A year from now we will know who the nation's next president will be. That is if voters wake up from the coma Democratic and Republican presidential hopefuls have put the electorate.
Despite getting the earliest start to a presidential campaign, nobody is paying attention, except if you live in Iowa or New Hampshire. Like those two states should really count when it comes to early-birding the presidential race. At least Illinois voters will have a say on Feb. 5, dubbed "super dooper Tuesday" because a number of states will hold their primaries then.
Already, Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have filed in the Illinois primary, as has John Edwards, although at this stage, it looks like Edwards isn't filing a full slate of convention delegate candidates. As of Friday, he had a slate in the 10th Congressional District, but not the 8th. The Hound is surprised Edwards even deigned to dip his toe into the Land of Lincoln, letting Clinton and Obama duke it out for the prize. Perhaps Edwards feels he can win if the favorite son and daughter split the vote. Maybe.
Republican presidential candidates don't file in Illinois until later this month, although former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani appears to have the party regulars locked up.
Anyway, remember that the last U.S. senator who actually was elected president out right was John F. Kennedy and that was in 1960. Eventually, the electorate will wake up, oh probably about Labor Day '08 and start paying attention to whomever the parties' standard bearer will be.
Decisions, decisions!
Were I a Democrat, I'd be in anguish over just where my loyalties lie. Being a former Land of Lincolnite, should I vote for Hillary or Obama? Or should I go with Edwards, who hails from my adopted Old North State? Oh, the agony!
Fortunately, I am neither donkey nor elephant, and choose instead to support a (dark) horse, Ron Paul* of Texas. I've never put one toe in that state, so I'm safe.
*He may have an -R after his name, but he espouses Libertarian principles and that's good enough for me.
THE HOUND SAYS: You certainly are conflicted, but then, so are most Democrats.