(Hey, a Senator who stands up for the Constitution! Who couldn't promote that? - promoted by Zappatero)
I've got to apologize for my absence. Unlike 2006, where it seemed like I was taking down campaigns left & right (and, man, did I do a doozy on Beauprez's campaign, what with the immigration stuff, and that photo op where he was pointing both ways), this cycle has been notably quiet--the one "rogue staffer" so far stood right up, took the bullet, and got shoved off the plank willingly. Not that he had much of a choice, and he'll probably never work in politics again!
But, never mind that. I write this to argue on behalf of a man, and that man is Chris Dodd.
Now, when you see Chris Dodd and when you hear Chris Dodd, I'll be frank--you see an older, distinguished man, who's been fighting the good fight in the World's Greatest Deliberative Body (WGDB®), better known as the Senate.
Now, I know that other candidates have their fans here. You can make a good argument for why Hillary Clinton would make a good President, or why John Edwards would, or why Barack Obama would. You can certainly make solid arguments for why they would be "electable".
You know what, though? I'm tired of voting for the lesser of who cares. I'm tired of voting for candidates for whom I have to force, or even feign, enthusiasm. I want a candidate who stands for something greater than the force of ambition.
Here's a man who's standing for the elemental rule of law, and who's doing so not because it's politically convenient to do so, but because it's principled to do so.
Here's a man who, when asked if he would have all American troops out of Iraq by 2013, promptly answered, "Yes." Just. Like. That.
Here's a man who, a full year before we were all shocked at what was happening in Walter Reed-and other military and veterans' hospitals across the country-proposed fully funding those hospitals.
Here's a man who, right from the start, decided that he wasn't going to let telecommunications companies off the hook when we found out they were listening in to all our conversations. Dodd marched down to the floor of the Senate and told the world that that telecommunications amnesty bill would pass over his own cold, dead body.
I've lurked more than I've written here, and I greatly respect all of the people who write here. But if what we claim to stand for is to have any meaning; if we're really, honest-to-goodness serious about what we say we believe and hold dear, then there's really only one choice:
On February 5th, when you go to your caucuses all over Colorado, don't vote for the candidate you think is most likely to get elected in the fall; vote for the candidate who will most clearly reflect where you stand.
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