Winter Thoughts on a Crowded GOP Field

Cabin Fever – when one longs to take a walk, anywhere, without seeing 10 foot snow drifts! As one wrestles with t he flight or stay and fight the snow – thoughts turn to spring, and well, with that comes more of 2016. Announcement pending early to late spring s to who is serious about running for the GOP nomination.

One would understand that the GOP is rather crowded now, with those who have hinted but not yet announced, while the Democrat side of the equation has three or four at best, with one crowned early as the foregone conclusion –in other words, nothing could be more boring on that side. On the GOP side however, there is an added advantage to a crowded field, that being an exchange of ideas, as well as a winnowing of those who might not withstand the rigors of a good competition.

Therefore, when one ears oh, the field is a mess, it is too crowded, and they are in disarray – that translates into a better primary with lots of choices for those who would prefer to have choices.

Paul, Rubio, Walker, Bush, Perry, to name a half handful, all diverse and all bringing something to the table, which makes for a lively 2016 contest. Personally, I’d rather the crowded field to a foregone conclusion. The one who weathers best, makes the most sense should be better suited to taking on a campaign against those who are not prepared. Not prepared by being pre-selected, and pre-vetted by their own, rather than by the public.

Makes life more interesting.

History as Entertainment – the Worth – The Sons of Liberty

The History Channel’s “ the Son’s of Liberty” May have played fast and loose with some facts, made a few up here and there, but overall, gave the viewer the understanding that a long war was fought by those that despised taxes and injustice, and forged a nation out of, what amounted to, a band of odd fellows, most privileged, and all English.

Sponsored by Sam Adams brewing company , the mini-series may have done the job that most teachers or, rather today’s curriculum have failed - make history entertaining, to offer those with zero background a glimpse into what happened in the distant past, and how this nation came into being.

Impossible, at any wise, in a short 3 to 4 hours of fill, yet, there will always be those critics of anything history, who will point out inaccuracies and condemn without considering the value. That value would be to make history enjoyable for those who would not have given it a second thought, and perhaps, just perhaps, inspire one or two at the least to do a little more digging into the past. History is no longer taught, and if so, with a political mindset, also playing fast and loose with facts in order to mold an opinion. Historians have for eons cast their own point of view on events – without the actual documents or 8x10 color glossies, one might cast doubt, regardless of the pedigree of the author.

State if the Union – Nothing New - GOP Rebuttal – the “New Republican Congress” Joni Delivers

Watching the State of the Union, via C-Span, CBS and Fox (different camera angles), one got the impression the man who would campaign no more, was campaigning nonetheless. The reference to working with Congress were weighed with threats to veto Bill that had not yet materialized, plans to take from the “rich” and give to everyone else, and taking credit for an oil and gas price that had nothing to do with the Government at all, sums up the President’s speech.

The redeeming feature of the evening was one Joni Ernst who gave the rebuttal. Politico gives an overview of points, and speaks a bit about who Earnst is and where she fits in the GOP. (Politico) However, watching one saw a woman who was practiced at the delivery, yet somehow came across as sincere. The catchphrase – “New Republican Congress” was akin to a rallying cry to those conservatives and independents that were looking for some movement in the body that could write all the legislation is cared to but nothing would have gotten past the former Majority Leader, Harry Reid’s desk.

Paraphrasing – “We are here to work for you, you elected us, we hear you”…it was a refreshing change from promises never kept, and costs not disclosed. Watching Joni, one has to understand she is a soldier, a mother, a wife, and now a Senator, from humble beginnings, and she states that more clearly than anyone seen in a long while. In other words, Senator Earnst is not so much a politician but one of us.

Joni and her likeminded “New Republican Congress” may well serve the nation better than any previous. It remains to be seen, however, from bored to interested, that’s the way the evening went.