Ben Carson Explained, Possibly

Zzzzzzzzzzz.

It's way, way early folks (at this point in 2007, Rudy Guiliani had a huge lead among Republican candidates), and historically, Iowa and New Hampshire are meaningless, but the rise of Ben Carson is fascinating.  He has zero experience, very few yet demonstrably crazy policy ideas, and a drowsy, can-barely-keep-my eyes-open style.  Somehow, this has vaulted him to the temporary top of the GOP heap.

I believe that much of Carson's appeal among conservatives can be tied to the presidency of Barack Obama.

If you'll recall, many people thought that Obama's history-making election in 2008 marked a turning point.  Some called it the start of the American "post-racial society."  On the contrary, it instead brought out the very worst of our lingering, latent racism.  Everyone knows this, including conservatives.  (Those few who would dispute this obvious fact are either delusional or have been comatose for the past 8 years.)  

So I think that Ben Carson simply makes a great many conservatives feel better about themselves for all the hateful rhetoric they've spewed at Obama.  Carson's safe and non-threatening.  It's a right-wing racial redemption:  "You can't call me a racist now, you Lib-tards.  See?  I support a black man for president!  So there!  QED."

Please bear in mind that Rupert Murdoch, a.k.a. Lord Vader, has said he likes Carson, and has said that Carson, if elected, would be America's "first real black president."  (Old white Rupert is, of course, a well-known expert on all things "real black.")  Murdoch is accustomed to getting his way.  He believes Carson would help him in that endeavor.  Don't know about you, but if the Australian schlock-meister and media megalomaniac likes something, I instinctively tend to not like it.

Ben Carson?  Nah.  I really don't think so.