NYT Endorsements

The New York Times came out with its endorsements today, which made me both happy and sad, but both of which were very well argued and worth reading (Republican at http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/25/opinion/25fri2.html, Democratic at http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/25/opinion/25fri1.html?em&ex=1201410000&en=8db6e72c400e74b2&ei=5087%0A). Their endorsement of McCain was extremely tepid and prefaced by how disappointed they were with the Republican field as a whole. The editorial board on Romney: "It is hard to find an issue on which he has not repositioned himself to the right since he was governor of Massachusetts. It is impossible to figure out where he stands or where he would lead the country." On Huckabee: "To attract Republican primary voters, he has become an anti-immigrant absolutist. His insertion of religion into the race, herding Mr. Romney into a defense of his beliefs, disqualified him for the Oval Office."

What satisfied me the most, however, was the NYT's harshest criticism, that of Giuliani. You all should definitely read it, but here's a tidbit: "The real Mr. Giuliani, whom many New Yorkers came to know and mistrust, is a narrow, obsessively secretive, vindictive man who saw no need to limit police power...Mr. Giuliani’s arrogance and bad judgment are breathtaking...The Rudolph Giuliani of 2008 first shamelessly turned the horror of 9/11 into a lucrative business, with a secret client list, then exploited his city’s and the country’s nightmare to promote his presidential campaign." Ah, that's enough to make any liberal's day.

Sadly, the NYT also endorsed Hillary, but gave credit to all three candidates for their strong positions on Iraq, health care and economic rejuvenation. Their main point in picking Hillary was that Obama's message of hope and change seems too vague. I wonder if they've looked into his bipartisan work in the Illinois state senate or grassroots campaign and community organizing as indicators of how he would bring the country together and bring democracy back to the people. Oh well, at least they bashed most of the Republicans.