We all want leadership, right? These two should be within steps of the Oval Office at all times, if you ask me. And let Chris Dodd be the Senate Majority Leader. It’s really time for Reid to go. Past time. I also think that Nancy Pelosi would be delighted to usher him out the door. For months, I’ve felt as though she has been trying to lower her game to match his mediocre level–simply because she hopes to get something done, even though his timidity regularly prevents her from really doing her job.

And if the blogsphere wants to help, good for them!

Yuck. Let us hope that–most–of this is true.

Here is a second, very interesting piece about Al Gore. The world would be so very different, if only he had carried Tennessee. (No, I’m not going to natter on about the theft of Florida, and the probable treason of the Supreme Court. These events speak for themselves.)

Thinking about Al Gore leads me to a difficult question: if he is, in fact, probably the person best suited to be the President right now, does he have a moral imperative to run? (I have always liked Kant, and flirted, privately, with majoring in philosophy. Locke. Rawls. And so on.) Logically, no, of course not. He has free will, and if he genuinely chooses not to run, so be it. And yet, if a person possesses great gifts, does he or she have a duty to use them for the greater good? Which, obviously, the former Vice President has spent a great deal of time doing, in his own way–but, selfishly, I want more, and therefore, must try to achieve more myself, instead of urging other people to do so.

Hmmm. Majoring in English may have been the better choice. Philosophy is wicked complicated.

Am I rooting for Hillary? Yes. But, if she wins, I’m anticipating 4-8 years of extreme turmoil, independent prosecutors, and trumped-up scandals, given the degree to which she–to my continued confusion–inspires such strong hostility among vast segments of the country. Could I live with Obama? Sure. It would be so very much better than our current Administration, and he would speak beautifully, and the world would probably like him. But, I honestly think it would be 4-8 years of a legislative logjam, and no real accomplishments. How much smarter he would have been to stay in the Senate for two or three full terms, actually show up for important votes on a regular basis, build up relationships and credibility–and power–and then run.

On another note entirely. When it comes to fashion, I am nothing if not a moron–but, Chanel is fun.

Even though the entire state of affairs still makes me faintly uncomfortable, it is to laugh–and laugh quite a lot. It will not last forever, but it’s important to enjoy the ride.

This is pretty entertaining–especially if you have seen the terrifying original.

And if it’s wrong, do I want to be right? Probably not. It’s always good to get a different point of view, and I like to see their perspective on various situations.

Which is the same reason that I read the New York Post. No, that is a lie. This is why I read the New York Post.

In any case, Al Jazeera is often a must-read for me, and from there, I generally head to the BBC, which reported this oddity today. (I saw it elsewhere, also–but, hey, I like the BBC.)

Then, ultimately, I ended up here, which was a short hop to my all-time favorite photo of President Bush.  Be afraid. Be very afraid.  Arguably, though, that one shot sums up the man’s entire Presidency.  (And–it’s not a purse, damn it!)

On my travels, I also came across this article, which I thought was very cool, indeed. Although I suppose the case could be made that it will be even more cool when people no longer write articles about such things. But, it reminded me of this story from last year. And then, suddenly, I ended up here. Oh, goodness me.

So. Is the Internet the biggest time-suck there is in the history of the world, or what?

And, I am sorry to say, Ebay is the Devil’s Tool.

Big game tomorrow night. Wicked big game. Can’t wait.

Those are momentous words.  Five words I think I have been waiting my entire life to say.

It’s good to be wrong.  I’m enjoying being wrong.

And–in the space of less than a week–America has witnessed two historic victories.  But, the honest truth is that I am happier about tonight.  I attended a small New Hampshire primary viewing party tonight, during which we enjoyed roast beast and Yorkshire pudding and other hearty treats, and–we were delighted.  I’m not even sure why we were so pleased, or why I felt quite bereft and grumpy after Iowa–but, there it is.

I also think we have a Much Improved candidate–who actually used the defeat in Iowa as a growth process–and that’s a good thing, too.  It was my great favorite (and near-political hero) Mario Cuomo who spoke about campaigning in poetry, but governing in prose.   I like poetry–but this time around, after what may be the worst President in American history, my preference is for competence, and efficiency, and someone with an astonishingly swift learning curve.

And, you know, it was kind of swell to see McCain thwart Romney, too.   Also, I think independents flocked to him, at Obama’s expense, and that may explain why the pollsters, and pundits, were so entirely wrong.  And bringing in some new old hands seems like a wise choice.

Fasten your seabelts; it’s going to be a bumpy ride.  (Yay!)

No votes for Hillary. 7 for Barack. A couple for Edwards.

John McCain wins on the Republican side–with 4 votes.

And now, Hart’s Location has weighed in, with similar results.

Does it mean much? Probably not, except that, so far, this is an election cycle unlike any I have ever seen before, and I think the same two people will win the primary tomorrow night. If she loses by double-digits, I think Hillary is pretty much done; if she is able to get it closer than that, she’ll survive through February 5th. Probably. I think. Maybe. (But, if the polls start swinging away from her in New York, you have to assume she’ll drop out immediately.)

If–when?–Barack becomes the nominee, I will actually be behind him more than one hundred percent, because–like so many of us–I want our country back. Which begs the question I asked a friend just a little while ago–is the current passion for Obama really about the man himself, or about the fervent, yearning desire Americans have to go back to our natural state of hope and optimism, and stop being the Great Satan in the eyes of the world? Would it be enough to have a President who can rise to the challenges of the bully pulpit, even if he’s entirely inexperienced, and possibly not ready for the job? I am not sold on any of this, at all, but I am pretty sure that Senator Obama’s idea of unity would not be to tell all of us–to go shopping.

We shall see. I, personally, vow to remain open-minded. (and am hoping beyond hope that there are no skeletons rattling around in his background–just in case.)

Strangely, Hillary had her most authentic public moment ever today, and spoke as a patriot, and a very human one, at that. Too late to stem the tide, I suspect, but interesting, regardless. She has been very poorly served by her campaign gurus.

On another note, lies, lies, all lies!

Terrifyingly, this is how some New Yorkers celebrate New Year’s Eve. One can only shudder.

Barnes & Noble.com now has listings for the re-issues of the first three books in the President’s Daughter series, which will be available on 22 July 2008.

• The President’s Daughter
• White House Autumn
• Long Live the Queen

After months of huffing and puffing, we now have some Actual Results–and I, for one, was left disappointed in a way that I don’t think I would have predicted, even though I’m pretty sure we’re all supposed to be really happy. In fact, my friend Barbara and I spent a very long time on the telephone afterwards, moping and fretting and engaging in pre-game analysis of New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Nevada. Is it, in the end, about really wanting a woman to win, even if one is not a huge fan of the particular person running? Possibly so, because I felt a certain sense of despair watching her get trounced. (Third place, and 9 percentage points behind, with 100% of the precincts reporting. Wow. Are heads rolling up and down the aisle of the campaign plane tonight? One can only assume so.)

And–yes–I’m disappointed. Miles to go before we sleep, and all of that–but, disappointed. Granted, my horse, Senator Feingold, wasn’t even in the race, but it doesn’t seem like a good sign when you’re sitting around thinking, well, okay, if the junior Senator from Illinois with no legislative accomplishments whatsoever–and a disgraceful attendance record, to boot–wins the Big Prize, at least he’s smart, and that will be a nice change.

Barack reminds me of the guy with whom you have an absolutely glorious first date, and you run home and tell everyone you know that you met someone intelligent, and good-looking, and funny, and he’s perfect, and they should maybe start saving up for your favorite silverware–except then, you go out with him again. And you’re dying to fall in love with him, because on paper, he just seems so wonderful–but, for some reason, privately, you’re already losing interest, and like Buffy, you’re kind of going through the motions. And, your loved ones say, gosh, you have not mentioned Barack at all lately, what’s up with that?–and you sigh and shrug, and mumble a lot.

Which was an embarrassingly banal description, but I am from New England, and many of My People are not good at expressing the way we feel about things.

Maureen Dowd did a fine job, though, and quite effectively pinned down part of what is bothering me the most about the winner of the Iowa Caucus–and the person who came in third. (is it wrong to say that the notion of 4–or 8–years of Michelle just makes me tired? In fact, even writing those words means that I may have to go over to the cupboard and help myself to some of The Wonder Drug immediately. The Caucus has only been over for a few hours–and I already want her to go away and leave me alone. Which was true the very first time I saw her interviewed, actually. Way too passive-aggressive–and simultaneously garden-variety aggressive, to wear well over the long haul. Or, in my case, the very short haul.)

But, regardless, it has all Begun–and until February 5th, we are looking at non-stop pundits, and talking points. Sigh. Deep sigh. Exhaustion. More Wonder Drug. And, perhaps, I’ll chase that with a glass of Rhode Island Elixir.

Is anyone else awfully damn sick of the word “Change” every four seconds? It beats “Tyranny,” a word I have come to despise during the past seven years–but, not by much.

By the way, Mike Huckabee won, too. I kind of like the guy, but I still laughed my head off.

On a more positive note, the Red Sox have not traded Jacoby Ellsbury yet, and a week ago, I was lucky enough to witness this, from the second-to-the-last row of the stadium. Although the friend I was with would assure you otherwise, (I was grouchy and tense and no fun at all for more than three full quarters), I enjoyed the game very much, once Eli finally coughed up the predictable crucial interception.

Forget February 5th; I am waiting for January 12th.