The choice I didn't want to make...

Edwards is out. Now what to do? I hadn't realized how much I was hoping he would catch fire. When I heard he was no longer in the race I started to cry and was very much surprised by my response. Now I have to make the decision I didn't want to face. I have Clinton fatigue, but want to see a woman. (My 95, almost 96, year old grandmother is a Hillary supporter big time.) On the other hand, I believe by electing Obama we would show a new face to the rest of the world and purge ourselves of the very ugly past. My problem is that, as I think I have said before, Obama doesn't have the gravitas I believe is necessary today. Hillary Clinton is battle hardened. She knows the ropes. I may as well be electing my state Senator President of the United States if I elect Obama. He is a fabulous speaker, no doubt, but is that enough? It is no wonder that young people are inspired by him, including my own sons. I'm not convinced that is enough.
I have read that endorsements don't really mean anything. Why do we make a big thing about them? The news was full of the Kennedy's endorsing Obama. Caroline Kennedy, the Princess of the family, with Obama. Then the old lion, Teddy Kennedy proclaiming Obama the Kennedy torch bearer. Heady stuff for Senator Obama, but so what? I don't doubt Caroline Kennedy's sincerity, but why is her opinion any more important than any one else's? The cynical side of me says that Senator Kennedy has never gotten along with the Clintons and this is payback time.

In my memory it was President Lyndon Johnson who was the champion of civil rights. The civil rights laws owe more to him than any Kennedy. I'm not bashing the Kennedys. My heart was broken when Bobby was murdered and I long to be able to go back and change history; however, I can't.

For better or for worse President Johnson was my president. I remember him defeating Goldwater. It was a wonderful night. Unfortunately Viet Nam destroyed his presidency, as well as thousands of young men of my generation. LBJ's legacy should have been what he did for civil rights; however, he inherited JFK's Viet Nam and paid the price. I will always remember LBJ's Great Society and I mourn the attack of his achievements by the Republicans of today.

So now what to do? Who can inspire our country and bring back the Great Society?

This and that...

Living in New England we are right in the thick of primary madness. This is the first time I have EVER not known who I will vote for in the presidential primary. My 95 year old grandmother is a great Hillary supporter. An 82 year old gentleman I know also supports Hillary because "we will get two for the price of one." Bill Clinton certainly looms large. I have already said that I have Clinton fatigue, but I keep asking myself who has the most experience? Clinton or Obama? Obama is a wonderful speaker. He appeals to the idealists (the young). This is a good thing, no doubt, but he doesn't have the gravitas I want. There have been some rookie mistakes that worry me too. We must have a change, I know that. If only I had a working crystal ball. The fact is that no Democrat will ever be as bad as what we have now. How frustrating to feel helpless.

Today I heard an interview with Peter Galbraith who advised that we go to war with Iraq partially because of the genocide Saddam Hussein was perpetrating. Guess what? Mr. Galbraith now says it was a terrible mistake because of the poor planning on the part of the military (Bush administration) and we are now in an endless war. Gee. Who could have guessed this would happen. I think Mr. G's new book is something about the law of unintended consequences. I predicted this mess and I'm not an historian or middle-east scholar. What I can't see is how to get out without leaving things in a worse mess. The crystal ball is indeed cloudy.