Unbased First Published on 10/14/2015
A young lady, fifteen years old asked me a question the other evening. “Would you vote for Donald Trump?’ I answered “no” so fast it shook me. My knee jerk reaction to her question demanded a more sensible answer.
I spoke for a while about a man I felt had little or no knowledge about problems facing most Americans. He seemed to have little or no knowledge of foreign affairs and no inclination to be bothered with learning about them. He had great success making business deals with his own money, but I didn’t trust him to spend my money with same care.
Mr. Trump obviously has a big ego and a big mouth. He may look tough against other candidates, but if he tried same tone with Xi Jinping of China or even bigger ego, Vladimir Putin of Russia, he’d be greatly endangering all Americans rather than just his own small enclave of one percenters. I don’t mind fighting for something just and right, but I don’t want to be dragged into Mr. Trump’s ego squabbles.
Donald Trump currently leads political polls over all other Republican candidates. His lack of political insider credentials is an apparent asset shared by retired neurosurgeon, Ben Carson and former Hewlett Packard Chief Executive Officer, Carly Fiorina. I like both those alternatives.
Dr. Carson is certifiably smart enough to learn what he needs to know about foreign and domestic affairs. His rise from poor black roots to the intellectual and professional top of American society has prepared him to form and recognize solutions to many of our current social problems. He has not proven he is a manager/leader.
Ms. Fiorina’s experience lies more in management. No question current President is a smart man, but his leadership and management skills are poor to totally lacking. Carly not only has intellect to grasp problems, analyze them and propose sensible solutions, but also the management experience to see those solutions applied efficiently. Of the three Political Outsiders, I’d pick her.
Marco Rubio, top Washington politician candidate is a smart Freshman United States Senator from Florida who had a little state politics exposure before he ran for Senate and was elected. A good fiery speaker who says the right things at the right times. There’s no proof his mouth doesn’t write checks his butt can’t cash, just like Barack Obama. Same experience and same attributes. I wouldn’t vote for Rubio.
Jeb Bush, a successful Governor of Florida, third member of the Bush Family to run for President. I think he’d make a good one, better than his brother, George W. Jeb has his own management experience to lean on plus he’s been exposed to the sort of leadership tests he’d face through association with family members who have been there and done that.
Mr. Bush has seen and solved most social problems America faces today. He has strong, yet debatable positions on education, immigration, financial management and foreign affairs. I’ve seen no indication he’s so set that he can’t or won’t listen to reasonable alternatives. We need a President who can “pull the trigger” on targets he has selected with care and forethought.
John Kasich, Governor of Ohio, has great experience in both Washington and Ohio politics. A good solid man from all descriptions, maybe more middle of the political road than other Republican candidates. I just don’t know him. Don’t have a feel for which way he’d jump on any issue, foreign or domestic. Not much controversy around him so not much definitive news in my sources. I’ll wait a while on him.
Since I got burned on both Rick Perry and Scott Walker bowing out of the fight early, I’m not prepared to talk about other Republican candidates I now consider long shots.
Jim Webb of Virginia is only Democrat candidate I’d consider voting for. Too bad he has no money and no chance against Gimme-Queen Hillary and her frazzled fist shaking cohorts, Bernie Sanders and undeclared Elizabeth Warren.
