Source: Ted Cruz on Donald Trump tweets: Who cares
All of the tabloid like headlines surrounding the battle for the Republican nomination gives a different perspective on the sanctity of the eventual office itself.
We can name numerous action movies based on the premise of protecting or rescuing the President from some terrorist or existential threat. As the drama typically unfolds, armies of people are tasked with sacrificing their very lives if need be, to protect the safety of the President. A literal army of people, the finest in protection armament, the cutting edge of electronic gadgetry; all are at the disposal of the Secret Service to save the President from harm. Invariably, Morgan Freeman directs the rescue mission as if the fate of the world rests with the salvation of a politician.
And no doubt this depiction in cinema is reflective of the protocols observed in real life. This appears to make sense because the officeholder is the presumptive symbol of freedom for the entire world, not just the United States. But does it really?
Historically, leaders of nations were militarily adept and well suited to advance the fortunes of their empire. From Genghis Khan to Julius Caesar, the empire depended on their leader’s health to preserve the integrity of the societies they ruled. Even as recently as Winston Churchill, leaders exhibited some uniqueness of leadership, some essential irreplaceable element that was important to the society’s survival.
Things are quite different today. As we watch the nomination process for the potential Presidential candidate, we see that most are loathed as equally as they are loved, sometimes more so. We see that most exhibit a stunning lack of leadership qualities and whatever moral high ground they claim is as ephemeral as the next poll. We see that the eventual winner is more likely the product of marketing, spin and bloc voting than because of any quality of leadership. It’s about desire for the office more than the suitability. The process has become American Idol. A survey of the candidates shows the following:
An almost septuagenarian egomaniac billionaire with the temperament of a 6 year old
A self avowed septuagenarian socialist who thinks money is like jujubes, to be given away to anyone who asks.
A preachy lawyer, who is possibly Canadian with a high dislike quotient by both parties
A professional politician who has no record of accomplishment in a lifetime of public service and whose ability to contort on every issue makes Gumby look like a piece of re-bar and who may yet be disqualified by law.
This is the cast of people, one of whom the Secret Service will be obligated to offer life and limb to keep safe after the election. I dunno. God forbid that any circumstance should arise when they may be called upon to extend extraordinary effort and cost to keep them safe from harm. But as a pragmatic matter, maybe the calculus may go along these lines: “Well he (she) wasn’t well liked anyway, he barely won the nomination and he really isn’t that special…we’ll just use the next guy.”
And that would be the end of political thriller movies involving the President.