I just watched David Ortiz — three balls, two strikes, two men on base — slam one into the stands, bringing the Sox up 7-3 in the top of the ninth. I was pleased, but not surprised. It’s a clutch situation. Papi’s up to bat. Of course it’ll work out.
The Democrats need a David Ortiz. In a tough situation, we turn to…who? Who stands up and, before he speaks a word, gives us all the chill of impending victory? Nobody. We’re up against the Yankees and we’ve got no Ortiz in the line-up. The bases have been loaded for two years, and we just don’t have anybody to drive the ball home. That’s our problem.
Isn’t that person isn’t Govenor Warner?
And I’d really love to see the Boston Red Sox win another world series. That would be great.
How about a Dean/Hillary or Dean/McCain ticket? Warner would be good too – but the excitement would be more of a Trot Nixon than that of the Magnificent Papi!
Dean/Hillary wouldn’t happen, it would be Hillary/Dean and neither can get elected. Same goes for Dean/McCain. McCain wouldn’t play second fiddle to a democrat.
Warner’s still the best bet for a democratic white house.
Forget Warner, Hillary, Dean, etc… I don’t think the question is who is up for a the white house run, I think the discusion is who is the clutch hitter for the dems, with the situation begging for results who performs? And this is certainly a good question that Waldo raises, but I’m at as much of a loss as he is.
The thing is, maybe it’s just cuz it’s late, but I’m drawing a blank, who has this been for the Republicans? Or do they not have one because it’s been so long since they’ve really needed a clutch hitter and live off their big bats of Frist, Delay, etc.?
Chris,
If Hillary Clinton is anywhere on that 2008 ticket then this Democrat will be writing in ‘Mickey Mouse’ on election day. And I’m far from being alone in this.
Howard Dean is not running for President and will not run. Period. He’s chairman of the DNC and staying there.
John McCain won’t play second fiddle to *anyone,* Democrat or otherwise.
At crunch-time there are really just going to be 2 options for the nomination. Hillary Clinton or Mark Warner. While I don’t think that anyone else has a prayer unless Al Gore surprises everyone and jumps in, I do think that as the ’08 primary race heats up we will see new stars in the making. The crucible of a Presidential campaign does wonders for forging raw talent into something really useful on a national level, even among the also-rans. I’m hoping that Wesley Clark gets into the mix somehow for exactly that reason.
Mark Warner/Wesley Clark They are your winning ticket.
As much as I like John McCain, he’s….just….too….old.
Waldo, I appreciate your good taste in sporting events and timing.
When thinking to 2008, I can not come up with that hulking, yet lovable, clutch performer. My personal problem, I’m too focused on that day when Bush leaves office and goes on to “bungle” elsewhere.
As for your timing, I thought the sports-interested reader may enjoy sports editor Frank Deford’s peice on NPR this morning. It’s entitled “Sweetness and Light: Athletes Turned Politicians Go Republican”. Free from NPR’s website, under Morning Addition (5/3/6).
The short piece is an entertaining rememberance of our politicians who have played sports. Including those who cheered from the sidelines – our current chief. Deford’s final statement, “…if the democrats ever want to get back into power, they need to nominate some jocks and start kickin but.” Obviously, his solution is both sarcastic and oversimplified, but his interpretation of Dem. perception is clear.
If image is the only problem, however, Johnny Damon (0-4) and the Yankees would have won the game Waldo watched. David Americo (yes, his real middle name) Ortiz isn’t pretty, he’s effective. His mind set is simple, but not unintelligent. “I’m paid to hit the ball; I’m going to make solid contact and hit the ball where your fielders are not – perhaps 400+ feet from here.” Most of all, he’s not affraid to swing.
Recent dem. candidates have lacked any simple message. And we were not convinced that they would “swing away” whenever possible. The masses want a proven winner. Someone who let’s their product speak for itself (more baseball – this is one of the many reasons why Ortiz is beloved and Barry Bonds is booed).
Perhaps Warner is the person. Clark, Clinton, and Dean are not top ballot material.
Frank, perhaps I should turn this blog over to you. You’ve connected sports to politics, tied it into a story in today’s news, provided better analysis than I did or could, and written about it well.
You come back now, y’hear?
Al Gore won the 2000 election. He’s been stepping up since the fall of 2002 whenever leadership’s been called for. His experience and belief in something substantive put him far, far above Warner in terms of what kind of president he’d make.