Posted on 05/10/2008 5:38:11 AM PDT by Master Zinja
There are moments in time which can change the world, moments when the course of history has been altered in ways we cannot fathom.
Some moments, such as 9/11, are impossible to miss, their impact immediate.
Other world-changing moments only become obvious years later through the wisdom of hindsight, as historians and others ask the ago-old question, "What if...?".
As Election 2008 winds down to what seems to be an Obama-vs-McCain election preceded by a contentious Democratic convention, I suddenly came to a realization this week, a realization that everything in this election cycle changed on one fateful day years ago, before George W Bush, before 9/11.
The 2008 election would be a whole new ball game had the events of July 16, 1999 never taken place.
For July 16, 1999 was the day John F. Kennedy, Jr. died.
Rumor had it he had been contemplating entering into politics.
What if he had? What if the crash had never taken place?
Can you imagine what 2008 would have looked like had the 47-year-old (in 2008) with perhaps a Senate term or a few House terms under his belt decided to throw his hat in the ring?
I think his announcement would've thinned out the Democratic field before Iowa. Perhaps even Obama might not have run against him, leaving Hillary as his only true opposition. And with younger voters following him, I'm sure he would've also drawn the votes of the baby boomers and older voters as well, seeing in him the possibility of completing his father's unfulfilled legacy.
I don't think anyone, even Hillary, would've had much of a chance against him in early 2008.
Can you envision what the Democratic convention would look like if JFK Jr. had the nomination wrapped up by March? Instead of contention, there would be a celebration of his father's legacy as he accepted the nomination and began the election campaign.
I doubt John McCain would have much of a chance against him in the election, with JFK Jr. again drawing both young and older voters, the hopeful and the nostalgic alike.
Instead, John Jr. is gone. We have McCain and Obama in Election 2008.
Perhaps I'm wrong. It's possible, of course, that had he lived, JFK Jr. might not have entered politics, might have lived a completely different life. And that would've been fine, too - his loss and the loss of his wife and sister-in-law came far too early, too tragically. It was and still is heartbreaking.
So now I can only face November 2008 with the choice before me, Obama and McCain, and when it's my turn to vote, I know I will look at both names on the ballot for President, and wonder again at what might have been.
Master Zinja
If I had some ham I’d make a ham sandwich, if I had some bread.
If I weren't so lazy I'd dig out my ZOT cat.
He/she hasn’t posted in 2 1/2 years.
Because we, Americans, get the leaders we deserve, I can tell you what would have happened. We would have handed it to a guy on a silver platter who really wasn’t interested in politics (his mom was) and who flunked the bar exam what, three times? Why? Because he was a Kennedy and good looking. We’re stupid.
Your profile states that you want to write editorials. Based solely on this opus I suggest you take up knitting.
Actually, I didn’t mean to post under Breaking News. My bad.
I have been thinking about writing editorials for some time.
Keep your day job ..
I have a few ‘what ifs” of my own:
What if GOP nominee Charles Hughes had shaken the hand of California Governor Hiram Johnson in 1916?
What if Senator Robert A. Taft’s cancer had been diagnosed early and cured?
What if Richard Nixon had picked Barry Goldwater or Walter Judd as his running mate in 1960? Or, for that matter, what if he had shaved before that first televised debate?
Being a Kennedy doesn’t make one a shoo-in. Remember, Ted Kennedy didn’t even come close to beating Jimmy Carter.
Am I to take this that you’re pining for another Kennedy presidency?
IMHO, your post belongs on DU.
As a history buff, just thought "what if"....
And it sure would've been an interesting campaign over the last six months.
Maybe I'm just looking at the three (or two) candidates remaining, and wondering how hard I need to hold my nose when I vote for McCain.
We may be seeing a rerun of 1948--with the Democratic candidate waging a "give 'em hell" campaign as the GOP standard bearer refuses to take the gloves off.
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