Election Hangover
This will be my last post on the 2012 presidential race. I promise. We’re all sick of it, but there’s a little bit left to go over. I’m even hiding it behind a “more” link for those of you that just can’t take it anymore. You can find clips, reactions, thoughts and lessons learned after the break.
Huntsman
Jon Huntsman was easily my favorite candidate in the 2012 GOP Primary. His realistic worldview and pragmatic solutions were a welcome contrast to the ideological buffoonery to which American politicians have made us all grow accustomed. As a candidate, Jon Huntsman’s ideas were all grounded in reality and informed by his ideological views. Looking at the other candidates, I saw ideologues desperately trying to clinging to their political dogma, distorting reality to pretend their tired, old ideas even applied to today’s world. When other candidates where sticking to talking points and pandering for applause, Huntsman was speaking truth to power, no matter how unpopular. The people I talked to, at least the ones that knew of him, agreed with me. What confused me most about Huntsman’s failure to gain traction with the Republican party was the face that he had already gained so much traction with independents and Democrats. If there was one guy who had a chance to take voters away from President Obama, it was Jon Huntsman. Even the hacky, liberal blogger that is me was thinking, “I hope I get a chance to vote for this guy.” It’s a sad day when the man with the best ideas not only loses but loses so badly that he doesn’t finish the race.
After joining the Ford Motor Company’s board of directors and fairly low profile (for a guy who just ran for president), Huntsman continued to support the GOP (he still does), but when they disinvited him from a Florida fundraiser, took a moment to remind us why he’s so awesome:
“This is what they do in China on party matters if you talk off script,”
“A guy named Michael Moore who went on television and said ‘That Huntsman guy. He’s a Republican I think I could support’ to be followed up by Jimmy Carter who said ‘This Huntsman guy: I think he’s somebody I could support’ to be followed up by Bill Clinton, who went on television and said ‘He seems pretty un-hidebound. He’s a Republican I think I could’ — we were so toast in Iowa by then.”
What got him disinvited? He said it would be good if a third party candidate entered the race.
Republicans, you had the chance to save your party and nominate a man that seems to be the second coming of Eisenhower. Instead, you chose Mitt Romney.
Discovery’s last flight
The Space Shuttle Discovery hitched a ride on the back of a 747 to fly from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida to Washington, D.C. where it will eventually be on display at the National Air and Space Museum. Honestly, there’s not much else to day, but I really wanted to share this picture with you.
[image source]
SOPA and PIPA Lose Lawmaker Support
Yesterday thousands of websites went dark to protest PIPA and SOPA. Apparently that had an impact on our lawmakers because today CNN is reporting that those bills have lost major support in the legislature. In fact, even Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, who was an initial co-sponsor of PIPA, has now reversed his position and called on Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid not to push for a vote on the bill. In addition to this, the White House made it clear they wouldn’t be supporting PIPA or SOPA even before the internet strike.
While a victory in the battle against PIPA and SOPA within our grasp, the war to keep the internet free and censorship at bay has no end in sight.
Flickr Photos
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