2015 Presidential Candidates

My thoughts on the candidates running for President.

Jeb Bush – Doesn't do “I'm pissed off” very well, screwed up by badmouthing Rubio, has an experience level that could do well in the White House, needs to cleanse himself of his brother's history and father's bad decision to quit the first gulf war before he'd conquered Iraq.

Ben Carson – A good candidate with a level view of the world. I like his thoughtfulness and seeming ability to look at different sides of the issues. Not terribly exciting, but that may just be the right thing to become a leader in the free world. His analogy of a rabid dog immediately became a comparison. He has an issue with saying things that don't match up with reality – a problem for someone who wants to be President. Doesn't think on his feet particularly well and like others relatively new to the public limelight, he's stumbled too many times to remain a viable candidate.

Chris Christie – A bit too full of himself, may have done a good enough job in New Jersey, but much of the nation views New Jersey as being the Jersey Turnpike only wider and far more corrupt. One of several public officials running for President while still in office - hedging his bets or working part-time in a job that requires full-time attention.

Hillary Clinton – Arrogant to a fault, has managed to become embroiled in scandal after scandal, including looting the White House furniture, Vince Foster's death, using unsecured e-mail as Secretary of State (she said it was too difficult to have two phones but then said she didn't have a computer in her office so nobody e-mailed her about a bomb going off in Libya), White Water, being under sniper fire, Rose Law billing records, and having the unique ability to avoid names like Abedin, Acheson, Alinsky, Flowers, Jones, Lewinsky, and Willey. Willing to pander to minorities and women for their votes, uses her faux smile to disarm some, but will probably be the Democratic candidate. This reverse carpet bagger has been a presidential candidate since she first used the royal 'we' when her husband was elected President. May be the first First Lady who shacked up with her husband prior to marriage.

Ted Cruz – Born in another country to an American woman and a Cuban man who were owners of an oil-related business, and thus not there on government business, but he has been declared eligible to be President. In the recent past, he gave up his Canadian citizenship. Too shrill and easily excited, and his uncompromising conservatism certainly would not help bridge the divide between the two major parties in Congress. One of several public officials running for President while still in office - hedging his bets or working part-time in a job that requires full-time attention.

Carly Fiorina – Her major claims to viability as a candidate are as an alternate choice for a female President and the ability to respond to Donald Trump. She apparently was a major player in driving Hewlett Packard into trouble. Her solid conservative opinions put her far to the right in a race where many others a clumped in with her. Her response to Trump was sharp, but sharp retorts have little place in the world of diplomacy and politics. By December, she is fading.

 Jim Gilmore – The former Virginia Governor is running a ghost campaign. Seemingly qualified in a number of areas, his moderate position on abortion clearly shows he is not willing to pander to the religious right to gain their votes. Unfortunately for him, and perhaps the nation, he is virtually ignored by the national press and has thus been unable to raise the amount of money necessary to run a national campaign.

Lindsey Graham – Former Congressman from South Carolina, Graham had a fairly solid record of conservative votes, but his thoughts on the unsustainability of the Tea Party, his condemnation of the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse, his support of green energy and his stated thoughts that the Republican party has drifted too far to the right, sort of make him more moderate than his fellow candidates. Alas, his ability to gain interest in the press and to raise campaign funds hinder him.

Mike Huckabee – An ordained Southern Baptist minister with 'aw, shucks' public persona makes Huckabee a favorite in some circles, particularly those centered around faith-based issues such as abortion and gay marriage, his record of providing tax relief in Arkansas, and his pipe dream of a flat-tax based on sales. Despite Arkansas' seemingly effective use of Common Core since 2010, their former Governor wants to do away with it and eliminate the Department of Education. One of his predecessors, Orville Faubus would no doubt have approved.

John Kasich – a one -shot pony, he continually harps on his role in deficit management during the Clinton administration and in his impact as the Governor of Ohio.

Martin O'Malley – Former Mayor of Baltimore and Governor of Maryland, likes to tout his gun control measures as cutting crime, but Baltimore is still “plagued with drugs and poverty and ranks in the top 15 U.S. cities for all violent crimes but forcible rape.”

George Pataki – is he still running?

Rand Paul – the cynic in me wonders if he should be called Ayn Rand Paul. Has a somewhat strange view of economics and the Federal Reserve. Supports "Plan B" morning-after contraception, but has said that he believes life begins at conception and is thus anti-abortion – can he have it both ways? Seems to pander to those who let others do their thinking by espousing popular but unworkable ideas. One of several public officials running for President while still in office - hedging his bets or working part-time in a job that requires full-time attention.

Marco Rubio – Seems to waiver on the abortion issue, says he believes in protecting life, but isn't a chauvinist. Espouses a sensible view on the national budget, waivers on gay marriage and civil rights, seems to speak out of both sides of his mouth on taxes, not exactly anti-drug, but would like you to think he is. Despite his claims, he is a somewhat moderate candidate and may well prove to be an intelligent choice to run against Hillery. One of several public officials running for President while still in office - hedging his bets or working part-time in a job that requires full-time attention.

Bernie Sanders – An Independent senator from Vermont who caucuses with the Democrats and is running for President as a Democrat (Guess that 'Independent” thing didn't work out too well outside the Green Mountain State) who identifies himself as a democratic socialist, has been in Congress for more than 20 years, as Senator since 2007. His record of being in Congress and voting was slightly less than the norm until October and early November of this year when he's missed a lot of work he's being paid to do. He apparently doesn't consider the office he has is as important as the one he wants. One of several public officials running for President while still in office - hedging his bets or working part-time in a job that requires full-time attention.

Rick Santorum – Is he still running for President? He's right up there with Estes Kefauver. A fiscal and social conservative, Santorum voted against banning affirmative action hiring with federal funds, against same-sex marriage, against prohibiting job discrimination by sexual orientation. Not a viable candidate except perhaps in his own mind.

Donald Trump – A man of the triumphant zingers who is trying to purchase the Presidency and he certainly has enough money to do that. Said he was always within the law those four five times he declared bankruptcy, but his ethics in playing the law to his advantage bring his integrity into question. The Tea Party conservatives like that he's said he'll deport all undocumented people, but then the Tea Party isn't known for being particularly thoughtful. The very idea of rounding up 11 or 12 million people from countries all over the earth and sending them back is mind-boggling, to say nothing of horrendously expensive, extraordinarily time-consuming, and virtually impossible.  Trump apparently sees the same rabid claptrap on Facebook that I see and panders to the ignoramuses who produce all those inaccurate memes.  Trump has now been married three times, an indication of his inability to think before jumping.  I, too, have been married three times, but then, I'm not trying to purchase the White House.