verbena-19

Popular Ohio Democrat Paul Hackett Drops out of Race, and Perhaps Politics

It was somewhat disheartening to read here that Paul Hackett, an Iraq war veteran and popular Democratic candidate in Ohio's closely watched Senate contest, said yesterday that he was dropping out of the race and leaving politics altogether as a result of pressure from party leaders. Hackett was a straight-talker and an honest man. I guess he was too honest for his party, the Democrats, which have become a spineless bunch (with a few exceptions) and were probably fearful of Hackett's open, scathing criticism of Bushco's handling of the Iraq war, and other 'discordant' statements he may make during the race. In losing Hackett, the Democratic party will have lost an outspoken voice. It is his party's loss. Perhaps in the long run, it will prove better for Paul Hackett to remain untainted by the ruthless, dirty business that passes for politics these days.

I will be surprised if the feeble Democrats have good results in the mid-term elections, and if the party garners enough votes to govern the country in 2008. I'm afraid the Republicans will be in power for a long time, and Americans will wait for the return of their "democracy" until hell freezes over.

posted by Annamarie at 10:59 PM