Cogito Ergo Non Serviam

Uncommitted Ought to Win in Iowa

Today, the US presidential race enters a new phase with the Iowa Caucuses. While this journal is committed to government that works for the governed everywhere, it is difficult to back any candidate in this particular race. Never mind supporting any of them enthusiastically, one doesn't want to be associated with any of them either for ideological or personal reasons. If one were a voter in Iowa of a mind to caucus tonight, the only proper choice is to back uncommitted delegates in the hope that the shortcomings of at least one candidate vanish. It is likely a forlorn hope.

On the Republican side, no candidate supports the policies and shares the principles of this journal. However, there are some candidates who could be trusted not to entirely destroy the Republic with four years access to the Oval Office. Messrs. Trump and Cruz represent the most dangerous thread of American politics -- the smell of fascism grows more powerful on them with each passing day. Then there are those who may be up to the job some day such as Messrs. Rubio, Bush and Christie; these are men who are mismatched for this zeitgeist. Of them, Mr. Kasich is probably the most suited for the White House, but not this time around. Others have no business in the race because they lack experience in elective office: Mr. Trump, Ms. Fiorina and Dr. Carson.

On the Democratic side, there are three candidates who might manage to be an average president, but it's a bit early in the race to settle for average. Martin O'Malley's big flaw is his management of police statistics while Mayor Baltimore. Simply put, he cooked the books to show a fall in crime. This betrays a character that tends toward the Nixonian; making crime statistics decline is different from making crime decline.

Mr. Saunders is, quite simply, too damned old. At 74, one has genuine worries about his health and mental faculties. While he is in excellent condition now, who is to say what kind of shape he will be in two or three years from now. Mr. Reagan was vital, but his last couple of years in the White House were problematic because of his Alzheimer's. Voting for Mr. Sanders is voting for his vice-presidential running mate. While Mr. Sanders' policies are largely palatable, he has done a poor job of taking on the critics when it comes to costs, benefits and justice. It is unclear if he could get anything through Congress as a result.

Mrs. Clinton is represents the wrong direction for the Democratic Party. Given how she mismanaged the healthcare drive in 1993, how she voted as New York's Senator, and how she has acted as Secretary of State, one must wonder if the nation will go back to two right wing parties and triangulation in policy. Above all, she remains condemned by history for her vote in favor of George W. Bush's war in Iraq. Given all of her experience, all of her wisdom, all of her access to classified information, she still got it wrong. The single most important vote in her life was a mistake based on political calculation rather than principle. While it is important for America to elect a woman president, she must be the right person for the job. Mrs. Clinton is not.

So the only prudent move for a principled patriot tonight in Iowa is to support uncommitted delegates to the county, state, congressional district and national conventions. Perhaps, Mr. Kasich can find a way to prove he is ready for the White House between now and the convention in the summer, or perhaps Mr. Rubio can demonstrate something other than callowness on the campaign trail. Perhaps, Mrs. Clinton can find a way to undo the mistakes of the past, Mr. Sanders to prove age is not a factor or Mr. O'Malley can show his character to be better than it appears.

Or there is an outside chance that someone who is qualified and ideologically sound could decide to enter the race. Quite who that is, one cannot say.

It seems America has gone back to presidential races that consist of voting against someone, holding one's nose and pulling the lever for someone who is less awful than the other guy. One wants to blame the system, but in truth, the fault lies with the voters. Until they demand better, they will not get better.

© Copyright 2016 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Ubuntu Linux.



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