Green,

I understand what you are saying but isn't it getting a bit ridiculous at this point with this stuff. I mean no matter who is running for president somebody will come up with a theory why this person is the "chosen one" and piece together some wildly speculative chart detailing the "facts" of the case. I mean the whole Hillary thing and how she was the "chosen one" got blown all to hell when she lost so now there has to be a theory why Barack needed to replace her. Wait, I know, Barack is related to Dick Cheney so this is why he is chosen!

It's not a big mystery or surprise that Obama is where he is. Sure, he was the underdog but the media does love "historic" candidates like Hillary, Barack, and Sarah. All the predictions that Hillary would be the next president were not "amazing" either. Everybody knew she would run, knew how ambitious she was, knew the Clintons were gods of the DNC, so of course she was a favorite...but she lost and it was not because Barack was "chosen" it was because she took for granted she would win, was surprised by the fact people connected with Obama, and then ran a poor (and dirty) campaign that turned people off and drove a wedge into her own party. She and her husband were exposed as a bit too nasty and ambitious for their own good.

Also it seems to be shocking to some people that the two major parties play a part in choosing their candidates and this is somehow confused with being a conspiracy. The parties are basically clubs and like any club if you join you are agreeing to go along with what is good for the club. This is not a conspiracy and it's done right out in the open. Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich were not what their respective clubs wanted so they got the boot. Paul can't succeed in the Republican Party because he no longer represents what most of the Republicans now think of as their values. Sarah Palin and George W. Bush are now the Republican proto-type. Just mention god a lot, talk about how much you love and support the troops and how America will win, oppose abortion, talk about how great America and Americans are and that's it. You are an instant superstar Republican. You don't need any knowledge of a single issue or how our government is supposed to work.

In fact many Republicans (and Palin has been quoted as saying this) don't want to hear any facts or explanations of what is going on. They think that's designed to confuse people. Obama is thought to be a poor candidate to them because he explains too much! They just want to be told America is great, America is winning, God is on our side, there will be no more killing babies, taxes will be reduced, our troops rock! That's it, stuff the pacifier in their mouth and they are content. Palin's presence in this campaign is all based on this and who better than super Wal-Mart mommy to say it! Is that a conspiracy? Are these people sheep? No, those are comforting things and when the last 8 years has been about scaring the living shit out of people who can blame them for wanting to lay down in Sarah's arms and be rocked to sleep.

I'm fine with these alternative theories and histories but some of it reaches a level of hysteria that seems very much driven by fear and the need to find evil and something outside of ourselves to explain what is wrong with the world. It's a massive game of connect the dots but the problem is there is little in many of these theories to prove this dot connects to that dot other than a leap of speculative faith...which is not a surprise.

Peace Greenie. I hope you are well.

Reg