most exciting events in recent U.S. electoral history- our presidential election. We are now down to 5 candidates, two on the left, a former Secretary of State, who happens to be a woman, and a former governor and admitted socialist ; and 3 on the right including a very conservative Senator, an also ran, who refuses to give up; and an outrageous, bombastic outsider, but highly successful businessman. None of them are particularly well liked by a huge majority of the country, , but one of them will become our next president in November, come hell or high water. Both events may happen in a symbolic way. It is a grueling process to run for the highest office in the land, and not for the weak of heart---but must it be so vicious? Apparently so. We have descended into a political circus without nets, or boundaries. This is an election to remember, one that will test the patience of both the candidates and the American people .
We do not appoint our presidents, we present, then debate, fact check, and debate some more. Then we hold the candidates up for intense scrutiny, mockery, and ridicule. We whittle their numbers down by holding primaries and taking copious polls, hopefully assessing the mood and choices of the voters. This is done in the name of democracy, yet this year we are witnessing a grass roots uprising on the Republican side, which seems to be saying: 'Don't presume anything yet. We are not happy with the way things have been going, and we intend to make that known , even breaking rules of etiquette, conduct, and conventionality. But it seems nobody is listening---entrenched power in Washington is a powerful thing, and when things don't go the way those in power like, forget democracy. We know best, they seem to be saying. One brokered convention coming up---what's that? A power play, plain and simple.
Using a dubious rule, created to keep power in the hands of Republican party establishment, they are now talking about barring Donald Trump from becoming the nominee, even though at this point in time, he is the obvious, albeit highly controversial choice of the Republican electorate. No matter, they don't like him, and something has to be done---it's called dirty pool in some books, but completely legal in others. Whether you like Donald Trump or not, one has to wonder why we even bothered to put him and us through the last many months of numbing debates, polls, and primaries. A waste of time and money, and a fool's errand---hello, and not so fast, Mr. Trump.
On the Dem's side, we have a very tarnished Hillary Clinton, who is under investigation for illegal use of her email server, while serving as Secretary of State, possibly jeopardizing the security of the United States, or so say her detractors. She is peddling hard to convince people that she is the fittest in the land to rule the land. But her reputation is sullied by such adjectives as "liar" and "untrustworthy". No matter, the Democrat political machine has decided she is the one, no matter what---unlike the Republicans, they stand by their own, and unite behind even one accused of serious wrong doing. Remember Benghazi? And then there is the issue of her and Bill Clinton's Family
Foundation accepting large amounts of money from questionable sources while she was serving as
Secretary of State, otherwise known as conflict of interest. The point is---she is not without sin,
and nobody is. We work with what we've got.
Now, there are still Bernie Sanders, the Socialist, and Ted Cruz, the Senator maverick. Yes, the same one who shut the government down over Obamacare, with his audacious Senate filibuster --- before Trump came along, and showed him how to do audacity better. But both have not earned enough decision making delegates to mathematically win at this point. And what of John Kasich, the also ran? He is merely a spoiler---like him, if you must, but he's in it to foil it, not win it---and who wants a sore loser? He may even deserve it on merit, alone, but what he's selling isn't wrapped the right way---this time around, some folks are not interested in wrapping. They want the goods, and they want it bad.
Foundation accepting large amounts of money from questionable sources while she was serving as
Secretary of State, otherwise known as conflict of interest. The point is---she is not without sin,
and nobody is. We work with what we've got.
Now, there are still Bernie Sanders, the Socialist, and Ted Cruz, the Senator maverick. Yes, the same one who shut the government down over Obamacare, with his audacious Senate filibuster --- before Trump came along, and showed him how to do audacity better. But both have not earned enough decision making delegates to mathematically win at this point. And what of John Kasich, the also ran? He is merely a spoiler---like him, if you must, but he's in it to foil it, not win it---and who wants a sore loser? He may even deserve it on merit, alone, but what he's selling isn't wrapped the right way---this time around, some folks are not interested in wrapping. They want the goods, and they want it bad.
What are the goods? Keep reading---but know this: It has little to do with oratory skills, hair, or the
right way of saying things.
right way of saying things.
But how about logic? There is none---we are a mixed bag of opinions and perceptions---it's all how one looks at it. Let's look hard-- Hillary is probably not any more tarnished, dishonest, or untrustworthy than anyone else in high places, and Donald not as mean, outrageous, or incapable as the media and others would have us believe. She is diplomatically experienced and speaks the language of Liberals---she "fights" to improve the well being of "all Americans". Donald, on the other hand, tells it like he sees it, a refreshing drink for those fed up with political correctness and ideological stubborness. He also may very well possess what many feel we need the most---a strong hand in these threatened times, and a CEO's brain to heal our stuttering economy. He promises to make America great again. She promises to make it whole again. What do those slogans really mean? Perhaps the same thing, but Donald approaches it from a non-political background, not so intent on party or ideology---he sees things as deals, compromises, and getting things done to maximize America's strength. Those who take advantage of us make us weaker. Hillary, the seasoned politician and fervent Democrat, sees the government and her party as the only way to
make things better---and makes no bones about it. "Strength" follows "whole", and the Republicans are the immediate enemy.
What we basically need and want is a smart/wise leader---one that will keep us safe, free, and an economy that will allow us to prosper---in that order, given the tumultuous times. Yes, there is the long game to consider: A diverse culture that is changing how we operate as a country , a world view of global interaction and responsible tolerance, but not at the expense of our national defense, and a philosophy of governance that will be fair, yet not lose the wheels which carry the entire system. But first things first---we cannot help those who depend upon us, if we are weak and insecure.
make things better---and makes no bones about it. "Strength" follows "whole", and the Republicans are the immediate enemy.
What we basically need and want is a smart/wise leader---one that will keep us safe, free, and an economy that will allow us to prosper---in that order, given the tumultuous times. Yes, there is the long game to consider: A diverse culture that is changing how we operate as a country , a world view of global interaction and responsible tolerance, but not at the expense of our national defense, and a philosophy of governance that will be fair, yet not lose the wheels which carry the entire system. But first things first---we cannot help those who depend upon us, if we are weak and insecure.
So, who will it be? Unless she is indicted, which is doubtful, given the present political situation, Mrs. Clinton will be the Democrat's slightly shady, and first woman nominee, and unless the Republican base manages to wrestle the nomination from Trump, he will be their unlikely, unconventional, and slightly questionable nominee. And then, we the people, will get to decide from there--do not be so proud, as to not vote, from principle, personal bias, or disgust of the system---that's not the way it works. This is the way we do it here---it's messy, dirty, and ugly at times. But it's also who we are--- Americans, without secrecy or apology. We figure it out----eventually.
