Guest post: Toward a less rancorous political future
Ron May
Note from Dan: Ron May is a regular on this board who lives in northern Indiana. He penned this and sent it to me back in September. My apologies, Ron, for letting it slip through the cracks until now.
By Ron May
For many years our country has been living too high on the hog as we sometimes say in Indiana. Leaders of both political parties have, in my view, failed us in this regard.
Another phrase I heard often in my childhood, the chickens have come home to roost, applies now to our situation. How have our current political leaders responded to this critical situation?
Primarily by throwing fire bombs at one another filled with half-truths at best and no truth at worst. It reminds me of rope pushing contests in junior high school, except nobody got hurt during those.
Despite what you might think, I’m not going to suggest that one side or the other is proposing the right path. Frankly, I think both are taking us in the wrong direction.
It is my belief that both sides need to declare a truce. Next I believe each side needs to acknowledge that our country is confronting several very serious challenges. Each side needs to commit to treating one another with dignity and respect.
Next, both sides need to acknowledge that there are good ideas for moving forward being proposed by each side. The next step is to stop the bomb throwing and begin a serious discussion, with details; about the potential for success those good ideas from both sides may have to solve the challenges we confront right now.
Should, by some miracle, both sides actually do what I suggest above between now and November 6, it is my belief that then and only then will the American people be more likely to fully accept the outcome of the election.
Then our political leaders will have to show us that they have the will power to actually do what is needed to solve our problems and move our country forward. Only by doing so can those political leaders have any hope that the American people might have some confidence in their leadership and credibility.
Those are just a few thoughts from an ordinary citizen.
October 26, 2012 - 6:00 AM
Thank you for your endorsement of Governor Romney, Ron. Mitt has a history of working in a bipartisan manner with a liberal legislature in Massachusetts, and has repeatedly promised to do so as president. Romney is relatively moderate, also. Exactly of the same political philosophy you frequently claim to be. Unfortunately, President 0bama refused to cross the aisle and give in on his massive destructive spending spree, as per the budget deal.
On a personal level, I am sure we can expect you from now on to stop posting divisive links intended to cause discord within the blog such as your hideous attack on Ann Coulter last night in the name of “What I am thankful for”.
If Romney wins, I am sure many on the right will be all too happy to “bury the hatchet” and let things calm down. Good luck with that.
Prediction: The phrase “bury the hatchet” will be a key one in my Sunday column.
hey female libs,
I bet obama came up with the idea for that new video ad “my first time” …or at least some guy did. Why do female libs go along with stuff like that?
“…good ideas for moving forward being proposed by each side.” FUNNY!
Ann Coulter is a bitter middle aged shrew. At least Michelle Malkin had the guts to call her out on her ignorance.
I guess in some alternate dimensions, “working together” includes issuing more than 800 vetoes, 700 of which are overturned.
Mitt did so well working with others in Massachusetts that he didn’t even dare try for a second term, and the voters there who know him best favor Obama by double-digits.
Lest, I’m condemned for my remark. Ms. Coulter is not a politician, she is a purveyor of hate.
“Mitt did so well working with others in Massachusetts that he didn’t even dare try for a second term, and the voters there who know him best favor Obama by double-digits.”
–Comment by Dan Radmacher
Let’s take this a few steps further, under the theory that native states (where a candidate was born) and adopted states (where a candidate was first elected, in a statewide election) are the ones that know a politician best.
As yardstick we will use Nate Silver’s predictions of a presidential candidate’s success, something he nailed in the 2008 presidential election:
Hawaii (Obama’s birth state): 100 percent chance of Obama win.
Illinois (Obama’s adopted state): 100 percent chance of an Obama win.
Michigan (Romney’s birth state): 2.2 percent chance of a Romney win.
Massachusetts (Romney’s adopted state): 0 percent chance of a Romney win.
Gee, it looks like the states that know Obama best like him the most. And the states that know Romney best like him the least.
Why do y’all think that could be?
Dan
Burying the hatchet could bge an interesting topic. It may e important whose skull you bury it in!
No doubt his Presidency would be the duplicate of his “success” in Massachusetts. That is why he is still so popular there.
Nice try, Dano.
Let’s look at the states you mention a little more closely. If we do, we can see that (gasp) each one tends to lean heavily towards the Democratic candidate in presidential elections:
Hawaii: voted Democrat in 8 of the last 10 elections going back to 1972, will be 9 of 11 if Obama wins there in November
Illinois: if Obama wins, as expected, that will be 6 elections in a row the Democratic nominee has won
Massachusetts: same as Hawaii, 8 of the past 10 elections have voted Democrat, will be 9 of 11 if Obama wins this state
Michigan: same as Illinois, should Obama prevail here that will be 6 elections in a row Michigan has voted Democrat.
So – is it these states don’t like Romney, or is it that these states are heavily blue in the first place? Seems the data suggests the latter.
@12 – Matt, you will just confuse them with rational and intelligent thinking. They are on a roll right now.
hey, Matt and Walker,
you guys are just setting yourselves up to be completely ignored, because you make good sense. Or, you guys will be set upon and vilified by all the pantiwaist libs for…, well, making good sense.
Good for you guys!
hey ron,
what’s your opinion about that ad obama’s running, something called “my first time”?
are you REALLY a “moderate” republican?
I bet obama came up with the idea for that new video ad “my first time” …or at least some guy did. Why do female libs go along with stuff like that?
Frank,
That is a pathetically insulting ad, totally demeaning to women. It implies it’s hip to be a slut, and it demonstrates the side that disrespects women are DEMOCRATS. What a horrible example to the young women who hear the ad. Leftwing family ‘values’.
Gee, it looks like the states that know Obama best like him the most.
Who is Kenya supporting? One thing for certain, his abandoned brother who lives in a hut and makes $12/year won’t be voting for Barack. Imagine not lifting a finger to help your own brother! More leftwing familly values.
Ron,
well said…
hey Suzie, THAT’s EXACTLY WHY the libs LOVE it, and oBUMa runs with it.
What say you, dans’? Either dano, or, dan r? Orrr, both of yeas?
hey sandi,
what do YOU think about oBUMa’s “my first time” ad, mentioned above to the dans’?
Its good that I was get everyone to agree today!
.
hey Ron,
Your intentions seem good, but I’m not sure that your heart was all the way in it. Nevertheless, it IS good to pause and reflect from time to time.
Then I came across that obama ad called, “my first time”, and I just lost it, you know?
“Then I came across that obama ad called, “my first time”, and I just lost it, you know?”
Frank “just lost it” because he is losing his memory, and apparently his mind. He has forgotten all about 32 years ago, when St. Ronny Reagan was running for presidents, seeking to drum up blue-collar votes, and how Reagan put it:
“On Thursday night, at a working class bar in Bayonne, N.J., Reagan said, “I know what it’s like to pull the Republican lever for the first time, because I used to be a Democrat myself, and I can tell you it only hurts for a minute and then it feels just great.”
Frank, I saw the ad tonight and I loved it. My first time was for Jimmy Carter and I still remember the feeling. He is living proof that all your right wing drivel about family values, decency, honor, integrity and service are just words with no meaning. His presidency taught me to hate the right wing and you keep it fired up.
So it was some kind of “miracle” that Romney won the governor’s seat? I tend to agree.
“My first time was for Jimmy Carter and I still remember the feeling.”
LOL.
My first time was with Gerald Ford. It would have been a better experience had he been able to chew gum and you-know-what at the same time.
He was clumsy, but he seemed like a genuinely good and decent man.
Yo, Frank. Hurry up and get the damn gravatar.
Sandi, if you haven’t read this memoir by bob Schieffer, you should. It’s a good book. It’s been years since I read it, but I believe that as far as personalities go, Ford was his favorite president. He said he was a genuinely nice guy. Nixon was his least favorite, because he was extremely paranoid.
http://www.amazon.com/This-Just-In-Couldnt-ebook/dp/B002SAUCEY/ref=dp_kinw_strp_1
Frank, you cannot lose what you never had.