Running with Losers

If you have to fake it at your blog, you might as well hang it up.  So - I won't.

Let's face it, conservatives and libertarians, Republicans and lovers of small government.  The Republican field sucks.  At best, it's mediocre plus.

Don't take my word for it.  Read what Bret Stephens of the Wall Street Journal has to say on the matter.

Let's just say right now what voters will be saying in November, once Barack Obama has been re-elected: Republicans deserve to lose.

It doesn't matter that Mr. Obama can't get the economy out of second gear. It doesn't matter that he cynically betrayed his core promise as a candidate to be a unifying president. It doesn't matter that he keeps blaming Bush. It doesn't matter that he thinks ATMs are weapons of employment destruction. It doesn't matter that Tim Geithner remains secretary of Treasury. It doesn't matter that the result of his "reset" with Russia is Moscow selling fighter jets to Damascus. It doesn't matter that the Obama name is synonymous with the most unpopular law in memory. It doesn't matter that his wife thinks America doesn't deserve him. It doesn't matter that the Evel Knievel theory of fiscal stimulus isn't going to make it over the Snake River Canyon of debt.

Above all, it doesn't matter that Americans are generally eager to send Mr. Obama packing. All they need is to be reasonably sure that the alternative won't be another fiasco. But they can't be reasonably sure, so it's going to be four more years of the disappointment you already know.

Why are we stuck with this collection?

There are the men not in the field: Mitch Daniels, Paul Ryan, Chris Christie, Jeb Bush, Haley Barbour. This was the GOP A-Team, the guys who should have showed up to the first debate but didn't because running for president is hard and the spouses were reluctant. Nothing commends them for it. If this election is as important as they all say it is, they had a duty to step up. Abraham Lincoln did not shy from the contest of 1860 because of Mary Todd. If Mr. Obama wins in November—or, rather, when he does—the failure will lie as heavily on their shoulders as it will with the nominee.

I agree with Stephens that it is unfortunate we have no politicians with a fierce will to fight, irrespective of the odds and the circumstances.  Yet, as someone who tires of people continually pointing the finger of blame elsewhere and anywhere except at oneself, I will add this.

Part of why these top notch Republicans are not running is because you'd almost have to be nuts to run.  The media focuses not so much on your views, your talents, your strengths and weaknesses for the job of leading the nation.  Instead, they focus on "critical points" like what kind of clashes you had with your ex-wife, or what tax rate you pay, or whether your family purchased hundreds of acres of land that had an offensive rock on it somewhere, or whether you have some religious beliefs worthy of mockery, and so forth and so on.  In part, the media doesn't do this because they are nastier than the rest of us.  They do this because this appears to be what the public wants to see and hear.

If we could pull our heads out of People Magazine politics for a few moments, and really listen to policy, and to judge candidates by their ability to lead, guide and motivate, then maybe we wouldn't be Running with Losers.  Perhaps our best and brightest would be willing to take on the rigors of a battle to be the candidate, and then a run at the presidency, if we afforded them the consideration that is due to someone who sacrifices their personal life for our good.

We've all heard the saying, "You get what you pay for."  Well, we've been paying for a Democratic president who is an eloquent speaker, a soother of our painful racial past, a very nice daddy - but not too much else positive.  And then we've been paying for every speck of dirt under every rock that can possibly be found for the Republican field.  Stephens - and I - are upset that not a one of them decided to take on this heavy mantle of responsibility.  Yet all I can say is, who can blame them?

 

 

 

Comments

[jammen]

Maybe Rudy can still hop into the race.