Random thoughts on things political

Reminder: Some of the comments below are links to stories being commented upon. I urge you to read the links for background to my commentary.

This is sort of a follow-up to the my previous post … a continuation of my thoughts there.

I spent much of the day reading news reports of what passes for political reportage today on the various comments of spokesmen for the sundry political campaign, as well as participating in a feedback discussion over my previous post.

The thrust of most of it is that a) the political process is broken and b) nobody’s vote or voice counts. My response to that is barley corn! Of if you prefer, bovine scatology. What people are angry about is that their view is not prevailing and they think it should. Understandable, but the wrong attitude.

Donald Trump’s campaign manager says that since his candidate has the most votes so far, that he is the nominee presumptive … nominee presumptive, what in the blue blazes it that? You mean just because he has a PLURALITY over the popular vote cast in GOP primaries (a whopping 37 percent) then all the other candidates should give up and go home? What about that democratic principle that it takes a majority vote at the very end to be declared the victor? I guess that doesn’t apply to Mr. Trump, because he is such a wonderful businessman, celebrity and candidate. The guy really must be channeling Joseph Goebbels.

Damn, man it don’t work that way. And when the convention rolls around, and if Trump does have 50 percent plus 1 of the popular vote, then he might have a case, but not now, so stop whining. (But if he achieves that he might have a shot at the delegates)

In this interview, the chairman of the Republic National Committee points out that the party, per se, is not taking sides but does take umbrage at candidates, or their minions, threatening delegates. To me, the threats mean the candidate and/or his staff and supporters realize they have lost the fight and are planning to call in the storm troops.

Secondly, in both the Republican and Democratic parties, the conventions always have been about delegates, not the number of ballots in local primaries. The process of delegate selection always has favored those who get their grassroots supporters to the district, county and state conventions, which is something the Trump campaign has done an absolutely awful job at doing and Cruz’s campaign has been performing miracles. You may not like it. You may think it is unfair. BUT that is where the battle is fought … not in some helicopter battlefield where you drop in for one day and then helicopter out again. (The US did that in Vietnam and it didn’t work out very well) Cruz and his supporters figured this out and have planned their battle accordingly.

It actually says a lot about primary ballots. They really are just straw polls and beauty contests that allow people to salve their consciences by saying “I voted” and think that that was all the process our participatory form of a democratic republic asks of us. Granted, most of the primaries require that the delegates vote a certain way on round one at the convention, and that is an obligation that no one disputes. The problem comes if that round one is not decisive, what are these delegates to do on round two? If none of them can change their vote, then the balloting will just go on and on.

No, the delegates are free to vote their own wills, and that is what has the outsiders upset. Because, if the county, district and state meetings don’t elect delegates that are dye-in-the-wool supporters of the candidate they are pledged to vote for in the first round, then … oopsie … they might vote for another candidate. This is where Cruz is winning the battle, and Trump and his supporters are coming unglued. Trumpians think that they have got the first round ballot of the delegates sewn up because of their plurality lead in the popular vote and that is all it takes. Wrong answer.

If Trump doesn’t win a majority (remember, in a democracy it is majority rules) on the first ballot then his failure to follow up and ensure that those who vote for him are voting for him out of conviction and not just obligation will reach up and bite him big time. Nobody will be cheating. The system will be working as it is designed to work.

This is an interesting commentary that discusses whether it is all rigged or not. It is not, but then if you lose, then it makes a good excuse for saying you lost.

You see, the biggest problem we Americans have is that we are an impatient and lazy lot. Now, that is not really all that bad. It has made us the most productive country in the world because we always are looking for faster and easier ways to do things so we can kick back and enjoy ourselves. But it does ignore that if you really want to do something, it usually takes a lot of effort and investment in money and hard work. That sure doesn’t sound like fun, does it? We have better things to do.

But I would have to say to those who say the two big parties have rigged the system to favor incumbents and the party establishment: You are right … and if you were an incumbent or a party leader you probably would do exactly the same thing because it makes it easier for you to keep your perks. Not saying I like it, but that is how life is … as unfair as it seems.

Now, that means you have a number of choices: 1) you can accept the status quo, 2) quit and join another party (that probably will be just as rigged), or 3) work your butt off in the business of retail politics. That means investing a lot of time, usually a bundle of money and a whole lot of effort going door-to-door selling your platform, getting people excited enough about it to get off their duffs and help spread the word.  Dang, that last option doesn’t sound like a lot of fun. I will let you in a little secret – it ain’t. It is hard work that takes a whole lot of dedication and a willingness to lose a few battles, but the courage to get back up and get back in the fight.

Now, you can start a whole new party (and even greater challenge) or you try to go ahead and battle the establishment, which will be a challenge, but it can be done. You just have to be willing to take your knocks and lumps and keep on hitting the line until you have convinced enough of your fellow followers that you are right and the old guard is wrong. Then have them put you in the old guard’s place. Is it easy? Is simple? Can it be done overnight or even just a few years? Nope … but then how committed are you?

Being involved in your own governance is not some thing you do when the mood strikes you … not in a democratic republic. It takes constant attention and I know with all the distractions we have today, that really is a big bother.

The old cliche that Liberty and Freedom require eternal vigilance has never been more true.

Now, for conservatives, here is a excellent commentary about how we (yes, I consider myself a conservative) should reassess about how we complain and maybe the problem is more with ourselves and our view than the system.

Remember folks, it all starts with us as individuals … and yes, your vote counts … when it has to count and that is when we are electing people to office … all that happens before that means little, especially if you haven’t jumped in with both feet.

Now, if you agree with what I have said, I encourage you … ok …. beg, plead, cajole, inveigle and any other word you can think of … to share these thoughts with as many people as you can. No, you don’t have to use my words, but some similar would be great.