As we enter the "Year of the Rat," the Chinese New Year upon us, it does seem that 2008 is really starting. I do have gift cards from Xmas, but Groundhog's Day is over (some station really should play that movie all day) and both Super Bowl Sunday* and Super Tuesday is as well. And, not only is baseball in the air (well, the Mets' new ace was introduced), but Lent is here too.
As suggested, I went to the polls aiming to vote for Edwards. Appropriately, my polling place is in a nearby public school. New York has quaint lever machines, it going the obsolete way much as it does with its fault divorce rules. Talk about quaint, I could vote for Edwards ... or Kucinich for that matter, but he had no delegates. See, you not only voted for a candidate, but also six delegates (one a back-up) from some pledged to the two remaining active candidates. Selecting what ones -- there was an excess even if one wanted to vote all Obama delegates -- is about as reasonably determined as our typical judicial election.
If a candidate gets at least 15% of the vote, s/he gets a certain number of delegates. Edwards btw got about 1% of the vote. Now, it might be useful to have the local papers to spell out such things on Election Day. I saw the 15% bit in a small article in the middle of the paper -- admittedly, there was a forty page wrap in honor of the Super Bowl. You know, another wrap after one on Monday. I'm thinking a picture of the "ballot" and maybe even a listing of the delegates. Unless that sort of thing is secret or subject. Unclear. It is not really evident that such information is on the state board of election page either.
Anyway, it might not be deemed a shock to say that though I checked Edwards name, I picked Obama delegates. After all, Edwards had none, and though I figured he would get more than a percentage point (though in some counties, not mine apparently, he got two), I knew he wouldn't get 15 percent. Now, apparently, Atrios hangs around with people who don't really care what one is picked. Some comments suggested that yeah some voters do. Sam Seder, subbing for Rachel "television commentator" Maddow did bring in a breath of honesty by reminding callers neither is THAT big of a prize; the key thing is to determine what one is more likely to accomplish their platforms.
OTOH, worrying so much about their health care policies -- as if Congress doesn't decide that sort of thing or if HC will stop at nothing to push her policy if the key people in Congress disagree (secretly, perhaps) -- is a bit silly. There is a reason why policy isn't a big debate here -- people realize that is not really the core difference that is likely to matter. That is, unless we compare the two parties. BTW, if we rely on "better than Bush," McCain would meet the test. Ok?
Anyway, via winner take all, McCain scored big (if not totally big, Huckabee winning some traditional Red states, Mitt winning some places too), the Dems had what amounted to a wash of sorts. Edwards did not really have much a role though. Ah, feels like primary day in 2004 all over again.
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* It is true the Pro Bowl is still to be played, but it is so lame that Tom Brady decided not to play there. Shades of Bill Parcells sending you know (then a defensive coordinator) who in his place after the Jets lost the 1998 Championship Game. [Blowing a 10-0 lead.]