Things Get Interesting

Political junkies really got their fix this week. Of course, anyone with even a passing interest in politics knows a week can be like six months in any other profession. That's why it's so preposterous to predict who the next President will be.

Anyway, Mike Huckabee is the toast of the town, and, even though I'm a staunch Democrat, I must admit he's cast an impressive penumbra over both Parties this week. My interest, as a Pentecostal Christian myself, concerns his willingness to think independently and not pander to the Religious Right. He says, powerfully, that life does not end at birth, something the anti-abortion movement seems to forget. A true Christian should address poverty, adequate healthcare, affordable housing, etc., in addition to protecting the fetus.

Also, Mr. Huckabee refuses to pander to the hating, nativist, anti-immigrant crowd. He defends the immigrant as a human being, something the rest of his Party seems to forget.

Mike Huckabee's meteoric rise obscured a major development in the other Party, namely Barack Obama's rise to number one in the opinion polls. I don't think personally that he would make a good President, mainly because of his inexperience. With Hillary, I know what I'm getting, and she's been an activist since her days at Wellesley.

So, let's see how the frontrunner dynamic plays out next week. There may be a slight falling back as the new stars receive increased scrutiny from the press and their opponents.