REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES

I’M HAVING TROUBLE KEEPING MY GORGE FROM RISING !

I am the first to admit I have NOT done my political homework. This leaves me vulnerable to comments which debase my credibility as an observer of the nascent 2012 presidential election campaign that is playing now at your regional rallies. Thus, I am speaking my mind here in spite of the possibility of adverse comment about my sanity, loyalty, my birth status, and the “obvious” Socialistic bias I have hidden away. I, like a duck, will ignore the rain.

I get the factual basis for my political observations from a daily reading of the “Los Angeles Times”. I know: “It’s a stinking liberal rag!”. I have been told this many times. However, what I have learned from the “Times”, about the public policy statements made by the Republicans seeking their party’s nomination, has left me uncertain whether to laugh or cry! A good example of the extreme policy statements is one being made by the “front-runner”, Rick Perry. In his recently published book, Gov. Perry states, in effect, he favors placing the Supreme Court under the control of the U.S Congress! Surely he understands this would bring down one of the pillars of our form of government known to us as the SEPARATION OF POWERS DOCTRINE. I strongly suspect the cause of the recent East Coast earthquake will be traced to the “Founding Fathers” rolling in their graves. Gov. Perry advances his extreme position even as his conservative fellow travelers espouse the concept of “Original Intent” in Constitutional matters. This does not make any sense at all. However, I see these conservative proposals are completely in accord with the conservative wish to take the U.S. Government’s concept of governance “back to the time of (insert your favorite Conservative inspired Presidential disaster here)”. What am I not under standing about the conservative positions; their positions seem to make perfect sense to them. I have yet to successfully Auger that one.

A series of statements made by most, if not all, the Republican candidates  have left me with a reinforced belief a Republican President will always make decisions that are correct and wise. How can they not? They all say they consult with a “Higher Power” as part of their policy vetting process. By my definition, a “Higher Power” has three things going for (select one: Him, Her, It, or Them) as Presidential Advisor(s). These are the very highly valued qualities of omnipotence, omnipresence, and, like Santa Claus, omniscience. As a sort of bonus benefit, the “higher power” will work for nothing as sacrificial offerings are not favored in the U.S.. What could go wrong? The record is full  of successes such as the War In Iraq, the Katrina Response, and the Credit System Meltdown. The few minor failures such as the Rising Cost Of Healthcare, Poor Education Of Our Children, and High Unemployment are known to result from the frivolous nature of Lawyers, lazy Teachers, and the unemployed who do not want to work. Conservatives know this to be true because the groups consistently fail to follow the rules posted by the representatives of the “Higher power”. This is as true as the “Seven Day Long Effort” that resulted with the creation of the Universe we call home. It is interesting to note the “Effort” started on the first known Monday. I put that in to demonstrate my sure belief that “beliefs” are better than “facts” – always! Maybe that is my “inner conservative self” speaking. Oh well!

All kidding aside, I am very concerned when I hear of the self-serving pandering that Republicans are serving up to their “BASE”. I am concerned the fact-based Presidential campaign dialog, some of us long for, is not going to happen this time around. It appears to me the Republican Nominee will be forced to stick to the agenda now being set by the pandering rhetoric being served up to the “BASE”. The Republican Nominee, because we are a nation split down the middle on most issues, will need every Electoral College vote he or she can muster. Keeping the “BASE” intact and willing to actually vote is a must for the Republican Nominee. Hence continued pandering. I fear we are in for a repeat of the last three Presidential campaigns. That is why I’m having trouble keeping my gorge down!

One last point. I believe the Democratic Nominee would NEVER engage in the same tactics as the Republican Nominee! He knows a Tit-For-Tat response will always result in mediocre political dialog. Sure I do! Why do you doubt me?