First of all, I would like to welcome all newcomers to Cal Dems and especially all the eager freshmen who are showing such an early/heartwarming interest in this campus’ greatest club – Cal Dems.

More to the point, the 2008 White House scramble is an attention grabber. Like most recent elections, choosing a president has been a horse race pimped out by the media. Needless to say, it’s harder and harder to choose my bling-adorned candidate.

With that sentiment came my first choice: Tom Vilsack. For the most part he was without gold chains and platinum teeth (that I know of). Vilsack’s short-lived campaign disheartened me but I learned my lesson: often, the guy you want isn’t cut out for the self-idolatry of the presidential campaign.

Next was Governor Bill Richardson. On paper he looks awesome:, he is of Mexican heritage, he worked in the State Department, he was elected to the House, he has negotiated with people like Saddam Hussein then he was appointed by Bill Clinton as Ambassador to the UN and then Secretary of Energy. Lastly, he was elected Governor of New Mexico through a publicly funded election. So you can see why I was attracted to his candidacy. If this wasn’t enough, I heard him speak on two separate occasions, both of which were stump speeches—but unlike others of its kind it gave quantitative methods to solving problems, something that candidates higher up on the totem poll cannot afford because they are scrutinized more critically. So enamored with this second tier candidate I was that I overlooked the chances of him getting through the primary, especially considering that he’s Mexican-American. Also he looses the charisma battle to all three top tier candidates so I doubt he could out-pimp Hillary “cleavage” Clinton or Barack “bringing-in-the-Benjamins” Obama.

Sadly, I parted with Richardson and had a brief stint with Edwards. His “Two Americas” and his southern good looks made me think there might just be a “President Edwards.” However, his views on Marriage equality were disappointingly like every other candidate’s (except Dodd). Turns out he has been politically maneuvered just like Clinton and Obama, towards the center. Don’t get me wrong, centrist politics is a realistic way of getting the job done but shying away from the LGBT community turned me off from everybody, including Edwards.

So now I don’t supporty any candidate. I believe that the media has glamorized the elective process and has subsequently forced the candidates to try to appeal to everyone. In essence, the front runners appear to be salesmen but I want a president who is realistic, says what he/she believes and can act on it. I know it sounds trite and rather nostalgic of The West Wing but that is what I want, can you blame me? I am afraid I will have to choose between Clinton or Obama, the two who’ve out-pimped the rest.

I hope to see many of you in Cal Dems and hopefully writting your own “Connected” blog entry.

Morgan Wallace, PVC Chair

P.S. My mind is still open to new candidates.