Ohio, My Family and Presidential Politics
I just returned from a wonderful trip to the Buckeye State where I spent some time with my family in Cincinnati (including my brand new niece) and Cleveland where I attended the fourth eldest PatriotNephewWest’s Bar Mitzvah.
While in Ohio, I had lunch with my best friend from elementary and Middle School whom I hadn’t seen in over two decades and with whom I had a falling out in high school. For now, I’ll just say we reconnected and reconciled, renewing our friendship.
When driving around the various locales I visited on my journey, I noted the proliferation of Obama bumper stickers, but can’t recall seeing a single one favoring Mrs. Clinton. This kind of parallels my experience in Los Angeles where I have seen lots and lots of Obama stickers and only a handful backing the former First Lady. While this bumper sticker “poll” does not correspond to the results of most “scientific” surveys, it does at least show more enthusiasm for Illinois’s junior senator than for his New York counterpart.
In my family, none of the Democrats are particularly enthusiastic about Mrs. Clinton, with the New Yorkers openly contemptuous of their senator. Once again, I note the intense animosity among some Democrats for her.
All the Republicans, including my eldest nephew, a sophomore in college, had high regard for Mitt Romney, noting his performance in the debates and his conservative platform. With all these educated Republicans backing the former Massachusetts governor, I wondered why he hasn’t done as well at the polls. I have some thoughts on the matter and hope to address them in a post later this week.
As one who doesn’t travel much, all the cross-country journeys I’ve been taking has been kind of disorienting. When a friend picked me up at the airport this afternoon, I observed that I had been on more planes (8) in the past two months than I had been in the preceding two years. But, probably far fewer than my co-blogger who seems to log that many flights in two weeks.
This morning, when I left my Dad’s house, it was snowing outside. This afternoon, I arrived to sunny skies in LA. On days like today, I do love LA. But, boy do I miss the decency of the people in the Buckeye State. I hope that wherever I travel, wherever I settle, I keep that part of the Midwest with me at all times.
- B. Daniel Blatt (GayPatriotWest@aol.com)
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I grew up in Chicago and moved to CA a few times in my adulthood for work. The thing I always miss about Chicago when in CA is the decency of the people here..
in CA the disingeniousness of people is choking.
Comment by Vince P — January 14, 2008 @ 9:46 pm - January 14, 2008
A few starters on why Romeny has not busted out in the polls.
- He did not seek reelection as governor, which made a weak political resume for a President, and a perception of a man not dedicated to serving people.
- He waited too long to define himself, and his first major attempt was a speech where he stated “Jesus Christ was his lord and savior”. Certainly acceptable as a belief, but rather jarring in its attempt to gain votes.
- He does not convey an ideology, only that he is a world class manager. Corporate CEO’s are not viewed highly by the electorate at this time. 2000 election it may have worked better..
- A final reason, Hugh Hewitt and others have gone so over the top for the guy it creates a feeling of “if you’re not with Romney you’re a fool”, as Rush would say “listeners are not mind numb robots”. A few talk show hosts expect us to be robots for Romney.
Comment by Geena the transgirl — January 14, 2008 @ 11:04 pm - January 14, 2008
Sounds like the Ronulans.
Comment by ThatGayConservative — January 15, 2008 @ 3:43 am - January 15, 2008
Michael Medved and I are not Ron-ulans, Hugh Hewitt is a Rom-ulan.
In the last debate Ron Paul mentioned, we don’t know the origin
of the radio broadcast during the Iranian speed boat cruise.
Romney told Paul he was reading Ahmadinejad’s press releases.
Yesterday the Navy Times reported the origin may have been a prankster.
Romney, Huck, and Fred were ready to blast over a pirate radio prankster.
Paul kept the cooler head in that hypothetical crisis.
Comment by Geena the Transgirl — January 15, 2008 @ 10:35 am - January 15, 2008
I was a farm kid in Ohio. When the stores stayed open until 9 on Friday nights, it was a major deal and the source of much excitement. We dressed up and “went to town.” I have been razzed about my cornfield youth, but we were never much confused about working hard, what a dollar is or how to help someone in need.
People who have had the experience of being rooted in a community are quite different in their outlooks from those folks who have no particular place to call “home.” Although it has been nearly 50 years since I left Ohio, it is still where I “am from.”
Comment by heliotrope — January 15, 2008 @ 11:47 am - January 15, 2008