As IF Times

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.

Source: Donald Trump becoming next US president represents 1 of top 10 risks facing the world, Global Risk assessment claims | Daily Mail Online

Well it was all fun and games for a while, but now it’s getting serious.  Trump has leapt onto the top 10 list of dangers facing the world placing just slightly ahead of terrorism but still below a hard landing for China’s economy.  As competitive as Donald is, he will be annoyed that he isn’t rated the top risk facing the world.  Global warming didn’t make it to the list which is odd since so much political rhetoric and taxpayer money has been spent ‘addressing’ the issue.  So if you think about it, Donald Trump is more of a danger than even global warming…which is  saying something.

Trump’s rhetoric has been mostly about making America great again; so it’s implied that other nations are on their own.  This is in contrast to the claims of the present Whitehouse incumbent who was to preside over  the settling of the rising oceans, the healing of the earth and a new harmony in the world’s peoples replete with joyful singing.  Well the singing was implied. So in that respect, Trump’s ambitions are rather modest and provincial compared to the expansive ambitions of the last guy.

Hysterical pundits worldwide are warning that Trump’s rise is a parallel to the ascension of a famous German dictator from the 1930’s.  This tired comparison has lost its significance since the “N” word has been invoked to smear almost anyone that terrorizes  people  from policemen, to IRS agents, to soup chefs.

The article claims that Trump is pushing for ‘radical’ policies.  I’m not so sure that Trump’s main ‘radical’ platforms, those concerning the  securing of the borders are any more radical than people insisting on locks on their homes.  That this is considered radical while one of the opposing Presidential candidates pitches free college, free health care and a 90% tax rate is amusing.  Re-assessing trade relations with other nations as he’s threatened is entirely logical as it would be in any business if the cost/benefits are out of balance.

If there’s anything to fear from Trump, it’s the possibility that rudeness and coarseness become admirable traits.  The political tradition of skewering, civil discourse is at stake, but no one is sounding the alarm on that.  Far from the colorful, rapier-like rhetoric of Winston Churchill or John Kennedy, Trump’s verbal barbs consists of: fatso, ugly, short and of course, liar.  Wharton must have not had a strong English program back in the day.  On the other hand, it’s a change from most politicians who typically spew out 135 words of babble when 10 would do.  At least Trump keeps his babble brief.

It’s quite telling that so many disparate factions worldwide, in addition to the usual leftist groups, are marshalling their efforts to stop Trump’s rise to power.  It tells us that their status quo is at risk.  It may be hard to be a fan of Trump’s, but when you look at the reputation of groups lined up to oppose him, it reminds us of the old middle eastern proverb:  the enemy of my enemy is my friend.