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Politics and Toast - III

We are looking at the next 2016 Presidential candidates to jump into the political toaster - or waiting on line. In this, Chapter III, of politics and toast, we note the toaster is busy, or will be busy soon. 

In the recent GOP debate, we saw on the early show, only New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie made an impact.  former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee was in there but on the margin.  Former Pennsylvania Senator from  Rick Santorum and Governor of Louisiana Bobby Jindal were disappointing.

Two orders of toast coming up.

Three candidates, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham and former New York Gov. Former Governor of New York George Pataki, and Former Governor of Virginia Jim Gilmore  were eliminated from the debates altogether.  They are toast-men walking.  Though Graham markets himself as a super-hawk, there are few listeners.  Americans don't want another heavy war.  A sanitized war, airplanes only, is would be fine.  Difficult it is to understand why the other two remain in it.  Maybe in the works are future book deals? Ambassadorships? Cabinet appointments?  But to rise in the polls and in the minds of voters is problematic for each.

All three should be toast.

On the A-team led prime-time event, most held their own.  Ohio Gov. John Kasich, my personal favorite, seemed to whine too much.  Though most competent, he may have trouble understanding why his credentials have not caught on.  But what he says he means.   Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul hangs on to his slim and growing slimmer camp followers, former Governor of Florida Jeb Bush abides in his money, and former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina hopes to deliver another great punch-line.   Neither may move up upon last night's debate.

Retired neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson, as usual, was charming and intelligent.  Businessman Donald Trump was Trump but a bit more subdued. What happened Donald?  Among the next two entries, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio had some excellent lines.  I am convinced more-and-more he prepares most carefully, and has rehearsed many of those lines*.  This preparation, combined with a quick tongue serves him very well.  Texas Sen. Ted Cruz is downright intelligent.  (Secretly, I don't care for him that much.)  However, neither of these first term senators should be the next president.  Inexperience with command and legislative process leads me to believe either would have difficulty leading a super-power like the USA.  Either might hole up in their office living on executive decisions while making great speeches about achievement and prosperity, while ridiculing their enemies - both flummoxed by the the incomprehensible gravity of the Presidential burden.

Among the top four,  all are avoiding the toaster.  But who will emerge?  What was once clear (to me) is no longer.   In sum over all... And then there were nine (little Candidates).
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On the other side, former Secretary Hillary Clinton marches on.  Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is good for a side show, his program never appealing to more than a quarter of democrats.  O'Malley is in it for show, possibly supported by others just to hang in there for the apparent respectability of competition.

* Not to compare the two, but Winston Churchill also prepared speeches diligently and rehearsed his lines carefully.  

Previous posts:
http://used-ideas.blogspot.com/2015/09/toast-in-politics.html
http://used-ideas.blogspot.com/2015/09/politics-and-toast-ii.html

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