Wednesday, November 25, 2015

A Brief Analysis of Two Leading Republican Presidential Contenders


In the spirit of Thanksgiving, particularly the part of Thanksgiving where you end up in a political argument with your brother-in-law, I submit this brief liberal rant for your enjoyment.  Hopefully, I will have it all out of my system by the time my family arrives.  Republicans may wish to visit another website at this time. 

The situation in the Middle East continues to heat up.  The US is trying to battle terrorists in the midst of a cluster of competing regional and international powers all trying to serve their own interests, thus creating an extremely unstable situation, essentially a powder keg with the potential to start World War III. 

What are we going to do?  I know.  Let’s get the guy from The Apprentice.

He’ll know what to do.  I mean, the guy knows how to build a golf course.  He can erect casinos and gaudy rental property.  I’m sure he can also handle delicate international negotiations with allies and enemies alike.  He just can’t do it with Univision. Or Rosie O’Donnell.  Or pretty much anyone who isn’t one of his lackeys.

The conservative response to this is of course to shift the conversation to Obama.  “What about him?” They say.  “What made him qualified?  Being a community organizer?”  (Italics indicate dripping disdain.)

The answer: well, yes.  That probably was helpful, as was being a Harvard law professor, and a state and US senator.  All of that stuff probably did prepare him to be president a little better than say being a slum lord or a reality TV star, even one with a great catch phrase. 

And yet, for some reason, many people still believe that someone achieving success in one area somehow translates to having qualifications in another.  Take Ben Carson (please!)  Now there was a skilled neuro surgeon.  The guy separated conjoined twins!  Therefore, he must know how to work with Congress to push through his policy agenda.  Sure, you have to ignore all the things he says that would otherwise undermine that assumption.  The point is the guy was extremely good at that one job.

It reminds me of the last time I went to the circus.  I was blown away by the talent I saw there.  I said to myself, “Wow, look at that guy fly through the air!  I’ve never seen a person do such amazing acrobatics.  I think I’ll make him my banker.”


The point is this: the two guys I mentioned before are a couple of bozos.  You can’t elect a bozo president and then hope he surrounds himself with competent people to help him lead.  That isn’t the bozo way.  Besides, we tried that before not too long ago.  It didn’t work out too well.  

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