Wednesday, March 02, 2016

PRES. PRIMARIES PROCEED

Super Tuesday continues to make this Presidential Primary year a surreal, entertaining, but serious event.    One of our two major political parties has been undergoing internal ideological changes for quite a few years.  They've skewed  away from moderate conservatism to a more conservative position -- actually extremely conservative or even beyond. 

Many of their more traditional party members  have been facing an increasingly perplexing dilemma  as they try to accommodate the more extreme element of their party.  Doing so has not been easy since that element's original small number has had  a "my way or the highway" attitude.   We citizens of all political persuasion experienced the consequences of that obstinate position when exercised in our Congress for too many years -- so many issues on which they failed to take action.    Too many of that group lacked either the willingness or skill to employ the finer points of governing which include a need for negotiation and compromise.

So now, this same political party has produced a multitude of candidates who desire to become President.   Their few candidates who could be slightly more inclined toward moderate conservatism have largely been excised from candidacy as various state primary election totals have been eliminating them.

In the beginning, one unexpected candidate flamboyantly entered that parties political race turning the campaign dynamics upside down.   He has resorted to appealing to voters basest values  in a most negative manner with promises to likely continue the same tactics, or worse, if he becomes the party candidate.     He is winning in most of the state primaries to date. 

Considerably fewer states voters have kept two remaining challengers in the race -- men whose rhetoric raises the possibility they could  bring a troubling degree of religion into governing -- more theocratic than democratic.  One other candidate with governing experience who could be the more rational of all continues to hang on at least through his state's March 15th primary. 

Speculation has had some pundits saying we may be witnessing a demise of one of our two major political parties, but maybe the party is being rejuvenated -- just not as they have previously presented themselves.   Will some party members leave?   Will they throw their support to the other party?   

I still wonder if a new third political party and candidate will emerge in the next couple weeks as a former NYC mayor said he would run if candidate options consisted of those we now see to be emerging as the  contenders.

Our other major political party has two candidates that appear to be winnowing down to one -- the person expected to be their nominee as state primaries proceed.   The rhetoric from these two has been mostly respectful, issue oriented and framed to appeal to voters.   We'll begin to see the increased tensions as candidates become the final nominees campaigning toward the November Presidential election. 

I firmly believe in our nation's need for a strong two party political system.    Others views are important.  Often the numbers of those of like mind do form another party, but seldom have they attracted enough supporters to be elected to national governmental office.    In some situations a strong third party can adversely affect a final election's outcome but it's premature to examine that possibility further. 

Will we see one of the major political parties in existence throughout  my entire lifetime begin to fade from the scene?   Will another party, perhaps with disenchanted members of that fading party, form a third party?   We hear mention of the possibility of holding an "open convention" in hopes of preventing a candidate  unwanted by party leaders becoming their nominee.    We'll see what develops -- especially after March 15th. 








8 comments:

  1. It's a sad political season. I think in every election, I've had one candidate I wanted, maybe not crazy about but wanted. This time there is nada. I will vote in November and it will probably have to be for Hillary Clinton, but I'll be unhappy about it. I don't trust her political positions or her warlike tendencies. I don't think she has made good choices in terms of Libya and Egypt and that's maybe not all her fault but just the zeitgeist of the times but we definitely have a more volatile situation there than we had when dictators ruled, men who were not overly religious if you will. Sure they were cruel but can anyone say Iraq is better off right now than they were? If they had left Hussein in place and forced him to moderate some of his cruelty, that might've been more effective for his people than blowing up the whole system and Hillary did vote for that war as an option when she was a senator. That sad, I'll have no choice as although I don't think Trump would be as bad as it's been painted, I have no idea what he'd do if he got it. As you said above, we know what Cruz and Rubio would do. Kasich also as he just defunded the state's part of Planned Parenthood and looking back at his record in Congress, he's extreme too-- he just says it with a smile. Ugh... This is a political season I am trying to forget exists even while I do keep reading about it and now and again watching some magazine news show...

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  2. There weren't many who voted against the Iraq war but Sanders was one of the few. Whether or not his other issue positions are what's needed has raised many questions. I agree, I do want our armies spared bloodshed in massive ground wars around the world, but I do want to avoid bloodshed on our shores. Voting for the candidate for whom we have the least objections may be especially necessary this election year. I think it's important to keep in mind the candidate's political party's basic platform compared to other parties stance in the 'who to vote for' winnowing process.

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  3. I have been watching and voting for 65 years and this time tops the cake. I am petrified that Trump would represent our great nation if he wins...he may be a successful business exec. but that's a far cry from being a statesman. Like your previous commentator I will vote for Hillary and hope for the best.

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    1. I tend to think we haven't seen anything yet. I also think there's so much more going on here than just his seeking to be that party candidate under whose banner he is campaigning but whose party leaders disavow him. Their party was already in the middle of a royal battle between two factions for the heart and soul of the organization, and now this! Is that party imploding? I find it fascinating to watch play out because in the end I believe come November we’ll all have an opportunity to select the appropriate President.

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  4. I voted for Hillary in the primary. Don't know that Libya and egypt are her fault as suggested above. As a member of the cabinet she followed the president's wishes.

    But these issues aside, she is tough and I like that. I thought going into Iraq at that time was a good idea and was happy she voted to give Bush the power to do so. Isolationism is not for me. Like it or lump it, we have a role in the world, as any good historian can tell you.

    My greatest fear is that H will be indicted or not cleared by the FBI before the election. I will never vote for Benito Trump...il Duce...and the end of democrcy as we know it!

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  5. I agree isolationism is not appropriate in today's world, if ever, plus I don't think we could isolate if we wanted to do so. I do think we should limit the amount of our military involvement in other countries -- i.e. ground troops -- and expect those people to invest more of their own countrypersons into battles for their own liberty.

    Remember the two outspoken Republicans, later chastised by other party members, who were very honest and straight forward about the investigation being started for political reasons? I resent the time and taxpayer monies spent on this trumped up investigation or any others done for that same political reason.

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  6. Trump is the embodiment of a worldwide cultural crisis. Gary Younge says that this crisis is endemic in all affluent Western countries now. Everywhere, people are worried about the future and can't see their way forward. Fascism is rearing its head everywhere.

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    1. I agree, and last month wrote:
      "Some pundit discussions I've heard have included observations that democracies around the world are being clobbered by extremist anti-establishment candidates. The world is truly in a state of flux and our nation is not an exception. What could this mean for our future?"

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