A very recent televised ‘debate’ between the remaining combatants, uh, contestants, found an abundance of fireworks among the top three as noted in recent national polls; the names of Donald Trump, Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz.
As for the fireworks, the candidate currently and since the beginning of the debates, entrenched in the lead position, Donald Trump, was the recipient of the bombardment of fireworks, bombshells and zingers, while the attackers, Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz hoped to inflict enough damage to cause the leader to appear discomfited enough to make mistakes in his replies causing a precipitous drop in his standings.
The hooks and barbs, slings and arrows flew back and forth for a goodly portion of the scheduled debate times and If a viewer was so inclined to fix the results in the forms of bad or incorrect responses to the charges of the attackers to affect the overall proficiency or deficiency of the recipient, a gain was absorbed by the attackers.
Seldom did this occasion present itself and the recipient, Donald Trump blithely "rolled with the punches or bomb bursts" with a positive composure. In the end, Cruz and Rubio in particular, looked more like petulant "bullies" trying to beat up on the more innocent recipient while effectively causing no discernible damage.
As to who won the battle, it was so apparent that the two attackers gained zero points with their verbal onslaughts and walked away with their tails between their legs.
The greatest damage that was apparent was the obvious loss of decorum and stateliness for the entire GOP Party. The petty--and it was very petty-- bickering among the three top position holders caused a great deal of disinterest among the ultimate judges, the voters, who essentially left while openly frowning in disgust.
Of course I did not interview any of the audience so I have no absolute proof, but in my opinion, Rubio and Cruz left with a sizeable amount of egg on their faces while Trump enjoyed an internal smile with his clear victory.
It always puzzles me that when a contestant or contestants are behind and try to catch up in any event, they present the most obvious physical appearance of a mighty LOSER. Rubio and Cruz wore the mantle of doubt in themselves and sadness. Such rancor can cause problems for all in this case. It could bring divisive defeat to the Conservatives.
In an online article in freedomsback.com on February 26, 2016, writer Pat Buchanan covered the overall campaign from both the GOP and Democrat sides as well as the event described just above, and he feels that "In a Hillary Clinton vs. Donald Trump race - which, the Beltway keening aside, seems the probable outcome of the primaries --- what are the odds the GOP can take the White House, Congress and the Supreme Court?"
If Rubio and Cruz happen to read that outpouring by Buchanan, their dispirited attitude might sink a lot lower, particularly when they also find that former New Jersey Governor and POTUS candidate Chris Christie officially withdrew from the race and threw his support to the leader, Donald Trump just a few days before Super Tuesday, on March 1, 2016.
But I also feel confident that Rubio and Cruz will recover magically and will have been back out on the campaign trail probably within minutes after any otherwise dispiriting news, hurling more bombs of chastisement at the front running Trump.
In the meantime, Pat Buchanan has talked more of the POTUS campaign from an overall or overhead view stating some of the Democrat voters, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders will have to their advantage with this historical reference about a broad range where "Democrats open with a strong hand with that famed 'blue wall,' those 18 states and D.C. with a combined 242 electoral votes, just 28 shy of victory, that have gone Democratic in every presidential election since 1988.
"The wall contains all of New England save New Hampshire; the Acela corridor (New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland); plus Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois and Wisconsin in the Middle West; and the Pacific coast of California, Oregon, Washington - and Hawaii."
Another "Democratic advantage is simple self-interest.
"Half the nation now receives U.S. government benefits - in Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, food stamps, welfare, student loans, rent subsidies, school lunches and Earned Income Tax Credits, etc.
"Folks who rely on government benefits are unlikely to rally to a party that promises to cut government. And as half the nation pays no income tax, these folks are unlikely to be thrilled about tax cuts.
Now before you get worked up thinking that the Democrats seem to have a preponderance of plusses coming up for their Party, they also have some definite negatives to contend with in coming weeks and months.
There are some statistical warts on their skins as Buchanan says, "First, there is the strangely shrunken and still shrinking Democratic leadership base. As the Daily Caller reports, under Obama, Democrats have lost a net of more than 900 state legislature seats, 12 governors, 69 U.S. House and 13 Senate seats. Such numbers suggest a sick party.
"Republican strength on Capitol Hill is again as great as it was in the last years of the Roaring '20s.
"Second, due to Trump, viewership of the Republican debates has been astronomical - 24 million for one, 23 million for another.
"The turnout at Trump rallies has been unlike anything seen in presidential primaries; and what's more, the GOP voter turnout in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada set new records for the party."
And, "Not only would Trump at the top of the GOP ticket assure a huge turnout (pro and con); he is the quintessence of the anti-Washington, anti-establishment candidate in a year when Americans appear to want a wholesale house-cleaning in the capital."
So there are lots of days left between this writing and Election Day, November 8, 2016. Many a slip could plague either party but with Buchanan's assessment of both parties, it would seem that Trump and the Republicans will regain the Presidential White House and fortify it in Congress and in the country. And reject socialist communism.
People will remember the slights and destructive damages Mr. Obama has left as serious detriments to the remainder of his horrible 8 years. An Obama legacy will most certainly be of the extremely onerous sort.
Gerald A. “Jerry” McConnell, 92, of Hampton, died Sunday, February 19, 2017, at the Merrimack Valley Hospice House in Haverhill, Mass., surrounded by his loved ones. He was born May 27, 1924 in Altoona, Pa., the fifth son of the late John E. and Grace (Fletcher) McConnell.
Jerry served ten years with the US Marine Corps and participated in the landing against Japanese Army on Guadalcanal and another ten years with the US Air Force. After moving to Hampton in 1957 he started his community activities serving in many capacities.
He shared 72 years of marriage with his wife Betty P. (Hamilton) McConnell. In addition to his wife, family members include nieces and nephews.
A very recent televised ‘debate’ between the remaining combatants, uh, contestants, found an abundance of fireworks among the top three as noted in recent national polls; the names of Donald Trump, Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz.
As for the fireworks, the candidate currently and since the beginning of the debates, entrenched in the lead position, Donald Trump, was the recipient of the bombardment of fireworks, bombshells and zingers, while the attackers, Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz hoped to inflict enough damage to cause the leader to appear discomfited enough to make mistakes in his replies causing a precipitous drop in his standings.
