Let's Stop and Review- A Tale of Two States

The Iowa and New Hampshire craziness is now over. Two states, two different winners. In spite of what the news media with their otherwise short memory wants to believe, these are not the final stopping place in the political horse race. It is only the beginning and some parameters are set for the rest of the race. So what is the Tale of the Two States?

Before and above everything else, let's not lose sight of one extremely, extremely, important fact:

In the last week we have been witnessing history in the making. Never, absolutely NEVER before in American history has a woman and an African-American been in a position to actually be running for President with a chance to win.

NEVER!

They have each won - yes WON - an election.

And the election of either one will, in the end, be just as revolutionary in American political history!!!

That clearly means that regardless of where it ends up in a little less than 10 months from now, the American political scene has changed. We are in a time of excitement and transition. Even with McCain and Huckabee on the Republican side, we are not in "politics as it has always been."

Establishment- vs. - change-
Yes Hillary is establishment. Which is what makes her situation revolutionary. She would make as good a president as Obama. Which in a sense is what makes this whole thing so difficult. Two revolutions of change running against each other. Sadly it might dilute the whole picture. So don't count Edwards out. More to the point, I think, as a friend commented today, the fact that they are running against each other at this point allows them both to stand on their records, their ideas, and their own without being pigeon-holed as The Woman Candidate or The African-American Candidate. Instead they are Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. What excitement!

Young vs. more established-
The young people are getting interested again. GREAT! There is some tension in that, of course. There always is when the generations face each other. We may actually be witnessing the kind of thing that happened in 1960 with JFK being the symbol of incredible change. Obama, of course, as the younger candidate has a better chance at that vote, but don't forget that Hillary is not your grandfather's presidential candidate.

The Media-
Iowa and New Hampshire do not finally decide and to crown a winner after each one and then be surprised when it doesn't happen is just pandering to ratings. What they do is set a stage that has yet to be populated. We have become so entranced by media that they forget that they are reporters, not the creators. They are not omniscient. Polls are faulty. Their memory, as I mentioned above does not tend to go back before the last sweeps rating period. They crown winners based on incomplete, pre-vote insights.

I am not faulting them. I am faulting us for giving them so much power. Yesterday may have been as much about reacting to them as anything else. Which is not a good reason to vote for or against anyone, of course.

But the issues are out on the table. For now. Iraq is not a major one at this point. But it will be again. Change is the buzz-word- until things change. Hillary is back on top- She Who Is Inevitable- until she isn't again.

But this is one of the most exciting and fun-inducing elections in years. Let's hope it doesn't lose its momentum. i can't wait to keep watching and to attend by own caucus here in Minnesota in a month.

Now, let's get back to the pilgrimage. The review is over. On to the next- and the next- and the next- and .....