Political Carnival

In researching for this article, I found a story that I consider quite well thought out and very well written. I attempted to use it as a guideline for my own article, apparently to closely. It appears that the internet Gestapo is accusing me of plagiarism, something that was never intended. With that, I have re-written the post, with particular attention to what I believe is the offending paragraph, and I’ll tender my sincere apologies to the original author. To the Gestapo however, I’ll mention that I don’t take kindly to threats.

"Our job is to give people not what they want, but what we decide they ought to have."Richard Salent, former president, CBS News

The great American political carnival continues, with the next thrilling episode to be played out in Iowa. I am of course speaking about our ongoing presidential campaign, or at least the current primaries. Hillary and Obama are mudslinging it out… or at least there’s a lot of hissing, spitting, and scratching going on. (The democratic contremps reminds me of two cats arguing over dinner.) On the republican side, Rudy and Mitt are running neck and neck, with Mike coming up fast on the inside… Ahh… wait a minute… that looks suspiciously like Ron in third place and coming up fast, with Mike trying to catch him… And so go the tales in the press.

I’ve never really followed the primaries much, because as an Independent I don’t vote in them. This time however, with the ridiculously early start and the quite large field of hopefuls, I’ve been following along with things. I find it interesting that so many pundits are busy comparing the posturing of various Republican candidates, and yet there’s so comparatively little being said about the Democratic candidates. Unless I’ve unknowingly acquired a republican computer and it’s deliberately ignoring the democrats. Even so, for the most part I’m also ignoring the democratic candidates this time around as I haven’t heard any of them say much that I can agree with. Well, I disagree with most republican candidates as well, but their campaign (as reported in the news) is a lot more interesting.

One news source about the republican race for the White House claims that “Rudy Giuliani leads the pack.” Possibly, but the media seems to be all that’s keeping him afloat. But after all, being called “America’s Mayor” for some time does make him newsworthy I guess. As New York’s Mayor I guess he did a good enough job, and he did shine during the 9-11 rescue efforts. But he’s still a New Yorker, which isn’t going to play well in the western states. Mitt Romney is another media sensation who seems to be leading in many eastern state polls. However, his personal wealth, and in good part self financed campaign, is about all that keeps his name in the press. The religion card may or may not be important to his campaign as well.

Ron Paul is seemingly detested by the media because he he’s a “fringe” politician who refuses to roll over and play dead on demand. If he manages to get elected he has a distinct possibility of severely rocking the boat of “business as usual” special interest politics. Results of numerous straw polls normally show Paul in first to third place. Though he’s not a polished orator, Paul is intelligent, disciplined, principled, consistent, and independent of the political system that’s dominated American life for the last 100 years. Paul's nickname of "Dr. No" to his congressional colleagues reflects both his medical degree and his insistence on "never voting for legislation unless the proposed measure is expressly authorized by the Constitution." Mike Huckabee, Former Governor of Arkansas, “cute” and "charming", apparently because of his down home “aw, shucks” style. Nevertheless, his debate performance leaves a lot to be desired. The governor's record indicates he’s not taxpayer friendly, and certainly not a civil libertarian. John McCain, U.S. Senator from Arizona, is a certifiable war hero, and a reputation of being a political maverick. In reality he’s hardly done anything that is not part of the Washington Beltway wheeling and dealing. Tom Tancredo, U.S. Representative from Colorado, has a small but rabid following due to his appeal to voters’ anger over continuing illegal immigration and little else. Unfortunately, Rep. Tancredo is reportedly withdrawing from the race, and has already declined to run again for the House.

Every four years relatively unknown presidential hopefuls such as Paul and Tancredo enter the nomination races. The poll numbers of these contenders in the early stages of the nomination process usually indicate they have no chance to win. But then again, they just might. Remember Howard Dean four years ago? Or Ross Perot twelve years ago? Our short-attention-span nation generally wants our politics like we want our sports, fast-paced and hard-hitting, and so far the 2008 presidential contest has been neither. The race for the White House isn’t a horse race, yet. It’s more like the NASCAR circuit where the champion is crowned after months of competing in a series of different races, on different tracks, in different locations all across the country. And unless you’re a die-hard fan, the only thing that seems to get everyone's attention is the big fiery crash. In politics, "the crash" is that political blunder that keeps everyone talking for the next few days.

There are plenty of Americans who are not comfortable with either major political party at present. Millions of us who are fiscal conservatives, and quite skeptical of big government are not at all comfortable with any candidate.

As the call to rescue the GOP resonates with the next generation, you will hear Paul described as "nutty" and anti-Semitic and fringe and marginal and on and on. One classic anti-Paul statement claims that “Republicans should respond to voters who find Ron Paul appealing with a cold shoulder. They don't even want the voters and money that Paul is bringing into the GOP - because their power - and the big spending authoritarianism they favor - is threatened by this revival of grass roots conservatism.” As the mass media seems to be ignoring the facts, perhaps I should point out that of all the candidates, Ron Paul has the most Constitutional view of American policies, he has the most financial support, he has won a vast majority of the straw polls by a wide margin, and yet still only shows as a single-digit candidate in the media polls, if they bother to mention him at all.

Interesting isn’t it?