Who Has The Capability To Lead? - And Response (2)

  • Monday, August 17, 2020

With so many Democrats going postal over the latest issue they are raising, Americans should really be asking this question: who has the capability to lead this nation?

Dr. Jill Biden said, “Joe is a moderate and always has been a moderate.“ (FOX News, The Daily Briefing, Aug. 4, 2020). Did she forget Joe himself said he would be the most progressive president in history? (Newsweek, Feb. 16, 2020). So which is he?

The whole Democrat primary process has gone downhill since Iowa. Consider the rise and fall of Michael Bloomberg (fortunately it wasn’t very far), the laughable campaign of Liz Warren, the Marxist delusions of Bernie and the unpopular campaigns of so many others which led to Joe Biden becoming the nominee by default.

Joe has had very disturbing moments in interviews since the quarantine. His strange appearance on the View was one. If you haven’t watched it, it’s online. Watch it and imagine him negotiating with world leaders. Then there was his over the top response when questioned about having a cognitive test. Voters should be very concerned about his clarity after watching these appearances.

Somebody must have been concerned as a crazy story popped up about Trump barricading himself in the White House if he lost. The guy credited with saving Biden’s sinking candidacy, Rep. Jim Clyburn, was pushing it. Then reporters, taking the cue, picked it up with the same zeal as they did with the Russia collusion scam.

When Joe announced his choice for a running mate, the friendly media, fawning over Senator Harris, called her the perfect choice. But they would have said that no matter who he chose. And how much of those millions raised following the announcement were being held just for the dramatic effect?

Tonight begins the final chapter in this charade. If you watch this week, count how many times President Trump’s name is stated. That will tell you that this election, for the progressives, isn’t about the post office or the virus, Joe Biden, securing our cities or getting Americans safely back to work. It’s about their hatred and fear of Donald Trump. It’s always been that.

To be a successful leader, one must have confidence, be able to make logical decisions, have strong communication skills and the clarity and stamina to carry out presidential duties, including actively being on the campaign trail itself. Can we say with certainty that Joe Biden exemplifies any of these characteristics? And have the Democrats done anything since Iowa to instill confidence in their ability to lead and provide what our nation needs in these challenging times?

Ralph Miller

* * * 

I have read the previous Monday opinion pieces presented by Mr. Exum and Mr. Miller and would like to comment on them. I have so much to say that it is hard to get the words together to express what I truly want to express. I agree with 99 percent of their comments but I consider myself an independent voter because I see good qualities in both political parties and so I am not one sided.

With Mr. Exum's article promoting a opinion circulating on Facebook and Twitter I see many of my own beliefs stated. Maybe I lean more toward those comments concerning our constitutional rights than others. But, for instance the Facebook author believes in the electoral college which actually means the states with the highest populations receive the most electoral votes to win the election. Even though Donald Trump lost the popular vote by 2.95 million votes he was selected as president. Now if smaller states with less populations than say California or New York vote overwhelmingly to select a candidate then they lose. No other political forums such as local politicians or U.S. Senate choices and U.S. House of Representatives are selected this way, it is by who receives the most votes, the peoples choice.

And so the Facebook author says he doesn't give blanket approval for everything our president says or does he will still vote for him. I liked Ronald Reagan, did he have faults? Yes, as all of us do and at times he could be humorous with clean funny stories and at or most of the times he was forceful and to the point as in "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall". But, when Reagan was funny he did it in a distinguished way without flailing his arms to mock a handicapped person, nor did he call his opponents childish names and make fun of them. He didn't make it all about himself and could do no wrong, with Trump it's everyone else's fault.

To be the most powerful man representing the most powerful country on earth then he is an embarrassment. He never tells the truth and it is always about him and how great he is. Have his face put on Mt. Rushmore, please get real, he in no ways is in the ballpark with those individuals.

And to complete this opinion of the Facebook article, is this the Democratic party of the past, no, but neither is this the Republican party of the past. And if you think all of the riots in Portland, Chicago, Seattle and other places is Democrats then you are exceptionally wrong, these people belong to no party. And to Mr. Miller, does a leader need to have the qualities to make logical decisions, stamina to be on the campaign trail, communication skills and stamina. So you think Trump does, no previous political skills, every president has divulged their tax records, has been sued many times for illicit business dealings and private financial dealings to suppress past indiscretions and you know he used to fund the Clintons and even invited them to one of his weddings.

He is only three years younger than Joe Biden and Biden has tried to prove that the COVID-19 is real and a threat to our country by promoting social distancing and mask wearing. At least Joe won't disband his Coronavirus team and pretend everything is okay with 1,000 deaths a day and it the last two weeks 100,000 children have been diagnosed with COVID-19. This is just my opinion.

Clifton W. Duggan

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Mr. Duggan,

You are entirely correct when you say "No other political forums such as local politicians or U.S. Senate choices and U.S. House of Representatives are selected this way, it is by who receives the most votes, the peoples choice." However, what you are not accounting for is that the United States of America is just that - a consortium of 50 states. The office of President and Vice-President are the only positions chosen on a national basis, not a state or local basis. 

 The Framers of the Constitution addressed this long ago when they were writing the Constitution. The farming states, primarily, those south of Maryland had no extremely large cities like the Northeast so they were not about to sign to a national popular vote which would be determined by Boston, New York, Philadelphia and the crowded Northeast. In the same vein, the Northeast was unwilling to grant one vote to each state because that would have decreased their voting power.  The compromise was the Electoral College which still does favor those states with a higher population, but not by as much as a straight popular vote. 

 Another key thing to remember about the USA, we are not like Germany, France or other  countries. Our country was formed by the many states, not by a central government organization.  Yes, at times the popular vote will favor a candidate that will lose in the Electoral College, but not often. If I remember correctly, it has happened six times in 231 years. It is also important to remember is that the 2.95 million votes in favor of Clinton were mostly in the state of California and most of them were in the coastal cities from San Francisco to San Diego. Do you really think it is fair for those four cities to determine the course of the entire country? I don't and I am sure many others don't either. That is exactly what the Electoral College was suppose to address. 

 Presidential elections have been conducted in this manner since the very first election of 1788-1789. It is public knowledge of what is necessary to win the Presidency of the United States.  If it needs to be changed then maybe some group or another should start the Constitutional process to change it, however, do not be surprised if it does not get changed. I am not sure that there is an overwhelming number of people in the country who would like it changed.

Rich Hanspire

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