January 22 - Pet Peeve Monday - Exploratory Committees

This week’s PET PEEVE MONDAY is EXPLORATORY COMMITEES.

For the uninformed, Exploratory Committees are what politicians form on their path to run for office.

Exploratory committees allow candidates to “test the waters.” They are formed solely for the purpose of determining the feasibility of an individual’s candidacy for office. The activities of exploratory committees may include polling, travel, and telephone calls to determine whether the individual should become a candidate.

Ron Elving adeptly describes the use of exploratory committees in his article, Declaring for President is a Dance of Seven Veils, which aired on National Public Radio on December 5, 2006.

He writes: “The exploratory committee has been around for decades, and technically it creates a legal shell for a candidate who expects to spend more than $5,000 while contemplating an actual run. Under the rules, exploratory money may be raised without the full disclosure of sources required of true candidates. Only when the candidate drops the exploratory label does the full responsibility of transparency apply.”

Here’s my PEEVE. I don’t want to suppport someone who isn’t sure they want the job as “COMMANDER of the Free World.” If they are unsure about this, would they handle Syria, Iran, and terrorism, with the same lack of tenacity?

I want my President to be forceful and forthright. But probably not as stubborn or obstinate as the current resident of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Also, I don’t want my next President using election loopholes, to raise funds under the radar. Pay close attention to the phrase, “legal shell,” in the above quote.

Election reform is always discussed but NEVER implemented. It’s like the weather. Everyone complains about it, but no one ever does anything about it. Just ask Al Gore.

That said; let me handicap the Democrat candidates that have “declared” their decision to form Exploratory Committees for the 2008 election. Never mind that the Inauguration is 2 years away from last Saturday, the first primary isn’t for over a year, and the last election is still in the rear view mirror.

The Contenders:

Hillary Clinton: She came out this past weekend. No, not as a lesbian. She will save that for Oprah after she loses the primary. She is the front-runner. The fact that she couldn’t stand up to a cheating husband bothers me. How could she handle North Korea? She is not electable, but she will certainly solidify both sides. At the very least, she has afforded me countless material for blogging for the next two years.

Barack Hussian Obama: He is intriguing like the concept cars that are rolled out at the Auto Show each year. They look good, but are untested, and no body wants to be the first to buy. It would be nice if someone had more than 2 years of seasoning before being prompted up as a true candidate by the media. I did purchase his latest book, and I plan to read it (and blog on it) in February.

John Edwards: He began running two years ago. His mail is being forwarded to his new address in Iowa. As the VP candidate in 2004, the gloves never came off. More will be reported, should he be the Democrat nominee, about his coming to wealth as an “ambulance chasing” personal injury attorney. He “earned” $7M on one judgment alone.

The Pretenders:

Bill Richardson: He has some actual experience on his resume. However there are many skeletons in his closet. The latest involves sexual improprieties. However, as Willy Clinton proved, that shouldn’t prohibit someone from holding office and using that office for trysts with junior support staff.

Dennis Kucinich: He has some novel ideas about government, much in the vein (or is it in vain) of Ralph Nader. He would have made a better Canadian.

Chris Dodd: He isn’t even the most recognized Senator in Connecticut (Joe Lieberman).

Mike Gravel: He is a former Senator from Alaska. I need to form an Exploratory Committee just to find out who he is.

Tom Vilsack: He is the Governor of Iowa. He is viable because he is from an early primary state and the fact that he is a Governor. Governors fare much better in Presidential election than Senators. The last sitting Senator elected President was Kennedy in 1960. Since then, Governors Reagan, Carter, Clinton, and Bush II have ascended from the statehouse to the White House.


The Chicken Tenders:

There are still others that are exploring their options for forming an Exploratory Committee. (Is that possible?) They include: Joe Biden, Al Gore, John Kerry, and Wesley Clark.


I’ll provide commentary on the Republican candidates at a later, more appropriate date, like February 2008.

In the mean time, I am forming an EXLORATORY COMMITTEE to find out if I can retrofit my 18 TVs with an “E Chip.” It will work like the V chip that blocks out violent content. My E Chip will block out all Election Commentary and Political Commercials until November 11, 2008.