The Very Worst Campaign Ever

Hillary Clinton had me. I was so certain she’d get the Democratic nomination that I smugly bet a good friend a necktie of his choice. (For the record, this friend likes Hermés ties…) However, I just cast my party primary vote for Barak Obama.
What happened with Clinton? Six months ago she seemed to be cruising down easy street in a cherried-out two-tone 1950’s Dodge Coronet. Now that same street has turned dark and foreboding, filled with the potholes of her own ego. The wheels of the Coronet are falling off, one by one.
It wasn’t so long ago that Clinton was raking in endorsements from celebrities like Elton John (I was so tempted to write “the Queen of England” here instead), Maya Angelou, and Barbara Streisand. Now, the defectors are as notable as the endorsers, and these defectors hold superdelegate authority. Joe Andrew of Indiana (a state Clinton won) announced on May 1 that he had switched his superdelegate vote to Obama after staunchly supporting Clinton. This move is interesting because it was Bill Clinton that had appointed Andrews to the head of the Democratic Convention in 1999. Other superdelegate defectors include Donald Payne of New Jersey, Jennifer McClellan of Virginia, and Harry Thomas Jr. of the District of Columbia.
So, why has all of this been happening? Negativity in her campaign hasn’t helped. Recent comments poisoning the debate with racial undertones has irritated and disappointed me. This should be about the power of ideas, not racial perceptions. She also seems prone to pandering, recently recounting an awkward story about drinking whiskey and shooting guns with her father in a effort to appeal to a more rural demographic. In the larger context, Clinton lost me because she lacks passion and personality. Granted, on a policy level she has more structurally mature ideas on how the country should be run than Obama. This being said, the office of the presidency has rarely been about policy, and more often about personality. Sad? Yes.
Just recently, Senator John Edwards (and his 24 delegate votes) endorsed Obama. In light of current events and trends, should this really come as much of a surprise to Democrats? Maybe. Didn’t the Clintons just watch the Superbowl at Edward’s South Carolina mansion? This could be the death-knell for Hillary. This should be the death-knell for Hillary. Take a hint, lady, your sweet ride just ran out of gas.

(Cartoon image by Mike Lane, Cagle Cartoons)

Trains of thought...

Tired of indifferent employees, stale, recirculated air, late arriving luggage, and cramped seats? Weary of long security checkpoint lines, rising fares, and empty customer service counters? If you have a moment, try taking the train. No, rail travel isn’t as speedy as air travel, but when you arrive at your destination feeling rested and relaxed, it just might be worth the extra time.
Being able to stretch out, plug in electronic devices, and stroll leisurely between cars has its advantages, but the best thing about taking the train is feeling human again, being treated like a valued customer. From the cheery young lady at the ticket counter smiling at me at 5:15 in the morning to the snappily dressed fellow collecting tickets, the staff on my recent Amtrak trip made me feel welcome and like they actually appreciated my business. Ah, what a refreshing change.
Personally, one of the only potential drawbacks of rail service is the ability to make cell phone calls. I neither want nor need to hear the personal and intimate (and often banal) details of anyone’s life at 5:30 in the morning. However, if this annoyance is the trade-off for physical comfort, I’ll take rail travel over air travel, thank you very much. According to an Amtrak employee, wireless internet access may also be available on some routes in the next year or so. If I have access to the internet, I just might be willing to forgive the fellow next to me jabbering incessantly into his cell phone about a sweater he bought in 1986.
Granted, my experience with train service is quite limited. For example, I have never ridden the rails in the UK, Europe, Asia or other countries. I haven’t even ridden commuter express trains on the East Coast of my own country. But if my recent journey on Amtrak’s Coast Starlight is any indicator of the state of rail travel in the US, I’ll be taking the train more often.