Rooting for the little guys in 2008
- posted: 05 June 2007
- scrollopinion@byui.edu
It will be a year-and-a-half before we see a new president at the head of our nation, but the race for party nominations is well under way.
Even before last year’s midterm elections, political heavyweights on both ends of the liberal-conservative spectrum began positioning themselves for a two-year sprint to the White House.
Every good race has some front-runners. Leading the pack are Hillary Rodham Clinton (Mrs. President), Rudy Giuliani (America’s Mayor), Barack Obama (the Barack Attack), John McCain (the Aging Maverick), John Edwards (the $400 Haircut) and Mitt Romney (the Mormon).
But enough has been said elsewhere about the big shots. I’m more interested in the other candidates—the little guys, poised to charge from behind like Seabiscuit at Santa Anita.
I’d like to know more about anti-abortion, flat-tax proponent Sam Brownback, a senator from Kansas who said, “The core of my being is to rebuild the family and renew the culture.”
I’d like to know about Jim Gilmore, former governor of Virginia, who claims to represent “the Republican wing of the Republican Party,” whatever that means.
I’d like to know about Mike Huckabee, darling of conservative evangelicals and former governor of Arkansas, who plays bass guitar for his rock-n-roll band, Capitol Offense.
Tell me more about Duncan Hunter, a congressman from California, who said, “One way to bring down crime in every state is to have an enforceable border. That means, let’s build that border fence.” The man may be on to something. Just think if Utah could fence out Las Vegas, Reno and Evanston.
I’m interested in constitutionalist Ron Paul, from Texas. He’s evidently enough of a conservative to gain the official support of Idaho’s own Marvin Richardson, now known legally as Pro-Life. I guess we know where Paul stands on the abortion issue.
Of course, we have Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo, who wants all illegal immigrants out of the country, just as soon as they finish remodeling his basement.
And don’t forget former Wisconsin governor Tommy Thompson whose Web site proudly proclaims he “used his veto pen more than 1,900 times to save taxpayers $287 million.” That’s great, but how much did the pens cost?
Joe Biden, a senator from Delaware, deserves a few votes if only for the fact that he was the fifth-youngest person to ever serve in the U.S. Senate, at the age of 30. Of course, that was 34 years ago.
I confess, I’m not too interested in Christopher Dodd, a senator from Connecticut, who announced his candidacy on Don Imus’ morning radio show. Not such a wise move in hindsight. But then again, maybe he was slated to be on Glenn Beck’s show until they found out he’s a liberal.
Former vice presidential candidate Mike Gravel was once famous for advocating a policy that guaranteed a $5,000 income for all Americans, irrespective of whether or not they actually worked. With 77 years of life behind him, Gravel seems like an interesting politician.
I’d like to know how to pronounce Dennis Kucinich’s last name.
Of even more interest is New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, who would be the nation’s first Hispanic president. Don’t let his name fool you.
None of these people are likely to win either party’s nomination for the presidential bid. But aren’t we a nation of Rudys, Hoosiers and Seabiscuits, always rooting for the underdog?
Let’s hear it for the little guy! 
