Posted on 10/10/2015 8:19:18 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
After my last two columns on Donald Trump, several people have written to ask what I think about some of the other Republican presidential candidates. So I thought I’d address that question this week. Hey, I’m nothing if not responsive to my readers.
Please excuse me if I don’t mention everyone. I’ve only got 500 words.
Ben Carson. No question, Dr. Carson is manifestly the smartest person in the race, on either side. His slogan should be, “It’s just politics, folks. Not brain surgery.” I don’t necessarily agree with him on every issue, but I believe he’s a man of solid character and sound moral judgment. America would be fortunate to have a person of his caliber in the Oval Office.
At the same time, I’m a little concerned that his soft-spoken nature and fundamental decency might (unfortunately) become liabilities in a long campaign against the likes of, say, Hillary Clinton, who is neither soft-spoken nor fundamentally decent. The fact that he has recently “punched back” at both Trump and the Mainstream Media gives me hope, though.
Ted Cruz. If Carson is the smartest person in the room, Cruz is the easily the second-smartest — and, more importantly, he has the highest political IQ. Those who call Cruz an “idiot” forget that he was a top student and national debate champion at Princeton. Or maybe they haven’t forgotten — they’re just afraid of him. That would explain why the MSM seems so intent on limiting his exposure.
To call someone a more experienced politician isn’t necessarily a compliment, but in this case I think Cruz’s policy experience is a real plus. Unlike Carson and Trump, Cruz actually has fully-formed positions on pretty much every issue — and for the most part, I agree with him.
Carly Fiorina. I think Fiorina is one tough, smart lady. Furthermore, I don’t think she’d mind being called a “lady,” which is a plus in my book. It’s hard for me to tell, sometimes, exactly where she stands on the issues, but I do think it would be fun to watch her demolish Hillary in a debate.
Marco Rubio. I’ve always liked Rubio. I think he’s genuinely a nice guy whose heart is in the right place. He just seems kind of squishy on the issues. Maybe that’s mostly due to his youth and inexperience: His ideas haven’t had time to fully form. And yet, those boyish looks and youthful enthusiasm could be real assets on the campaign trail. I see Rubio as an excellent potential running-mate for someone like Carson or Cruz.
Jeb Bush. I’m going to take Rev. Jackson’s advice and “stay out the Bushes.” I try not to be a single-issue voter, but certain issues are deal-breakers for me — one being Common Core. In my view, Common Core is such an abomination, such an attack on our children, that I can’t support anyone who advocates it.
Well they are non-starters and he only has 500 words
But I doubt it.
I don’t buy Carson being smarter than Cruz, Trump, or Fiorina.
Hey, it isn’t how well a dog dances, but that he dances at all. Here’s a media dude with whom I’m in complete agreement. Quelle surprise!
Does anyone really think Kasich, Pataki, Gilmore, Graham, Santorum, Christie, Huckabee or Paul is suddenly going to take off in the polls?
Except for Santorum, they are all Cheap Labor Express candidates running as blockers for ¡Yeb!
Of the ones mentioned in this piece, only Trump and Cruz are for keeping the rule of law.
The rest want to accomodate the illegal aliens and their employers.
He probably thinks that because he’s a brain surgeon. OTOH, several professors at Harvard Law School, including Alan Dershowitz said, “Cruz was off-the-charts brilliant.”
.
>> “I’m guessing he dismisses the rest as non-starters.” <<
.
He would be correct on that.
The trumpets are going to scream and go home to get more panties to throw on stage; they’ll be back in a while.
.
.
>> “I don’t buy Carson being smarter than Cruz, Trump, or Fiorina.” <<
.
He’s definitely not as sharp as Cruz, but who is?
As for Trump, smart has never been what he needed to succeed; its perseverance that counts in business, and he seems to have it.
Fiorina has shown us in her California senate race that she just doesn’t have it. HP stockholders seem to concur.
Just listen to them and you can see who’s got a lot on the ball. Business isn’t just about perseverance—where did you get that idea?
Smart doesn’t necessarily mean never failing.
.
>> “where did you get that idea?” <<
From running my own business for the last 25 years.
In business smart can even cause you to fail, but perseverance will cause you to keep on going against your “better” judgement, until it all smooths out.
I really don’t understand why Carson gets a pass on stuff that he does. E.g., Trump was a national fundraiser back in the ‘80s for Reagan and has been expressing largely, though not exclusively, conservative opinions of decades—but that’s somehow not good enough in the eyes of Establishment RINOs, at least.
Carson, on the other hand, never even registered as a Republican until the year he decided to run for president. And nobody questions that at all.
.
Agree somewhat.
And Carson panders to blacks too much.
Well, yeah, some lines of business, I suppose, are like that. Others require more brainpower. You don’t see a lot of stupid heads of tech and pharma companies, for example.
And I think you’re confusing character traits with intellect.
Yep—you’re correct on the pandering. Survivor guilt combined with wanting to be liked, I guess.
.
>> “You don’t see a lot of stupid heads of tech and pharma companies, for example.” <<
.
I’ve seen plenty of them. Staff carries them through usually.
LMAO....cant really say that with a straight face..can they??
If Mr Trump is so great why is he NOT insisting on IMPEACHMENTS NOW, RIGHT NOW~!!!!! vice pie,N.the,sky.bye.N.bye ?????
Dick.G: AMERICAN !
aka: Gunny G
Semper FIDELIS
*****
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.