Sex Between the Bushes

The Morning After

We have the luxury to look at the current political scene with an eye on the funnybone and our tongue firmly planted in our cheek. We're not alone. A pundit once described the Clinton White House years as "Sex between the Bushes." Since our musical and theatric puns have received considerable feedback, today's lesson will continue the irreverence and describe the Democratic race in terms of song and play titles by Simon and Garfunkel and Shakespeare with a pinch of Goldsmith. Certainly what is happening politically could only happen in America (Simon and Garfunkel).

The Nevada caucus looked to be a Hillary lock, then Obama got the endorsement of the powerful Culinary Union and the Bill and Hill push back began. Some from the Obama camp described the push back and her ultimate victory as She Stoops to Conquer (Oliver Goldsmith). But the Clinton campaign denied any chicanery and insisted that Senators Clinton and Obama are simply Old Friends (Simon and Garfunkel) who simply misunderstood one another.

Bill and Hill campaigned hard in Nevada as Romeo and Juliet (Shakespeare) and Senator Clinton expressed her qualifications with Tales From New York (Simon and Garfunkel). After the roar of the caucus crowds both candidates were happy to get back to their families and enjoy some Sounds of Silence (S&G).

What started as A Midsummer Night's Dream (the other Bill) for the Senator from Illinois has become a campaign trail that would turn any novice into The Graduate (S&G). Meanwhile the Clintons continue to campaign as Bookends (Simple Simon and Art). Both candidates beat the drum of needed change, describing the current administration's policies as The Comedy of Errors (Bill the writer, not Bill the lover) and both claim their candidacy is a Bridge Over Troubled Waters (SG) that will bring stability in Washington. Fortunately the criticism of the current administration did not receive the same reaction as did the Spice Girls Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme (Paul and Art). According to the gospel of Hillary, It Takes A Village. It is her hope that her votes do not come from A Deserted Village (Goldsmith).

There are many caucuses and primaries to go before the nominations at the conventions. It might come to pass that The Winter's Tale was Much Ado About Nothing (WS&WS). Both candidates will plan strategies late into the night Wednesday Morning 3 a.m. (Wild Hair and Garfunkel) and both hope their nomination will be As You Like It (Bard).

A little blogging music Maestro, Let's do that oldie "The Race is On" by Dave Edmunds.

Dr. Forgot

Who Can? Republican. Who's That Democrat?

And the winner is:

At this writing with nearly 100% of the precincts reporting in Nevada, the local Republicans have spoken. Ant the word uttered from most of the Republican lips rhymes with hit, what is what John McCain and the other Republican hopefuls took from Mitt Romney. While some pundits and pollsters predicted McCain and Huckabee running stronger, that shows their failure to become acquainted with Nevada culture.

Nevada has a large contingent of well educated, well organized, politically savvy Mormons, many of whom blatantly support their favorite son, Mitt Romney. Similar demographics exist in Wyoming a state Mitt also left smiling. But another unmentioned factor exists among Nevada voters - they don't like John McCain. He has railed against legal gambling and supported measures detrimental to the gaming industry. Although McCain is from a neighboring state, he is viewed as not a friend of Nevada. That could explain his third place finish behind the prodigal and "Who the Heck is Ron Paul."

Many pundits felt Fred Thompson would do better than a tie with Huckabee since he is in the entertainment business. Huckabee's showing did not surprise many. While Nevada is generally conservative politically, it is not evangelical. Finally, Rudy Guiliani whose face was on everybody's TV screen in the 9/11 aftermath barely eked out a few more votes than Duncan Hunter - who many voters thought was a cake mix.

The Democrat caucuses were significant if for no other reason that ten to 15 times as many showed up to caucus as in 2006. Not so surprising is that the pollsters and pundits got it wrong again. While they predicted a Hillary victory, the margin of victory over Obama was predicted at ten-15 points. It turned out to be barely a five point victory, and that is with the Clinton campaign pulling out all stops and former President Clinton stumping for his wife at virtually every Strip hotel. The two front runners garnered 96% of the votes between them. Running a far distant third was Senator Edwards who received a mere four percent, and Dennis Kucinich who came in below "none of the above."

Pundits who felt Edwards would do better in Nevada now say he could still play a significant role as king-maker depending on which candidate he eventually throws his support behind. That is, of course, assuming his star does not rise again among the forty-some states that are left to decide who will be the candidate of choice going into the fall elections.

A little blogging music Maestro... the old Dixie standard, Race Track Boogie."

Dr. Forgot

The Bacchus Caucus at Ceasars et.al.

Walk Us To The Caucus

If there is one thing the Nevada Democratic caucus has done it is to raise awareness about the political process on both sides of the aisle. Prior to this election the avreage culinary worker, I daresay, thought a caucus was some sort of food preparation. Even among those not of the culinary union ilk the very word caucus sounded odd. But thanks to the teachers union the term will forever be ingrained in our lexicon.

A bit of Democratic Nevada Caucus history: Last May it was determined that at-large caucuses would be held for those who worked on caucus day and be otherwise unable to caucus in their assigned locations - which are based on one's residence. It would be not unlike allowing 1950s auto workers in Detroit to caucus in auto plants or steel workers in Pittsburgh to caucus in steel mills. The largest group of unionized workers in Nevada is the Culinary Union. The plan was reviewed and approved in October and nine Strip area hotels were identified to make time and space available for culinary workers. So far so food.

Then a fly landed in the ointment. The culinary union decided to endorse Senator Obama. Shortly thereafter the Nevada state teacher's union, which leans toward Hillary, decided that at-large caucus sites on the Strip were inappropriate since other employee groups were not given the same option. The culinary union retorted that the vast majority of union workers who would be employed during the Saturday caucus were culinary workers employed on the Strip and therefore the at-large sites were justified. Others claimed the timing of the protest came only after culinary made their endorsement. The teachers union filed a lawsuit to block the at-large sites. A federal judge denied the suit. Score: Waiters 1, Teachers 0.

But the teachers union and other Clinton supporters might get the last laugh as they prepare for a Sunday chant of, "No more caucus, no more cooks, no more culinary sassy looks." Pollsters have projected that despite the Culinary Union endorsement Senator Clinton is projected to carry 41% of the Nevada Democratic voters to Senator Obama's 32%. And we all know how accurate the pollsters can be.

As for John Edwards, who continues to Show in the presidential horse races, it will be interesting to see who he will support once he wakes up and smells the Starbucks, and realizes that his biggest bargaining ship will come in the form of his endorsement.

A little blogging music Maestro, let's hear the Minutemen do, "This Ain't No Picnic."

Dr. Forgot

When Shall We Three Meet Again?

Shakespeare 101

Today we will to describe the upcoming Nevada Democratic Caucus as though it were a Shakespearean play. Let's first set the stage as though it were Macbeth, Act IV, Scene I: "When shall we three meet again? In thunder lightning or in rain. When the hurlyburly's done. When the battle's lost and won. Double double toil and trouble. Fires burn and cauldrons bubble" Sorry, Mr. Kucinich, Shakespeare didn't write the scene for four.

Later, in the garden Juliet, played by Senator Clinton, discusses whether she should emphasize the name Rodham or Clinton, "What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet."

Macbeth, played by Senator Edwards pines for primaries in the Southern states where he feels his strength lies, "Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow. Creeps in this petty pace from day to day."

In a scene from Hamlet, Senator Obama talks to the media regarding Hillary's denial that her camp had anything to do with the lawsuit to bar at-large caucuses. The lawsuit would play to her advantage. "The lady doth protest too much, methinks."

Meanwhile, across the country in Michigan, Governor Huckabee, playing Duke Orsinio in Twelfth Night, has been taking a beating from his opponents. Ever the optimist he picks up his guitar and says to the people of Michigan, "If music be the fruit of love, play on."

Back in Nevada, President Clinton discusses strategy with Hillary. She asks what he thought of her emotional display in New Hampshire. Jacques, played by Bill responds, "All the world's a stage. All the men and women merely players."

Senator Obama, as Hamlet, is being encouraged by his advisors to come out a little more negative in his debates. The senator ponders then responds, "To be (negative) or not to be. That is the question."

President Clinton has left the room but Hillary has an important question for him regarding the caucus so she calls to him, "Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou?"

A culinary worker asks Senator Edwards whether he feels he has a chance for the nomination given the fact that he has been running such a distant third. Senator Edwards, as Prospero responds, "(Winning the election is) Such stuff as dreams are made on."

As the caucus draws to a close, Juliet, again played by Senator Clinton, waves goodbye to the Nevada crowd and cries, "Parting is such sweet sorrow."

Dennis Kucinich as Richard in Richard the Third laments to his entourage his distant fourth place finish, "Now is the winter of our discontent."

While Senator Obama, ever the optimist, looks to the Florida primary with optimism and this time as Romeo asks, "What light through yonder window breaks?"

And Senator Edwards, as Hamlet, who has just been given the news that Mitt Romney will drop out of the race after placing a distant third in Michigan, comments, "Alas poor Yorick. I knew him well."

And so boys and girls the curtain falls on another caucus. Who wins in the end? You must attend the next play to find out.

A little blogging music Maestro? What else but Korn's "Politics."

Dr. Forgot