Like many of you, I am aghast at this year’s edition of the United States Presidential campaign. I guess I can start out by saying that the crop of candidates is probably the worst I’ve seen since I started voting in the early 1970’s.
I take no satisfaction in saying this because the future of the United States is at stake. The politics of this country have been degrading for some time now, and I am not sure we’ve reach the bottom, but we are close.
An admission, if you didn’t already know, I am a life-long Democrat. I say this unapologetically. That does not mean I am a far-left leaning liberal. As a result of growing older, being a member of the LDS Church and a refugee of California, I am become more conservative on a number of issues. But, and I say this unabashedly, I would never, ever, ever embrace the Republican Party. Never going to happen. If anything, I might join the ranks of those who identify as independent. The Pew Research Center estimates that 39% identify as Independent versus 32% as Democrats and 23% as Republicans.
The Republican race for the Presidential nomination has been much more interesting to follow than the Dems, so most of the media attention has been there. Much like March Madness brackets, my prediction of a Jeb Bush versus Hillary Clinton Presidential race has been totally shattered. So, as a result, we will probably have a woman as President. There is no way in my mind that Trump or Cruz can win the Presidency. I could be wrong, but I doubt it.
The fact is, from my standpoint, the people are telling politicians that they don’t like how things are going in Washington. BUT, voters have always been unwilling to really take a step they need to, to send a real message. That is, kick their members of Congress out of office. This goes for House and Senate members. Most action or lack thereof occurs in the legislative branch of Government and we have seen a total impasse in the last few election cycles. Dogma has taken over from real legislative action and compromise.
Congress in general has incredibly low approval ratings. Gallup has pegged Congressional approval at 13 percent in its latest poll and an 84% disapproval rating. But, as I stated, voters are unwilling to vote out their own representatives.
The Republican candidates are feeding off the anger of some that feel the “system” is not working for them. Some of that view is reality, but the message that the country is a mess is just plain wrong. This has been fed by an almost 8-year campaign against President Obama by conservative talk radio and, by extension, their audience. People can legitimately disagree on certain issues like healthcare, the war on terrorism, the economy, etc. And fact, there should be vigorous debate on issues. It’s healthy and it’s totally American. But, in many cases, it’s personal, unfactual and even racist.
Much of the rhetoric in the campaign has been crafted in the airwaves of talk radio and the candidates fight over who can be the most conservative on the issues and who will do their best to obliterate the actions of the Obama presidency. They are playing, in many cases, to the worst in the country in the areas of xenophobia, bigotry and just plain hard-heartedness.
They should have learned that the swing to the right might work in the primaries, but as Mitt Romney found out, it doesn’t serve well in the general election. A candidate cannot come back from the edge of the fringes. Not a republican, nor a democrat. The electorate is mostly in the middle and that is generally the way they vote. The Republican autopsy after the last election pointed this out, but has been ignored.
If you woke up from a deep sleep, ala Rip Van Winkle and were told that Donald Trump was the leader for the Republican nomination, you’d have the same reaction as Doc Brown had in “Back to the Future:”
Doc: So tell me, future boy, who’s president of the United States in 1985?
Marty: Ronald Reagan.
Doc: Ronald Reagan, the actor? Then who’s vice president, Jerry Lewis? I suppose Jane Wyman is the first lady.
Marty: Whoa, wait, Doc.
Doc: And Jack Benny is secretary of the Treasury.
It’s unbelievable to assume Donald Trump will be the next President of the United States. As has been said, even Ronald Reagan could not get the nomination for the current Republican Party.
Yes, Yes, I know, the democratic side has its own issues. I’m sure that will be pointed out.
Politicians are known to say, “The American people are not stupid…….” I’ve always thought that was code for saying, “The American people ARE Stupid.” But I realize it is not stupidity, it is that many people are either uninformed or apathetic. The fact is about half of the eligible electorate bother to vote. So, we actually get what we DON’T vote for. And politicians count on the fact that voter turnout is low.
After all, the modern politician really represents their special interests and campaign contributors rather than the American people. If the voters would be more informed, go and vote and be willing to kick out their own politicians, we would not only have a more informed electorate, but much better candidates.
Some might say that I am just bashing the Republicans, but I’ll deal with the other side next time.
Wheat & Tares 
I actually think Trump has a very good chance of winning. As things stand today, I’d likely vote for him. I’ve been right leaning my whole life but the Republicans disgust me. The more they go after Trump the more folks get loyal to him because the party has let us down repeatedly so many times during Obama years with broken promises.
The right has every reason to bash Obama. He has a dismal record on economic recovery and international politics. He is an embarrassment.
There’s nothing racist about Trump. The claim is ridiculous and the outrage is manufactured by George Soros. He has an awesome track record on business proving a keen ability to hire the right people and cut losses early when they aren’t working. He understands people and the groundswell of support shows his chances are high. BTW, the liberal media just made fun of his comments a few months ago that Brussels was gonna have trouble very soon. He was right, of course. He is right about virtually everything as far as many voters can see.
When people have 8 years of Democrats they typically want Republican and vice versa so i too think Trump will win.
Time to vote Libertarian, again. Assuming I vote at all.
You say But, and I say this unabashedly, I would never, ever, ever embrace the Republican Party. Never going to happen.
That’s how I feel, as someone who came of age during the Carter and Reagan administrations, about the Democrats. A party which philosophically views government, broadly speaking, as a source of solutions rather than as a huge part of the problem will never get my vote. No one that blind to the empirical reality is deserving of serious consideration.
Unfortunately, the Republicans are getting there, too; not only on an individual but on a party level. I never left the GOP; it left me about two years into Bush II (after seriously fraying the bonds during Bush I and with the Clinton impeachment debacle). The idea of making Donald Trump the party nominee should be not only embarrassing, but frightening. When I compare him to Hitler, I do so not to demonize him, but because I actually have some familiarity with history (unlike, obviously, most Democrats, whose policy ideas meet the axiomatic definition of insanity).
So, once again, let’s see who the Libs nominate. If the choice is acceptable, I vote Libertarian, and leave most of the rest of the ballot blank.
Some would say that’s “wasting my vote.” It’s pretty obvious that voting for Trump, or Clinton, or Cruz, or (God forbid) Sanders, or [insert loser here], is a waste of a vote, so why would it matter?
For that matter, I’ve had people tell me, “If you don’t vote, you can’t complain.”
Huh? Why not?
Some civics teacher told you that back in 3rd grade, and the Demicans and Republicrats have been pimping the idea ever since, to convince you that it matters who you vote for or that you vote at all. It does not. You would be hard-pressed to find one area of policy initiative in which the Obama Administration has differed from its much-maligned immediate predecessor. This nonsense will continue no matter how many public battles are staged between McConnell and Reid, or Pelosi and Whoever, while the back-room deals continue to be cut. It doesn’t matter, because it’s not actually a choice.
I tend to agree that Hillary will be our next president. As for Trump, there’s more to the presidency than belligerent soundbites. Thank God for checks and balances, but I really can’t imagine someone less presidential. Cruz is pretty unpresidential, too. But even if the GOP were capable of teeing up someone with potential, such as getting Romney to the block again, I don’t think they can pull the votes to beat Hillary. The GOP is too divided by the tea party and evangelicals. It’s a party without a clear direction right now. Maybe we can thank Reagan (whom I liked!) for that inevitable outcome when he was in office and cozied up to the moral majority.
Most of my life a registered Independent, but when I saw the moderate Republican give way to extremism I became a registered Democrat. I too don’t see myself voting for a Republican going forward.
I’ve been watching (fact-free) right-wing media nurture the extremism within the Republican Party creating the train-wreck we are watching today. Trump and Cruz are not fit for public office, let alone the presidency.
It is a sad state of affairs we are in–where Congress is largely dysfunctional because of the extreme partisanship and ignorance of the need to compromise–necessary with our system of govt.
Oh, do not estimate Mr. Drumpf’s grandson.
Remember Romney’s ‘pivot’ when he moved from campaigning in the Primaries to campaigning in the General? And he would have gotten away with it, too, if it hadn’t been for those darn kids and his 47% remark.
Donald Trump will pivot like a ballerina as the Republican nominee, and he has no problem with consistency.
This is the man who says:
“That video that shows I said that? I never said that.”
“That video that shows I did that? I never did that.”
“That promise I made? I won’t keep it.”
“That promise I broke? I kept it.”
This is the man with the reputation of “speaking his mind”, “telling it like it is”, “saying the things ordinary politicians don’t dare say”. In other words, honest.
Look at the interviews of Trump supporters. They support him because they believe he will do what *THEY* want, not because he has ever said he would, but because he is such a blank slate that they project their own agenda onto him.
Get ready for President Trump.
I guess the mainstream W&T permas are all on board thinking Hillary is going to win. I put her chances at 50/50 vs. Trump and 30/70 vs. Cruz in the general election. More ISIS attacks weaken Hillary vs. every possible Republican nominee. I also put the chances of major legal trouble for Hillary between 10-20%.
The real nightmare scenario is if Hillary is indicted (or evidence suggests that she should be) after November but before the House certifies her election. Under some possible issues & constitutional interpretations the Republican nominee may be the only other person eligible to be elected president. Hello VP elect being sworn into the office of president on inauguration day. Either that or Speaker Ryan being elevated. This is where the Romney thinking may be headed. If he runs against Trump & Clinton in the general, but only in a few selected states, he could get a split vote and win in the house. Not unconstitutional, but not good for public perception and trust.
I suspect it is not just the permas who think that Hillary will win. I think our readers do too. Sounds like a wonderful poll question so we can find out for sure!
Nate Silver says if the election were held today, Hillary would beat Trump 374-164: https://newrepublic.com/minutes/131998/nate-silvers-electoral-map-prediction-stuff-nightmares-gop
Silver also has Utah picking Trump, but a recent DesNews poll showed Hilary ahead of Trump 38-36% in Utah: http://www.ksl.com/index.php?sid=38970451&nid=960&title=poll-utah-would-vote-for-a-democrat-for-president-over-trump
By the way, our readers prefer Bernie. Trump finished only ahead of Michael Bloomberg, who isn’t even running.
http://www.wheatandtares.org/20623/mitt-trump-or-someone-else/
“Forty percent of Republican men say they can’t see themselves supporting Donald Trump’s candidacy. But nearly half of GOP women — 47 percent — say the same thing.”
NBC’s poll showed he is viewed unfavorably by all women. The sinking Cruz/Trump feud is only making that further cemented.
I see Hawkgrrl’s conclusion as most likely. Hillary will not be indicted.
Oops…unfavorably by 70 PERCENT OF all women.
It’s not as simple as sending a message – see video: Rule from the Shadows – The Psychology of Power
Don’t be fooled by the DN poll showing Hillary beating Trump in Utah. That was taken in the midst of an anti-Trump barrage and reflects Utahns’ strong preference that he not get the Republican nomination. But if he does, and the anti-Hillary ads start up, Utahns will revert to their Republican reflex in November.
Correctomundo. Trump is an unpalatable nonstarter. Out of the remainder, Hillary’s the only one who’s even remotely Presidential in experience and comportment.
Hillary belongs in prison!
Too bad so many people still see it as a binary world. This attitude – Most of my life a registered Independent, but when I saw the moderate Republican give way to extremism I became a registered Democrat – is killing us. It’s not “either the mob boss or the Brownshirt,” people.
Wake up! It’s a mistake to get caught up in partisin politics as they are just a diversion. The US is an oligarchy that offers the illusion of choice and free elections. It is really an empire that plunders other nations for the benefit of the criminal elite. The strings of both parties figure heads lead to the same puppet masters. We vote for a peace candidate and he creates more war! You choice is simply flavor not agenda.
I agree with the OP. Over a long (since beginning to pay attention some 50 years ago) term I have been increasingly disappointed in the political process and politicians. Lies, half-truths, pandering, and empty promises are their all-too-common lingua franca. Now, I am just disgusted, cynical, and almost without hope. Some of them start out worthy of respect (McCain, Romney) and then succumb (prostitute themselves) to the siren call of more votes.
Unfortunately, the current state of politics is not altogether new. Outlandish lies and tactics have, seemingly, always been common. Our current campaigns are just more so due to the vastly increased impact of media (24 hour “news” channels, Internet, talk radio, etc.)
But, I am commenting primarily to bring up one fact (as I see it) that receives NO attention (except, maybe one or two vague implications from some pundits). That is that the dominance of candidates like Trump, Cruz, and Sanders is fueled by the irrational, selfish, ignorant, gullible, vapid “voters.” And, their (vapid voters) dominance is growing. The 2006 movie *Idiocracy* gives a prophetic look at where we are headed.
You can be angry, disappointed, and disgusted with our current government leadership and want an “outsider” and still not conclude that an entirely reprehensible Trump, or…(fill in your own worst candidate here) would be an adequate President.
Well, I want Donald Trump to be the next president and here is why – Romney. I wanted him to win badly and when he lost on the last election, I got angry. I wanted something destroyed. I didn’t know what it was but it turned to be the Republican Party.
They are about as bad as the Democrats. When Trump came on the scene, I liked the things he said and the way he said them. He didn’t need anybody’s money and he wasn’t afraid to say anything in anyway – sometimes not the way most like it said especially among the politicians – a group of people I would find myself starting to dislike.
I wanted somebody to blame and it turned out to be them – democrats and republicans. Democrats are wicked and Republicans are cowards. Nothing against any of the commenters.
I see the democrats standing with Hillary smiling and taking their picture with her and I wonder what it is that they are thinking. They want her to be a president of the United States? She should be executed – not made a president. I suppose the FBI is too chicken to come and get her. They must be republicans.
And while I am talking about republicans, when Trump first came on the scene, the republican politicians laughed and said he was a joke. Now their legs tremble so much, they probably can’t contain their urine. I think that’s funny! They should probably be called the stupid cowardans.
I don’t care about Trumps’ weaknesses. I care about what he feels about this country. For the most part he says it’s being dumped into a sewer while wicked Jezebel, oh I mean Hillary, says it’s a great country.
As for Romney, I don’t want him in anymore or any of the other dumb clucks. As for Trump and Cruz, I wish they would just stop the insulting and fighting and start finishing this thing up until they see how it’s going to turn out. I guess I wouldn’t mind a CRUZ/TRUMP thing but I want it to be TRUMP/CRUZ. I suppose they are too mad at each other now.
What do you think about a TRUMP/HILLARY?
If it turns that Trump will join with the democrats after he is elected,like some think, then, okay, it’s all over with. Somebody in ISIS can be the next president.
HRC presidential? A proven liar, who thinks herself above the law, and who for decades has enabled her sexual predator husband? Not to mention being responsible for the deaths of 4 Americans in Benghazi. No thanks!
I literally can’t tell if Richard Benson’s post is serious or satire.
EBK:
The 5th section or paragraph or whatever you call them, I guess would be called satire, but I kind of called it that by the 2nd to the last sentence of that paragraph.
The 8th, one sentence paragraph, is satire.
The 9th paragraph comes from someone who had studied the bible and came up with the conclusion that Obama would be the last president of the United States in the history of the world as we know it. I think that’s kind of what he meant. I can’t say I really believe that but in such a way I guess we can turn the leadership over to ISIS.
Other wise, it’s not satire.
Dr. Paul Craig Roberts clearly explains what is going on.
thanks for the civil discourse in this post and comments. But, I didn’t see anyone address the area where I am most concerned. Whoever gets elected President will have to represent all the people of this country. There is no escaping that. but Congress, where currently nothing gets done, does not have to represent anyone but the constituents that elect them. but, in fact, they do not. They represent their special interests and donors who help get them elected over and over again.
If people are so angry, why not be angry at their congresspeople and Senators who are getting nothing done because of their intense partisanship and the fact that they no longer really represent the people who elect them over and over again?
Jeff Spector,
My take on why people continue to elect the same bad congress representatives and Senators over and over is because more seniority usually means more power. I think that’s why people in Utah continue to elect Orrin Hatch even though he is crazy. If they elect someone new, they will lose the power of seniority that Orrin Hatch has for Utah.
If a Senator is looking out for her/his constituents 10% of the time and has a lot of seniority and influence, the odds are better than if he/she is looking out for her/his constituents 100% of the time and has no influence. Those are my thoughts anyway.
Thanks for the clarification Richard Benson.
A good question. We are furious with Congress and the Republican ridiculousness in these last 8 years. Promises broken. We will be voting these repubs out- as seen in tea party dominated areas. But the presidential election is coming now. It gets more press nationally so its in our face. We’re just getting started cleaning house.
After the voting shenanigans in Arizona has the Justice department investigating dear sweet old Hillary yet again; ahem, the same Justice department that hasn’t indicted her yet on her numerous email security violations and her … and her … and her.. (ad infinitum).
Utah Democrats broke for Bernie 80%/20%.
Washington Democrats broke for Bernie 75%/25%.
Arizona Democrats broke for Hillary 60%/40%.
Explain please.
Does one look to Utah / Washington to predict the outcome of the California Democratic primary? Or Arizona?
How can Arizona NOT fall somewhere between those two bastions of extremism? (Utah and Washington)
In how many other places have Clinton election shenanigans gone undetected? Every indication and every poll shows she is not trustworthy, so it should surprise us if there are shenanigans?
By the way, exactly why didn’t any other Democrats run against Hillary?
Why does the media constantly treat her with kid gloves? I’m with Sista Soulah when she had the temerity to say Hillary reminds her too much of being on a slave plantation. Most of the Democratic party and their friends in the media are enslaving all of us with their chrony-ism and corruption.
****
I think the Republicans should start the process of impeaching Clinton right now, should she get elected.
I think the Democrats should start the process of impeaching Trump right now, should he get elected.
Neither one of them is capable of “keeping their nose clean” for 3 months in office. If not for one thing then another will soon follow. The networks can schedule massive coverage for it…. on Jan 21, the day after inauguration. We can do their vice presidents the day after that if necessary.
Historical note: John Mitchell, US Attorney General, had to be thrown in jail for conspiracy, obstruction of justice and perjury before we could impeach Nixon (who looked like a nun in comparison to Clinton). Might suggest a good place to start.
Put Eric Holder in a holding cell. Loretta Lynch, well that is going too far. (I’m not making these names up.)
I am so proud of Utah voters from both parties for what they said about both Clinton and Trump. So is the rest of the country.
The white horse prophecy is coming true. The American democracy already hangs by a threat. How can they rig elections and almost all sensible Americans dislike most of the candidates and it still be a democracy?
But I don’t see any Mormon riding in on anything like a horse.
Richard Benson:
Look up the wiki article on draft dodgers (or draft evasion).
If you get your wish for a Trump presidency- You sound young enough that you will probably get drafted and maybe get your arse shot off.
His big mouth will start a war, sooner probably than later.
Since you imply you are a republican and republicans are cowards in your opinion, (peeping in my seer stone) I see draft evasion in your future.
If you didn’t serve a mission in Canada I suggest you find a Canadian girlfriend. If married, then a Canadian mistress.
(All satire EKB)