Things are heating up politically south of the border. With the '06 mid-terms out of the way, all eyes are on the '08 nomination. Lots of interesting candidates are running for both parties.
It looks like the Democratic race is turning into a two-way battle between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Both would be very strong candidates for the presidency.
As for the Republicans, it's anybody's game. Despite professing a certain amount of admiration for him in the past, I could not support John McCain because of garbage like this. He has taken the maverick thing too far.
Ideologically speaking, I have always liked Newt Gingrich, but given the way he has conducted himself in his private life, I could not support him for high office. Giuliani has similar problems, and he's just too out-of-synch with mainstream Republicans on social issues. Mitt Romney is sounding some good notes, but he just reeks of shallow opportunism. He comes across too John Tory-ish.
Of all the candidates who have declared their intention to run, the one who most impresses me is Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas. When I lived in DC I had the chance to watch Brownback on several occasions and found him to be the most conviction-based politician in town. He was consistently pushing Iranian and Iraqi opposition groups and speaking out in favour of US funding for these organizations. His conviction to principle is unparalleled -- and he puts his money where his mouth is in a way I have not seen from other elected officials.
I know Brownback is far behind, but you never know what might happen. So until someone else can demonstrate the kind of devotion to priciple and conservative values that I've seen from Sen. Brownback, he'd get my support.
# posted by Adam Daifallah : 3:46 PM
