I am looking to start a regular weekly and maybe semiweekly diary entry or feature here at Daily Kos. Here are the Top Ten Issues of the week as judged completely arbitrarily and subjectively by me.
In the descending order:
10. KERRY WINS IN THE SOUTH
Well, I guess a damn yankee liberal can win below dat der Mason Dixon Line. To win in the South, all any Democratic candidate has to do is talk up military experience and the loss of jobs. So Dean had it half right. Well, no, leave the confederate flag out of any discussion in the South. And avoid disastrous stunts like Dukakis in a tank.
9. VICE PRESIDENTIAL AND CABINET SWEEPSTAKES
Edwards as VP? John Lewis? Richardson? Clark? Landrieu? Bayh? Cleland? If the nomination is all wrapped up after Super Tuesday, then in order to keep Media attention focused on them, I propose a new Fox (er, no, CBS) show called "American Vice-President." Send twenty contenders someplace and don't come back until there is a winner. Kinda like a mixture of Survivor and American Idol.
8. EXIT POLLS
Every time Kos posts exit polls results on a Saturday, Sunday or Tuesday, it is like clockwork. Not more than 5 minutes later there is someone saying that Kos is subverting democracy and trying to influence the results. Yes, you're right. Kos is really an evil Republican operative trying to suppress Democratic voter turnout so that we nominate the worst possible candidate against Bush. /sarcasm. Seriously, the media reports them. They are on the internet for all to see. It is only natural they will end up here. So relax. If you don't want to know, don't turn on your computer.
7. WATERGATE II: REPUBLICAN THEFT OF DEM COMPUTER FILES
This story is semi-big here and on other blogs, but why haven't I seen a drop of coverage in the mainstream media. And yesterday I hear a) that some Dems want a criminal probe, and then b) Leahy says it might be our own mistake that allowed them access to our confidential information. First, we need to have one person speak for the Democrats. Second, that person needs to call for a criminal probe so loud and so often that the story takes hold like the AWOL story. If the shoe was on the other foot, there would be congressional hearings and a special counsel.
6. FAREWELL GENERAL.
Like all of the canidates this year, you made your honorable contribution to a noble cause. And you will be back. Sec/State? NSA? Pentagon? You will be in the next Democratic administration.
5. CHANDLER VS. KERR
The SCLM also has not reported on the most blatant extortion threat from a politician I have ever seen. How can what Speaker Hastert did in Kentucky not be illegal? I hope and pray Chandler wins so as to create more negative press for the President. Remember Wofford in 1991. This could be that bellweather moment. I have donated, have you?
4. THE MYSTERY OF MAINE
Three days later, and are the results complete from Maine yet? It's not like the amount of delegates at stake is going to sway the nomination but still. These Maine folk are like Canadians. They're slow, eh? Is the industrial corporate complex afraid of a Kucinich or Dean victory? No offense to Bill in Portland and Common Sense Mainer, who I think are the same person
3. ABB AND KERRY VS. ABK AND NBD
This war has enveloped Daily Kos. It has only gotten worse since now it appears that nothing can stop Kerry, which is a bad sign. Will there be a site or community left here after the nomination? Will there be constant attacks on the Democratic nominee from fellow Kossacks if Kerry is that nominee? It appears so. I, for one, am dropping out of the fight and ignoring anti-Kerry smears. Maybe then they will go away.
2. BUSH AND THE AWOL STORY.
God Bless Joshua Micah Marshall and Calpundit for providing clear explanations and skilled investigatory analysis. The White House tried to muddy the waters yesterday and confuse the issues. Lets keep this story alive. Further points of attack and most dangerous for the Administration: Bush said himself that he "worked it out with the military so that I can go to Harvard Business School." The Democrats should parade the thousands upon thousands of Guardsmen and Reservists who are in similar situations today and who can get no love from the military.
and the number 1 topic on Daily Kos based on my own observations:
1. GAY MARRIAGE VS. CIVIL UNIONS VS. KERRY
This will be THE issue of the election if we let it. Based on some ambiguous and hypothetical quotes this week, Kerry appeared to not reject support of a federal constitutional amendment concerning gay marriage. (or was it a Massachusetts Constitutional Amendment?) And then the firestorm ensued here. It appears that some who support gay marriage will not support Kerry at all in the November election if he does not unequivocally support their own position. Some do not want to touch the constitution at all in any way and are angry at Kerry for suggesting so. Some don't understand the hangup on the word "marriage" when state sanctioned civil unions provide exactly the same thing. Some want state and church sanctioned gay marriage. This issue continues. Lets, as Democrats, talk about equal rights and inheritance, health and beneficiary benefits that an average American can understand. Lets stay away from the talk of gay marriage for all and the constitutional process. That plays right into Bush and Rove's hand. And lets realize that Kerry is more sympathetic to gay marriage and civil unions than Bush will ever be....
And I'm done.