I have cast a vote for president every four years for nearly half a century. Doing so is an obligation of citizenship. Each cast ballot has reminded me of those, in other nations, for whom voting is neither easy nor free of fraud or coercion. Sadly, in this election, voting may not be easy for some Americans: Lawyers and legislators stand in their way for the sole reason of protecting power or seeking to gain it.
But, as usual, I digress. Mea culpa.
Each cast ballot in my lifetime has usually brought satisfaction: I considered the candidates carefully and said my piece. In each race (well, maybe not Nixon vs. McGovern or Bush vs. Kerry), I voted for a candidate instead of against the other.
But this time? As I’ve written, I will be voting for a liar. One lied much more than the other, but both allowed deceit to be practiced routinely in their names. I’m prepared to swallow that.
But neither candidate has a prayer of governing effectively over the next few years. One, who promised bilateral and transparent governance, has demonstrated he and the other party cannot negotiate or compromise. The other has promised to work with the opposite party. He will fail. Neither candidate has provided evidence of ability to legislate effectively with opposing parties. Neither has provided detailed guidance for moving legislation effectively through the House and the Senate.
That’s because each of the America’s two political parties has figured out how to be minority obstructionists, particularly in the Senate.
Each presidential candidate will huff and puff but fail to blow down the door leading to functional governance. So much money has been poured into House and Senate races by the same superPACs and “social organizations” funding presidential campaigns. That has reduced the presidential race to a competition among consultant bottom feeders. Expect the obstructionism to be raised to an even higher art form by the party that fails to win the White House. All to stall for four more years, to try to gain power again.
So I will vote on the morrow. For the guy the lied less. And no matter who wins, we’ll have another four years of lobbyist-guided and billionaire-funded legislative warfare.
That sound you hear is the can being kicked down the road. Again.
Categories: Crime/Corruption, Politics/Law/Government, United States
Progressive Culture | Scholars & Rogues 
I’m with you on much of this, but there’s this bit: “One, who promised bilateral and transparent governance, has demonstrated he and the other party cannot negotiate or compromise.” You well know my issues with Mr. Obama, but isn’t this a serious case of blaming the victim? Obama went above and beyond the call of duty trying to work with the GOP – way too damned far, in fact – and they obstructed literally everything he tried to do.
I agree with you that he will never be able to work with the Republicans, but it hardly seems fair to blame him for their intransigence.
A fair point. But it’s unlikely he’ll try again, for the reason you cite. Hence, same old shit.
Sent by iPonyEx from my ancestral homeland — Wilkins, Nevada.
Honestly, I’d be just fine with less “reaching out” to people who espouse the kinds of rabid policies that the current crop of Republicans favor. Sometimes compromise is a wonderful thing. Other times it’s little more than accommodation of our worst elements. In fact, my decision over whether to vote for Obama or Jill Stein would have been a lot easier had he been quicker to understand what he was up against and more willing to pursue the interests of the folks who elected him.
I can’t argue your point, Denny. As I noted in my piece on Romney, I think either guy will dither and we’ll have the SOS. What’s horrific about that is that time is closer to running out for us – especially on climate change but perhaps economically, too – and in these four years the shit may actually hit the fan.
I’ve been mulling over Russ Wellen’s fine piece on why he’s voting Green Party and I feel drawn to do the same. But to me it would feel too much like I was simply making a moral statement – and right now I need to pursue at least the possibility (illusion, maybe is all it is) that if I vote for BO that he’ll grow a pair and get something done.
But I’m not sanguine. I’m far, far from sanguine….
I agree with you. I am so sick of the status quo, of the illusion of choice, of deciding between Tweedledee and Tweedledum. It’s disheartening, as is the ugliness and hatred surrounding this entire presidential race.
Did anyone see the 60 Minutes piece on Sunday with Senate Majority and Minority leaders? It was a comedy, in that it was indicative of the problem with our government overall. I’m sure it’s on the web somewhere.
You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. You’ll kick the can (after you drink it’s alcoholic contents.)