Super Monday- July 7, 2008

Speakers:

Mark Shields-
CNN and PBS Political Commentator Mark Shields came to start off our day of four speakers. He was original and funny. One of my favorite comments had to be one of Mr Shield's reasons as to why Hillary Clinton did not get the Presidential Nominee. He said that voters didn't want Bill Clinton in the White House again. I thought he meant more Clinton polices but no he said,
"We all know what Clinton got up to last time in the White House and that was while running the country. Think what he would get up to with nothing to do all day..."

I'll leave that comment and move swiftly on to our second speaker of the day...

Harold Ickes-
Former Clinton deputy Chief of Staff Harold Ickes was the second speaker of the day. He was heavily involved in Hillary Clinton's campaign. He said that one of Obama's strong points is that "people vote for future and not the past'. I found Mr Ickes insight extremely interesting and he was a fascinating character.

Dotty Lynch-
Pollster Dotty Lynch described the difficulties and success of Pollster work in the US. It was really interesting to find out about the way in which Pollsters predict the outcome of results. Even more interesting was to be able to hear a Pollster talk about the Democratic Primaries New Hampshire polling results, which went against Pollster predictions. She said that party conventions used to meaningful during campaigns but now they provide 'window dressing for the candidate'.

Denis Stauton-
Media 24's journalist from South Africa, Denis Stauton was our final speaker of the day. He said that the crucial issues for the Presidential candidates would be Iraq, Global Warming, Economy and Africa, in particular, Zimbabwe. He, like the three previous speakers, supported presumptive Democrat nominee Barack Obama. Now don't get me wrong, I like Barack Obama. I am by no means a NObama recruit. I think if he were to win the Presidential race it would be a positive thing now only for the United States but for the world. Maybe I am being influenced by working in a Republican office but I have come to realise that just because he is an amazing orator, doesn't mean he will be the perfect president. He has only been in the United States Senate since 2005 and a lack of experience may mean he is not ready to be President. By the time I had reached the fourth Democrat of the day I decided to ask Mr Stauton how he thought Sen. Obama could handle an issue such as Zimbabwe with very little foreign relation experience. This didn't go down to well and we had a slight disagreement and he asked whether McCain would be a good President just because he was a PoW. I said of course being a PoW doesn't automatically make you a good candidate for President but I do feel a lot of people ignore the qualities of McCain who, despite the fact he is a horrendous public speaker, does have qualities stemming from his military background that would be of great advantage as a President. This isn't to say I want him as President but I thought after a day of Mr Obamaness that I would throw a spanner in the works.
Another awkward turtle moment.

St Albans Visit-
That afternoon we went to St Albans school, which is a private all-boys school that Al Gore, among other politicians, attended. I went to an all girls school in Belfast and can remember how giggly we would all get heading over to the local boys school despite the fact we despised using their swimming pool. Their swimming pool was disgusting. They would let the caretaker's dogs in and, even worse, the rival all-girls school would be allowed in during the week before us. Yet, despite this, no one ever missed our weekly outing and walking up the changing room corridors there was a distinct overload in perfume and hair spray thick in the air. It would almost cover the smell of chlorine that normally lined the corridors. Heading through the corridors of St Albans was a different experience. I was indifferent to the fact I was in an all-boys school and looking at all the pictures on the walls I just felt old and nervous about the fact we were going to have to participate in a speed debate.
Every summer St Alban's hosts a School of Public Service that takes high school students in order to help the community and train them to develop leadership skills. We had dinner with them and then after had a speed debate, which provided a lot of entertainment. I had to debate that this House believes that Global Warming is an inconvenient lie with Hannah from their program. Without being able to research anything and claiming an old boy of the school was promoting a sham we resorted to immature glances mixed with a few quick responses. One guy who deserves a mention is SPS debater Nick Bowen who took 'speed' debating to a whole new level.



Coincidently, today is their last day of the program and I wish their 2008 class all the best for the future.