Constitution or the All-Seeing “I”

Celebrity is the “trump” card this presidential go-round just as it was in 2008 and 2012. The question is, have we learned nothing from the media-driven political process? Those of you who will deny that this is precisely what is occurring best look at the trends and stats. Donald Trump is a celebrity no matter how much someone wants to paint him as just a successful businessman. Because of his name recognition and over-the-top commentary made during the past years, more people are familiar with his on-camera persona, the façade that draws crowds.

This is exactly what the media created around Barack Obama neé Barry Soetero in 2007/2008. Media coverage developed a celebrity status for an otherwise unknown freshman senator that finally eclipsed the presumptive heir to the Clinton dynasty. 2016 is a re-run of eight years past except for the fact that the celebrity was already established. Rabidly liberal, along with the mildly liberal media, (which comprises the lion’s share of media presence, including Fox) sought out the Donald to boost ratings. It didn’t matter what he said, he was a celebrity. Unfortunately, the electorate is still no wiser than in 2008. It hasn’t learned from past experience, and the lure of joining a “movement,” a parade that looks like it can win is stronger than carefully vetting the bandleader before falling in line behind him. It is a redux of that election’s emotional highs which overshadowed the fact that winning at any cost is far too costly. The Obama presidency has proven this. He ran as a “hope and change” radical that was actually honest about what he intended and the progressive left fell for it, bringing on the most devastating transformation of our nation into a deepening pit of unemployment (94 million not working) and economic despair. This has given rise to the growing anger that is fueling a disingenuous Trump campaign that, in effect, offers less change than the electorate is anticipating.

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Both Obama and Trump are prone to leading most statements in their public addresses with the pronoun “I” which is a plain clue as to who they serve. Yes, Obama was trained up by communists and funded by billionaire oligarchs (read the novel Gold Baron for the Soros apron strings) and taught to think of himself as an ideological genius. On the other hand, Trump is no ideologue. He is a man of expedience, manipulating business for personal gain, which, on the whole, there is nothing wrong with doing. However, when the business mogul has made a habit of promoting his self-importance and influence, there is a lack of connection with the People. Autocratic business practices do not develop an understanding of the man, or woman, on the street. It creates a self-indulgence equal to any autocratic politician. The All-Seeing, All-Knowing “I” is what both politicians, Obama and Trump (and yes, he is a politician… business cannot be successful without a hand in politics) envision themselves. Both are more than willing to impose their personal beliefs, or lack thereof, upon the country as a whole via executive privilege. Why? Because both were brought up in privilege – one by socially-driven entitlement, the other by wealth entitlement. One has endeavored to grasp a monarchic-type reign, the other perceives himself as already possessing it. Otherwise appearing to be genial, both bully their detractors with epithets and threats. One is clear about his aims, the other obfuscates them by riding both sides of the fence. One place where they do not differentiate is in having no demonstrated reverence for the Constitution. And this, if you stand for real American values, is where the line must be drawn… the Constitution and whether or not We, the People, are willing to sully its words for the sake of winning an election that could end in the ultimate loss of our founding principles. Frankly, you can’t have it both ways. With a president who says, “I will take care of everyone,” “I will build a wall,” “I will make the best deals,” “I will make trade fair,” it is obviously about him, the All-Seeing “I” who will “Make America Great Again.” Really, one man? Then who is he really serving? Not you and me. Trump proclaims that he is self-funding which translates into being beholden to no one save himself and his interests that, hopefully, might coincide with that of the electorate. The answer lies in voting for a candidate, Ted Cruz, who honored Justice Antonin Scalia as “…a ferocious defender of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.” A candidate who says, “We have made history. …” “Together, We will… secure our borders and keep America safe,” repeal ObamaCare, abolish the IRS, rebuild the military, destroy ISIS and stand resolutely with Israel. “…We fight because we love our children and we will not go quietly into the night and give up on a brighter America.” When Ted Cruz said this at the close of the South Carolina primary, it becomes clear who is a Constitutionalist, having defended it before SCOTUS and won; and who is a demagogue stirring up emotional responses just to win because, to Trump, winning is all that counts.