The
CNN debates were supposed to show off the qualifications of each candidate,
while avoiding disparaging their GOP opponents. This could provide fodder for
the Democrats in the general election that is only thirteen-and-one-half months
away.
An
old English expression befits the high ground to be taken; “Mind your P’s and
Q’s.” It essentially means either “mind your manners,” mind your language,” or
“be on your best behavior.”
The
“P” possibly refers to politicians, the public, and the press. The “Q” factor revolves
around the inane questions coming from the press.
If
you had nothing better to do on September 16, you might have watched CNN’s
self-publicized debates, where all three of those meanings would be violated.
According to a countdown timer, which had been on the CNN screen for several
days, the first debate will begin in 1 hour, 8 minutes and 36 seconds from now.
When it does, I will step away from my computer.
THE
POLITICIANS
That
first debate featured the lower tier candidates Bobby Jindal, Lindsey Graham,
and George Pataki, each garnering less than one percent in the polls, as well
as Rick Santorum, having firmly established himself as the potential GOP
nominee with a one percent backing. Jim Gilmore didn’t even gain enough of a
following to be invited, and Rick Perry nobly withdrew from the race.
I
watched intently for fifteen minutes, trying to better understand the
candidates and their positions, and then came back to continue writing this
piece. Bobby Jindal repeatedly emphasized that the Democratic candidate Bernie
Sanders was an avowed Socialist. I hoped that in the second debate, another GOP
wannabe would also bring up Bernie Sanders’ name, since the media mainly fail
to mention him except to chortle when Hillary’s numbers are declining. Later,
Bobby did tie Bernie to Barak, calling Obama another Socialist.
The
top tier in the second debate, along with their most recent New Hampshire
polling percentages included Trump (27%), Carson (23%), Bush, Rubio, and
Huckabee (6% each), Cruz (5%), Fiorina (4%), Kasich and Paul (3% each), Walker
(2%) and Christy (1%). At times, they interrupted one another, gnawed at their
opponents credentials, and complained that they were portrayed wrong.
.
Of
the fifteen who participated in the two debates as candidates for the
nomination of their GOP political party, for the very political office of
President of the United States, the two poll leaders, Trump and Carson,
emphasized that they have never been elected to a political office. Carly
Fiorina, who many pundits declared as the debate winner, was equally proud of her
lack of political experience. She also might be the best person to negotiate
with Iran, North Korea, China and Russia. After nearly destroying Hewlett-Packard
under her leadership, she negotiated a severance package that included $21
million in cash, and $19 million more in stock and pension benefits.
THE
PRESS
The
press derived its name during the early days of printing, when type was set one
letter (or one line) at a time and placed into a form. Ink was rolled on the
type, a sheet of paper was placed on top of it, and it was pressed down to make
an impression on the paper. This was done one sheet at a time, a laborious
effort, much like last Wednesday’s debates.
The
highlight of one CNN news report on Trump’s earlier rally at a Dallas arena was
when an anchor interviewed a Trump supporter who wore an outfit she had
designed. The supporter proudly displayed the likeness of Trump on her hat,
purse, dress and shoes. The CNN anchor’s most probing question concerned
whether Hispanic protestors outside of the rally had tried to prevent her from
entering the arena. The Trump supporter couldn’t recall, saying that she was
too enthralled by being able to hear her man in person.
Other
broadcast media professionals also seem to be incapable of bringing up
pertinent discussion points, and most of their questions center around Donald,
who deftly ducks talking about his policy programs and any topic of substance.
THE
PUBLIC
Ah,
the public, aka the voters. These people will eventually decide who will be the
President after the November 8, 2016 election, unless there is a repeat of
2000. That’s when the U. S. Supreme Court stopped a recount proposed by the
Florida Supreme Court, and handed Florida to Bush by 537 votes. At that time,
the Florida Governor was John Ellis Bush, J.E.B., and seven of the nine U.S.
Supreme Court Justices, were appointed by Republican Presidents.
Before
the 2016 election occurs, many Super PACs who are surreptitiously supporting
their candidates, will be spending their millions, or billions, to influence
the electorate.
The
intelligence of the electorate is questionable, since too many voters won’t
invest either the time or energy to truly learn about the candidates. The
“public” seems to be far more interested in hearing what platitudes each of the
candidates profess to support, and what each candidate says that a voter wants
to hear.
Many
of the voters listen to the candidates espousing generalities, and each
candidate, in turn, will alone try to do his or her best to influence the
public into believing that they can be the saviors of America.
These
two September 16 debates took place in the Ronald Reagan Library. In that hallowed setting, candidates
valiantly tried to connect to Reagan and his ideals, as if that will be the
strong tie that binds them to the future of a greater America, and helps get
them become the GOP nominee. Oh, how they long for the good olde days of 1980
to 1988 — those glorious Reagan years.
However, I once heard liberal folk singer
Pete Seeger talk about the past, saying, “Those were the good old days that
never were.”
