read your post outlining this theory before the Beltway primaries, and I thought you had a very good perspective on the whole thing. But a few weeks later, I'm no longer any surer that Obama is electable than I am of Hillary, especially post-Jeremiah Wright. There's a subset of people who really HATE Hillary, and it saddens me that so many are Democrats. But another, seemingly large subset appears all too ready to dismiss Obama on any pretext no matter how racist, xenophobic or flimsy. (What Michelle Obama said, what Wright said, the Somali tribal attire, the middle name Hussein.) So when electability is equally dubious, the tiebreaker becomes issues again for me.

The Wright thing enrages me, because it's white mainstream America freaking out when a black pastor enters approximately the same extremist ground that Robertson, Falwell, Parsley & ilk have happily inhabited for 30 years without major mainstream outcry when (usually Republican) candidates cozy up with them. Blinders, much?

[zaph]

Oh, they're total hypocrites on Wright, definitely.

I think the issue of the Hillary hate is a huge factor in her electability, or lack thereof. The reason I still contend Obama is more electable in November is that there isn't so much entrenched hate against him. By Novemeber, Jeremiah Wright will probably be not even a blip on the campaign radar, but 44% of Americans will still absolutely not want Hillary to be president and will either stay home or vote for McCain as 'not Hillary'.