I believe a deal has been made with Senator Marco Rubio and Jeb Bush before the South Carolina Debate in which they wouldn’t attack each other for an added benefit. The candidate that did worse in South Carolina Republican Primary would leave the race and endorse the other candidate publicly or privately. There was also a side deal where Jeb would take on the Donald and Marco would take on Ted. Conspiracy or true you decide?
It’s not as dramatic as these pictures but for my creative side it just might be. For until November 2nd I will probably just look to keep what I have and not try some new bold venture until this election cycle occurs. With the stock market in a bear mood, the world on cliffs it only adds to the anxiety I have as Bernie/Hillary are the probably Democratic nominees for President. In the upcoming months I will plan on making some bold decisions depending on where the electoral outcome falls, right or left. I will also take time to enjoy the small things in my life a bit more then I’ve done in the past just in case they maybe more difficult to enjoy in the future. I’m not conceding anything just planning and waiting.
The focus of this blog introspective will be on Ted Cruz and his strengths and weaknesses he brings to the Republican Presidential competition. Ted Cruz appears to have just the right parts (money, support, grown game) to stay in this race to the bitter end and even get the nomination but is he your best choice? I will again start with the positive and then the negative so you can get the full view. I again warmly request your comments as well.
POSITIVE
1. CONSISTENT CONSERVATIVE- Ted Cruz has a Conservative record in his policy decisions that has been shown for many years. There are always a few minuses that his competitors will bring up but they are much less then most.
2. STAND ALONE- Senator Cruz isn’t afraid to stand alone on an issue that he believes in no matter what the personal consequences might be.
3. ORGANIZATION- The Senator has produced an excellent grass roots campaign that appears to be unmatched by his competitors in the race.
4. DETERMINED SUPPORTERS-Ted Cruz strong actions have produced loyal followers throughout the country that will be with him throughout the electoral process.
5. INTELLIGENT- Even his strongest critics can’t argue with his brilliance.
6. WHITE HOUSE EXPERIENCE- Senator Cruz has actually worked in the White House in a policy role.
NEGATIVE
1.GRANDSTANDING- Many of his actions (closing down government) had a poor chance of being successful with this administration and only benefited his own political aspirations.
2. STAND ALONE- His stances against those in power may make it difficult to find allies in the legislative branch to pass his agenda.
3. LOOK- He has the appearance of a used car salesman and his performance on stage appears to theatrical.
4. DETERMINED DETRACTORS- Ted Cruz has some of the most virulent critics who will stop at almost nothing from having him enter 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
5. EXTREME LABEL- Senator Cruz wears it with pride but it could bring out those on the fence to vote against him.
I’ve decided to do an introspective of each candidate running for the Presidency in the format of good, bad & maybe even ugly (see below). Donald Trump is the front runner so I believe that’s a good place to start. I’ll start out with the positive because I believe it’s important to see the good before you look toward the bad. I hope this introspective will help the voters in South Carolina and the other primary states look at the big picture as everything is thrown out them. Please feel free to add your own comments as well.
GOOD
1. OUTSIDER- He has not worked in the system and therefore might have a unique perspective to it.
2. INDEPENDENT- Donald is self financing his campaign so he doesn’t own anybody anything plus he has enough wealth to not worry about what he would be doing after the Presidency. Therefore he could truly do the work of the people or (supposed to be positive)
3. GREAT NEGOTIATOR/BUSINESSMAN- As he says better then me (but not in his exact words) he has the ability and knowledge to know when to make a deal and when to walk away from one whether it be on trade or foreign policy.
4. POLITICAL INCORRECT- Mr. Trump is not afraid to say what many have been thinking but were afraid would cost too much if they opened their mouth.
5. TOUGH- Donald Trump is ready and willing to say “you’re fired” to any government bureaucrat that won’t perform their duties.
6. COMMITTED LOYAL FOLLOWERS- His followers appear to support him no matter what “political error” he might commit and will come out in a blizzard to vote for him.
NEGATIVE
1.OUTSIDER – Mr. Trump has no real experience working in government and all the angles and people it truly takes to build legislation momentum there. It is if a restaurant owner decided to build a skyscraper.
2. PLATITUDE- Donald speaks of big policy changes without the real specifics of how it would be done. How could he pass legal constitution muster to ban on all Muslim’s from entering the U.S isn’t that an obvious violation of our 1st Amendment?
3. EGO – A President must be confident not only in himself but more importantly his country. How could he deal with legislative and/or judicial defeat of his actions? Would he respect the constitution and let the 3 branches have their power or would he usurp one or more if he didn’t get his way?
4. CONSERVATIVE-Play tapes of Donald Trump c. 5 years ago and he will appear to be as liberal as Hillary Clinton supporting Abortion, Obamacare, and even Hillary Clinton. How can we trust that he’s had such a change of heart that stays passed the election cycle?
5. TOUGH- Can Donald Trump truly dial it down when time calls for it or would he push the buttons of conflict way to soon?
6. COMMITTED DETRACTORS- There is a large group that strongly opposes the Donald and will vote through a hurricane for a rock over him no matter what good policy decisions he might come up with.
I wish I could shield my children from all the emotional pain that they will go through in life but maybe with these tips (below) the pain will not penetrate their soul. For there will be individuals who will betray you, loved ones that will leave you to soon, failures and times of loneliness yet if you hold on to these words you will get through them.
(1) REASON- The hurt you feel today will help you in ways you never foresaw in the future. The truth is you might never fully understand it but there will be pieces spread over you’re life and after life that will fill in this puzzle.
(2) DETERMINATION – Never let what others do to you or what is done to you stop you from being the person you want to become. Even if you can’t join the major league you can help others with your skills to go father.
(3) TIME LESSON – The pain may never fully go away but it will lesson over-time and just like fertilizer flowers will grow out of it.
(4) OWN IT- Don’t hide your pain it will only get worse but let it out and motivate you to become a better stronger person.
Congratulations to Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump on their unconventional wins in the New Hampshire Primary which proves the appeal of the “Non Politician” in politics. Yet make no mistake these “Non Politicians” are playing a very smart political game that includes the following pieces (below). If someone doesn’t catch on to this game they soon will have checkmate for both their party nominations.
PROMISE THE WORLD- Worry about the specifications (costs, separation of powers, constitution) later. SOLUTION- Opponents bring up specifications without attacking “Non Politicians” and how those specifications hurt the people.
FIGHT FOR PEOPLE AGAINST- Make sure that the public knows that you’re fighting for them against some people evil power that has been controlling their life’s. SOLUTION – Show how they are still part of the “corrupt force” that they are going against without getting personal”. This can be done with a complement in advance
DON’T APOLOGIZE- Never back down from a statement no matter the ground swell. You can rephrase as you go along but don’t back down. SOLUTION- Go back to the original statement and offer a positive alternative.
Last night was a tough night for any Marco Rubio fan but today the sun is shining and with a few tweaks (below) I can still Pennsylvania Avenue though it might farther away then the night before. Sometimes a good loss can help you make the changes you need better then a bad win. G-D willing this is the case.
CHANGE THE NARRATIVE- It’s time to hit as many airwaves as possible with a new bold proposal on a human issue such as drug abuse, mental health treatment, inner city blight etc.. Where-ever possible ad a quick personal story.
GET AHEAD OF A STORY- Make sure a senior staff follows all major and minor news outlets stories on you and has an immediate positive response that counters the argument and again changes the narrative.
ATTACK WITHOUT NAMES- Speak about how difficult it would be for you to decide to build a skyscraper when you don’t know how to read blue prints? How hard it’s to lead a group of people when you’ve never sat near them?
PERSONAL RESUME- Don’t Christie people but tell about your accomplishments in the Florida Senate with interesting tid bits about how bills that you were involved in happen to change life’s for the better. Tell more personal stories about growing up and the struggles that occurred along the way not to make you appear better then the rest but understand better then others in the race.
PROFESSIONAL GRASSROOTS- Spend more monies on the grassroots looking into tel-marketing firms to handle calls, outside sales people to lead door knocking, and exciting unique (but not expensive) promotional give-ways to volunteers who achieve certain goals.
BE POSITIVE BUT REALISTIC- Say when things go wrong before anyone else does but see that as a way to get better and stronger.
Chris Christie is the Republican Killer not literally but politically. From his hugs and kisses of President Obama just before the election to his destruction of the New Hampshire Primary, Chris Christie needs to go home … now! His insidious and continuous attack on Marco Rubio only helped Donald Trump who will have the most difficult time defeating the Democratic nominee of any other candidates. While John Kasiach might come in 2nd in New Hampshire it is quite unlikely that he will have the resources financially or through other means to continue the fight much longer. That leaves Jeb Bush and Ted Cruz to continue the fight but they have many wounds already. Chris Christie your prosecuting ways have hurt the party … again.
The trip took me over 4 1/2 hours of solitary drive time in horrible snow conditions but I’d do it again in a heartbeat. For the people of New Hampshire couldn’t be more friendly and you could talk about politics without fear of someone’s head blowing up. I personally met many of the top contenders for the G.O.P Presidential Race ( Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz shown above) with a different look then you get from watching it on the boob tube. Yes I know the pictures are sideways but I told you it was a unique look. I met these men with depth rather then the caricatures the news media portrays and their incredible volunteers/staff that come around the country and even world to take a pivotal role in getting them this far. If you haven’t got involved in Presidential Politics it’s not too late and there probably won’t be snow coming this way as South Carolina is the next tour on this exciting trip in the Presidential race.
I believe Marco Rubio can win the New Hampshire Primary but he needs to change the narrative quickly. The media especially Fox News has put him in a box for one miscue during the debate and he needs to break out of that box with something bold. If he held a press conference or went on various local media outlets as well as Fox News to announce an important policy that would tilt this playing well. I would suggest that this policy would deal with issues such as helping parents, friends, and family get drug and mental health treatment for those that have been unwilling to seek such needed help. Here is how it would work (see below). Yet other policy issues might work just as well as long as they deal with what the people of New Hampshire are battling on a regular basis and it shows the leadership that Marco Rubio brings to such issues.
(1) The Federal Government would disburse monies from DEA to local and state authorities to initiate plans from the ground up so that intervention (forced if necessary) can be made to stop loved ones from hurting themselves or others with illegal drugs and/or untreated mental illness.
(2) These plans would have to meet certain basic criteria before funding to take into account the rights of the individual needing treatment as well as those trying to help.
(3) State and Local Plans would be evaluated and if they were not meeting specific targets funding would be eliminated until changes were made.