WHAT MAY HAPPEN TO JEB IN 2016

So now the big early star of the Republican party seems to be Jeb Bush. I happen to think that given the vocal and highly questionable figures currently in the party's national scene Bush seems to be a perfect choice. Jeb Bush is for the most part reserved and has an approachable manner that really draws people in. Over his eight year tenure as Florida Governor Bush was very effective and stood out as a powerful figure in what was a chaotic national scene. While it seemed like his brother would take the spotlight and eventually he would Jeb would slowly emerge as a figure of a different sort.

Bush was very strong as Governor and he made many improvements while in office. Bush may well find himself short in trying to answer for his role in leading his brother to office and the start of eight tumultuous years in the American national scene. The truth is that it takes one act to completely overshadow everything you did that was good and effective.

For all his approvals for higher education in the state of Florida, funding for libraries, and environmental projects Bush is still largely remembered as a key figure in the election of his brother. If Jeb Bush decides to run in 2016 the only factors that may work for him are a thoroughly ineffective second term for Obama and either Biden or a weaker democrat running against him. Outside of those two scenarios Bush would face a very hard climb up the ladder to the White House.

WHAT MAKES FOR A DIVIDE MAKES FOR A DEBATE

Now that the elections are over and we have chosen our leader there is an interesting discussion to be had. The numbers coming in on election night were so tight it was nearly impossible to tell who was going to win. At one point Romney held a comfortable lead in electoral votes but it was early enough to where Obama could still and would eventually pass him. The end result was a commanding electoral lead for Obama. Then there is the popular vote which for a long time was in Romney's side.

It is clearly understood that the popular vote does not determine the winner of the election. The popular vote does register a pulse in the American landscape and as of yesterday Obama only had a 1.7% lead over Romney. The interesting question now is what did America really want on election night? Truthfully their was no overwhelming winner and a lot of questions were raised.

Yes Obama won almost every state he won last time with the exception of two states that Romney recovered for the Republican party. If you study the margin of victory that Obama had in some of those states it was almost non existent and the difference was made by the size of counties voting. Traditionally democratic counties voted as such and gave Obama a greater boost to carry the states he carried. So once more when you look at the map it's fair to question if there was a clear and overwhelming winner according to what we want as a nation.

It's also fair to ask if we are being overly influenced by negative attack adds that seem to run almost non stop for a specific period of time. I would love to see how the election would turn out if instead candidates were left to expose their various points in televised town hall style meetings where they could in turn talk to the people. Yes the candidates do that already and they do state what they feel is wrong but in this case it would not be an add but rather an exposure in which they could establish a specific point and try to carry it consistently. I know that won't happen but it would be no less interesting. How did FDR campaign after all? The FDR fireside chats were like destination radio for depression era America.

America is divided but the truth is that if you take a sampling of people and question them about policy a good percentage will not know the difference between a Romney proposition or an Obama proposition. This is not a statement that chastises either as being overly liberal or conservative but rather exposes the fact that not many people can really recite a budget proposal or medical reform proposal. The truth is that the venom that comes out of people and what divides the country comes from misunderstanding, assumption and prejudice in some ways.

11/06/2012

Last night America spoke once more and it chose the leader of not only the US but also the free world. President Obama will move on for another four years and will attempt to make history beyond the history he has made thus far. This bit I am writing does not focus on President Obama, Mitt Romney, or any political affiliations. I want to focus on one specific symbol of what makes democracy a true wonder.

Last night as the results came in they were reflecting on  the Empire State building until Obama won and then the top of the building turned blue. That particular turn became an instant symbol of the perennial hope that America has for progress. I am not saying it was Hope because of Obama but the hope of a population coming together and believing in the principles of democracy that make this country the greatest bastion of progress.

People sit and criticize the US but we have the power to make that difference and it is a responsibility that we need to cherish in multiple respects. It was a great feeling to see the level of jubilation at the people's ability to chose the person they wanted wether or not that person was triumphant. It was great to once again see the greatness of democracy in action.

WHEN DID FREE PRESS BECOME FRANKENSTEIN?

It's funny how the face of G. Gordon Liddy reminds me of everything that seemed to ruin the US at a specific point in time. Liddy's bald head and his SUPER MARIO BROTHERS mustache makes me think that he in a way was part of the reason why the press went from being selective to being almost completely merciless and destructive. 

If you think back to the old days you learned about in the history classes you hated there is a distinctive difference between press from the 30's to "modern times press" from the late 60's forward. Politics was limited to whatever the press was allowed to publish and expose whatever the the White House allowed. 

So now we come back to Gordon our resident plumber. How exactly did everything go from being black and white to a kaleidoscope of color?  Watergate is really the best answer and with good reason. The White House really did have the power to repress information and to keep people in the dark about everything from our involvement in Vietnam to sanction covert operations aimed at destroying what we considered enemies. 

Watergate in many ways gave new power to "Freedom of the Press." I think that during that period freedom of the press was necessary in order to expose a serious issue with the US and its leader and show the people that everyone was liable when breaking the law. Now by contrast the press has become rapacious and is constantly looking for the next big stumble.  

Today the media has the real power and it's the media that controls who becomes our next leader. Every election no matter the position usually ends up in some bitter smear campaign that exposes every personal difficulty of aspiring leaders. Look at a 50's add stating "We Like Ike" and one now stating "Obama No Bama." The rhetoric has changed and the press and media no longer have a noble agenda but rather a selfish one based on special interest. Thank you Watergate for creating a special kind of monster that William Randolph Hearst would be proud of. 

Donald Trump SHUT THE FUCK UP

I used to like Donald Trump when I was a kid. For some reason his name on buildings was just cool and he was a definite pimp. I thought that his having attended NYMA was cool seeing as how my step father attended that school as well. I remember thinking that Trump Airlines was one of the coolest airlines operating in the late 80's and early 90's. I had the Trump board game as a kid  in 1989. So why do I hate his guts now?

I think it's a combination of his loud, brash and ridiculous demeanor and the fact that he will not stick to what he does best. I have to give Trump credit because like him or not he got himself out of a terrible financial crunch around 1992/1993. I will say he is a pretty admirable businessman who that took an existing fortune and turned it into a brand over a 35 year period. I still think that he needs to stick to that instead of trying to meddle in the country's affairs. 

Some people are born politicians but Trump is a born businessman/asshole/bully. Trump has no interest in the well being of others he only cares about his name being in the headlines. A day without any sort of press for this guy is like a day without oxygen. I am sure his big announcement is the whole birth certificate thing which is really just getting old. Give it up Trump, the White House will never be another resort or spa, Mar A Lago was more than enough.