Super Tuesday Morphed into Super Week

On the onset, let me apologize for the political nature of my posts this week. The political process is one of my interests, so if it is not particularly one of yours, hang with me a little while longer and I will return to my more random-topic approach.

Several thoughts have crossed my mind this week as I have spoken with people, read major news sources, listened to talk radio, and observed the candidates themselves. To repeat all of those thoughts here would end up becoming a random and confusing stream of consciousness. Instead I will mention one quote I found especially insightful, and one pervading thought throughout the week.

Quote from Newsweek : "It's no accident that the GOP race is down to three men who are clear about who they are: McCain, Huckabee, and, yes, Ron Paul." See the full article here.


Pervading Thought : There is still a lot of time in this primary left. Even though it seems that McCain has clinched the nomination and the race is over, it is not. If there is one thing I have learned from watching football, it is that there is a reason you play every second of all four quarters. So it is in the game of politics.

I mentioned several months ago that I have spoken with several people that said, "I really like Huckabee, I agree with him, and I like his character; but, I just do not think he can win so I am going to vote for [McCain, Thompson, Romney, etc.]." I noted that if those people would chose to support the candidate they believe most qualified, and not jump on the bandwagon of who they think will win, then their candidate just might win.

Voting according to your convictions is especially important at this stage of the game. Voting according to your convictions serves a couple of purposes:

• It allows you to maintain integrity
  
• It sends a message to the winner and observers
• It provides your candidate with a voice

I am sure you can think of others, but these are important.  The primary purpose of having representatives in government is that they are our voice.  The President is elected by the people to be their voice.  We go through the primary process to find the strongest voice.  Why would you want to silence your voice by making someone else's louder?

I do not share all of Huckabee's beliefs, but I believe he most closely identifies my beliefs.  Therefore, he will receive my vote on March 4.  If he most closely shares your beliefs, I implore you to give him your vote when you vote.  Even if he loses, it will not be in vain.  It will help to send a message to the powers that be, that what Huckabee (or Paul or McCain -- whomever you vote for) believes in is important to you.

Who knows, your candidate just might be able to win.  Right now, McCain looks to be the heir, but there is a new set of circumstances, and we might go to a brokered convention.  Why do you think Romney, suspended his campaign and did not withdraw?  If the Republicans have a brokered convention, then your candidate might win -- and the more votes he receives between now and then, the better chance he has of receiving the nomination.

Practically, voting for who you like--and not who you think will win--keeps your candidate at the front of everyone's minds.  This could help him in 2012, get him the VP nomination, or provide him another position of influence. 

I hope you took the time to read this, and if you did, I sincerely thank you.  I bring this to you with humility, recognizing that I am not the end-all, be-all of political thought.  Instead, I am offering my thoughts as I learn and hope that you will help me grow in this process.