Rain and snow have come to California courtesy of El Nino, finally. We're still shy of adequate amounts to fully replenish our needs to overcome the drought we've been experiencing. Regrettably the storms have brought high winds with many trees felled, flooding, ocean cliffs collapsing leaving an uninhabitable dwelling, other related destructive consequences in some areas, and worst of all a life lost. We are predicted to receive more storm than we may want in the next two to three months.
Fortunately, where I live in So Cal (Southern Calif.) we've primarily benefited from the weather and been spared most of the negative effects. Mountain area resorts have been elated their ski area recreational activities are thriving. I can only wish others would be spared any damages to person and/or property from the future moisture we need.
This Presidential Election year continues to be unbelievably bizarre compared to any I recall in my lifetime. The American public is truly angry and seems to be saying, "a pox on politicians" as we know them. Seems to me replacing some of those in our Congress might serve to be a more effective step toward having our nation's problems meaningfully addressed, but that must wait until another election. However, this election is critical in many ways including the next President potentially needing to make several Supreme Court appointments.
Whoever is finally elected President cannot "fix" everything despite the verbose blustery pronouncements of some -- but amazingly to me there are many people who seem to believe such a miracle could occur. Issue views espoused by most candidates so far seem to indicate a void of moderate positions.
Surprisingly, supporters for some candidates have squeeked out of the woodwork from elections-past to lend excitement to this whole affair. Will all this hullabaloo bring out more voters? Maybe -- in this nation that seems to want news as entertainment and worships celebrity!
I think the Republican Party is fighting for survival as they appeal to the most extreme conservative elements and nourish base divisive human instincts in their followers. One of their candidates has literally turned this election inside out and upside down with the result their expected front runner(s) seem to have been lost in the shuffle. Their multitude of candidates are slowly whittling down in number as Iowa and later New Hampshire are the first States whose supporters will express their opinions this month. These States chosen candidates in either Party ultimately may not be the final Party candidate.
The Democratic Party has found itself unexpectedly having a strong race between two candidates with a third shadowing those two. They have moved toward more liberal positions on a few issues that might not have been expected if there hadn't been such a fierce competition. They have maintained a consistent strong stance defending all Americans, as our nation's Constitution prescribes, in contrast to rhetoric from their opposing Party.
Recently mutterings have been heard that a candidate might form a third Party if the surviving candidate in at least one of the Parties emerges as a nominee. Ah, the battle of the billionaires! I thought some of that money group were the ones everyone is angry with -- part of the 1% -- suffocating the middle class and thrusting all the rest of our population into the less-than 99%.
So much more could be said and getting into the specific issues which is what I'm really interested in seems almost premature at this point with all the drama that's going on. There's plenty of time for getting to those matters for some of us, I guess, after all these candidates get sorted out since Californian's don't vote until June. Also, this will be the first Presidential Election when all of those who have registered no political party preference can vote either Party.
When all final Presidential candidates have been selected, then, perhaps, we will have a better idea of exactly what issues will be pursued so, if in doubt, our choices will be evident.
I find it interesting to see how others see the candidates and the choices. I follow politics but won't have a real choice because I will have to vote Democrat, whoever that candidate turns out to be. The Republican party has lost touch with the word conservative and are so far right socially that they aren't possible for me, not any of them. The worst though, for me, are the religious ideologues. Cruz tops that list but Bush is bad too with how he brags of trying to keep a woman dying for years and years. The ideologues this year believe their rhetoric which to me is scarier than if they fake it. On the left, I will be voting for Sanders in the primary, if he's still there by the time they get around to Oregon. But if the candidate is Hillary, I'll have no choice but to vote for her in the fall. I won't want her for many reasons but just cannot vote for a Republican in this time. Bloomberg will be interesting if he gets in as he is socially liberal and economically conservative at least in his talk. That tends to be how I am. I used to watch the news every night. Now even once a week seems too much ;). At least with reading newspapers online, I can read the articles I choose and not have a lot of things that annoy me crammed into my head. I will probably write more about politics in my blog as time goes on but for now I have avoided it other than the Malheur standoff. That though was as cultural as anything.
ReplyDeleteYes, I've followed the Malheur standoff, too, though it didn't seem to draw the attention the protesters may have wanted and expected. Circumstances stemming from prior events, then failure to gain the support of those they claimed to be defending distracted from the point they've been trying to make it seemed to me. I think the loss of life was needlessly tragic and he would have been more valuable to his cause alive.
ReplyDeleteUnless something unexpected happens -- our surprises this election year may not be over -- but the lines are pretty well drawn between our current two major political parties, whoever becomes their nominee.
I, too, am leery of any ideology leading us toward a theocracy as exists in some other countries our nation views with great disdain. Consequently, I think that's one reason why many voters desiring insured separation of church and state have already decided what Party will receive their vote much as you describe your thinking.
I wonder if the undecideds are new voters -- those coming of voting age and others of any age who've not voted previously for their own reasons? Hopefully all of our citizens will stay engaged in the process. I'm concerned some voters may not go to the polls if they begin to think its a shoo-in for their candidate's election and/or they develop a sense that their vote doesn't matter anyway.
I think it's very important we have a tally of a truly representative popular vote from each State for consideration, despite what may evolve with the Electoral College. I hope a high number of voters casting their ballots to dictate the Electoral College outcome is sufficient to preclude the necessity of any others, including the Supreme Court, having to be legally involved in resolving this election's outcome.
Now we have the surprising (at least, to me) Iowa caucus results to consider. The fact that turnouts were big was a positive thing all around, I think. There was fear that the constant bombardment of political news and "gutter politics" practiced by many candidates would cause large numbers of people to tune out and lose all interest in the election. Too many important matters are at stake for that. Glad it didn't happen in Iowa.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the large turnouts are very positive and hope it continues throughout the country. Ideally the candidates will all address the issues with more "how I'll do it" added to their claims and leave out the "gutter politics".
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