The Pith Helmet is Back, and Barack/Hillary

The Great BZWZ is on the road again. She sent an email from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania this morning (go look -- it's next to Zanzibar on the Indian Ocean, two thirds of the way down the East African coast). Here's a small part of her message: "I've seen almost nothing in Dar other than the hotel, but from what I can tell it has a ridiculously beautiful shoreline. I really want to come back here when I have more time so that I can go to Zanzibar and some of the other islands with what sound like the most beautiful beaches on the planet."

Oh, yah. Just what the WanderlustNiks need this morning. But it's wonderful to hear from her. She is in Ethiopia by now and will communicate when she is able.



Meanwhile, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton debated last night, with the prize most likely being the Democratic Nomination in 2008. As always, Plotnik had to remind himself that the issue is not whether or not Hillary is a better debater than Barack or Barack is a better debater than Hillary, but instead which candidate has a better chance to defeat the Republicans and then actually govern.

The sad truth is that Plotnik is starting to think Hillary can defeat John McCain more easily than Barack, but that Barack would be a more effective President, with less destructive congressional infighting. Of course, if you don't win, you don't get to govern. It's a tough choice.

She is sharp. She could be one of the greatest Presidents in history. And so could he. McCain's impending Republican nomination changes the dynamic, though he still talks like he's about to have a stroke. Do people love leaders who are having strokes? Will they trust a 72-year-old man, notwithstanding his war record?

As far as predictions go, remember that The Great Plotnik predicted Giuliani would win the Republican nomination. He also predicted the Plotzers would win the pennant last year. So no prognosticating here. The Democrats have two great candidates left, and what a breath of fresh air that is.