My Super Tuesday Decision

Super Tuesday has come and gone. My state, Georgia, was one of those participating. Up until the actual day of the vote, I did not know exactly which candidate I would vote for. Until the last few days, I was not even certain which primary I would vote in. Since Georgia is an open primary state, you can actually make that decision when you get to the verification table. Even though I expect to be voting with the Democrats this November, I entertained the possibility of voting in the Republican primary. However, ultimately, I did not.

Among Democrats, at one point I most favored Joe Biden. However, he dropped out weeks ago. After him, I preferred John Edwards. But Edwards suspended his campaigning just days ago. I could have still voted for either candidate since their names were actually on the ballot, but that would have been a waste. Instead, I decided between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama based on one and only one issue. That issue was health care. Of all the health care proposals advanced by any of the candidates, I favored John Edwards' plan the most. Of the remaining candidates, the one with the health care plan most like John Edwards was Hillary Clinton. In fact, at one point, Edwards accused Clinton of copying his own plan almost verbatim. So, when I got out of bed Tuesday morning, I decided to vote for Hillary Clinton.

Does that mean I am going to be upset if Barack Obama ends up winning the Democratic nomination? Hardly! However, it does point up my deep concern that Obama's health plan leaves out too many people and ultimately becomes actuarially unfeasible. Barack Obama is an intelligent man. Surely he will realize this problem if he ever really makes health care a truly high priority. I would sleep easier if Barack Obama adopted John Edwards' health plan also. That way, whoever gets the Democratic nomination would have a health plan I could believe in.

That's Wade's two cents.

Wade Houston
February 6, 2008

John Edwards and Rudolph Giuliani Bow Out

The news is out, and so, apparently are both Giuliani and Edwards. Giuliani is a victim of a his own bad campaign strategy. Edwards is a victim of the historicity of running against a truly viable black candidate and a truly viable female candidate in the competition for the nation's highest office. Edward's exit virtually guarantees the Democrat party will have a significant historical first with the party nominee.

I am saddened by John Edwards exit. Of the remaining candidates, his was the proposed health care reform I believed in the most. Edwards voice on that issue was vital to setting the agenda for the Democrats.

Regarding Giuliani's exit, I am fairly ambivalent. I never bought into the idea that being the mayor of New York City and guiding that city through one great crises made him qualified for the day to day responsibilities of the President of the United States. So, I was not anticipating voting for him, anyway. However, as I have stated previously, I welcomed hearing from as many different voices as possible to have the most thorough airing of the issues.

John McCain stands the most to gain from Guiliani's withdrawal in the northeast Republican primaries. Whoever ends up with the Democratic nomination benefits from not running against Guiliani in the general election in those same states. Of course, there is no guarantee Guiliani won't end up in the second spot on the ticket.

Who benefits from John Edward's withdrawal is a more open question. In the storm of election politics, Edwards has been a voice of calm and reason. I am going to miss that voice.

That's Wade's two cents.

Wade Houston
January 30, 2008