J. D. Pendry

J. D Pendry

“A sick society must think much about politics, as a sick man must think much about his digestion.” – C. S. Lewis

I should be watching the football game, but this probably won’t take me very long. I will be back in the recliner, which is near the fireplace that is making its contribution to global warming and in front of the wide screen LCD high definition television with digital surround sound in my comfortable family room lit by halogen tracked lighting somewhere about mid way through the second quarter. In the meantime, I thought I would summarize for you how I see the never ending political campaign for the Presidency of the United States of America and the professional politicians seeking the job.

We have a rock star, or so described by a fawning media. John Fitzgerald Kennedy is reincarnated I’m told. For at least the past 8 years, it has been a recurring theme that our serving President would be much better if he was a better communicator, in other words if he could make a better speech. Well, the media ordained rock star makes a great speech - one that is delivered with different accents depending on the audience present. The message? Change? Hope? Change to what? Hope for what? Much style, little substance. Give any actor in Hollywood a good script and he or she will deliver the same moving performance. Is that enough to qualify one to lead the free world?

We have one who is trying hard to show he’s the calm Statesman instead of the angry old man he has allowed to show through at times in the past. He is a war veteran who has sacrificed much for our country and would likely keep the focus on our national security and on our war against the Islamic Fascists. That is important to me, but… He is giving himself credit for the surge strategy that is succeeding in Iraq. He was critical of the Secretary of Defense and insisted that we needed more Soldiers on the ground in Iraq, but I don’t think I can concede credit to him for an on the ground strategy that is a bit more involved than just increasing the number of troops. He is also against tax cuts. He co-authored the illegal immigrant amnesty bill and the campaign finance reform bill that restricts our right to free speech.

We have one populist that insists that he is going to save the country by taking on corporate greed as it is the root of all of our problems. He is going to punish them when he gets to Pennsylvania Avenue. I always find this amusing. Economics 101 teaches us that free markets grow and flourish because individuals seek wealth. They seek wealth by creating things that others need or desire and then selling it to them. Look around the room you are sitting in. Choose any product in the room. How many people have jobs because someone – seeking wealth - had the idea to provide that product for you? Everyone involved from providing raw materials to manufacturing, marketing, transporting and selling that one product gained some measure of wealth. It is wealth that also runs our nation in the form of tax revenues. Now if you are wealthy and have become so by suing others for money you did not earn, then all of that is probably foreign to you.

We have an accomplished, wealthy businessman and former Governor. He is not breaking through even though he appears to have all of the right positions. Some of those positions are relatively new for him however, and they are important ones like abortion. He comes across as too well crafted for most I am afraid. That causes people, deserved or not, to question his genuineness and that could be his downfall. Maybe we are not ready for someone who appears to have all of the right answers. He speaks well, looks good, appears smart and has a solid family life. Whether that will carry him or not, who knows?

We have one that that has lived in the Whitehouse already. She is being upstaged by the so-called JFK reincarnation. She is a socialist and doesn’t camouflage it very well. She has promised more entitlements than all of your tax dollars could ever afford, but that is the least of her problems. With a personality that often comes across as screeching and angry, she is hard to like. That, along with the potential first-dude is a problem for her. Unless something devastating surfaces about her opponents, which would not be out of character for her campaign, she is done. So look for eye-gouging to begin shortly.

We have a Baptist Preacher. I like Baptist Preachers, being a Baptist myself. Being a good Christian is not in and of itself enough to qualify one to be the proprietor of the Whitehouse. One of the worst Presidents in history rode his evangelical credentials into the Oval Office. He was a Southern Baptist too. This one is personable, likable and makes a great speech. I never met a Preacher that could not talk well. He has some questions to answer about his history of raising taxes as a Governor, pardoning a record number of criminals and some of his positions on illegal immigrants. Interesting how the best speech makers are the top contenders isn’t it?

We have an ex-mayor who leads us to believe that he would relentlessly pursue the terrorists. He has a record of reducing taxes and crime and demonstrated leadership in dealing with a manmade catastrophe. Unfortunately, he also supports gun control, abortion, same sex civil unions and has some potential moral issues of his own.

We have an actor with a supposed conservative record, but who can also put you to sleep with one look. He is done I am afraid.

We had a couple of good ones that never broke through.

We also have a UFO watcher, an isolationist and a few sprayed on hair-dos that we need to be able to thank for their comedic contributions and send home. And, there is the looming billionaire mayor who is considering an attempted purchase of the Whitehouse.

Concerned? Me? Whatever gave you that idea? We are in great shape. Well, it is the third quarter. After the game, I’ll be in the back yard working on the bunker. I have to get satellite TV in there.

Copyright © J D Pendry 2008 All Rights Reserved

This entry was posted on Sunday, January 6th, 2008 at 9:20 pm and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.