Elizabeth Warren – 2016 – Stock Rising

The question has been asked and answered of the Junior Senator from Massachusetts, Democrat Elizabeth Warren – “Will you run for President in 2016?” All prior answers were no – except, the latest interview with the Huffington Post here, where she implies that there may be a run in her future. (Huffington Post)

As Hillary Clinton, the foregone conclusion as the front runner, begins to incur hostile media coverage (See: See CNN: “Hillary Clinton Downplays Controversy Around Bergdahls Release”), one begins to wonder if Clinton, will take the bait and run, knowing the probability that the progressive wing of the Democrat Party will likely push a Warren to the forefront, similar to what had occurred in 2008 (see PUMA).

Clinton on the one hand, has the experience in the Senate and is seasoned politically; however, she has liabilities associated with the Obama Administration, her personal story and the fact that she is a woman from a political dynasty. On the other hand, Warren, is “Obama light”, lacking experience, where any other time, that would be seen as an asset, with Obama’s falling poll numbers, and obvious errors in all facets of governing, the party association will hamper Warren. Both women will face the prejudice that one fears, won’t be overcome in the next several generations, they are women. Included in that summary is the premise that women are their own worst enemies, and as an example, look no further than 2008, when Clinton, the best of the three remaining candidates (McCain/Obama/Clinton), was cast aside in favor of a “better model”- for the most part by – women.

Although neither major party has anyone who has yet to announce, and speculation runs rampant as usual, the GOP has a real opportunity here, to sweep 3 – the House, the Senate and the White House, if, and only if they run the right candidate in 2016 – one that can compete with both the base and independents (and possibly a few Democrats – this does not mean their usual moderate, nor a fiercely right candidate. The meddling from both major party headquarters, if suspended for the next 3 years, would result in the best and one can be sure the worst of politics, but, it would be pure rather than sullied by those the pull the strings.

That said Warren is the one to watch as the most likely Democrat Party nominee.

Walking School buses – used in fighting childhood obesity – Taking 50 steps back to go forward again.

When one is of a certain age, one recalls walking to school, in all types of weather, regardless of the cold, rain, sleet or hail, it was a privilege to be able to learn, play and grow. This privilege extended and still extends to all students. Of course, one hears the stories regarding walking 8 miles backward up a hill, and 20 miles back to get back and forth to the schoolhouse across town – and so it was. Now, however, as our lives continue to grow increasingly sedentary, the children today have little in the way of exercise that is not “virtual”. They might play at recess, although most games are banned now due to the hazards of what once was considered childhood play. Few rush to practice sports, but the percentage of “jocks” continues to be miniscule compared to the rest of the student body.

What is a growingly poor, heavy, and left of center school systems to do? Enter the concept of walking to school! – CBS St. Louis reports on a Providence RI school system, which is one of many, that employs “walking school buses”. The concept is an adult, acts as a chaperone for children on a walking tour, complete with a bit of interventional mothering, to and from the home. The upshot, the children get exercise, and the attendance goes up.. Novel concept, is it not?

History is relative. Fifty years ago, children walked to and fro school, played at recess, played at sports after recess, played in the woods if living in the country, or played pickup on the sidewalks of the city. A generation of lean and happy little tykes who were the best and the brightest in the world. Much as occurred in the intervening years, and so, with an eye toward progressively blending all, and insuring that no student felt “left out” either academically or athletically, the homogenization of the entire nation began – and the effect, less knowledgeable and certainly less athletic. One must understand that by walking these students, the salary of one guide over the costs of a bus and drive should be taken into consideration. Also to consider is the benefit to those students fortunate enough to go back in time so to speak. The sad part is that now, with the real danger of city streets, or country streets for that matter, students and parents might hesitate to let their child go it alone. Of course, were the prison system similar to that long ago age referred to, this would not be an issue.

Where so much was wrong regarding the institutions of the eelier period (from juvenile detention facilities to the asylums where those with anger issues stemming from mental illness were isolated from the general society – another cause and effect story), but now, with the improvements that have been made to such a compassionate and knowledgeable progressive society, one might think those old institutions might be employed once again, careful not to infringe on the comforts of those whose stay might either benefit the individual or the society. Memory serves, and those students who may have acted out fifty years ago, refrained from doing so, in order to avoid the “goal”, and continue to play hard at recess and walk to and fro school.

Looks like a step in the right direction.

The Perfect Presidential Candidate (or any Federal, State or Local Candidate)

Is there truly a perfect candidate for any office, no matter how low or how high? No, in truth, there is not, and the reason has less to do with any given candidate than it does with the massive political parties, the money brokers, and the “fringe” groups who hold every candidate to the fire if they dare to step an inch towards getting something accomplished that doesn’t align with their belief structure.

The groups involved in the above, some considered mainstream, some considered fringe (although they should all be under on large umbrella), are the Progressive Left, the DNC, the RNC and those who adhere to the middle of the road, there is the Tea Party, and there are the religious (which covers several categories) – All of these unforgiving and holding to a set of principles that is neither right or wrong, yet somehow muddies the water consistently for very good candidates who may somehow not meet a small criteria.

As we move towards yet another contentious general election, one will find they will either have a candidate that is flawed according to the set of specifics, and neither vote, or perhaps vote in spite for the opposition. Then there are the pragmatists, who each election hopes against hope that they will have a candidate they can stand, rather than a candidate that is the lesser of two evils.

Categories that fall (or may fall) under an undesirable individual for whom to cast a vote (according to the fringe)

A Catholic A Mormon (see 2012 and millions of evangelicals) A woman (not, sadly, in my lifetime) A candidate, male or female, that has not given enough money or support to NARAL A candidate, male or female, that has given to and supports pro-life groups A candidate who votes against the particular dogma of the “group”, while in office, and that group pulls support, preferring to lose on overall ideology rather than gain on purity (Scott Brown – Tea Party).

Voter suppression, dead voting, bussing in “voters” from other states, and a myriad of other charges, both real and imagined, are often used as an excuse, or the fact that the candidate does not excite, or did something long buried in the past, that makes them – un-pure.

There are those groups with money or clout or both that will throw both at a particular candidate who suits their needs and future gains – unions, PAC’s, those that have the wherewithal – Koch brothers, Hollywood, aligned against, a candidate or candidates who may not be one hundred percent pure to the electorate, but who would, in anywise, be a better choice, than the conglomerate that the party hierarchies and the money that follows, make for them.

The solution to this entire schematic would be to score the candidate, not necessarily on purity, but perhaps on a scale of purity – 70% say, in order to finally bring some sensibility to the process.

The national parties may have their “chosen” one, (or perhaps two), and those are the individuals, who for whatever reason, are called to the vocation, yet, may side more often with the party, than with those who cast votes – it would be a miracle, indeed, if one were able to cast a vote for the individual who was also called to the vocation, but was a choice of the people.

Look carefully at these candidates, that are now standing before – not as Republican’s or as Democrats, or as Tea Party, Libertarian, Progressive, or pick a flavor, but as the individual who’s story is most compelling, who is wedded to a philosophy and who may have strayed from that philosophy either through growth or pragmatism. They might also wish to be in the good graces of the respective party, for one reason or the other, but overall, they may mostly align with one’s belief structure. One will not go to hell for voting for a Mormon, a Methodist, or Catholic, or what-have-you, their Church will never rule the nation. In a perfect world, that would be exactly how individuals would cast their votes, and it would, in this opinion produce far better results.