Thomas Sowell:
It is seldom that the fate of a nation can be traced to what happened on one particular day. But that may be what happens in the United States of America on Tuesday, March 15, 2016.
That is because the front-runners in both political parties are not merely inadequate but appalling — and the vote in this Tuesday’s primaries may be the last chance for the voters to unite behind someone else.
The trends that brought us to this crucial day go back for years. But whatever the paths that led to this crossroads, we are in fact at a crossroads, and our future, and our children’s futures, depend on whether we can come up with some presidential candidate better than either Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump.
In other times and in other conditions, one bad president could not ruin a great nation. We survived Jimmy Carter and we may survive Barack Obama, but there is no guarantee that we can survive an unlimited number of reckless decisions in a dangerous world.
The dangers are both internal and external. Two of our bitterest enemies — Iran and North Korea — are openly declaring their desire to destroy us. And both are developing intercontinental missiles that can carry nuclear warheads.
These and other mortal dangers are a product of the feckless foreign policies carried out by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, as the Obama administration weakened our military forces while our adversaries around the world have been rapidly strengthening theirs.
We will be lucky to survive the damage that has been done already. A third consecutive term of such policies, with Hillary Clinton in the White House, could be suicidal.
Internally, Hillary Clinton’s whole political career has been based on polarizing the American population by race, sex, class, and any other way that will serve her political interests. This kind of cynical political exploitation can take the “United” out of the United States, and Balkanize us into an internal war of each against all. That is a war in which we can all lose.
As for the Republicans’ front-runner, what is there left to say about Donald Trump? Almost daily he demonstrates that he lacks the maturity, the depth, and the character required to lead a nation facing a complex range of dangers.
It is not a question of his having flaws, which we all have. But what kind of warped character does someone have at his core who can mock a prisoner of war who was tortured for years by our enemies, mock someone else with a physical defect, reply to questions with gutter-level insults, and offer childish boasts about what he is going to do, instead of specifics about how?
These are not subtle nuances. They are blatant revelations about something fundamentally wrong. Too many people missed similar revelations about Barack Obama. For that we have already paid a price, and we will continue to pay a price, even after he is gone. So will generations yet unborn.
There is a reason why polls repeatedly show Donald Trump producing the highest negative reactions of any candidate of either party. Yet the small hard core of Trump supporters seem oblivious to his antics, his recklessness, and his all-consuming ego.
We are at a serious crossroads as a nation. It is not the crossroads Tony Blair described in 2003, “if not the United States, then who? If not now, then when?” There is no backstop behind us. Trump policy prescriptions would have someone else carry the fight to ISIS, AQ, Hamas, and Hezbollah. He would renegotiate the deal with Iran – sorry that’s a done deal. And, he would impose high tariffs on imports that would undermine our own economy at the same time.
By the same token, Hillary is ill-equipped to lead. She pretends to know what she is doing. Most of the national security challenges we’re facing today she helped in creating. When it comes economic policy, she would like to increase taxes multi-fold.
If this is the best we can do, Trump v Hillary, heaven help us.
@David: Kasich/Rubio —HIGHLY QUALIFIED–UNIFIERS
@David: I voted for Cruz today. Based on today’s results, it looks like too little too late. We will have a choice between someone who is one step below a 9/11 Truther and a failed SoS who is also a felon. Both claim they will unite the country (where have heard that before?) but neither is capable just like the person they are replacing. Eight years of Obama followed by four years of one of them and this country will probably be past the point of no return, which it may already be. The other time we had 12 straight years of utter failure was Fillmore, Pierce, and Buchanan. By the time Lincoln got in and tried to unify the country, it was too late.
@another vet: We may have to live with the results like we have for the past 7+ years. Trump can not be much worse than Obama. It would not take much to be better.
@Randy: No one can be much worse than what we have now that’s for sure. The bar for the presidency has been lowered as has the definition of “success”. Record deficits that added more to the debt than all the previous presidents combined; a reduction in the unemployment rate compliments of people giving up looking for work and the addition of jobs that can’t support a family as evidenced by the almost 50% increase in food stamp recipients; an unprecedented increase in health insurance costs and people losing their insurance compliments of Obamacare; a country that is more divided than at any time since the CW era; failed policies in Egypt, Libya, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen (to name a few); a resurgence of AQ and the Taliban; the rise of ISIS; an emboldened Iran and North Korea, and much more. And he still has his defenders who deny all of this as evidenced by his approval ratings which is why the situation isn’t going to be getting better any time soon.
@another vet: At least Greg isn’t in the lead.
Who could assemble a team of advisors that would manage the debt crisis at least and start to reduce the debt at best?
Mrs. Clinton and her symbiotic relationship with her base will never address this issue.However,on the surface, Mr. Trump has those skills to assemble such a group of advisors.
@mike191: #7
Exactly right. Trump has a history of hiring the best advisors that he can find, and listening to them.
He does this without regarding race, sex, national origin or politics.
One of the reasons that he is a success is that the people working for him are successful.
I have read all of his books, going back 20 years or so, and the man is remarkably consistent in his patriotism, his respect for the military and law enforcement, and other qualities that I want in a president.
@Petercat:” Why did he duck service in V.N.”
On Fox today I saw Vet activist, former enlisted Marine, Naval Academy grad ret.Lt Commander—Montel Williams–ask this question. Says he can’t support Trump.
He supports Kasich for POTUS—I concur,
re Advisors Trump keeps touting “investor” Carl Icahn–shaky track record
@Richard Wheeler: #9
Why did you attribute that quote to me? I never said that.
And I don’t really care. I’m a veteran and I support Trump. Read my comment #8.
I watched Montel once. He was talking about something in which I have some expertise. He lied to make his point.
Once was enough.
@Petercat: Montel said it–attributed in text.
You said “remarkably consistent in his patriotism,” Except when asked to serve.
Chased skirts rather than going to V.N
That was enough.
People who worry about Donald Trump imposing tariffs on China, Mexico, Japan and others need to listen to what he’s saying.
IF those countries won’t equalize our trade deficit THEN he will impose those tariffs.
IF those countries are smart, and i think they are, they will equalize our trade relationship RATHER than allow the USA to pick which products will have high tariffs on them.
We have already seen Mexico’s leaders slide from ”we will NEVER see a wall between the USA and Mexico,” to, ”we will never PAY for the wall that will be built between the USA and Mexico.”
See how that worked?
A bully pulpit works.
Donald Trump doesn’t even have the official bully pulpit of the Presidency, yet his use of the bully pulpit TONE is getting results already.
And what is the biggest criticism of Donald Trump?
They don’t like his TONE.
His TONE is getting things done.
Learn to like it.
@Richard Wheeler:
You made similar comments about Cheney. Just to see how consistent and principled you are, who did you vote for in ’92 and ’96?
Merriam-Webster’s definition of principled- having, based on, or relating to strong beliefs about what is right and wrong
Thomas Sowell is projecting. Most democrats find neither Sanders or Clinton to be inadequate or appalling.
Thank you Peter Cat. For me, the debt is the most compelling threat to our Republic. Others can argue against this premise,however of all those running for President, Mr. Trump in this aspect is superior. The litany of reasons to reject Mr. Trump are valid but with the debt if someone can find evidence against Mr. Trump ,I am listening.
@Richard Wheeler: Talk about chasing skirts, what about Clinton? You voted for him?
@another vet and Randy: Principled?—I’m not running for POTUS—Of the five left I think Kasich would be the best
@Richard Wheeler: You missed the point. You have bashed people for avoiding service in VN. Who you voted for in those two elections will show if you apply the same standards to everyone or if you apply them to only people you don’t like. Bill Clinton had deferments so according to YOUR standards, you shouldn’t have voted for him.
@another vet and Randy: You guys are right–my distain for Trump is personal and encompasses over 30 years of watching his political act. Felt Cheney a classic chicken hawk—bombastic and with Rumsfeld, puppet masters of “W’S” military policies.
@another vet, @Richard Wheeler, @Randy –
I don’t mind if someone had used a deferment when we had a draft. They were legal under the old system. If the draft was working when I turned 18, my dad, the career Army man, would likely insist that I apply for a deferment. My dad, being a combat medic, had seen enough guys killed and wounded in Korea and VN, and certainly did not want me to suffer from that fate, or see it. Granted I joined the Navy, earned my Trident, and saw a few things. They are the things I certainly wouldn’t want my daughters to see or experience.
@Richard Wheeler: So, leading from in front is a chicken hawk. Does that mean leading from behind is just chicken?
@Randy: Chicken Hawk is one who wraps himself firmly in The Flag and confidently sends others off to wars while he chose not to serve when asked by his Country to do so.. I believe he had at least 4 V.N. deferments. .I take it you liked Cheney and Rumsfeld.
For the record–I would have loved to have served under Petraeus—a great leader –same for General James Mattis
@Richard Wheeler: So a chicken would be someone who continues to blame others for their failures?
@Randy: IMO A chicken would be someone who when asked by his country to serve—passes.
Someone who blames others for their(own) failures—delusional.at best—liar at worst.
@Richard Wheeler: Well, I guess that you have described Obama and Hillary quite well. Glad you finally saw the light!
@Randy: In the” chicken” category you queried–Cheney, Bill Clinton, Trump
@Randy: 4
It is only possible to get worse than Obama by electing Hillary. I’m not even sure that would be worse, Obama is likely as bad as it’s possible to get.
@Richard Wheeler:
He didn’t duck service in VN, he was disqualified medically. 4F. I know you know this but persist in attempting to perpetrate a lie.
@David: As you point out, our elected leaders made deferments legal so that was the law at the time and you have to figure that a lot of those serving in Congress at the time were WWII Vets. Also, VN wasn’t the first time deferments happened. During the CW people on both sides paid others to serve their time. During the Cold War (don’t know when the policy started), certain people in the Reserve Components were exempt from being mobilized because of their “critical” civilian positions, i.e. FBI agents etc. What I don’t agree with is when someone constantly bemoans some who received them (R) and then votes for and admires others who also received them (D). That amounts to hypocrisy.
@Petercat: 10
Yes, I’ve seen Montel do that recently. (lie to make a point) in fact just a few days ago on Fox. Something Libs seem to have no problem with. right Richie?
@another vet: 13
excellent point AV, while Trump had a medical rejection, Clinton was actually a felony draft dodger, certified. And regardless of what RW says now, he loved him back then.
@Greg: 14
yep, can’t say anything any worse about Dims than that they love Hill and Bern.
@Richard Wheeler:
Kasich and Bernie are out of it, so only 3 left.
@Richard Wheeler: 22
As pointed out, deferments were legal. Felony draft dodging was not. Clinton would probably still be out of the country if not for the presidential pardon for dodgers. Trump used all the deferments he could legally and then reported for his physical for induction and was then rejected for medical reasons. No one but a lib would call that ‘draft dodging’.
@Richard Wheeler: 24
Why did you switch the subject to Hillary and Bernie?
@Richard Wheeler:
Yore education failed you boy, not the same thing at all. Trump medical rejection, Clinton Felony draft dodger.
You’re fired up today RT 9 posts in 24 minutes LOL
No updates on Trump polls?—you got quite a crush on old Donald.—maybe he’ll tell you which bad foot got him out of going to Viet Nam with the rest of us
@Richard Wheeler:
Was ole’ Bill over there with you? He sure wasn’t here in the US, he was too busy draft dodging. Not bothering with deferments, just draft dodge and go to Russia. Too bad they gave him a pardon and let him back in the US.