Here I thought these where races with some substance where one does look for the best rather than watching what we have been seeing. If you think the world is falling apart and many people do and if you think that to some degree the job of holding it together falls to the leadership of the United States a reasonable assumption then this, 2012, must be a very drab year.
For what has the leadership of what we once called the free world come to? The Obama blimp, once so optimistic, so steady a vessel of hope and change, all that we have been waiting for has long since torn and deflated, come to earth. Three years in office have changed the Light-Bearer to just another ordinary and somewhat more partisan that usual Mr. Politician. Obama doesn't have it anymore. Or perhaps there is some hidden agenda which we all wait to see come about. Thus, the spectator swivels his attention to the prospective candidates from the other party, the Republicans. It’s a little like going from a troubled sleep to a full bore nightmare. Is this a means and way within the primary process? The way to choose a person for the most significant position in the world?
Can any process which allows Ron Paul, isolationist, fundamentalist libertarian, as someone seriously to be contemplated for presidential office, be itself taken seriously? Can a process which elevated for a bizarre moment the pizza baron, the enthusiastic but utterly amateur, Herman Cain, be taken seriously? Is Mitt Romney, who has slightly less voltage than a stack of cardboard, the man to lead the world? Santorum, Gingrich, Bachman seemingly don’t pass the grade for the "A" team but merely a "B minus". This has illustrated to the world how to make exemplary usage of words within a two letter alphabet. And what are these primaries anyway? A series of high school display debates, seven or eight candidates furiously going from auditorium to auditorium, some of them burning money by the bushel, fighting among themselves. I don't find the money nor cents within that, pardon the pun. The waste within a campaigning process which lacks so many important areas in which so many do wish to take place rather than a pathetic audition ceremony for an office. So then, if one looks at the US and despairs that its current President is not up to the job, that the world is in one of its more parlous and perilous moments. Is it then possible to look to the Republican slate largely a collection of everyone’s a third choice and feel a gust of sane optimism? There's no one on board of that ship to inspire the passengers. It's frightfully mediocre, maybe a good cast for theatrics, but for President of the United States?
Politics certainly have taken on a branch of awful reality TV shows. It hinges on the same qualities: exhibitionism, mortification of the players, and cynicism.
Not a good thing for a great Republic. Nor for those of us who wish it well.
This is one of the major problems in politics down here, Jack. The political parties are so divided that any extremist can get some buzz in the Presidential field just by being...extreme. Obama has lost his lustre but I predicted that...but the bloom always falls from an American leader when people realize he can't change economic problems in six months to the way they were when the average voter was a kid. But his campaign has barely begun and he gave a good start tonight with the address he gave to Congress tonight.
ReplyDeletePeople who love Ron Paul? I don't know what to say to people who really get excited by him. The libertarians used to be the party of the discontented and the reactionary and I guess there are more than the usual number of those right now.
No, politics has become a bad type of theater in America; you got that right Jack. Well put.
ReplyDeleteI remember when you did write on this especially the lack of luster with the President, Doug. I shut down an watched the address last night and he seemed to do rather well. I have always believed that America shall get back on with it and I wished to write a little on this as not just America but the world is watching now and taking all into consideration the ones which are running while we still have two years. It's amazing to see this amateur group of people which certainly have not raised the bar.
ReplyDeleteRon Paul seems to be the "other one" within this race and I think that this is one main area which attracts many people to him however I would wager that President Obama has a second term. It would be nice to see a campaign which was not so costly nor lengthy. I did enjoy the address - I liked what he said with regards to the auto industry.
I love some of it and some of it I don't. What I was meaning is that this is not mannerly politics it's drama politics where anything literally goes.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure that should be the focus right now. Perhaps the focus should be on getting things done rather than the waste of money in a lengthy
campaign. As well some laws and rules within the campaign process. There are politics and then poli - drama. No one really enjoys that what they
wish for is from both sides what we saw last night Doug.
Mr. President made a quip on a talk show one night that made me laugh myself to sleep......in response to his take on the republican candidates he said "I'm waiting for them all to be voted off the island"........lmao.......I guess you gotta be a survivor fan (t.v. game show) to appreciate the joke , but oh man it made me laugh!!!
ReplyDeleteI loved the Presidents speech last night. He told of all his accomplishments and stopping one war and killing Bin Laden and trying to get this country back on track....but with no help from the Right, how can he do more?
ReplyDeleteThe Republicans are a bunch of clowns trying to become president. They will take this country down further than it already is by what Bush did and the only ones that will benifit are the rich.
And Pamela has it right...he will wait until they get voted off the island and see who is the last man standing...then pound him right off the island too. He will become our President again and if things change in Congress and we get some of the radical right out, then maybe we can have a better future in this United States of America.
Yes, that is a theme I think Obama will return to in the general election--and one most of his main opponents gave up on.
ReplyDeleteYes, the small people who put so much big money into the process are doing it to influence this country, plain and simple. It makes a mockery of free speech in my view.
ReplyDeleteWe are living a time when true leaderships are lacking everywhere, it's a bad symptom of our civil societies.
ReplyDeleteIf there was a like button on here I'd press it for Martyb's statement.......I couldnt have said it better myself........we neeeeeeed a new congress!!!!
ReplyDeleteI would like to see more of the old style ways Pamela where things are not a joke. I don't know where all of this shall go one thing which I noticed while watching this address was how Hillary seemed really wore out. I used to love the enthusiasm which was so apparent within 2008. Yet it's pol - drama, where before there was not as much cynism but more of a belief that change would come so fast - and thus far it's not. I wrote this before the address of last night as I watched it. It was something I wished to write as I had just arrived home here yesterday in the later part of the afternoon.
ReplyDeleteMarty I think that all too often many don't realize what the President took on and accomplished. I subscribe to Gallop and was reading some stats two days ago and I was impressed with his manner of speaking as well as what he achieved with the auto industry, So often we tend to forget what is good and what has been achieved rather there is a wore out society which does wish this nightmare would come to an end. I never placed much within a party I always focused on the person. Most people tend to say, "Same old - Same old", Yet the address good - I thought so. As well, with all at hand I think that there is no other person whom is running for office, and that might be due to the fact that the good ones which are out there would never wish to have the campaign marthon of the next two years. As you know I reside within Canada but I am a half and half and the energy blue print was one that I would tend to think that President Obama speaks more to PM Harper. As it's exactly the same of what Harper had put into place. Which I don't think is a terrible thing. One that is a leader has to be able to stand his or her ground and to some extent President Obama has always been one to wait and see what the concesus is before acting. Sometimes a leader has to act - I believe this is one of his downfalls.
ReplyDeleteWe will wait and see how things go but I do believe in hope and change.
Everyone in all countries always has there own opinions and compliants in knowing a few up here which are mayors, municipal leaders - each one of them has taken all into consideration and do have a desire improve things and take the good with the bad. As you can't please all.
ReplyDeleteMind you, Iceland seems to be doing extremely well. I would assume that everyone there is content.
You would think that each which is within this campaign would have a strategy and great grasp on what is needed rather than the infighting which comes out.
ReplyDeleteIt does Doug. If there was a limitation as well as a set term I think that would do more justice as it would illuminate the middle party (persons or companies) which don't just hand over millions without a ratified return in $$$$.
ReplyDelete