Arrogance and Hubris in the Face of Hopelessness

Saturday was a busy day for politicians and journalists seeking to keep track of the riveting, tiring campaign drama of a historic election to replace the man who turned the desk in the Oval Office into the world’s most glorified temp job. The Democratic caucus in Nevada was mired in vicious, visceral mudslinging concerning race and Reagan while the Republican caucus in South Carolina was decidedly more civil despite the palpable, electrifying dislike for Mitt Romney.

This weekend the American citizens were witness to the glorious downfall of the Huckabee campaign. Bursting into a searing ball of rhetorical flame, as his campaign miserably failed to appeal to the base issues which mattered most to GOP voters in South Carolina. Unable to capitalize on his victory in Iowa and running out of money, many commentators are wondering if Huckabee will be able to sustain his campaign through February 5, where 24 states will have their primaries simultaneously.

One CNN correspondent wondered Saturday night if it would be a matter of hubris for him to stay in the race at this point. But Huckbee remains optimistic, retreating to the Chuck Norris Ranch, (I’m not kidding, they actually call it that), the very next day to call upon the famed actor’s Godlike powers bestowed to him by people on the Internet with too much time on their hands. Or “fundraising,” as the correspondent put so euphemistically.

John Mccain, showing his appeal to Independants and military personnel both active and retired, managed to overcome his initial struggles to become the main contender in the Republican primary to take on Mitt Romney, who won a landslide victory in Nevada.

It’s no secret that Romney’s colleagues despise him with unparalleled vehemence, so many pundits are editorializing that the main players in the Republican party are endorsing McCain now because they see he’s the most electable candidate able to take on either of the current Democratic frontrunners.

Despite losing the popular vote, Obama managed to gain more delegates than Clinton, his 13 to her 12. This is possible because the Democratic counting for delegates are proportional to the population that supports them by the congressional districts of the state. Of the caucuses that have voted thus far, Obama is narrowly ahead 38 to Clinton’s 36.

The only loser this weekend was John Edwards, the only man this century to be a lame duck before ever taking office. Last time a politician from the South ran for consecutive failed attempts for the highest office in the land, he did everything in his power to start the Civil War. I’m hoping the politician with the coolest hair in the land doesn’t become so bitter.

The next stop for Republican is Florida, where Mr. 9/11 has been spending a tremendous amount of time and money. Despite that, the four major GOP players are in a narrow race and although they have been civil thus far, it remains to be seem if the candidates remain so nice, where FL is considerably more diverse and complicated to campaign in.