Statecraft Informer

Sparxafire! It is the duty of Statecraft Informer to keep a bloodshot eye on matters of state, so SI has no choice but to comment on the 2008 presidential campaign. It’s just that it’s so early! They yank up the mini-blinds at dawn and cast harsh sunlight in our eyes when we are still too far from the legendary “end of the day.” Ouch. I’m still rubbing my eyes fer cryin out loud. I know that any remarks I make today will be stale tomorrow and moldy by the end of the week as the candidates twist, shout, foxtrot, tango and dip.

Marking today by N.Y Mayor Bloomberg’s defacation (or is that defection!?) from the Republican frying pan. At the same time, like so many others, he coyly acts mystified about his plans, promising he will serve out his mayoral term, which ends Dec. 31, 2009. Still, I am intrigued by third parties.

As far as I’m concerned our two-party system is somewhat like Coke and Pepsi… Republithugs and Democan’ts. It no longer makes any difference what they stand for because they have completely lost the ability to get anything done - whatsoever!

Frankly, I can’t remember the last time Congress did anything at all, let alone anything significant or useful. I can’t even tell for sure what’s broken - the political parties or Congress itself. Congress used to do things, so I suspect it is the parties that are broken. So yes. I am open to a third party - just as I was back in 1992 when I was one of about 20 million who voted for Ross Perot.

Third party-ism in general has been somewhat of a disappointment. Perot, along with candidate Ralph Nader are famous for merely bleeding ballots out of the two-party box. Is that what Bloomberg plans to do? Rather, how does Bloomberg plan to prevent that from happening again? At first glance, it appears that Bloomberg’s basic beliefs stand to drain more votes out of the Democratic party, as he is pro-choice and similarly liberal on those all-consuming cultural/lifestyle issues Republicans use to fire/brimstone everyone away from actual matters of state and governance.

So, OK, Mr. Bloomberg, bring it. Let’s see what you’ve got. Frankly, starting out with the same, tired old coy ploy is not knocking off my socks.