Coming Out...

... politically, that is.

Oh what the heck, I have pussyfooted around enough with this post and that post... and it really isn't too hard to read between the lines to have figured out my Democratic nominee preference is Hillary Clinton.  Oh, did the fact that I have a category for Clinton give it away too?!?  Now, I say preference, since as I have stated time and time again, it doesn't matter who the nominee is... they have my vote.

My Clinton "coming out" party here is, of course, thanks to the results of last night's New Hampshire primary.  Truthfully, after Iowa I was feeling as dispirited as Clinton herself.  When I saw the early lead in NH, I just figured it would be slowly and painfully pulled away by the end of the night (ala John Kerry in 2004).  As hinted in Monday's post, I sensed there was not enough time for the Obama momentum to cool... and that we were headed to an Obama coronation, not at all too dissimilar from the one Clinton was accused of months and months ago. 

Heck, post-Iowa on The Chris Matthews Show, the "meter" notched a rare unanimous vote (12-0!) that Obama would be the Democratic nominee.  While voters want "change," it seems they certainly don't want "inevitability" either.  I am glad that things are back to a level playing field.  I would like to think that I would have thought the same if Clinton had swept both Iowa and NH.  While I am no fan of the primary "eat your own" season, but I think we end up learning a lot more about the candidates when its a competitive race.

[tangent] I do have my general election worries.  Todd and I agreed that our Senator John McCain is likely get the Republican nomination (Catty sidenote: Is wife Cindy looking a tad "Stepford Wife" lately?!)... thanks in part to winning to NH, but also by default given the rest of the Republican field.  And whatever the polls say, I do have concerns about a Clinton or Obama match-up vs. McCain.  Still hedgy about the country electing for a woman and black/bi-racial man.  If Edwards mounts a miracle comeback, I'll re-assess... but being a white man is certainly a checkmark in his elect-ability column. [/tangent]

It has bothered me that there is so much anti-Clinton sentiment among Democrats.  What has she ever done to you?  Ha!  Unless you've lived in Arkansas or New York, I am guessing not much.  That said, I get the divisiveness, the baggage, the accusations of being slick or a "politician" (which I think is a circle of hell even lower than "liberal")...

But if "I just don't like her" is a valid reason to not vote for her... without dragging [gasp!] issues into this post, "I just like her" is a big reason I plan to vote for her..

Almost three four years ago today (see, keeping a blog does come in handy!), I had about 15 seconds with the Senator.  It was for a book signing and I admit being a bit scared.  I figured the store would be chilled by her mere presence... and reputed combo of 47% ice queen, 53% bitch. 

It couldn't have been any more different.  Hundreds of people into the line, she greeted me with a warm "Hi" and handshake like I was the first person she met that day. 

While it was over in a little more than a blink of the eye, it was enough for a first impression... and a quite positive one.  For comparison purposes, I kind of regret not going to an Obama book signing event last year.  But while the happy face and greeting could have all been an "act" and that book-signing merely prelude to her Presidential run (at the time, she was in full non-committal mode)... I left feeling she was quite warm and genuine... but also full well knowing that I would not want to be on her shit-list.   

Before I left the signing table, I managed to say to her "I hope you give us a chance to vote for you someday"... Clinton chuckled back "Oh! Thank you!" ... as if the thought had never entered her head.

Come our February 5th primary, I plan to keep my word.