Foreign Policies Update

Yesterday was very exciting for me. I received a package from home (it is very very rare for me to get mail) that included the newest Foreign Affairs. Even more exciting was the fact that the new issue contains the foreign policy essays of Hillary Clinton and John McCain. After reading them both, here's my analysis:

Clinton - For the vast majority of her writing, I was with her. She wrote to an educated audience and had good, solid things to say and suggest. Surprisingly, she was not overly bogged down by bashing the Bush administration. Unfortunately, she did not touch on humanitarian reform as other candidates have so effectively. Overall, I found that I liked what she said, didn't find anything to strongly disagree with, and was left wanting on a couple issues.

McCain - His essay is well-written but positively against what I'm interested in. It may surprise McCain to learn that the military is not the answer to everything, and that training civil servants side-by-side with the military is NOT A GOOD IDEA!!!!! The entire essay was far too militaristic for my tastes, although he managed to avoid almost all of the fear-mongering that Giuliani and Romney used. I was not offended by his essay, I simply disagree with almost everything he says.

So here are the grades so far:
Edwards - A
Clinton - A-
Romney - B+
McCain - B-
Giuliani - D+
Obama - D-

If the vote were today, my candidate would be Hillary Clinton.

She did not have the best essay, but it was good enough to make me like her. Combined with her experience, demeanor, and domestic politics, she's the clear leader. Edwards and Romney lost on the basis of domestic politics. The rest have proven their inability to think rationally or present clear, intelligent policies.

Tidalism

I'll be the grapes fermented, bottled and served with the table set in my finest suit like a perfect gentleman.

I'll be the fire escape that's bolted to the ancient brick where you will sit and contemplate your day.


I'll be the waterwings that save you if you start drowning and an open tab when your judgement's on the brink.

I'll be the phonograph that plays your favorite albums back as you're lying there, drifting off to sleep.

I'll be the platform shoes; undo what heredity's done to you. You won't have to strain to look into my eyes.


I'll be your winter coat buttoned and zipped straight to the throat with the collar up so you won't catch a cold.

I want to take you far from the cynics in this town and kiss you on the mouth.

We'll cut our bodies free from the tethers of this scene, start a brand new colony.

Where everything will change, we'll give
ourselves new names.

Identities erased.

The sun will heat the ground under our bare feet in this brand new colony.

This brand new colony.

- Postal Service "Brand New Colony"