Something is in the air in our nation's capitol and it's not the aroma of cherry blossoms. High profile Republicans have picked up a scent they recognize as "vulnerability." The fragrance is coming from the general area of the White House and the Senate. The smell is not distasteful, rather it's invigorating so much that potential 2012 presidential contenders are organizing and posturing to get into the fight. Some have already thrown their hats into the GOP ring, a few have opted out and others are mulling over the question.
Potential Democratic candidates are playing it close to the vest. Hillary Clinton may decide to challenge if conditions are right. The tip-off will be when she resigns her post as secretary of state. The job has been difficult and she's learned where the "buck stops" in the diplomatic world, something she did not have to contend with as first lady.
Seeking your party's nomination is serious business; it's also expensive, time consuming and requires a mountain of self-confidence. The record of the present administration acts as an aphrodisiac to GOP candidates. Their constituents are beating the drum for change (no, not that kind of change); change that will get our economy going and stop the socialization of America.
You would expect conservatives to be dissatisfied with the administration's record. The 2010 elections proved that, but it goes much deeper. Independents and some "blue dog" Democrats are not buying into the liberal agenda. Altogether, there is a huge coalition of voters including Independents and Tea Partiers, who have had enough and aren't going to take it anymore. The challenge for Republicans is to select a presidential ticket that can bring all these factions together. It is important the GOP doesn't shoot itself in the foot and haggle about who is the most principled or who is the most conservative, or the most constitutional. They must not become the embodiment of an old political proverb, "No, I'm not a member of an organized political party, I'm a Democrat." Democrats got it together in 2008 and convinced themselves and even some Independents to vote for their candidate.
In 2012, it is important that Republicans work together and elect the candidate with the best credentials, and the best grasp of America's needs at this time. Failure to do this will subject the country to four more years of an administration that will accelerate implementation of the liberal agenda. He or she will be running against a formidable public relations machine. The DNC has $1 billion on hand to spend on the presidential election; and the luxury of a media that heavily favors the current administration. The right Republican candidate won't need that kind of money to get elected.
Much more important than what Democrats do is how Republicans come together. There is a great opportunity for Republicans; the election is theirs to lose.
With all of the political jousting over almost every issue of the budget, there is reason to doubt that solutions will be found. Are we hopelessly mired in partisan politics, so much so that we'll be unable to solve the looming debt crisis and re-start our economy? It would seem so based on most of what we see and read in the media. There was a glimmer of hope recently when Representatives Paul Ryan(R) and Chris Van Hollen (D) debated the budget in a fair and balanced manner on FOX TV, where else? Although they had differing views on the "fix," each showed in-depth knowledge, respect and they even agreed on some points. It was a debate that stood in sharp contrast to the posturing, and heated debates between politicians. You only have to recall recent verbal exchanges between Representatives King and Weiner of New York.
With Ryan and Van Hollen, there was a feeling that perhaps people in Congress might be able to work together. They did however, engage in the tactic of putting forth half truths to make their point so that the average viewer comes away feeling that one or the other, or both, are lying about something. Still, the debate was a hopeful sign and a rare event on national TV. Could it be too much to hope for, that our elected officials will in the coming weeks, put partisanship aside and actually do the peoples work?
Reynolds lives in Pleasant View.
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