the same could be said of a pro-life democratic candidate. they'd never see the light of day, or the DNC chairmanship. and i think you've misunderstood precisely where the middle is.
I like Powell but I don't think he's got a chance with either party. IMO Powell's loyalty to the GW Bush Admin has cost him among left of center and even many center voters. After giving that serious dour talk at the UN about mobile anthrax labs and then issuing a public mea culpa later has made him look more and more like a McNamara. Also his barely hidden doubts and internal opposition to the rest of the Admin has probably alienated him from many true believers among Neo-Cons. Not to forget his outright liberal stands on several social issues has alienated him from the Social conservatives. Powell's time to run passed him up after 2000. I doubt that even if he wanted to run he would have much success.
I agree with you that the NE is just as guilty of racism as the south. Living NY for about a decade showed me that. In fact the worst lynchings during the civil war happened in NYC, and not the South. There is a difference though. People in the NE don't really even understand that they are racist, and race wouldn't stop them from voting for a minority. In the South there are enough people who either know they are racist, or don't think they are but believe there is a natural order of things, and that minorities can't perform certain jobs as well as others etc. Bush's campaign ploys in S. Carolina have already been mentioned. They worked. Those cheap tactics wouldn't have worked everywhere in the NE, but they did work in South Carolina.
You're right. . . it's too bad all those pro-life democrats like uh, and uh, and uh, are being wasted. You're right though, I do misunderstand where the middle is. It's probably has something to do with gay marriage but I can only speculate.
