I’m not a democrat but their nomination race at the national level is the best show in town.  My daughter will be happy to hear that, in the primary races, I’m pulling for Obama although not for the reasons she might like…:)

Here’s why I want Obama to win the nomination:  at some level it really bothers me that America, at the conclusion of GWB’s tenure, will have been governed by the same families for 20-odd years.  It is for this reason alone that I can’t abide Hillary Clinton.  If she’s elected we will be almost to 30 years under the same 2 families and by then Jenna will be of age…:)  I don’t care that Hill is a woman any more than I care that Obama is a black guy or that McCain is an older white dude.  To me, it is an intellectual surrender to even consider electing her.  It’s an endorsement of the status quo and I’m sick of the status quo.  I don’t know whether McCain will be able to alter norms in Washington but dragging Hillary and Bill back into Washington just isn’t acceptable.

It’s too easy and lazy and America can’t stand easy and lazy right now.

There was a letter to the editor today (or maybe a guest column) about the uncontested race for City Council. I agree with Ms. Scott that there should have been more people running but that was not to be. I would like to make two points:

1. There is nothing preventing members of other parties (or no party) from running for office. It doesn’t cost that much but it does require a lot of legwork. This isn’t some pie in the sky notion either, Steve R. has been doing it for 25 or so years. All it requires is the will to get up and do it.

2. Dividing the City up into wards or precincts was an idea that I really liked until about a year after my election. I thought it would provide better representation to City residents. However, it would have some unintended side-effects. The first, most important, effect would be that no longer are you represented by 6 Council members, you are represented by 1. This is an important distinction and here’s a quick (true) story as to why:

Say that there is a development going in near your neighborhood. You and yours are mad about it and want to let the Council know about it. You call all of the Council members and they all come to your neighborhood meeting to hear you out. They agree and things happen. They have to happen – your vote helps elect each and every one of them.

Now, run that scenario with a ward system:

You are mad about a development in your area. You call your member of Council and vent. He agrees with you and thinks the development needs to be changed. This is about as far as you are going to get. He is only 1 of 6. The other 5 might think that this project is too important. Heck, the other 5 might not even take meetings with you. You don’t elect them!!!

Having all of the members elected at-large provides the people with more leverage over the actions of the council. All that is required is that the citizens take the time to use that leverage.

Now, there will be those of you that discount what I’m saying as a technicality and believe that I’m afraid for my job or some such.  Let me tell you with complete candor that I’m not all that crazy about this job.  However, if I were inclined to be a life-long elected I would be agitating for a ward system right now.  It would cut the amount of work I need to do in order to get elected by 80%. I live in the Baldwin precinct – why on earth would I knock on doors in Weems, Haydon, Metz or Dean? They don’t elect me so I wouldn’t bother. Neither would anyone else.

This may seem cynical but look at what happens in the District. It would take some time for Manassas to get that way but it would happen.