The Unsinkable Ship?

It is becoming clearer and clearer that the Clinton presidential campaign, once seen as an unsinkable ship in the democratic presidential race, is in serious trouble.

Senator Clinton has been the national front-runner for the democratic nomination since the very moment her hat was tossed into the ring. Many assumed that her namesake alone was enough to usher her into the pages of history as the first female president of the United States.

Flags were waved, babies were kissed, and everyone involved was generally confident that her maiden voyage from New York to Washington would go just as planned. Every detail was tallied, counted, and polled. Every step in her route was meticulously plotted, every aspect carefully considered. In all of this certainty, and with all of the arrogance of the captain of an invincible ship, one detail was forgotten, not only by the Clinton campaign, but by the American public at large.

That detail was the fact that this journey would be one through a landscape that is peppered with political icebergs.

Political icebergs like Iowa. A problem, but not an insurmountable one. Water was bailed, and a New Hampshire victory seemed to plug all of the leaks and holes there were allowing America's doubt to seep through the thick steel walls.

Then yet another, much larger iceberg was spotted. This new challenge became the catalyst for several perceived mis-steps by the campaign. These mis-steps, framed as racism by opposing campaigns and media alike, stripped the Clinton campaign of the black vote that it had been expected to carry. The nervous eyes of her campaign managers began to dip towards the life boat mechanisms as the Clinton campaign was dealt an ominous loss in South Carolina.

Clinton was soundly defeated in South Carolina, by an adversary with an undoubtable passion and public speaking ability. An opponent who had galvanized several sectors of the voting populace that had never made their voices heard in his support. The status-quo is reeling from the force of these previously disregarded sectors of the voting public.

As for the Clinton campaign, it sails on, its radio apprehensively squawking for support amongst the elite voices of its party. Only now it sails with a little less certainty, and a little less bravado, and a new inclination towards negative tactics that may well be the final breach in the hull of the Clinton Campaign.

The Aquarium

Today I finally made it to the Georgia Aquarium. It was a pretty amazing display of underwater wildlife. This is especially true being that it is so far from any body of water that is worthy of note. The closest thing we have in the Atlanta area is Lake Lanier, which is noteworthy primarily for the fact that it is rapidly disappearing.

The Beluga whales stole the show, they resided in their own section of the aquarium as opposed to the famed whale sharks who were mixed in with what seemed like an entire ecosystem's worth of species. The whale shark display was breathtaking, but did not allow for the same viewing experience as the beluga exhibit.

The overall layout of the aquarium was excellent as well. I have visited both the Chattanooga aquarium and the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, and neither had the appeal of the Georgia Aquarium.

The Shedd Aquarium does have the dolphin exhibit, which was amazing. Check out this shot of the dolphins in the air.

The aquarium is such a useful tool for the schools not only in Atlanta, but throughout the South. The school systems are in serious trouble here in a lot of places. Georgia is ranked 49th nationally, and anything that can help get the children interested in learning is undoubtedly an asset to the state.

This is a picture I took that I really liked, so im adding it as well, check this one out...

Killer Marine Scandal May Affect Political Dialogue.

The case of Cpl. Cesar Armando Laurean and the alleged beating of Marine Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach to death may have ramifications that extend their arms beyond the arena of criminal law and morbid fascination. It may even have an effect on the dialogue of our current political candidates.

The issue of immigration, illegal or otherwise, has been at the forefront of national attention for some time now. It is more than a national conversation weighing the merits of the possible solutions. It is a political football. The issue has, however, lost traction among the talking points of the candidates for president, on both sides.

There is a vested interest in the media portrayals of Hispanic immigrants. Immigrants are often shown as undocumented, unknown criminals from another country who have relocated to the United States and usurped our national resources. They are also portrayed as hard-working people who have come here to find a better life for themselves and for their families. Every single media portrayal of immigrants effects national opinion, and therefore political opinion pertaining to the issue of illegal immigration.

Laurean is in fact a Mexican national, not an illegal immigrant like so many others who have been seen in the news lately for various crimes against American citizens. It cannot be ignored that he is from Guadalajara and many in the media are postulating that he may have already escaped to Mexico where he has a strong support network. In Mexico Laurean has family. In Mexico Laurean has friends. In Mexico Laurean may never be forced to face the consequences of his alleged actions.

The possibility of a high profile escape from the U.S. to Mexico, by a person who allegedly raped, murdered, and then burned the body of an attractive, pregnant white woman may once again force the issues of border security and illegal immigration to the forefront of the political arena. Even as this case has no technical connection to the debate over illegal immigration and border security.