The Race to the Finish

Nan Politics, , , , , ,

Just read an article on the Christian Science Monitor about why so many Republicans are running for president. The various reasons were interesting, but for me the 5th one really stood out …

Some, or even many, must know deep down they’re a super long-shot for the nomination. So what they’re really doing is auditioning for running mate or a show on Fox News or both. Others are boosting their public profile – and their speaking fees and book advances. Still others are in it just for the ego boost.

Did you get this? ” … auditioning for … a show on Fox News …”? (No further comment necessary)

Ya’ know, I watched the Republican debate the other evening. Not because I plan on voting for any of the nitwits, but because I wanted to see who might lead this country if the Democrats lose (which, I hate to say it, is a real possibility). It was depressing. And scary.

Even more frightening is the overwhelming interest some people are showing towards “Mr. Apprentice” himself. (Background music:  🎶 Money, Money, Money 🎶) Scores have said he doesn’t have a chance, but … what if? Oh my Thor! I think I’d have to move!

(Unfortunately, I’d have to go by myself because my “other half,” who formerly had nothing good to say about the man, is actually agreeing with him on some issues. Egad!)

It’s really not so much that the repugs are economically conservative (this can actually be a good thing) … it’s their bent on social issues that really concerns me. Gawd forbid they could actually turn around the hard-fought gay marriage and/or abortion laws!

And, as long as I’m talking politics (which I generally only do at election time), several of the candidates brought up the 10th Amendment. I’ve always wondered about that one, which states in part, “that the federal government possesses only those powers delegated to it by the Constitution. All remaining powers are reserved for the states or the people.” Does anyone else see the hornet’s nest of problems this amendment creates? For example, someone visits Colorado and purchases a bit of marijuana to enjoy (where it’s legal). But when he gets ready to return home to say, Wyoming, he forgets to dispose of his supply. If he’s caught in that state, he would face criminal charges for possession!

Overall, I have only this to say: the world of politics is like getting on a merry-go-round that never stops!merry-go-round

28 thoughts on “The Race to the Finish”

  2. I really don’t think that the GOP can provide a candidate that can survive a Clinton campaign. Every Republican candidate has a serious flaw – they have done things to pander to the extreme parts of their party. The Dems don’t have to do that to win a primary. If Hillary is smart, when she gets the nomination she’ll pick Sanders as a running mate.

    And then the GOP can watch as they lose another presidential election.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

      • Haha — thanks for the clarification. This one is not satire.

        “The Republican presidential candidates met for their second debate on Sept. 16, this one hosted by CNN at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in California. We found they strayed from the facts on numerous issues”

        http://www.factcheck.org/2015/09/factchecking-the-cnn-republican-debate/

        …and this

        http://www.alternet.org/election-2016/11-distortions-misrepresentations-and-outright-lies-gop-debate

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply

        • Thanks for the links! I had read the CNN article, but not the other one. Like I said, the reason the 4% number sounds so accurate is because it very well could be! Regardless of the percentage of what was right and what was not, the amount of things that they got wrong and the important issues they were wrong about is disturbing. One wonders if some of them really believe it or simply know they are lying and just want to stir up support. Either way to simply have one of the two entire parties that we elect for government to be so out of touch with reality is a huge problem.

          Liked by 1 person

        • Swarn, what seemed apparent to me was that they were trying to appeal to System 1 thinking — using tactics that would directly impact the amygdala. Did you notice that? I am reminded of that Joseph Goebbels quote — “If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it.”

          Liked by 1 person

        • Yep most definitely. It’s like you have this large set of conservative talking points that are all in error and then different GOP candidates support a slightly different set of them to appear to be different. But it’s all just choosing between one shit sandwich and another! But those that they are stirring emotionally are supporting the candidate who gives them some group to hate more than they did before.

          Liked by 1 person

        • Victoria, while your premise is most likely right on, I doubt any of them were/are smart enough to deliberately plan on impacting the amygdala. In fact, I doubt some of them are even familiar with the term!

          There’s one thing for certain — Trump is definitely doing as Goebbels suggested!

          Liked by 1 person

        • Nan, with exception to Carson, they may not know what an amygdala is but they do have a proven strategy to incite fear and disgust. It’s a proven strategy (used throughout history, among religious and political hierarchy, media, not to mention, dictators.

          From Scientific American:

          “If public support and reaction to a program or a policy or a course of action is necessary, then one of the things that you can count on is fear. “Can we rely on tapping into people’s fear to get them to support something?” That’s why fear has become such an important part of our news media, our entertainment industry and, increasingly, our public policy.”

          and

          “Generally speaking, the more media literate (familiar with how the media operates), the more educated, the more critically thinking people are, the less likely [they are] to be swayed by it. People who just have more opportunity to think and evaluate information and who have access to more information and to different kinds of media are less likely to be so directly influenced.”

          Like

    • I saw this. And, as you indicated, not at all surprising. If there’s one thing that politicians (and Donald Trump) can do, it’s say what their supporters want to hear, the facts be damned.

      Like

      Reply

  7. Perhaps I’m naïve, but I don’t think the Republicans have any chance of winning a general election unless a national election has both Bernie, Hillary and the Republican Nominee running. I honestly feel that the over use of the word socialist to describe Obama is actually helping Bernie Sanders because now any democrat is simply labeled a socialist and thus one can run as a democratic socialist without hurting their reputation. Republicans will still control the house and still practice obstructionist government, but they really haven’t changed their platform much at all, and given the growing income inequality and shrinking middle class in this country people are tired of the Washington insider spending ridiculous sums of money and sucking up to corporations to run their campaign. There is something different about the way the American people are reacting to candidates this election, and I do think that Bernie Sanders, win or lose is having an impact on what voters want to hear from candidates.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • “and I do think that Bernie Sanders, win or lose is having an impact on what voters want to hear from candidates.”

      I agree. I don’t see much coverage of him yet in the MSM (corporate-run media) but he’s all over social media.

      Like

      Reply

  8. We have to stop called the Republican “conservatives,” they are radicals. Dick Nixon was conservative, Ronald Regan was a conservative, Heck, Ike was a conservative. None of them would we welcome in this presidential race.

    Liked by 2 people

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