This is not the first time in modern history, however, that the people's choice of a Republican candidate does not match that of the Republican National Committee (RNC). In 1964 the people chose the super-conservative, former Arizona senator Barry Goldwater. The outcome of the fall match up against Lyndon Johnson was a blood bath that some say was the end of the conservative posture for Republicans.
This year it has been the same. The leading (by people's choice) contender and likely candidate is a total outsider, with NO political experience. He has a mouth without an apparent filter, and it frequently seems to have taken hold long before his brain engages
On the positive side of the ledger (it is a short list), he has engaged the minds of folks who never before left the comfort of their favorite stool at the local watering hole and encouraged record participation in the primary process. Additionally, the national "news" programs cannot seem to get enough of his bombastic rhetoric and are in a 24-hour frenzy over the slightest (but apparent) errors in comments that are far from "PC" (political or other correctness).
The Democrats, unfortunately, are not much better. Hillary Clinton, the skilled politician with both domestic and international experience, cannot seem to shake the plain-spoken socialist Bernie Sanders. Honestly, of all the candidates that started the primaries, Bernie has been my favorite. He stays on his message, does not get embroiled in topics outside his personal expertise, and does not take the low road traveled by the Republicans.
Some believe that Barry Goldwater was the reason the Libertarian Party was formed. He wasn't a founding member, but his conservative agenda (less government, fewer regulations and more personal freedoms) was adopted as the movement grew.
I look at this year's primaries and the quality of the candidates and say - maybe this is the year the Libertarians really make a mark. But then I review the backgrounds of their candidates and have to admit that none of them would be the political leader the two major parties have hoped to provide.
It is a sad statement on this country that the current candidates are the best we have to offer. There are close to 300 million people in this country. Surely we could do better.
My job at Rural King frequently causes me to state, after hanging up from helping a client: "... and they vote." Maybe "we the people" really do deserve this. Our educational system is in shambles, our economy is in poor shape, and the Congress spends more time fund raising that doing the job they were sent to Washington to complete.
I have been restrained this season from commenting. But my ire is too great to maintain my silence. When Congress votes themselves raises and leaves seniors without one, it's past time for all of them to be tossed out and start over.
"All of the great patriots now engaged in edging and squirming their way toward the Presidency of the Republic run true to form. this is the say, they are all extremely wary, and all more or less palpable frauds." ~ H. L Mencken
