Trump & The Big Tent

CBS NEWS.COM

It is disappointing that the politics in our nation has reached such a low level that Donald Trump is now moderating his own Republican Debate scheduled for December 27.  In conjunction with NewsMax, The Donald will be host and moderator of this event.  Thankfully, Ron Paul and Jon Huntsman dismissed it out of hand.  Mitt Romney indicated that he could not attend due to scheduling commitments.  In other words, thanks but no thanks.

Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum have both said yes.  If Herman Cain was still in the race, he would most certainly be in attendance. It seems clear that this is one more attempt on Trump’s part to stay relevant in his public’s eye.  No more than his less than-serious, all-about-me approach to his brand.  Why any candidate would want to participate in what surely will be The Donald Trump Show is beyond me.  No question Trump knows what he’s doing but I question what is going on in the Republican Party.  I can’t imagine a serious candidate saying yes to such a circus. 

I really believe the Republicans are shooting themselves in the foot with “silliness”.  You do have some candidates who are serious about wanting to lead this nation.  It’s hard to take them serious when they are contending with candidates who are just in it for their 15 minutes of fame and the fortune that will follow.  Then you have had the likes of Sarah Palin and Michelle Bachman who have done such a disservice to serious, well-educated and informed women everywhere.

If this circus continues, there won’t be a serious debate between the two parties for the Presidency.  Our nation continues to face significant challenges.   These challenges require serious people.  Even in disagreement and partisan politics, serious people understand the basic issues and are well-informed of a whole range of solutions.  These fringe events and candidates bring little substance to the table and seriously harm the ones who really want to make a difference.  Donald Trump is just one more Flim-Flam Man who is serious about building his brand but in the process he harms the brand of the Republican Party.

It is shameful when you think of the millions of Americans without work; the hundreds of thousands of families who have lost their homes; the millions without health care.  What about all our service men and women overseas in combat zones.  What are these fine folks to think when they see all our political leaders under the “Big Tent” rather than in serious debate and discussion over the issues that remain unresolved?     

Goodbye Herman Cain

Like others before him, Herman Cain bowed out today or in his words, “suspended” his campaign for the Republican nomination for President.   Not sure I have ever heard a candidate use the word,” suspend”, when he was informing his supporters that he was quitting the race.  Suspend isn’t quite as concrete as dropping out or quitting.  It’s clear that he is quitting but he used the word suspended.  If it was someone just a little more political I would think they chose that word very carefully.  With Herman Cain, one can’t be sure.

Clearly, the folks out to get Herman got Herman.  Who those folks are, we’ll never know.  I suspect he will blame it on the leftist media types who obviously wanted to submarine his campaign.  Like Donald Trump, he would have been a gift for Barack Obama and the Democrats.  Why is it that candidates always seem to blame the press for their own personal failing.  I guess the appropriate thing for the media to do when they find out a story and report it like they did in Cain’s case, is wait for the candidate to give his side of the story and go with that every time. 

Evidently, for Herman Cain, it should have been enough for him to just say that he didn’t do any of those things.  That is of course unless he chooses to stay in the spotlight.  He did say that he plans to speak out and make his opinions known.  Should that be the case, the press will continue to follow the story of his alleged marital infidelity and boorish behavior of sexually harassing women.  Herman may just want to lay low for the time being.  However, my guess is that he will propel his brand much like Sarah Palin did hers and Donald Trump did his.  It’s the newest path to fame and riches.

Herman’s speaking price will increase now by at least another 25,000 grand just based on his brief run for the Presidency.  Look at Palin and it’s obvious that the money is there for the taking.  Herman can be another Sarah and Donald.  I know that puts forth a cynical view but seriously, did anyone really believe that Sarah Palin, Donald Trump or Herman Cain could end up as our nation’s Chief Executive.  I really don’t think so.  The mere thought of anyone of them sends shivers down my left-leaning back. 

They have made good television and great fun for the political talking heads to weigh in on.  It’s a shame that our nation gives such credibility to these folks who are ill-equipped, uninformed and generally without any serious moral compass.  That’s not a judgment, it’s the reality of these individuals who are pretenders and choose not to the hard work of learning about our nation, its laws, our neighbors and our relationship with them. 

That’s why I take seriously the candidacy of Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul and Jon Huntsman.  You may not agree with their politics or their conservative base but each one of them has served this nation in one fashion or another.  They deserve to be listened to.  To be heard.  At least they are serious about serving our nation and not in it for self-serving purposes.  Good bye Herman.  It’s been fun…999 and all.