To Run or Not To Run, That is the Question

Is there no living Republican who is free from closet skeletons or has the ability to make a ten minute speech absent of errors of gaffs? Are there republicans that know that Concord New Hampshire and Concord Massachusetts are actually two separate locales in two separate states? While “to err is human” makes sense on one level one would presume that continuing to demonstrate one’s attempt to out err or out human everyone else is not the desired qualifications for a presidential candidate. There must be a republican who might be willing to be nominated for president who can actually demonstrate presidential qualities and characteristics. Looking at past presidents like Roosevelt, Eisenhower and Kennedy to name a few, the bar does not seem to be insurmountable. Marital fidelity apparently is not a deterrent to the ability to govern. Absence of truth did not appear to prevent Nixon or Reagan from having foreign policy successes. Surely, somewhere in this vast land we call The United States, there is some individual whose mother told him or her, “eat your peas and you can grow up to be President.” This raises another question. One requirement to be a successful president is the need for good, sound judgment. In light of all of the opinion polls and other polling data, some of those candidates seeking the republican nomination are unable to realize that their individual chance of winning the nomination parallel the proverbial snowball. How can Americans expect someone to read intelligence reports and make subsequent decisions regarding the security of the country or the entire world who appears to be unable to interpret poll results that totally discount a chance of winning the nomination. Some of those seeking the nomination have to know that there is no way they will succeed in their quest. Why do they continue to persist? Will they do the same thing if, by some miracle, they would become President. “Damn the torpedoes, full steam ahead” makes for good history but can be very expensive policy in terms of lives and other treasure. Time to cut losses would appear to be a better demonstration of presidential judgment.