I anticipated the first Election 2016 Democratic
Presidential debate. I ribbed my Rhode Island friends and asked: “Aren’t you
excited to see your former Governor running for President.” Their answer: Awful-Awful.
When I asked the former Rhode Island GOP
Chairman to comment on Chafee’s affirmation: “I have no scandals”, he shrugged:
“Then perhaps we should start electing children.”
Presidential debate. I ribbed my Rhode Island friends and asked: “Aren’t you
excited to see your former Governor running for President.” Their answer: Awful-Awful.
When I asked the former Rhode Island GOP
Chairman to comment on Chafee’s affirmation: “I have no scandals”, he shrugged:
“Then perhaps we should start electing children.”
Indeed, the childlike faith that former Democratic
contenders exuded in Big Brother Government can make anyone feel warm and fuzzy
inside. When matching their rhetoric and records with reality however, there is
much to be desired. Liberalism is snake oil salesmanship at its finest. “I
promise free stuff”, US Senator Sanders can claim, and yet nothing is free. It
just is not so. Someone pays for it. The scam is not telling everyone who pays.
contenders exuded in Big Brother Government can make anyone feel warm and fuzzy
inside. When matching their rhetoric and records with reality however, there is
much to be desired. Liberalism is snake oil salesmanship at its finest. “I
promise free stuff”, US Senator Sanders can claim, and yet nothing is free. It
just is not so. Someone pays for it. The scam is not telling everyone who pays.
What exactly were the candidates going to talk
about? I wondered, since President Obama has crossed off so many items on the Progressive
“To Do” list. Gay marriage has been imposed by judicial fiat. Climate alarmism
is the new state religion. The regulatory state has expanded like nothing
before. Immigration enforcement is nil, with illegal aliens thumbing their noses
at the rule of law.
about? I wondered, since President Obama has crossed off so many items on the Progressive
“To Do” list. Gay marriage has been imposed by judicial fiat. Climate alarmism
is the new state religion. The regulatory state has expanded like nothing
before. Immigration enforcement is nil, with illegal aliens thumbing their noses
at the rule of law.
The ideological idiosyncrasies of marginalized
left-wing professors has become mainstream government policy. President Obama
uttered the word “transgender” a first for State of the Union address. Yes,
what an accomplishment. And of course, Obamacare: the Democratic Dream of
Government infusion into the health care industry has happened. It is here –
and so many people have lost their coverage, their plans, their doctors, and
their time and resources.
left-wing professors has become mainstream government policy. President Obama
uttered the word “transgender” a first for State of the Union address. Yes,
what an accomplishment. And of course, Obamacare: the Democratic Dream of
Government infusion into the health care industry has happened. It is here –
and so many people have lost their coverage, their plans, their doctors, and
their time and resources.
The country is stepping in a lot of doo-doo since
Obama finished so much on the “To Do” list. The federal government has gotten oppressive
yet unresponsive. Military entanglements have become bungling failures, even if
Osama Bin Laden is dead. Russia is powerful, Israel is paranoid (yet with a
real leader who is the only adult in the room), and the Iranians and North
Koreans are as nuke happy as ever.
Obama finished so much on the “To Do” list. The federal government has gotten oppressive
yet unresponsive. Military entanglements have become bungling failures, even if
Osama Bin Laden is dead. Russia is powerful, Israel is paranoid (yet with a
real leader who is the only adult in the room), and the Iranians and North
Koreans are as nuke happy as ever.
Heckuva a job, there, Barry! The Democratic
successors seem bent on continuing this somehow legacy.
successors seem bent on continuing this somehow legacy.
Or do they?
Listening to the candidates, I found that all of
them tripped on themselves with a lot of “ums” and “uhs”, plus a plethora of
pauses along the way. Senator Sanders hovered over his description of Russia
and Vladimir Putin: “He is going to be sorry. . .” Really? Governor Chafee took
deep gulps and breaths. O’Malley was nervous. As for Senator Webb: he just
loved raising his hand with his stilted karate chop for emphasis.
them tripped on themselves with a lot of “ums” and “uhs”, plus a plethora of
pauses along the way. Senator Sanders hovered over his description of Russia
and Vladimir Putin: “He is going to be sorry. . .” Really? Governor Chafee took
deep gulps and breaths. O’Malley was nervous. As for Senator Webb: he just
loved raising his hand with his stilted karate chop for emphasis.
Who is pulling these politicians’ strings? Do they
have any life or intensity or independence? Another stand out in the debate?
The lack of diversity.
have any life or intensity or independence? Another stand out in the debate?
The lack of diversity.
All Northeasterners, all old and white, the five
Democratic contenders (including the potential Warren and Biden tickets), the
liberal game identity politics is failing the Democratic Party now. The
greatest dearth of diversity, however, rested in the lack of reforms,
innovations, ideas.
Democratic contenders (including the potential Warren and Biden tickets), the
liberal game identity politics is failing the Democratic Party now. The
greatest dearth of diversity, however, rested in the lack of reforms,
innovations, ideas.
Raising the minimum wage? Yawn (and it does not work).
Illegal aliens? Make them all legal. (Wow, how
offensive is that?!)
offensive is that?!)
Paid maternity leave? We have it in California, in
the legal code, but not among many businesses, which are closing up and moving
to other states. Doing business is hard enough, but with special interest
legislators out to benefit their donors at the expense of the makers and
shakers, the man keeping up show has nothing left to keep. Not that these
candidates really care: they have wealth coming out their pores (including “socialist”
Sanders and his own condo).
the legal code, but not among many businesses, which are closing up and moving
to other states. Doing business is hard enough, but with special interest
legislators out to benefit their donors at the expense of the makers and
shakers, the man keeping up show has nothing left to keep. Not that these
candidates really care: they have wealth coming out their pores (including “socialist”
Sanders and his own condo).
End Citizens United. Get money out of politics.
Right, sure – but labor unions are free to spend as much as they want.
Right, sure – but labor unions are free to spend as much as they want.
![]("https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e3/DemocraticLogo.png") |
| The Democratic Party |
Punish Wall Street
greed. Sure, sure, but with more government, and the attending cronyism that
follows? You know who are big fans of Hillary? Wall Street brokers, who know
that she would approve another bailout when the financial industry overextends
its capital again.
greed. Sure, sure, but with more government, and the attending cronyism that
follows? You know who are big fans of Hillary? Wall Street brokers, who know
that she would approve another bailout when the financial industry overextends
its capital again.
Gun control. On this topic, the candidates
brandished some firepower. Vermont
Sanders had to justify his stronger pro-gun record against Gun Grabbing
Governor O’Malley. Webb gave the best response – if he were a Republican.
Chafee’s answer reminded the audience that the Second Amendment resonates with
everyone, even in the most Democratic state in the union. No one, I mean no one
wants to lose their guns, and his supermajority legislature routinely killed
gun control expansion in the Ocean State.
brandished some firepower. Vermont
Sanders had to justify his stronger pro-gun record against Gun Grabbing
Governor O’Malley. Webb gave the best response – if he were a Republican.
Chafee’s answer reminded the audience that the Second Amendment resonates with
everyone, even in the most Democratic state in the union. No one, I mean no one
wants to lose their guns, and his supermajority legislature routinely killed
gun control expansion in the Ocean State.
Hillary’s lying and sloppy handling of classified
information? “Who cares about those damn emails?!” Sanders blared. A lot of
Republicans, and a growing number of Americans do!
information? “Who cares about those damn emails?!” Sanders blared. A lot of
Republicans, and a growing number of Americans do!
Now, God forbid I should admit on a conservative
website the following, but here it is: the Democrats did talk about issues
which Republicans have not talked about, but which I care about.
website the following, but here it is: the Democrats did talk about issues
which Republicans have not talked about, but which I care about.
Criminal Justice Reform: This is not “the sexy
issue” for conservatives. Republicans bear with pride (as they should) a
tough-on-crime agenda. But do we really need to lock up more people than China?
We don’t. Libertarians have a good argument on this issue: we lock up too many
people in this country.
issue” for conservatives. Republicans bear with pride (as they should) a
tough-on-crime agenda. But do we really need to lock up more people than China?
We don’t. Libertarians have a good argument on this issue: we lock up too many
people in this country.
Decriminalization: Governor Chafee had suggested “Pot
for potholes”. Conan O’Brien’s audience approved that message. Like “Weekend at
Bernie” Sanders, I would vote to permit recreational use of marijuana. Not
because I smoked – or even inhaled – but it’s time for Americans to take a deep
breath and get the state out of punishing non-violent crimes like use or
possession of controlled substances.
for potholes”. Conan O’Brien’s audience approved that message. Like “Weekend at
Bernie” Sanders, I would vote to permit recreational use of marijuana. Not
because I smoked – or even inhaled – but it’s time for Americans to take a deep
breath and get the state out of punishing non-violent crimes like use or
possession of controlled substances.
Hands off my guns, and my joints.
Student Loan Debt: Indeed, millenials are crushed by
high college costs and rising student loan debt. Democrats are great at
pointing out these problems. Another problem arises, however, when they refuse
to take responsibility for creating those problems, and again when their
proposals only exacerbate those conflicts.
high college costs and rising student loan debt. Democrats are great at
pointing out these problems. Another problem arises, however, when they refuse
to take responsibility for creating those problems, and again when their
proposals only exacerbate those conflicts.
Final points: The Democrats did debate issues, since
there were only five candidates. They were wrong on almost everything. Anderson
Cooper landed some really good questions, too.
there were only five candidates. They were wrong on almost everything. Anderson
Cooper landed some really good questions, too.
All in all, I’m glad I watched.