I agree our primary process is broken. Not sure you will agree with my reasons for thinking so. But I think we, the American voter discourage folks w/ flaws to enter into the race. By flaws I mean, say you had an affair in 1985. You and your spouse worked thru it and stayed married. Or say you didn’t work thru it and got a divorce. Could you withstand the scrutiny? Would you want to put your family thru opening up their entire personal history to appease the MSM and the American public? What DOES the public have a right to know?
I do think character matters. It’s very important to me. But I also think people can learn from their mistakes and move on to become ‘better’ and more responsible. That is why I CAN support Newt. He does have the courage to run, even with all his flaws...many do not have the courage or do not have the stomach. Or maybe it’s just about protecting your family.
And here’s where I risk the ZOT. I do not like the idea of one man ‘buying’ a politician. This does concern me, even w/ Newt’s supporter. If someone gives you a million dollars...what do they expect in return? I’m not comfortable with how these ‘support’ committees operate. We don’t always know who gives and how much. I don’t have an answer...and I know it’s currently legal. I’m just a bit bothered that so much money is going into these campaigns by a few rich dudes. Does the person who gives $500,000 have the same access as the person who sends $50?
I’m not accusing anyone...as I said, it’s currently legal and I’m glad that Newt’s been given a life line to continue his campaign. But between the money and the MSM digging into all aspects of a person life and with some voters expecting perfection...who do we get to run? Romney with the perfect hair? :::sigh:::
I think you’re spot on, but naive. All forms of government, all of them, are honestly plutarchies at their core. Never has a system of government existed that wasn’t controlled on some level by the rich and powerful. Our system minimizes that influence more than many others, but no system will ever be perfect.
For the record, of all the candidates remaining, Newt is my favorite. I just don't see it happening this year for Newt Gingrich though. His problems aren't his affairs or his marriages. Newt's problems are that outside of the conservative base, people just don't like him. Romney has the same problem. People just don't like him --except Romney loses the conservative base as well (though he picks up some moderates). He's garnered support because despite the fact that people just don't like him, many looked at him as the only guy with the money and campaign infrastructure to beat Obama. Now we have Santorum and while he's definitely not as "unlikable" as Gingrich or Romney, he just doesn't inspire people to get out and vote. Look at the post South Carolina turnout! Dismal!
I predict at this point that Obama squeaks by to re-election in possibly the lowest voter turnout in history.
If it is any consolation, my election predictions turned out to be dead wrong in 2008. Little over four years ago I was certain that Giuliani and Clinton would be neck-and-neck to the finish line. And when Obama got the nod, I was absolutely certain that this country would never vote a guy named "Hussein" to be President. Heck, half a year ago I was absolutely certain Rick Perry would steamroll his way though the primaries and be so far ahead in the polls right now that Democrat leaders would be begging Obama to pull an LBJ and let someone else run.
So, yeah, I've been wrong a lot lately.