Uninformed Musings on the Dem Presidential Primary

With the Democratic Convention just wrapping up in San Diego and John Edwards' face plastered in the Sacramento Bee this morning, my thoughts turn to the Democratic presidential primary. Here are my badly uninformed thoughts so far:

First, as most of you know by now I am badly frightened by Hillary Clinton being the frontrunner (as measured by polls and fundraising). In an election which currently promises to favor the Democratic candidate, nothing could galvanize the right like having Hillary to campaign against. And how am I to be enthusiastic about her? Yes. I recognize and appreciate that a woman is a strong viable candidate in this race--that is progress. But she has been wrong on the war, she has been a dealmaker/Republican accommodationist in the Senate, and I don't trust her. I don't believe she has any strongly held beliefs from which she governs. I think she's power hungry.

Second, Obama. Many of my friends and colleagues are completely ga-ga for Obama. I can see why, he's charismatic, he's leftwing, he's been consistently anti-war, he's got dark skin (some argue we can't call him "black" or even "African-American" because he's not descended from the enslaved people of West Africa), he's fresh and a relative outsider. All intriguing and exciting, but he is so new that I don't have a sense of his record, his commitment or, perhaps mostly importantly, his ability to campaign effectively for national office (we know Hillary can)--his election to the U.S. Senate was a cakewalk.

Then there's John Edwards, for whom, truth be told, if the primary were held today I'd vote. Why? Because I have met him (I've met Hillary too, but...). I have seen him speak. I have watched his career closely. I like him. I trust him. I believe him. I like plaintiff's lawyers. Do I agree with every position he's ever taken? No. Was I blown away by him in person? No. In fact, after meeting him I voted for Dennis Kucinich in the California primary last go round, largely because it was a walk for Kerry already and I thought I should just vote my conscience. But I think he's strong on the stump, has the courage of his convictions, has a way to connect with middle-Americans, and would be a good commander in chief.

As I learn more about Obama, have a chance to see him speak more, I may well gravitate towards him. I am wary of early and heady support for particular presidential candidates--mindful of the Deaniacs last time around (I knew a fair amount about Howard Dean and couldn't see how they could like him so much).

I'm willing to be educated. And of course I haven't even mentioned Bill Richardson, Joe Biden (whom I've always loved), (liberal insurance company guy) Chris Dodd or the possibilities of Kerry or Gore getting into it late. What do you think?

Round I to the Democrats in Congress

Probably a function of distance from Washington, but I'm impressed with Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid's maneuvers on Iraq this week. By using Bush's certain veto to create strong party discipline and send a $124 billion military spending bill to Bush laden with a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq, the Democrats have put the Republicans in a tight position:

If Republicans vote against the package, they are simultaneously:
a) undermining the troops by refusing to support new spending for all the things the troops need to keep them out of harms way--thereby jeopardizing them with their base;
b) going on record as opposing a sensible timetable for withdrawal from Iraq thereby leaving them vulnerable with swing voters who oppose the war.

By supporting the package (which almost none of the Republicans did), they:
a) "undermine the troops" by bringing them home (something I've never understood but elements of the Republican base are rabid about);
b) undermine the President (see above).

Pelosi no doubt used her liberal San Francisco bona fides with the left wing of the Democratic party, coupled with MoveOn support for this strategy, to bring most of them along to vote for huge war spending, despite the pressure from some peacenik quarters not to do so.

As deplorable as a $124 billion war infusion is, the knowledge of a certain veto by Bush allows most Democrats to participate in this brilliant strategy protected from the possibility of genuinely having helped fund the war.

After the veto is a different story of course, all bets are off and the party factions will probably scatter to their respective corners. It'll be interesting to see how it plays out.

4 Snouts Up for Blue Door at Berkeley Rep

(:)(:)(:)(:) for Blue Door at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre. A few hours before I discovered new high quality professional theater right here in Sacramento, I reserved seats for last Saturday's performance of Blue Door written by Tanya Barfield and directed by Delroy Lindo.

I liked it very much--the two-man play is well-acted, well-staged (a beautiful yet spare set) and covers an important subject matter in a way which is accessible, occasionally funny and not at all didactic.

I don't like to recount plotlines, so here's the official Berkeley blurb:

When he refuses to attend the Million Man March, an African-American professor finds his personal and professional lives thrown into turmoil. Unable to sleep in the bed abandoned by his [sara's note: white] wife, Lewis is visited by his ancestors—men who fought to be free, to vote, to obtain justice. Two exceptional actors embody three generations in this powerful new play from a promising young writer. Blue Door is a searing examination of family and identity that will resonate with anyone who has ever struggled to live with—or escape—the past.

Not surprisingly, the subject matter attracted a slightly more diverse audience than the typical white over 50 throng--"is that Loni Hancock*?" "No, that's Loni Hancock."

*Berkeley assemblymember Loni Hancock looks just like 50% of the Berkeley Rep season ticket holders.

Bush, Virginia Tech and the Freedom to Bear Arms

Musings:

Playing catch-up on the news here but did anyone else but me (and an Australian newspaper) notice that President Bush's first comment on the shooting at Virginia Tech included this statement, "The president believes that there is a right for people to bear arms, but that all laws must be followed. Certainly, bringing a gun into a school dormitory and shooting ... is against the law and something someone should be held accountable for."

Why was this necessary? Has it gotten to the point where the NRA has such dominance that Republicans are unable to offer sincere condolences to the victims of a tragedy without pandering to this interest group?

Why wasn't there more fallout from this statement? Has everything the President says been rendered that irrelevant.

Four Snouts up for Three Days of Rain and the Capital Stage

(:)(:)(:)(:) for Three Days of Rain at the Capital Stage in Old Sacramento now playing through May 13th. This play is the first I've seen from a relatively new professional theater company in Sacramento, the first such new ambition in years, now in its second season. If this play is any indication, the company is an answer to my prayers.

Currently housed in the modest theater on the Delta King, the limits of the space are obvious. Yet, in Three Days of Rain by Richard Greenberg, the production house has chosen to stage a darkly funny one set play with only 3 actors (playing 6 parts, by clever design)--perfect for the space.

The play itself is well-written, playing with familiar themes of family legacy, secrets, and assumptions--definitely influenced by the plays of Sam Shepard, but lighter, and New Yorky.

The play was well-staged and well acted with an exceptionally strong performance by Johnathon Rhys Williams. Williams and the other male actor Gillen Morrison easily outshadow the only non-Equity actor, Megan Smith playing the role Julia Roberts starred in on Broadway (who, while famous, has never displayed any but surface level acting ability in any vehicle I'm aware of).

Gillen Morrison's choices in the second act work but were a bit too close to Russell Crowe's interpretation of John Forbes Nash in A Beautiful Mind for my taste.

Still, the whole experience is delicious compared to almost anything I've seen at the B street Theater (exception: Copenhagen a few years back). And the season ticket prices for next year are wickely low--$55 for 5 plays (normal price is $22 a ticket). I'd encourage all Sacramentens to run not walk to this production and future ones. Important to support local theater.