Conflict Paradox

There can be no change without conflict, but conflict without change is more likely. Take the Democratic Party, for example. Hillary Clinton is running as a front-runner in the Democratic Presidential race. That means she is seeking to avoid conflict and attract as many people as possible to the campaign by saying as little as possible about everything. But she seems to attract conflict by being perceived as liberal, even though she is pretty moderate compared to some bloggers (Las Vegas Gleaner) I read. The conflict between Hillary and the conservative right (Fox News, talk radio, James Dobson), whose express aim is to push every political candidate to the right, is bound to paralyze the country in a brutal Presidential campaign from about February 2008 to January 2009. This conflict, though, could result in little real change. If Hillary is elected, she will probably keep troops in Iraq beyond 2013. If a Republican is elected, he will probably keep troops in Iraq beyond 2013. There is the possibility for real change, but I believe conflict without change is more likely if Hillary is nominated as the Democratic candidate. Barack Obama is the only viable alternative to Hillary at this point, so I'm finally going to come out and say that I would prefer him to Hillary in the Democratic caucus on January 19 in Nevada. I would probably vote for him in the general election against Giuliani, Thompson, or Romney. If McCain somehow wins the Republican nomination, I would vote for McCain, but I'm not sure of his position on abortion. Obama is pro-choice. Hillary is pro-choice. Giuliani is pro-choice. I would prefer a moderate pro-life choice, but I am not a strong opponent of abortion. I stop short of calling it murder, for example. I think stem cell research is debatable. A human embryo is sacred, whether it is scientifically viable or not, but what about embryos created in a lab for purposes of fertility treatment that are going to be destroyed either by a scientist or by nature? I resist characterizing these embryos as "unborn babies," as Christian radio did the other day. It oversimplifies the situation. More later...