Alas – the first big political bash has passed. The next
few weeks will be filled with back patting and bragging and
a lot of false advertising.
Please
don’t get too excited. We still have until November
of 2012 to discover who really winds up on top; the people’s
choice or at least the one with the most Electoral College
votes. Our presidential election process gets worse every
election. With a year and two months until the final votes
are cast,
we already have an announced winner.
Michele
Bachmann won the Iowa straw vote – so what? The
Iowa vote, one of many, was a tallying of votes cast by a very
small representation of citizens. They put on their Sunday-go-to-meeting
clothes, pay $30 and meet in a parlor somewhere. I’m
not sure just who pays the $30.
Congratulations to Mrs. Bachmann for being first in an election
that has no value whatsoever. Want proof? While she was bragging
her heart out, Mitt Romney, said to be leading the polls, did
not even show up. Add to that another Texan with a familiar
swagger strutted up to a TV crew and announced he would be
running, what a surprise.
The
list of GOP hopefuls keeps growing; it’s difficult
to be certain, though, of who is actually running and who just
wants to appear on their local TV station. If it takes this
many gatherings to decide whom the GOP will support, that explains
why they have to start so early. And then there is Sarah – and
what is she trying to suggest? She shows up in her fancy bus
whenever there is a TV crew on hand but when interviewed states, “I
haven’t decided if I will enter the presidential
race.”
It
would be of interest to know just who is financing all of
Palin’s nationwide jaunts. Perhaps I will
have to put her on the list with Jesse Jackson and
the Reverend
Al
Sharpton.
I always wonder who pays their way.
The
next straw vote, a term defined as, “The act of throwing
a handful of straw in the air to see which way the wind is
blowing,” will take place in Simi Valley,
Calif. on Sept. 11.
This
caucus will be hosted by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.
The original date for this
caucus was May
of 2011 but there were not enough candidates “officially” running
to debate at that time.
Two more straw polls are set for 2011 and about six will occur
in the first months of 2012. All of this activity far in advance
of the Republican National Convention expected to take place
the week of Aug. 27, 2012.
At
last count, I believe there were 15 declared candidates,
five prospective ones, 22 prospective
persons of
interest who declined and one who already
dropped out of the
race for the
GOP top spot. So doing the math, the total
speculated, and then reconsidered, candidates’ equals
19 at this early date. I guess with the number
of possible
candidates
expected
to run for president reaching as high as
50, I can understand
why it takes so long to find one that may
be acceptable.
As I see it, it is my sincere hope all the early poll posturing
does not interfere with the regularly broadcast news programs
and sporting events I would prefer to watch on TV.
I was happy to make an exception, however, when Warren Buffett
appeared and explained how he would increase taxes and reduce
spending; too bad he is not a candidate.
I
believe any billionaire who has suggestions about running
our country needs to be
heard. I don’t
believe the smartest people run for
political office so we can
perhaps
learn from
success.