A book title tells us that "God Is For Real." My question today is this: "Is this campaign for real?" There is an air of unreality about the current Presidential campaign. Allow me to explain. According to The Washington Post, the Iowa campaign event this past week-end was something of a farce, at least as far as a couple of major candidates were concerned.
First, there was Donald Trump helicoptering into the fair grounds with his own name emblazoned on the aircraft. Crowds looked to the sky, then swarmed to the landing spot in order to greet the conquering hero (or alien from the sky, if you prefer). Once Mr. T. was safely on the ground, on-lookers, fans, and the curious buzzed about, eager for a chance to shake the celebrity/candidate's hand.
Then, there was Mrs. Clinton, by far the more-experienced of the two, and the more serious candidate. Mrs. Clinton, poor woman, was surrounded by a covey of press persons, lobbing questions at the former First Lady, as they thrust their microphones in her direction. Alas, the average voter had something of a hard time even approaching the Lady (formerly the First).
All this according to the capital paper of record. I am certainly not one to unnecessarily doubt the Post. There was the ring of truth about all this, after all. But what of the other candidates? Where was Martin O'Malley? Where was Rick Perry? Where was the female Republican candidate? There was at least as much not said in this article, as the facts which were presented. This much was reported -- neither Trump nor Mrs. Clinton deigned to take the stand to be questioned by voters as is customary.
Everything points to something unreal, ephemeral. The one moment of reality in the article was the quote of Bernie Sanders about fighting the billionaire class. This is exactly what the average voter would like to see. It is one reason he has virtually tied Mrs. Clinton in a recent New Hampshire poll. Whether Mr. Sanders can be elected is another matter. But surely he deserves a chance. And surely he deserved more than one brief mention in this article of yesterday.
And I haven't even mentioned the supposed troubles Mrs. Clinton is having -- again according to the same newspaper.
So what is a voter to make of all this? Drop out? Tune out? Cancel the newspaper subscription? The Internet is now the go-to place for news and commentary. That is clear. Of course, not just any news site will do. A few recommended news sites can be found in the links section, below right here.
In the meantime, we should avoid cynicism, no matter how tempting. For, a Donald Trump is no kind of viable candidate, with his complete lack of political experience, coupled with what can only be called an opportunistic political history, dallying as he has with members of both parties. (And yet, perhaps this is another example of the falsity of this campaign for the most part.)
No wonder Vice-President Biden is said to be considering throwing his hat into the ring.
First, there was Donald Trump helicoptering into the fair grounds with his own name emblazoned on the aircraft. Crowds looked to the sky, then swarmed to the landing spot in order to greet the conquering hero (or alien from the sky, if you prefer). Once Mr. T. was safely on the ground, on-lookers, fans, and the curious buzzed about, eager for a chance to shake the celebrity/candidate's hand.
Then, there was Mrs. Clinton, by far the more-experienced of the two, and the more serious candidate. Mrs. Clinton, poor woman, was surrounded by a covey of press persons, lobbing questions at the former First Lady, as they thrust their microphones in her direction. Alas, the average voter had something of a hard time even approaching the Lady (formerly the First).
All this according to the capital paper of record. I am certainly not one to unnecessarily doubt the Post. There was the ring of truth about all this, after all. But what of the other candidates? Where was Martin O'Malley? Where was Rick Perry? Where was the female Republican candidate? There was at least as much not said in this article, as the facts which were presented. This much was reported -- neither Trump nor Mrs. Clinton deigned to take the stand to be questioned by voters as is customary.
Everything points to something unreal, ephemeral. The one moment of reality in the article was the quote of Bernie Sanders about fighting the billionaire class. This is exactly what the average voter would like to see. It is one reason he has virtually tied Mrs. Clinton in a recent New Hampshire poll. Whether Mr. Sanders can be elected is another matter. But surely he deserves a chance. And surely he deserved more than one brief mention in this article of yesterday.
And I haven't even mentioned the supposed troubles Mrs. Clinton is having -- again according to the same newspaper.
So what is a voter to make of all this? Drop out? Tune out? Cancel the newspaper subscription? The Internet is now the go-to place for news and commentary. That is clear. Of course, not just any news site will do. A few recommended news sites can be found in the links section, below right here.
In the meantime, we should avoid cynicism, no matter how tempting. For, a Donald Trump is no kind of viable candidate, with his complete lack of political experience, coupled with what can only be called an opportunistic political history, dallying as he has with members of both parties. (And yet, perhaps this is another example of the falsity of this campaign for the most part.)
No wonder Vice-President Biden is said to be considering throwing his hat into the ring.
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