You post is a hopeful sign — that smarter candidates are more likely to win. I would like that.
My concern is that smartness may be irrelevant in a Dem candidate. A Dem candidate can be more idiotic than anyone on the conservative side and they win anyway. If the R party runs smarter candidates, the Dem media will tell the voting public the R candidate is an idiot. I heard after the election from the Dem media that Romney lost because of his “gaffes”. The guy made a defensible comment about “47% of voters” and the Dem media simply used it as their campaign tool. If the R party doesn’t address the information system through which the voters’ opinions are shaped, the R party can run the smartest candidates in the country and still won’t win elections. Stated another way, a single ambiguous comment is all it takes for the Dem media to destroy an R candidate. A steady stream of appalling and offensive comments from a Dem candidate has no effect on the Dem’s candidacy. That is why I am concerned that Rove’s organization is taking on a battle that won’t produce wins. The need for smarter candidates isn’t as great as the need to communicate with voters although I also accept that the most appealing candidate may differ in type from state to state—relatively more conservative in some states than in others. That is just my opinion—thanks for reading and posting. I appreciate everyones’ contributing of points of view and enjoy reading them.
As for your comment regarding the country being on the verge of a serious breakdown, I must sadly agree. At this point, we will have to stop further damage, identify ways to repair the damage, educate and communicate about how to repair the damage, then actually repair the damage. That is a big task and it can’t begin until the American people personally experience the damage and resolve that it needs to be repaired. That first step is yet to be taken.
Romney lost for many reasons. Not just one singular gaffe. I will list my opinions listed in order of importance.
1. He did not enunciate the message clearly. Just being for tax cuts and against tax increases is not enough. The candidate needs to explain why it is so in clear and simple language which even the low information voter can digest.
2. He never went for the jugular. Obama did, from the moment Romney was nominated. Romney should have learned from Newt how to deliver a punch which lands.
3. He avoided appearing on fair & balanced Fox News, which he should have done 2 dozen times after nomination.
4. Mormon religion was a problem for religious bigots.
5. He should have never said the 47% will never vote for him. Not as stupid as saying Rape does not result in pregnancy, but equally damaging. People can record and will record anything you say with today’s technology.
By smart candidates I do not infer high college grades. I am talking about political smarts. If one is lacking in that, election loss will result.
I really think most Americans are blissfully ignorant of how bad shape the financial situation is. Most do not understand compounding interest. When budget deficits are lined up as far as the eye can see, NONE OF THE PRINCIPLE is being paid back. Worse than that, we are borrowing money just to pay the interest on national debt. Any private corporation or individual would be considered legally bankrupt with the current national balance sheet.