Around the Bloc

We've wandered deeply into a most historic presidential primary season. Still alive and vying for supremacy three candidates who would in turn, if elected, become the first woman, first African-American, or oldest first term elected president of these United States.

At varying times, the campaigns have appeared genial, opportunistic, biased, out-of-touch, and downright ornery. Pandering is the norm, even as this country faces the worst economic crisis in decades and a continuing war that has now eclipsed the Revolutionary War in duration. "Major addresses" lead to non-substantative proposals. Or, as John McCain put it during a recent town hall meeting on healthcare..."Get out and walk. Watch your diet. That's the best insurance."

Throughout this process, I've made some interesting observations:

• Pundits declared that for North Carolinians the economy was "overwhelmingly" the deciding issue. They failed to mention that Sen. Obama won with 91% of the African-American vote.
• I continue to hear people say that the protracted Democratic race is bad for the party. Personally, I'd rather have the most exciting convention in my lifetime, than listen to an anointed candidate (John McCain) attempt to remain relevant.
• Speaking of John McCain, did you know that 25% percent of Republican voters in Indiana and North Carolina cast their ballots for other candidates? I can't help but wonder if those same voters will sit out the general election.
• Senator Obama has yet to win a major state...Seems to reason why his electibility is being questioned.
• If uniting the country is so important, why hasn't Barack Obama fought to have disenfranchised voters in Florida and Michigan reinstated? Oh right, they are major states that he probably wouldn't win.
• With Florida in mind, the Democratic primary (which isn't going to count) had a record turnout of voters. Nevermind who won or lost. Because of Florida's leapfrogging of the system, candidates did not campaign in the state. That means no appeances, no bus tours, no fly-ins, and, most important of all, no annoying political ads. If it were up to me all campaigns would be run this way.

Enough of the politics...forget Red State vs. Blue State...Red wine & blueberries are much more to my liking this evening.