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Journal News Commentary

An excellent article for understanding the election

I am glad I did not vote for either candidate in the presidential election as it gives me more latitude to comment on it.  My brother Allen (a Bernie Sanders fan) posted the link to this article on his Facebook page. It is one of the best articles I have read for understanding the election.   It does not hit everything, but it covers some of the main topics that are not usually addressed.  

Add to this article two additional dimensions and then I believe you will have a pretty complete picture of what fueled Trump’s victory.   One dimension relates to Obama’s and Clinton’s identification with and exacerbation of the culture wars.   This is what pushed the religious right into an uncomfortable corner. As a whole, I believe they did not like Trump but could not stomach a promised worsening of Obama’s cultural affronts under a second Clinton administration.   Secondly,  I believe one probably needs to factor in Democratic opposition to NRA positions.   I believe that stances in both of these issues would likely follow similar urban/rural geography to the election returns, strengthening the end result. 

https://hbr.org/2016/11/what-so-many-people-dont-get-about-the-u-s-working-class

 

 

 

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Journal News Commentary

Republican Debate Fiasco

presidential debate image

Another painful Republican debate

I watched most of the debate last night.  It was painful.  Trump’s divisiveness and berating of others reached an all time high.  He baited both Bush and Cruz into less than civil exchanges with him.  You can’t blame them; Trump was mean.   The whole liar or not liar interplay  became so much a part of the night’s dialogue that it overshadowed the issues they were supposed to be discussing.   That’s the way Trump likes it.  The only issue he has anything helpful and substantive to speak about is the issue of  businesses moving overseas and holding money overseas.

The moderators seemed to like the fireworks

John Kasich was prophetic when he spoke up with concern about the tone of the evening, warning that if the candidates kept on in their self-destructive ways, the Democrats would have an easy time in November.    John Kasich and Ben Carson tried their best to turn the debate into something positive.  But the moderators kept going back to Trump and Cruz, as if they wanted to keep the fight going.  Perhaps they were paid to promote fireworks?    No one has the courage to ask what is best for society.  They just go for more “clicks on their page” or viewers for their channel.

My Dislike for Trump and Cruz grows

Personally I cannot see how anyone can support Trump.  Character is the number one qualification for any job and he does not have enough of it to be President.    I also dislike Cruz more each time I hear him.   His “abolish the IRS’ idea is nonsense.  And his plan to undo everything his predecessor has done means he knows nothing of how leadership of a great organization works.   Those who want to progress build on what they are given, tweaking it as needed; they don’t start with wholesale destruction.

Kasich continues to be my favorite

I continue to like John Kasich.  Each debate he shows that he understands leadership.  He knows how to relate to a varied constituency and he is the type of person that can end the stalemate in Washington.   He is also the most compassionate toward immigrants and others who need a hand of some kind.   Yet he is very pro-life and has strong Christian values.    One of the most revealing questions was the one asked of Kasich about why some Democratic voters like him.  It was asked as if this were a crime against the party.   This insinuation shows how short-sighted the party has become.  What Kasich’s popularity among dis-enchanted Democrats means is that here is a candidate that will be able to appeal to many Americans and win in November.