This crazy election which ‘SUCKS’ according to my older son (I agree) has seen wild gyrations of sentiment and thought on the candidates so here is an effort from my point of view. Lets rate these people as of today, March 10, 8 months to go A-Trump B-Cruz C-Rubio D-Kasich E-HRC F-Bernie What’s important to me? These are not necessarily in order given any day.
Physical safety
A, C, B, D, F, E We are talking here about enemies who cannot be deterred (ISIS, Al Nusra, AQ etc - AND PROBABLY IRAN) Enemies who can be deterred (Russia, China) Enemies on a rapid expansion course which MIGHT put us on a collision course (Russia, China, Iran) Strong diplomatic actions backing up an effective military which is matched by good planning to the missions previously IMAGINED
Economy
A, B, F, TIE among the rest - Anyone in favor of the TPP is in favor of the economy we have seen developing since the 70′s. Little manufacturing (where the GP is, folks), lower paying service jobs growing, huge growth in gov employment
Kasich wants to reduce social security, and when this was objected to at a town hall, told the person so objecting to ‘get over it’. Once a president farts with changing social security to those already in it, or anywhere NEAR retirement, all bets are off. He did find a UNIQUE way to expand Medicaid and put the expansion into private hands. Bernie is a unique case because he is accurate in assessing so many of the problems (including TBTF), and in sensing how pissed off Americans are, but as far as I can see he will address the jobs situation after ending free trade by building highways and bridges? Hard to fathom. And in his single payer health insurance, while this is a tempting financial relief, Britain is a mess, the VA is a worse and corrupt mess, and what do you think will happen to medical research when there is no real profit anymore for the great risks to be taken, and the federal govt essentially dictates pricing? I was in that field before retiring, and in Britain, there was a VERY scarce market (comparatively) for the equipment and software needed to conduct research. The key to the second half of the economy, FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY is a growing economy, More people, chasing fewer and fewer resources is not even a zero sum game. If we can’t grow rapidly, we will never have anything but more debt. NEVER.
Inherent desire to be faithful to the Constitution in spirit as well as in law
They are all tied for last. I trust NO ONE. Cruz has been trumpeted as being Mr. Constitution but has exhibited the spirit of freedom of religion ONLY as it exists for his NARROW view of that (Bickle). I don’t believe in him. As a religious minority, his apparent views are at the level of anathema. Many good people disagree with me on this. But as an American who happens to be Jewish .. he’s OUT. Trump’s ideas on Eminent Domain are ATROCIOUS and scary. If you even CONSIDER the idea of seizing someone’s property and REMOVING their way of life, it had better be for STRONG and unavoidable national need. He values it as tool to achieve an expedient end, justifying it as a way to make the target wealthier. He looks pretty authoritarian to me, as well. Bernie is an outright socialist who has no idea of anything but that eventually community property is destiny HRC will do whatever expedient need and desire dictate while seeking inventive ways to frame her illegal wants and needs. Rubio wants to kill the bad guys wherever they are and one can certainly see the good side to that, but war outside the Constitution means the people will abandon support all to soon. This has been true as far back as LINCOLN. I have not heard Rubio talk about a declaration of war. Kasich wants executive authority. That’s the prime reason why none of them can be trusted.
SOCIAL ISSUES
This go round, boy I really have little care for this.
So far, a very, very uncomfortable vote for Trump. It seems he has the best chance of the 6 to grow the economy, is aggressive but realistic on security, SUCKS on restraint of federal authority but is no worse than any of them (Cruz’s desire for a small govt being balanced by his religious freedom faults - a personal issue), but will have to be watched carefully once he takes the oath (don’t they all?).
Trump ‘University’ issues look and sound PRETTY BAD, I look forward to hearing the other side of that, but it points to the worry he MAY BE charlatan. That such a person is being considered and favored is measure of the rest of the field.
In a few days, I might reorder this farce. How could we have started with so many and now it sucks?
I might ‘like’ Trump the least personally, but you know….
- So, Now Who Am I Supposed To Vote For?
Given the R’s control of the Senate, it seems the people are about to choose what kind of a SCOTUS we are going to have for the next generation, and it will be most interesting to see if a lot more people show up to vote (and I would NOT necessarily...
- Fun Presidential Personal Alignment Quiz....
isidewith.com Be sure to click on 'more questions about' in each category as you will get a much more granular response, and answer on the left what degree of importance each issue has to you. This is not bad, but still vulnerable to anomalies....
