What's A Biden Supporter To Do?
It's nearly fish or cut bait time in N.H., and Senator Biden has, as everybody knows, withdrawn from the race, along with Senator Dodd. I'm now forced to make a decision among the remaining Democratic candidates. There is no point to be made in casting a vote for Biden.
I believe Senators Clinton, Edwards, and Obama and Governor Richardson each have something positive to offer, and I agree with many of the arguments supporters give for each of the four. The question is, which would make the best president? I believe the answer is Senator Clinton.
There is a certain amount of angst in my decision, as it bothers me to see two people who were at the apex of the U.S. Government for eight years ascend again to that high peak for another four or eight years. It's the 22nd Amendment thing, the concept that we don't want any one individual to gather too much political power. I believe the thinking behind the 22nd Amendment applies to husband and wife teams just as much as it does for individuals, but of course the lawyers would say we're stuck with what the words say, not what I or anyone else might propose was the intention of the amendment.
Having gotten that off my chest, and having just heard President Clinton discourse for over an hour at Daniel's Restaurant in Henniker, on Senator Clinton's behalf, I believe that of all the candidates, Senator Clinton is our best choice for president. In particular, her views on the way forward in Iraq most closely match mine.
Senator Clinton is more organized and disciplined than President Clinton, and she would most likely be a better chief executive than he was. She will tend toward less polling and quicker, more decisive decisions. The former president's strength is his knowledge and comprehension of the issues facing American and the world. I doubt there is anyone who can match his mastery of the issues that our next president will face. Senator Clinton could have no better advisor.
Life is about hard choices and compromises, I've decided that electing the person best prepared to lead our country forward is more important than worrying about the Clintons amassing too much political power. I believe they both have the best interests of this country at heart, and I'm comfortable with my decision. I believe that another four or eight years of Clinton leadership will produce the kind of real change that will benefit all of us.
