Letter 2 America for July 25, 2016

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Dear America,

The differences between the Republicans and the Democrats are clear, but the choices for vice-president manifest the differences between the presidential candidates as both people and as politicians.  Donald Trump chose Governor Mike Pence of Indiana.  Pence is an evangelical positivist who believes that he knows what God thinks and wants, and because he has such faith in his afflatus, he also believes that he has the right to shove it down the throats of all Americans...freedom of religion be damned.  But despite his ardor on the subject of morality, despite his political ambition and eagerness--I suspect that he views this nomination as a gateway into the national political pantheon and hence to the White House in eight years--he looked more like a lapdog than a vice president throughout the Republican convention.  He was so obviously Trump's sycophant, supplicant and minion that it was embarrassing to watch, even for someone like me who dislikes Pence for his unctuous piety so intensely.  I felt humiliated for him, albeit he seemed to be right where he wanted to be.  Then there was the announcement by Hillary Clinton of her running mate, Senator Tim Kaine, and what thunder Trump and his children were able to create was rendered moot.

I must admit that I have some doubt about Mr. Kaine's progressive credentials.  I don't know much about him yet, but apparently he favored the TPP--the trans-pacific trade pact that President Obama favors, but that has become an albatross around the neck of anyone who endorses it now--and deregulation of the banks, which as everyone now knows need more regulation, not less.  But overall, he is progressive with regard to social policy and circumspect relative to foreign policy.  He shares the now common commitment to avoiding the Bush era "nation building" tendency to look for wars to fight in the name of values that we cherish, but that are not universally accepted.  As to American exceptionalism, that notion doesn't seem to have tainted his thinking about the position of the United States in international affairs the way it has the likes of Newt Gingrich and the other Tea Party favorites.  But even with a few chinks in his liberal armor, he still makes Mike Pence look downright pathetic.

Kaine gave his speech after being selected by Clinton in both Spanish...fluent Spanish...and English.  And while the trademark of both Pence and Trump is the ad hominem attack, Kaine stayed away from personal criticism of opposition candidates in favor of statements on, and contrasts between, the policies and preferences of the two primary camps in this election: liberals and conservatives.  And since there seems to be no place for anyone to stand in the middle this time, this election will turn on which pole attracts the most independents, and that means that the  arguments that are acceptable to the majority of independents will prevail as long as they are cogently made and are made in an appealing fashion.   And if for no other reason than that, Kaine's energy and intellect will contrast with Pence's claim that God is on his side, and will likely be the edge by which Hillary Clinton wins in November.  Kaine single-handedly stole the Republicans' ostensible thunder, which was manufactured by putting the well dressed and attractive scions of a boorish pontificator on a pedestal in an attempt to dilute the impact of the odious crassness of the man who gave them life.  Donald Trump, while managing to arouse the crowd with his own self-exaltation, demonstrated that he isn't made of presidential timber, and his utter lack of substance was like a banner waving above his head as he made his conclusory statements about what he will do as president without ever saying how other than with his now patented phrase, "believe me," as if anyone with all his wits would do so.

So here's where we stand.  On the Democratic ticket there are two intelligent politicians with experience in government, and thus, a knowledge of how governance works.  On the Republican ticket we have a blatherskite and a religious true-believer, neither of whom has any sense of what needs to be done in this country, and certainly no conception of how difficult it is going to be, whether you believe Donald Trump or not.  The election is in the hands of those Americans who are not bound to party or philosophy, and my bet is that they can tell the difference between amateur demagogues and thinkers.  The real question for them to ask themselves isn't whether they are more liberal or conservative.  The real question is, will they elect competence and reason over blind faith and conceit.  In other words, we, America, will decide in November whether we believe in Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny or real human beings.

As I always say, on election day, the American people always get what they deserve.  Let's hope that the majority of us choose reality over myth, and that we deserve something better than the wishful thinking of the playground bully and his side kick.

Your friend,

Mike

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This page contains a single entry by Michael Wolf published on July 25, 2016 11:31 AM.

Letter 2 America for July 14, 2016 was the previous entry in this blog.

Letter 2 America for August 10, 2016 is the next entry in this blog.

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About this Entry

This page contains a single entry by Michael Wolf published on July 25, 2016 11:31 AM.

Letter 2 America for July 14, 2016 was the previous entry in this blog.

Letter 2 America for August 10, 2016 is the next entry in this blog.

Find recent content on the main index or look in the archives to find all content.

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