Ah, New Year's Eve, or as we pros like to describe it, Amateur Night.
That's right, tonight millions will imbibe vast quantities of alcohol, celebrating what amounts to the turning of just another calendar page. Meanwhile others of us will still be mourning the end of college football. Let's face it, rooting for Oklahoma in the recent Orange Bowl was rather like cheering on George Custer and the 7th Cavalry at the Little Big Horn. Fortunately, in the grand scheme of things, the disaster in South Florida was an emotional defeat rather than one with actual geopolitical ramifications. Besides, my bookie owes me a C-note, because the Sooners did ultimately cover the spread.
However, even that faint glimmer of light can't hide the terrible fact the past year has been a wretched beast, fueled by chaos and laced with foul lies. The latest of which was a weekend tweet from Donald Trump claiming the Obama family recently built a ten foot wall around their Washington home. As usual, Trump was simply making shit up in order to sexually arouse the trailer park fascists who follow him.
With that in mind perhaps it is time to take a look at which democrat will challenge The Leader in one year and 11 months. Many seem eager, but only one will prevail. And, while a crowded field offers democrats a broad spectrum of candidates it also ensures much blood letting and post convention bitterness.
The Hill and the Washington Post have both offered line ups of candidates ranked from one to 15 based on factors such as name recognition, experience, money raising skills, and a willingness to trade shots with Donald Trump.
The two lists vary, although both agree who is at the bottom. Coming in at number 15 is former daytime TV talk show host, Oprah Winfrey. Apparently some out there think to beat a reality TV host you have to counter with another television celebrity who also has absolutely no political history.
On the top end, The Post says Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent and self proclaimed democratic socialist, is the man. The Hill says it is Elizabeth Warren. The aged Sanders, of course, leads legions of young people. Many of them are so utterly enthralled with his unsustainable utopian ideals and suspicious of what they call, "corporate democrats," they have and will refuse to accept any other candidate. He is, in truth, Don Trump's best pal in the field. Warren, on the other hand, is a progressive lioness with solid populist chops who just established a presidential, "exploratory committee." There can be no doubt, she, unlike so many of the others isn't just thinking about this campaign. She is in for the long run. Sanders' people consider her such a threat they have already started to attack her on social media.
The rest include some known names. NJ Senator, Corey Booker is rated number five by The Post and number three by The Hill. Joe Biden is number nine on The Hill and four according to The Post. Andrew Cuomo, the Governor of New York is ranked ten and twelve. Former NYC mayor, Michael Bloomberg is listed as 10th by The Post, but didn't make The Hill's top 15.
Then there are the nationally unknown. They include the anti NRA, CT Senator, Chris Murphy, 11th in The Post rankings and 8th in The Hill's. Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper made the seven spot at The Hill, but rated only an honorable mention by The Post.
In addition there were some widely divergent rankings. The Posts lists incoming CA Senator Kamala Harris at third while The Hill puts her at number 11. The Hill also gives MN Senator Amy Klobuchar the number four spot, but she isn't mentioned by The Post.
Former MA Governor, Deval Patrick is ranked on both lists, but reports say he'll have to be dragged kicking and screaming into the race. So will Michelle Obama who ranked number six according to The Hill.
There are a few others. NY Senator, Kirsten Gillibrand, former United States AG, Eric Holder, VA Senator, Tim Kaine, are mentioned, but they're stuck in the middle of the pack on one, or both polls and it is unclear what sort of organizations and money raising ability they have.
Then, to the horror of practically every democrat alive today, The Hill put Hillary Rodham Clinton at number 12.
Finally, for those wondering, the Texas Rose, Beto O'Rourke, wasn't mentioned in either publication. Yes, it would seem, as I well know, you might cover the spread, but in the end, a loss is still a loss.
Hey, it is, after all, The American Way.
sic vita est
12-31-18
We live in a time when candidates, from those chasing the Heisman Trophy to the presidency, tend to show up at the front or very near it by the end of the race. My money is on O'Rourke, simply because he is charismatic and is able to raise a ton of of it. That he frightens the Right to death only makes him more appealing in my eyes.
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