i think some people run for President because they feel, at that point in their life, they feel it is the only office worthy of their skills. Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum come to mind. However, I feel that running for President and losing badly can be worse for your reputation than not running at all. Chris Christie, are you listening?
1
The trend is your friend.
3
I don't understand it. Why do smart people quit their great day-jobs to joining something puerile as Politics at the pre-K level? Politics is for people who don't have a legit day-job. Just look at the array of Politicians.( Scott Walker? ) They are given huge responsibilities like passing bills , enacting laws but... they do not even read the texts before taking to the airwaves. Also, Politics is the only field where people get 2nd or 3rd or 4th chances. Ah! maybe the reason for Fiorna and Carson - their jobs did'nt give them that 2nd chance.
7
Once upon a time, an important part of running for president was demonstrating that you had good breeding.
Today, running for president as a Republican requires a mandatory showing of in-breeding.
Today, running for president as a Republican requires a mandatory showing of in-breeding.
29
If you vote for the Democrats, you might as well send your wallet to Washington.
4
I love reading Gail's columns about these clueless and narcissistic (un)politicians. She makes it clear just how funny and absurd they are, when my initial reaction to all of their silly shenanigans is to cringe and despair over the apparently precipitous decline in American IQ's. Fiorina, Carson and Huckabee may seem like scraping the bottom of the barrel, but we still have Rick Santorum on deck, no doubt working himself up into a lather over gay marriage. Good times!
21
The Republican party has become nothing but a folly of buffoons and whackos. Reagan would not even recognize the GOP if he came back to life today.
In the world of the super wealthy 1%, the benevolent wealthy are a drop of water in the bucket. How anyone can trust the wealthy of the GOP is beyond me, they care of nothing but more wealth and more power. GOP=the GREEDY OL' PARTY
In the world of the super wealthy 1%, the benevolent wealthy are a drop of water in the bucket. How anyone can trust the wealthy of the GOP is beyond me, they care of nothing but more wealth and more power. GOP=the GREEDY OL' PARTY
17
The only reason Fiorina has no political experience is that she's failed in her previous attempts to get elected. When life hands you lemons ...
13
NOTHING provides more of the cognitive dissonance that their white bread and butter constituencies love than Evangelism and Populist Demagoguery!
The perfect combo to handily exploit voters who need progressive help the most.
Irony (tragedy) worthy of The bard.
The perfect combo to handily exploit voters who need progressive help the most.
Irony (tragedy) worthy of The bard.
9
I'd vote for non-politician Gail Collins for President, any day of the week. Team Collins!
15
The Republican field is getting pretty crowded with some of the weirdest clowns the Conservative Circus sideshow has to offer. Today Gail offers us Carson and Fiorina who will soon be checking "run for POTUS" off of their bucket list and moving on to a lucrative career appearing as commentators on the FOX Nutwork.
14
The problem with Carly Fiorina is that aside from being a non-politician, she was an abject failure as CEO of Hewlett-Packard. So in that sense, she should add to her platform credentials the phrase, "also a non-CEO."
9
The Demon Sheep will follow her all the way home, wagging their tails behind them . .
7
Has everyone seen carlyfiorina.org? She neglected to registered the domain and the person who did has a nice concise message for voters.
17
Ms. Fiorina is running for vice president.
1
Gee. I wonder which current President with no experience running anything ran, with your support, as "not a politician"?
2
Is a sad fact that in America, even being as wealthy as Romney or Fiorina still relegates you to the gruntwork of President. The real masters, the Kochs and Adelsons get to wake up late and phone it in.
8
Gail, this is truly one of your funniest columns ever. Looking forward to the race with the hope that there is a happy ending for those of us who believe in reason and compassion.
5
Carly Fiorina also seems to be unclear on the concept that if rain and snow do not actually fall from the sky, then reservoirs actually dry up.
"Carly Fiorina: Environmentalists To Blame For 'Man-Made' Drought In California" - huffingtonpost.com
The snow pack in the Sierras is only 5% of normal this year, in addition to 4 + years of limited rain. Bad, bad environmentalists!
"Carly Fiorina: Environmentalists To Blame For 'Man-Made' Drought In California" - huffingtonpost.com
The snow pack in the Sierras is only 5% of normal this year, in addition to 4 + years of limited rain. Bad, bad environmentalists!
10
Carly Fiorina touts her business experience as her qualification to be president.
In other words, she might do for the country what she did for Hewlett Packard.
That's unsettling.
In other words, she might do for the country what she did for Hewlett Packard.
That's unsettling.
72
Fiorini was terrible as HP CEO. (I had a VP friend there that resigned in disgust.) The board has been consistently very poor. About the only thing they've done right is fire Fiorini.
Meg Whitman is an improvement, but kind of cold, narrow, and uninspired.
HP has a terrible leadership culture, and had a great professional culture.
The observation is that they need a CEO that cares about people. They need a board that cares about people. They need ... DEMOCRATS in the leadership! That's their problem, ... no Democrats in the leadership! :)
Meg Whitman is an improvement, but kind of cold, narrow, and uninspired.
HP has a terrible leadership culture, and had a great professional culture.
The observation is that they need a CEO that cares about people. They need a board that cares about people. They need ... DEMOCRATS in the leadership! That's their problem, ... no Democrats in the leadership! :)
11
Fiorini was a lousy CEO. Using her own criterion, she doesn't qualify for much of anything.
9
After all the talk about Job Creators, isn't it time for something fresh and new? How about Job De-Creators? The dream team would be Carly Fiorina and Meg Whitman. The slogan: Vote for us and your job is history! This should should resonate with those who vote against their own interests year after year.
Touting their business acumen, Meg & Carly's campaign song will be "We Did It Before, (and We'll do it Again)"
Touting their business acumen, Meg & Carly's campaign song will be "We Did It Before, (and We'll do it Again)"
70
Question for Carly; when she downsized all of those HP employees, were the 'packages' good or bad? Yes or no?
4
The only reason Ms. Fiorina hasn't held elective office before is that she keeps losing elections! This this truth not dawn on her?
7
Sorry, Gail ... I don't actually think better of Iowa. And I'm sick of these tiny, underpopulated states deciding who is on the ballot before the majority of us get a chance to vote.
16
Just watched the Demon Sheep thing. I kept getting the impression we were all supposed to be good little sheep. Or something.
Doesn't she understand what the image of people as sheep expresses?
Doesn't she understand what the image of people as sheep expresses?
1
The Demon Sheep was hilarious!
1
C.F. Haiku
C. Fiorina
Run! She wants to have some fun!
(Remember HP.)
C. Fiorina
Run! She wants to have some fun!
(Remember HP.)
2
I just love your coverage of the clowns as they pop out of the clown car.
5
Ben Carson will have no traction in Iowa. The Tea Partiers will fight over Carson, Huckabee, and perhaps others like catfish fight over a cornmeal ball that has sunk to the riverbottom.
4
Gail thinks that being a politician requires the same level of training and skills as a brain surgeon. So George Washington, James Madison and Thomas Jefferson need not apply.
Fiorina is definitely not going for the religious right. They all say that she shudda gone with demon goats.
2
Every tax-paying American knows that all it takes to fix an institution is an MBA.
Look at what they've done for higher education. Look at what they've done for the media. Look at what our last CEO-in-chief did for the world.
Heck, if we would just let the bidness-savvy people run things the way they deserve, we might even manage to rid ourselves of the embarrassment of American elections.
Look at what they've done for higher education. Look at what they've done for the media. Look at what our last CEO-in-chief did for the world.
Heck, if we would just let the bidness-savvy people run things the way they deserve, we might even manage to rid ourselves of the embarrassment of American elections.
14
"I'm not-a-politician" is indeed a line in the case of Fiorina and Huckabee - both of whom have run for office before. Maybe you're not a politician if you run for town councilman or dog-catcher, but you certainly are if you have run for the Senate or the Presidency.
Maybe Fiorina could have done a better job at HP if she had studied some math and science in college. Her dismissal of the idea that climate change might play a role in the California drought disqualifies her for the presidency as far as I'm concerned.
Maybe Fiorina could have done a better job at HP if she had studied some math and science in college. Her dismissal of the idea that climate change might play a role in the California drought disqualifies her for the presidency as far as I'm concerned.
16
It is acceptable that Ms. Collins is a hyper-partisan, but why must she always be so hypocritical? It's glaringly obvious how inexperienced was Obama when he entered office, but in her world that's OK.
3
Inexperienced? Perhaps. But Obama is thoughtful, AND extremely knowledgeable as well as intelligent. Ben and Carly are angry and i fear a little crazy. Not the fun kind either.
5
Carly needs to get a grip. She laid of 30,000 people while at HP due to her incompetence.
Guess what Carly- running the country doesn't require the same skills as a business- which you ran into the ground.
You can't get rid of citizens when they become inconvenient for you.
The sheer ego of all these candidates is astounding.
But it will get better... Rick Santorum is thinking of having another go... like the perpetual candidate that he is coming out of moth balls every 4 years to give him something to do. I wonder what he does in between running for president?
Guess what Carly- running the country doesn't require the same skills as a business- which you ran into the ground.
You can't get rid of citizens when they become inconvenient for you.
The sheer ego of all these candidates is astounding.
But it will get better... Rick Santorum is thinking of having another go... like the perpetual candidate that he is coming out of moth balls every 4 years to give him something to do. I wonder what he does in between running for president?
17
I am from Iowa. I would like to say that Iowa wouldnt want Carson, but ashamedly we already have elected Steve King and Joni Ernst - the far right always vote so unless we get the rest to vote we will be stuck with this type - hateful bigots. Iowa Republicans have shown they usually pick the looniest candidate in the first in the nation caucus (again the far right is always there). Love your columns
15
Someone needs to stand up for Herbert Hoover. A brilliant man of sterling character, bushwacked by history (and just possibly by Republican economic policies).
4
Lucent and HP should be ample evidence about what happens when you run something without being qualified. And as for Carson - all you need to know that he is a neurosurgeon. Trust me, I have worked with them for years. The egos could fill stadia.
10
Sheeeeeeeep is a wonderful metaphor phor Carly.
The GOP _wants_ sheep in the voting booooooooth. They want people who can't see fast fear to be pulling the levers. The last thing they want is for someone to notice they are being led away from their own best self-interest.
We, the People, can only hope someone, anyone picks up on what happened in Calgary, Canada this week. The citizens of that province woke in time.
http://wifelyperson.blogspot.com/
The GOP _wants_ sheep in the voting booooooooth. They want people who can't see fast fear to be pulling the levers. The last thing they want is for someone to notice they are being led away from their own best self-interest.
We, the People, can only hope someone, anyone picks up on what happened in Calgary, Canada this week. The citizens of that province woke in time.
http://wifelyperson.blogspot.com/
5
Fiorina also did in the old Bell Labs (kucent). Failure in business appears to be a requirement in the GOP candidates who are non-career politicians...and to be applauded. Success as an elected official is not required. What did Huckabee do as Governor; Rand Paul or Ted Cruz as Senators? Both Cruz and Rubio have always had a public sector jobs - but have no great claims to leadership or problem solving. Bush 41 spent almost his whole career in government and his two sons had cushy private sector jobs with political connections...like JEB's real estate career. More right-wing double-talk.
10
With candidates like Carly Fiorina, the GOP is doomed. They've got a Cuban pretending to be a Latino, a Canadian Cuban pretending to be a Texan, a Bush pretending to be anything other than a Bush, a preacher pretending to be rightwing zealot, a mean-spirited cheesehead governor pretending to be an economist, a neurosurgeon pretending to be brain dead and Carly Fiorina pretending to be a presidential candidate!!! Can't wait to see which pretender than actually nominate!!!
28
The attack ads this political season should be entertaining...starring former HP employees talking about her tenure at their once innovative and beloved company. Or the Lucent employees where she ran up the stock price to bail out with a golden parachute before the truth came out. Carly always did seem to be starring in her own movie... too bad so many good people had to play expendable extras in it.
15
I'd like to see a candidate, not a politician, who would be a competent administrator and executive.
I hope such a person exists.
I hope such a person exists.
I am suspicious that Fiorina's canidacy is not just to enhance her already overblown ego. I know that narcissim is blinding, but even she cannot possibly believe she stands a chance at winning. No, I think something else is at work here.
6
I've lost track. Do we have 7 Dwarfs yet?
Carly has been unemployable since her cratered at Lucent and HP. So she's using the election and voters as an employment agency.
Carson talks about ACA as worse thing since slavery. Worse than the Civil War, where 2% of ALL U.S. Men died? Worse than WW1, WW II, etc. so while he calls Obama a psychopath he is clearly a sociopath. And an ignorant one as well.
Carly has been unemployable since her cratered at Lucent and HP. So she's using the election and voters as an employment agency.
Carson talks about ACA as worse thing since slavery. Worse than the Civil War, where 2% of ALL U.S. Men died? Worse than WW1, WW II, etc. so while he calls Obama a psychopath he is clearly a sociopath. And an ignorant one as well.
15
Political experience is necessary? We need the next person to sit in the oval office to be a heterosexual true Christian, enamored with truth, righteousness, morality, and decency. We must protect our children. They are the future of America.
This statement of what people want from government ("But they also want a lot of other stuff -") is classic and should be printed in gold letters and placed prominently where the NY Times Editorial Board is forced to look at it daily.
Unfortunately too many Americans want none of these things from government. At the top of the list of what Americans would currently prefer from government seems to be the following:
> Entertainment
> Confirmation of their own most paranoid prejudices
> Absence of government
One other comment: the current freewheeling joy in sniping at comedy figures vying for the Republican nomination can't last long. By a year from now, I'm afraid the tone of columns like this will be shifting to despair about prospects for the upcoming elections.
Unfortunately too many Americans want none of these things from government. At the top of the list of what Americans would currently prefer from government seems to be the following:
> Entertainment
> Confirmation of their own most paranoid prejudices
> Absence of government
One other comment: the current freewheeling joy in sniping at comedy figures vying for the Republican nomination can't last long. By a year from now, I'm afraid the tone of columns like this will be shifting to despair about prospects for the upcoming elections.
3
When confronted virtually every day with more evidence of the greed, cynicism, contempt for the law, entitlement, and corruption of the country's current exemplars of the vocation of politician, Clinton & Clinton, why wouldn't it be a dirty word?
2
What you basically have is a GOP that is catering to the most ignorant, ill educated portions of our country, and when you go for the lowest common denominator you drag things down to their level, because it is effective. Claude Pepper once lost an election when his opponent accused him of matriculating before marriage, said Pepper's wife was a thespian, and the guy won, in large part because the electorate thought those things were sinful,........with the GOP facts don't matter, they are the classic example of Goebbels statement that a lie told enough, becomes the truth.
As far as Fiorentina goes, she probably thinks that women who don't like Hillary will flock to her, and will claim that attacks on her are based on her being a woman, which is pretty much what she did when she was thrown out of HP. Worse, running as an anti politician, she is running as a businesswoman who basically failed at that, so is she saying a failed business person is better than a politician who has achieved something? The worse part about Fiorentina is why businessmen don't make good presidents, businessmen operate as dictators, and Fiorentina was among the worst autocrats out there. Government is led by compromise, it is led by looking at a broader view, and what she showed at HP is a recipe for more failed government, more paralysis, as President Fiorentina tried to turn herself into an elected dictator, not a leader.
As far as Fiorentina goes, she probably thinks that women who don't like Hillary will flock to her, and will claim that attacks on her are based on her being a woman, which is pretty much what she did when she was thrown out of HP. Worse, running as an anti politician, she is running as a businesswoman who basically failed at that, so is she saying a failed business person is better than a politician who has achieved something? The worse part about Fiorentina is why businessmen don't make good presidents, businessmen operate as dictators, and Fiorentina was among the worst autocrats out there. Government is led by compromise, it is led by looking at a broader view, and what she showed at HP is a recipe for more failed government, more paralysis, as President Fiorentina tried to turn herself into an elected dictator, not a leader.
9
Are you sure you are not describing the democratic party?
Let's focus on what's necessary. We know the Republicans, whether they are 'politicians' or anti-politicians, supports the interests of the wealthiest and are opposed to the (financial) interests of the vast majority of US citizens. The same is true of Hillary. The difference is that if you're running as a democrat, you can't use socially conservative stances - anti women's control of their own bodies or anti gay- to appeal to your constituency and induce them to vote against their own financial interests. But we must not forget that although Hillary may support women and gays on social issues, she supports the super-rich against the rest of us on economic issues. Fortunately, we have an alternative: Bernie Sanders. The pundits say he doesn't stand a chance. The pundits apparently think Americans are incapable of supporting a candidate who supports them. Are the pundits right? We will certainly find out.
2
Jefferson thought highly of citizen legislators; Madison had his concerns. But Jefferson also knew the value of any citizen in government at any level, including voters, lie in intelligent choices made by educated people. The beauty of the founding people and their acts when establishing this country is their messiness, their lack of being fit into an ideological category. Jefferson held slaves and had children by one, yet all men are free? This is life and government is of the living. We educated citizens must demand that our politicians not be encapsulated into feel-good emotional clips, but bring the messiness of life to the governing process by being willing to step in and confront the messiness of life. It is up to us, not the media nor the wealthy nor corporations, to select intelligent politicians whether from the the political class or not. Ideas, integrity, and intelligence are what is called for in politicians. That people such as Huckabee, Carson, and Fiorina are even in the race is our fault, but a fault we can correct, educated vote by educated vote until we let the media, the wealthy, the privileged know that intelligent, open, and courageous politicians are whom we seek to govern us.
4
My one question to all but Mrs. Clinton has been,, "What do you know of world affairs?" Methinks the answer is nil. But this column tells me we are now entering Silly Land. Maybe one of my wise cats would do well; they certainly amaze me with their knowledge. And they certainly do not shout it across the land.
3
"I'm Jeb Bush, and I approve this message."
2
Fiorina and Carson aren't the first to brag about being rank amateurs in the political ring. And I think many voters really do see this as an advantage. How many experienced senators and representatives have been voted out, especially in recent elections, because they're perceived by the home voters as "out of touch" with the people who put them there? Lord help the lawmaker who actually has the nerve to reach across the aisle and maybe come up with a compromise to break political deadlock. The next election campaign will see them tarred and feathered as a traitor who's been corrupted by politics. Seems as if the U.S. always has the Mr. Smith Goes to Washington fantasy in mind.
4
The sad reality is none of them actually want to be president. They really just want to boost their credentials for that lucrative speaking tour and get in line for the Fox talking head gig. I will admit Carson scares me. Did he actually get to stick sharp objects into peoples brains? Are they all OK?
16
Arnold came in as governor with a lot of optimism. He is smart, he has integrity, and he works hard. However, he was over matched by the political professionals and the graft which finances them. His administration was an exercise in dysfunction, and that is the best that can be said of it.
Jerry Brown came back. Instantly, order in government was restored. The professionals were in charge, and things began to run smoothly. Moreover, Jerry Brown not only has the integrity to stand up to the corruption, but also the necessary infighting tactics. Thus, California has some political leadership it can trust, although many will have discrete disagreements with individual policies, but that is always the case.
It certainly is a nice fantasy that citizens could occupy political positions for a few years in order to insure that the people have a voice in how they are governed. Unfortunately, things are too big and too corrupt for such a person to be effective. We need experienced people in office, just as we need experienced technocrats to help them.
Probably rather than indulging in fantasies, the best way to insure that the people have a voice in their government is to reform election financing. We should have more public money for campaigns, and we should make that an attractive alternative to candidates, so that they can be forced to choose between public or private financing. Once they are able to abandon their corporate masters, power will return to the people.
Jerry Brown came back. Instantly, order in government was restored. The professionals were in charge, and things began to run smoothly. Moreover, Jerry Brown not only has the integrity to stand up to the corruption, but also the necessary infighting tactics. Thus, California has some political leadership it can trust, although many will have discrete disagreements with individual policies, but that is always the case.
It certainly is a nice fantasy that citizens could occupy political positions for a few years in order to insure that the people have a voice in how they are governed. Unfortunately, things are too big and too corrupt for such a person to be effective. We need experienced people in office, just as we need experienced technocrats to help them.
Probably rather than indulging in fantasies, the best way to insure that the people have a voice in their government is to reform election financing. We should have more public money for campaigns, and we should make that an attractive alternative to candidates, so that they can be forced to choose between public or private financing. Once they are able to abandon their corporate masters, power will return to the people.
12
"Jerry Brown came back. Instantly, order in government was restored."
He seemed to have learnt from his failures, and I was quite impressed.
But soon enough the old Jerry was back - $60 billion in non-existent funds for a bullet train the the people don't want, huge raises for his buddies the prison guards, massive cost overruns on the Bay Bridge, followed by his latest brain-wave: Let his agri-friends Stewart Resnick et. al. pump unlimited groundwater, planting almonds in the desert, while imposing draconian cuts in the cities although we only use 20% of the water. Not a single restriction on the water for these so-called farmers - could the large amounts of money they send his way have something to do with this?
Governor Trainbeam is in full swing - almost makes me wish for the bad ols days of Governor Moonbeam.
He seemed to have learnt from his failures, and I was quite impressed.
But soon enough the old Jerry was back - $60 billion in non-existent funds for a bullet train the the people don't want, huge raises for his buddies the prison guards, massive cost overruns on the Bay Bridge, followed by his latest brain-wave: Let his agri-friends Stewart Resnick et. al. pump unlimited groundwater, planting almonds in the desert, while imposing draconian cuts in the cities although we only use 20% of the water. Not a single restriction on the water for these so-called farmers - could the large amounts of money they send his way have something to do with this?
Governor Trainbeam is in full swing - almost makes me wish for the bad ols days of Governor Moonbeam.
2
I think we have now the ultimate merger between technically intelligent narcissists and our individualistic culture that respects anyone for doing what they want to do. It seems these last two Republicans, but the R field in general, are primarily self interested narcissists and grifters. It seems that they have no real interest in leading our large, very diverse country, beyond calling attention to themselves yet one more time. One can only assume that in the Republican party, leadership is not taken seriously and that the party may actually not understand what governance and the meshing together of a variety of very important activities requires. While Carson at least was successful and technically skilled, believe me, he operated in one of the strictest plantation cultures in the world - US hospital medicine. What he said went, and his technical success prevented anyone from actually challenging him. I have a feeling he was a difficult colleague. Ms Fiorina we already know was not even technically brilliant. Most of the rest of the R field seem to be unaware of basic things like making sure that your state's budget is in good shape and that the rest of the world is actually important to the US. This is a time of great shame for American leadership. We are providing a horrible example, even if it is mainly one party.
8
The Republicans may be bringing forth a clown car, but the Democrats seem to have a wobbly unicycle. Each side provide entertainment, for different reasons.
4
What all these business-nurtured candidates (e.g., Fiorina, Perot, Carson) don't seem to realize is that they are far better suited to the Soviet system, which Gorbachev unsuccessfully tried to dismantle (cf. Gail Sheehy's "The Man Who Changed the World”). Businesses, by their structure and nature, are centrally controlled economies which are subject to the dictates of a (more-or-less) strong leader and/or leadership team. Despite the occasional proxy vote, business moves and initiatives are started at the top, and implementation is largely overseen and policed by that same leadership. And that leadership group has the power to disenfranchise those who fail to toe the (new?) line by firing them. Despite recent attempts, the Republicans have failed to do that on a large enough scale to matter: they can't fire the voters (though some have tried ~ say, in Cleveland).
What we are seeing among Republicans is a dispersion of the clown car's genes into the pool of its natural audience ~ the oligarchs. And it's producing a wider variety of these laughably deluded elites.
What we are seeing among Republicans is a dispersion of the clown car's genes into the pool of its natural audience ~ the oligarchs. And it's producing a wider variety of these laughably deluded elites.
9
I met Carlie Sneed Fiorina in 1959, at the home of her parents, Professor and Mrs. Joseph Sneed, in Ithaca, New York, during my last year in law school. She was probably five and our son was three.
Professor Sneed was one of my favorite professors at the Cornell Law School. He later became a Federal Circuit Court Judge, after serving as Deputy Attorney General during the Nixon administration.
Professor Sneed was an enlightened and kindly gentleman. He and his wife used to invite foreign students to their home. They once invited me and my wife, and we took our then three-year-old son with us.
Carlie, received our son very sweetly and very kindly. She played with him gently, voluntarily and unselfishly shared her toys with him.
I remember her fondly.
Perhaps a child, who at five is capable of voluntarily and unselfishly sharing with a total stranger, could very well, by chance, make a thoughtful and capable president.
I wish Mrs. Fiorina the best of luck.
Professor Sneed was one of my favorite professors at the Cornell Law School. He later became a Federal Circuit Court Judge, after serving as Deputy Attorney General during the Nixon administration.
Professor Sneed was an enlightened and kindly gentleman. He and his wife used to invite foreign students to their home. They once invited me and my wife, and we took our then three-year-old son with us.
Carlie, received our son very sweetly and very kindly. She played with him gently, voluntarily and unselfishly shared her toys with him.
I remember her fondly.
Perhaps a child, who at five is capable of voluntarily and unselfishly sharing with a total stranger, could very well, by chance, make a thoughtful and capable president.
I wish Mrs. Fiorina the best of luck.
7
One might wonder just what happened in the intervening years!
1
Just goes to further the point. How do we judge the people we vote for...because they were sweet at the age of five?
1
Back when she was running HP, Carly was quoted saying she had never faced gender discrimination in her career. That stretches credulity, as they say.
2
The Repub clown car need all kinds of passengers to make it entertaining. They are candidates who hope to embelish their speaking fees "of season" ,get a talk show at FOX, or write books that will make them millions. Santorium is the poster child and Newt has done very well doing this, The Donald gets a big boost each 4 years, Huckabee gets asked to sell more products and books and they do very well thank you. They target their audience and really only are concerned speaking to them so they establish their creds. Sarah Palin, WOW, it shows what a guy or gal can do with this clown car career.
1
Our first six presidents – Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, and John Quincy Adams, not only came from our elite political class, but also represented America’s elite socio-economic class. It was not until 1828 with the election of Andrew Jackson, whose entire campaign was based upon his status as “military hero” (“Who do you want, a man who can write [Adams] or a man who can fight?”) that the elite Virginia-Massachusetts monopoly was broken. Subsequent presidents were pretty much either members of political elites or made claim to military heroics, with the occasional surprise of someone like Harry Truman who was neither. The point is that most of our presidents had run and served in some elected political office. The last candidate to trumpet his extraordinary business expertise was someone who drove to Canada with his dog on the roof of his car, and we all recall how well that campaign trope worked out.
6
His entire campaign was "Trust me, I'm a businessman."
1
Let's watch as Carson separates the Tea Party from the GOP, not joined at at the brain, or the heart. Could be messy, but fun to watch, for awhile.
2
Gail Collins, you do us great service poking fun at the fevered egos vying for a spot on the GOP ticket. But, enough with the fringe individual Republicans. The country is better than that, and ready for more. Why not branch out into the world of American political parties? A quick search on the 2012 election revealed existence of the following: Libertarian, Green, Justice, Peace & Freedom, Constitution, Socialist, America's, Reform, American Third Position, American Independent, Socialist Workers, and Socialist Equality. Surely some of them are as deserving as Carson and Fiorina's GOP, while others deserve a fair hearing unavailable elsewhere. Will you help?
4
So Fiorina is philosophy student fluent in ancient Greek & Latin and also converses in French, German and (for fun) Italian? Who knew? Perhaps she expresses herself better in latin then she does in English….this is one scary woman who is clearly not qualified to run for any public office. She should save her money and retire or devote herself & her wealth to doing "good works". By Philosophy studies I hope those were legit studies and not Ayn Rand which seems to be popular in her group.
5
If you were looking to place blame for the current serious drought conditions and the resultant, strict rationing regulations being imposed in California and elsewhere, Ms. Fiorina suggests that environmentalists have caused the current drought by opposing the damning of more rivers and the building of more reservoirs.
3
Wow. You are brilliant today, Ms Collins, even more than usual. Thank you for this terrific little essay. I know these particular candidates and their "ideas" are soft targets, easy to denigrate, but you have done a great deal here to expose not only them but all of us. Anyone who takes either of these candidates seriously probably needs a neurosurgeon to set his/her head right.
6
CEOs of Fortune 500 companies can only fail upward. But there aren't Golden Parachutes for Presidents of the United States. Sorry, Carly, but the thought of you in the White House is scarier than ANY demon sheep.
10
Carly Fiorina and Ben Carson entered the race because THE GONG SHOW is no longer on the air.
17
Her CEO stint at the Alcatel-Lucent after HP was forgettable. She did nothing of value but importantly provided vigorous leadership in meat-ax downsizing.
10
Well aside from the fact that the basic qualification is to be a natural born citizen and at least 35 years of age, I hope you revisit this article when Michele Obama runs for president.
2
Like it or not, both Carson and Fiorina are politicians, just in a different milieu. One does not reach the high levels of their respective professions without playing politics. Though I don't care for her, what happened to Fiorina at HP was, in part, based on politics. If I recall correctly, she was the first female head of a major Silicon Valley corporation, which did not sit well with the 'good ol' boys.' So, in my estimation, politics was involved, which made her a politician of a sort.
The bottom line is that they are both on the bottom rung of the party, money or not.
The bottom line is that they are both on the bottom rung of the party, money or not.
1
Management experience is important. Obama was elected even though he had no management experience and we still see the effects 6 years later. He is the most divisive president in my lifetime. He has no clue how to run anything or how business works. The poor economy is the result. Collins likes Clinton who while being exposed to politics through being married to Bill Clinton has never accomplished anything significant on her own in her whole life.
3
Obama, I would argue, is divisive not because of what he's done -- many people hated him from the git-go, before he'd done anything at all -- but because of who he is: a person of color with a "strange" name who got into Harvard, not through affirmative action, but on the strength of his academic achievements. For someone on the left (who'd be considered a centrist in the rest of the civilized world), Obama is actually quite conservative. He's only some sort of a wild-eyed radical when seen from the John Birch perspective. In other words, from the point of view of the type of person who saw Eisenhower as an agent of the "International Communist Conspiracy":-)
11
Why is management experience important and why should government be run like a business?
As mentioned in my earlier comment to this article, the government of the United States of America has been around since 1776 and has not failed yet.
How many businesses have been around since that time? Not many.
Government is government and business is business. The purpose of the two is not the same. Business is for profit. Government is for stabilization and continuation of society and the country.
And what poor economy?
When Obama took office the NYSE was just over 6000 due to G.W. Bush's disaster of Iraq. It is now hovering close to 18,000. A lot of value gained there. The jobless rate is down and other economic indicators have gone up since GWB.
Another thing that has gone down is public opinion of Republican politicians at the State and National levels who have created problems instead of solving problems.
As mentioned in my earlier comment to this article, the government of the United States of America has been around since 1776 and has not failed yet.
How many businesses have been around since that time? Not many.
Government is government and business is business. The purpose of the two is not the same. Business is for profit. Government is for stabilization and continuation of society and the country.
And what poor economy?
When Obama took office the NYSE was just over 6000 due to G.W. Bush's disaster of Iraq. It is now hovering close to 18,000. A lot of value gained there. The jobless rate is down and other economic indicators have gone up since GWB.
Another thing that has gone down is public opinion of Republican politicians at the State and National levels who have created problems instead of solving problems.
1
@jeff G-
Being president requires a lot more than management experience, which is one of the fallacies of a business manager being automatically a great president. Leaving out how good Fiorentina was (which almost no one thinks she was), being a president also requires being a leader, it requires being a negotiator, a conciliator, a statesmen, a diplomat. It also requires someone who doesn't think in terms of a narrow view of things, which is very different than running a business. Among other things, businesses are about competition, about getting a hold in a market and doing things that enhance that position, whereas a president has to have a broader view and manage among competing interests.
More importantly, companies are not democracies, and managers (meaning the heads of companies) are dictators, they have power that a President does not have. A Presidents most valuable tool is often the bully pulpit, a CEO's is that every employee of the company knows they serve at the CEO's will, big difference. It is why businessmen as leaders have failed a lot more than succeeded, if you look at our greatest leaders, few of them were businessmen and when businessmen got into office, the diverge between leader and company head became quite apparent.
Being president requires a lot more than management experience, which is one of the fallacies of a business manager being automatically a great president. Leaving out how good Fiorentina was (which almost no one thinks she was), being a president also requires being a leader, it requires being a negotiator, a conciliator, a statesmen, a diplomat. It also requires someone who doesn't think in terms of a narrow view of things, which is very different than running a business. Among other things, businesses are about competition, about getting a hold in a market and doing things that enhance that position, whereas a president has to have a broader view and manage among competing interests.
More importantly, companies are not democracies, and managers (meaning the heads of companies) are dictators, they have power that a President does not have. A Presidents most valuable tool is often the bully pulpit, a CEO's is that every employee of the company knows they serve at the CEO's will, big difference. It is why businessmen as leaders have failed a lot more than succeeded, if you look at our greatest leaders, few of them were businessmen and when businessmen got into office, the diverge between leader and company head became quite apparent.
Politicians claiming they are amateurs at the job they want, running for and acting as president, don't succeed. In part, it is because the task of running for president in our country has become so complex, such a long, hard grind and so fraught with the opportunity to say one wrong thing and sink the entire operation.
Minnesota tried an amateur as governor, Jesse Ventura, back in 1998 and they voted him out after one term. Texas voted in a country singer, Lee "Pappy" O'Daniel back in the 1930s promising pensions and a tax cuts, then instead proposed a sales tax.
Jimmy Carter, the one term governor of Georgia, could be seen in some ways as one of our few amateur, non-politicians as president, but he clashed so often with those within his own party that his reelection brought on a major party challenger, Ted Kennedy, which helped sink his chances. G.W. Bush was even less experienced in elected govt. than Carter, with 3 yrs. plus not quite one yr. as governor of Texas and, well, we know where that got us.
What say we drop this idea that someone can parachute into national politics and save the day?
Doug Terry
6
Correction, above. G.W. Bush served one term as governor of Texas (4 yrs), then ran for reelection. He had been in office less than 6 yrs. when he started actively running for president. My mind said "4" above, but my finger typed "3". Bush, nonetheless, stands as one of our least experienced office holders prior to assuming the presidency. (For those who would ring in with regard to President Obama, he had served in elected office for 12 yrs. by the time he became president, albeit without any executive experience.)
3
Two days ago our most right wing Province elected a social democratic government after 80 years of far right and then center right wing government. Although our Alberta has been referred to as our Texas Albertans may be the best educated people in North America. Evolution is taught in science and the world is billions of years old. Albertans are the most religious Canadians but the Bible is what it has always been great literature whose truth is constant but whose history if any is accidental.
When our most American province decides it is time to man the lifeboats I would be very frightened if I was on the mother ship. I was an Albertan for 20 years and the politics were always enlightened self interest. The decision to seek shelter from the storms of the US economy and political system should set off alarm bells for everybody especially those doing the daily Calgary, Dallas, Houston commute.
When our most American province decides it is time to man the lifeboats I would be very frightened if I was on the mother ship. I was an Albertan for 20 years and the politics were always enlightened self interest. The decision to seek shelter from the storms of the US economy and political system should set off alarm bells for everybody especially those doing the daily Calgary, Dallas, Houston commute.
8
On day one Premier-elect Rachel Notley said she would work as a partner with the energy industry. She does want better environmental standards for the tar sands and a minimum wage of $15 and a better sharing of resource revenues.
The new premier also regards Keystone as a strictly American matter.
The new premier also regards Keystone as a strictly American matter.
3
Doug,
You are indeed correct but what has changed is who is calling the shots. I remember when Houston and Dallas destroyed our National Energy Program. Tuesday Albertans announced that in their democracy Houston and Dallas will no longer be command central.
With regard to Keystone Albertans said they want the refineries in Alberta employing Albertans. Alberta never had control of Keystone south of its border but I don't think Keystone is even a consideration since Albertans said they don't want to supply the bitumen to go to Koch refineries. The south eastern badlands with temperatures going from 110 during the day to 25 degrees at night. winter temperatures 60 below, and permanent drought supports the life forms we may find on Mars but it does seem better than Gulf Coast refining. Albertan seem more inclined to protect the heartland's environment than the GOP.
You are indeed correct but what has changed is who is calling the shots. I remember when Houston and Dallas destroyed our National Energy Program. Tuesday Albertans announced that in their democracy Houston and Dallas will no longer be command central.
With regard to Keystone Albertans said they want the refineries in Alberta employing Albertans. Alberta never had control of Keystone south of its border but I don't think Keystone is even a consideration since Albertans said they don't want to supply the bitumen to go to Koch refineries. The south eastern badlands with temperatures going from 110 during the day to 25 degrees at night. winter temperatures 60 below, and permanent drought supports the life forms we may find on Mars but it does seem better than Gulf Coast refining. Albertan seem more inclined to protect the heartland's environment than the GOP.
4
Ah, how refreshing. Pragmatism rather than ideology, lets hope we toss the current government in Ottawa in October.
1
Fiorina and Carson will provide us with entertainment, but their chances of being nominated are practically nil. As they say, follow the money, as in Koch brothers. They particularly like Scott Walker, who has bought into their budget-cutting, union-busting agenda in Wisconsin, but they may instead place their chips on Jeb Bush because they think he's less extreme and therefore more electable. The other candidates may create sound and fury, but it will signify nothing.
17
30,000 employees laid off, terrible return for shareholders while she was there. Fired, but not denied a $20 million golden parachute. And those are the qualifications she cites? To quote Shark Tank, "I'm out." Carleton says, "I know how business works." To twist the famed line from "Apollo 13," in business, not only IS failure an option, it's a lucrative one.
15
Best job killer since Mitt.
1
Isaac Asimov once wisely said that the problem with our democracy is that my stupidity is equal to your genius. Maybe in theory, or in reality when not governing; however, in government, it's different. It demand professionals - not professional shysters we vote for today.
The stupidity of our country is constantly fighting with its genius. Where will it end, and how do you solve the democracy thing equitably? Where is King Solomon today?
The stupidity of our country is constantly fighting with its genius. Where will it end, and how do you solve the democracy thing equitably? Where is King Solomon today?
12
The chair of the Senate science committee rejects science for Koch money. The future of America is bleak and stupid with mass poverty and mass species extinctions.
14
I am really tired of the business class in this country lording it over everyone else. People Like Fiorina run businesses into the ground, fire 30,000 people, walk away with golden parachutes worth $65 million and $20 million and then think they need to do the same to the rest of us. And this is a good thing, why?
Why that even reminds me of a previous Republican candidate, what was his name? Oh, that's right, Mitt Romney.
I believe Carly Fiorina is a demon wolf in sheeps clothing.
Why that even reminds me of a previous Republican candidate, what was his name? Oh, that's right, Mitt Romney.
I believe Carly Fiorina is a demon wolf in sheeps clothing.
32
All the Republicans, whether or not they have held public office, would be a disaster for the country. Jeb Bush, for example, would personally run into your grandmother's hospital room and replug what was unplugged. The only extra danger these inexperienced so-called candidates would cause would be the Dubya problem: they would be mere puppets with God knows who pulling the strings.
22
Most of us have worked occupations we don't like,or with people we don't care for.But most us haven't chosen to do so,which is why I'm suspicious of those who do choose to.People who dislike politics and politicians often make poor politicians,usually enough so to fail to get elected.
While Ben and Carly are appealing sounding names for candidates,the names can't hide that they have shortcomings that are extrarordinary even for this GOP open air insane asylum.Carson ,The GOP's designated black this time around probably offended most other blacks by comparing Obamacare,from which many of them benefit from,with something as shameful to our nation's past as slavery.As a neurosurgeon he should know from his own profession that it has been scientifically proven that
LBGT people are naturally so,BEFORE birth,so that it's impossible for men to" go into prison straight,and come out gay.
Carly disqualifies herself for President by boasting about a business experience at which she was a total failure.In the extremely unlikely event she got elected President,if she did for American jobs what she did at HP, the late Archy Bunker(All In The Family) would finally have long desired "WOMAN like Herbert Hoover again " !
But may Carson's candidacy be long into next year,for he'll take the GOP so far to the outer reaches of the fringe,it will likely be a landslide victory for Hillary !
While Ben and Carly are appealing sounding names for candidates,the names can't hide that they have shortcomings that are extrarordinary even for this GOP open air insane asylum.Carson ,The GOP's designated black this time around probably offended most other blacks by comparing Obamacare,from which many of them benefit from,with something as shameful to our nation's past as slavery.As a neurosurgeon he should know from his own profession that it has been scientifically proven that
LBGT people are naturally so,BEFORE birth,so that it's impossible for men to" go into prison straight,and come out gay.
Carly disqualifies herself for President by boasting about a business experience at which she was a total failure.In the extremely unlikely event she got elected President,if she did for American jobs what she did at HP, the late Archy Bunker(All In The Family) would finally have long desired "WOMAN like Herbert Hoover again " !
But may Carson's candidacy be long into next year,for he'll take the GOP so far to the outer reaches of the fringe,it will likely be a landslide victory for Hillary !
9
It's true that you can't run government like business. A successful business sells off or closes poor or non-performing units and than writes them down on the balance sheet for tax savings.
You can't do that with Arkansas, Alabama, and parts of every state in the Union. You don't want to do that because, even if they don't like you or you don't care much for them, they're part of the family and part of the fabric that makes this a great nation. And those non-performing places might be on top one day, contributing to others rather than being supported by them.
With Carly, it seems to be an ego thing (something common to virtually all political aspirants) but for the Huckabees and Carsons it puts them into the spotlight where they can milk it for income from as books, speaking engagements and media shows.
It's become a business that the sponsors go along with willingly. Fox makes a lot of money from these hucksters and so do a lot more sponsors that aren't as well known.
You can't do that with Arkansas, Alabama, and parts of every state in the Union. You don't want to do that because, even if they don't like you or you don't care much for them, they're part of the family and part of the fabric that makes this a great nation. And those non-performing places might be on top one day, contributing to others rather than being supported by them.
With Carly, it seems to be an ego thing (something common to virtually all political aspirants) but for the Huckabees and Carsons it puts them into the spotlight where they can milk it for income from as books, speaking engagements and media shows.
It's become a business that the sponsors go along with willingly. Fox makes a lot of money from these hucksters and so do a lot more sponsors that aren't as well known.
24
OK, we've been hearing ad nauseam about the GOP clowns, some a bit more clownish than others, and they are certainly good for a few laughs (though the laugh will be on us should one of them be elected).
Time now for serious coverage about serious candidates who are running about issues rather than their own egos.
I write particularly about Senator Sanders, who the pundits believe can't win, but is there just to push Hillary to the left. News flash: in a huge upset, the province of Alberta (Canada'a Texas) just ejected the conservatives after over 4 decades and elected the the leftist NDP.
Time now for serious coverage about serious candidates who are running about issues rather than their own egos.
I write particularly about Senator Sanders, who the pundits believe can't win, but is there just to push Hillary to the left. News flash: in a huge upset, the province of Alberta (Canada'a Texas) just ejected the conservatives after over 4 decades and elected the the leftist NDP.
19
Everybody was astounded by that election here in Canada. I don't think that Albertans are embracing the left as much as they finally decided that they had enough of the stale rancid politics that passed for government in Alberta politics for eighty years. Electing the NDP was the best way to deliver that message. Enough voters removed their heads from their butts so that they could see clearly, coupled with changing demographics helped this along. In the past once power changed hands it stayed that way for a long time, hence an eight decade of conservative rule. It remains to be seen if Rachael Notley is re-elected Premier in four years. Let's hope so.
2
Fiorina confuses POTUS with Town-meeting Chair; and confuses Congress with Boards of "selectmen" or "councilors"--amateur, part timers.
She also confuses Economy with Polity--a muddle shared by most reductionst right wingers--they think a polity is nothing but the economy.
A curious fusion, since "eco" comes from "oikos" meaning "home." "Nomy" comes from "nomos" meaning "law" or "principle." So she/they forget that good polities also aim and good families and all that entails--including better people--as people, not just as employees.
She also confuses Economy with Polity--a muddle shared by most reductionst right wingers--they think a polity is nothing but the economy.
A curious fusion, since "eco" comes from "oikos" meaning "home." "Nomy" comes from "nomos" meaning "law" or "principle." So she/they forget that good polities also aim and good families and all that entails--including better people--as people, not just as employees.
6
I still wonder how the Democratic party can say that it is the party of diversity when it has only three candidates for President. The first is a 69 year old white man who resigned rather than probably fired from the Reagan Administration. The second is a 73 year old white man who thinks the government is the solution to all our problems, and still can't comb his hair. The last is a 67 year old retread woman who has all the "new car smell" of a moldy, rusty, rat and roach infested, mildewed 1910 Model T Ford, who's major claims to fame and accomplishments were that she married Bill Clinton and was a very successful carpetbagger in NY.
2
Senator from New York, Secretary of State, Class Leader at Wellsleyan, successful lawyer, prominent women's rights advocate. These are accomplishments. Even if you don't like what she's done, it is not true that her only claim to fame, as you call it, is that "she married Bill Clinton and was a successful carpetbagger in NY." You mean they voted for her? As far as Martin O'Malley resigning from the Reagan Administration, I consider that an indication of integrity. Funny how differently we see things. You only see Secretary Clinton as a wife, her marital status being her main attribute. You see O'Malley as a failure while I view his walking away from Reagan as courageous and honest. Conservatives view Reagan is a saint who could do not wrong although many of his policies were unfair and dishonest. You have blinders on Mr. Bryant, IMHO.
15
If it had NOT been for her marriage to Clinton, she would not be where she is today.
BTW, I wasn't referring to O'Malley.
And look up the definition of carpetbagger.
BTW, I wasn't referring to O'Malley.
And look up the definition of carpetbagger.
"The last is a 67 year old retread woman who has all the "new car smell" of a moldy, rusty, rat and roach infested, mildewed 1910 Model T Ford"
+++++
Good lord, the personal attack you level on on Sanders is that he hasn't learned to comb his hair, but Hillary smells like mold, rats and roaches. By the time this long campaign season ends, that sadly will be considered mild.
+++++
Good lord, the personal attack you level on on Sanders is that he hasn't learned to comb his hair, but Hillary smells like mold, rats and roaches. By the time this long campaign season ends, that sadly will be considered mild.
1
What is the difference between a professional politician and a citizen government leader? Every politician starts out as a citizen first. The difference is in how long one remains at it. I suspect that the best presidential candidates are those who get some experience in "lower ranks' before becoming President. Nobody who runs for the presidency can claim the experience. Every Congressman and Governor is inexperienced the first time they run.
3
Yes, but start as a local rep., learn the ropes, then advance.
Thank you, Ms. Collins, for articulating with such grace a complaint I have had since the first time I heard a candidate ask to be elected because she/he did not have any experience and actually hated the idea of government altogether.
Senator Paul Wellstone who tragically died too early said many times (words to the effect) that what the US needed to improve government was to elect people with better political skills who felt government service was an honorable calling to help fellow citizens and not to elect more of those who despised government as well as the political skills needed to make it work. Recent history has certainly validated his observations.
Senator Paul Wellstone who tragically died too early said many times (words to the effect) that what the US needed to improve government was to elect people with better political skills who felt government service was an honorable calling to help fellow citizens and not to elect more of those who despised government as well as the political skills needed to make it work. Recent history has certainly validated his observations.
29
Fiorina ruined Hewlett Packard, turning it from one of America's premier technology companies into a cookie cutter printer and pc company. She'd be a disaster...
21
One thing that tends to get lost in these discussions : it's not the puppet but the puppet master who pulls the strings.
11
Exactly. The Koch Bros. are quite smitten with Walker, I hear. No pesky critical thinking to get in the way of the agenda there.
1
I have been following both Ms Fiorina and Dr Carson's candidacies. What surprises me (well may be I'm not surprised) is how totally devoid of new ideas their platforms are. Worse yet, neither has come up with even any new platitudes and bromides for dealing with the nation's many problems. On Hannity last night Dr Carson's most brilliant insight was "you can't throw money at...[name of issue]" unless , of course, it involves military or police action.
It is obvious that most of the Republican candidates aren't interested in governing. Rather, they are running solely to inflate their egos and pad their resumes. So why does the media take them seriously?
It is obvious that most of the Republican candidates aren't interested in governing. Rather, they are running solely to inflate their egos and pad their resumes. So why does the media take them seriously?
14
Fiorna's "Demon Sheep" campaign ad says it all: "Sadly, we're just getting started."
6
Fiorina is a non-Mormon female Mitt Romney. Devastated one of the great tech companies by firing thousands and walking away with millions. Its instructive to ask what her Silicon valley colleagues think of her.
Its such a strange mystery why the less than 1% support these middle class wreckers - is it they cannot understand their own economic interests? Do they not get that these repubs are the very people farming out jobs to other countries and hiding their own mal-earned wealth from taxes?
Does she have a dog?
Its such a strange mystery why the less than 1% support these middle class wreckers - is it they cannot understand their own economic interests? Do they not get that these repubs are the very people farming out jobs to other countries and hiding their own mal-earned wealth from taxes?
Does she have a dog?
17
The answer to your penultimate question is to be found in your last question. The "less than 1% support these middle-class wreckers " because they themselves fall into that category. They belong to an international elite with an only nominal attachment to their countries of origin.
1
It's not Huckabee's "Government is a roach hotel" that is worrying (and not funny), it's that Government might become a Koch (brothers) hotel, where the candidates go in but don't come out.
16
Carly Fiorina is a failed business executive with nothing better to do. Ben Carson would not get the time of day if he were not an African-American making outrageous statements about our first African-American president. Neither is a serious candidate. Please let's ignore them from now on. Maybe they'll do us all a favor and go away.
17
Carly Fiorina may want to be a politician – though afraid to use the “p” word -- because she cannot find another job worthy of her talents. She nearly destroyed Hewlett-Packard by forcing the company to buy Compaq, just when every other computer manufacturer was trying to exit the box-building business.
Fortunately, though Fiorina didn’t realize it, H-P already had been ruined by others, but was doing very nicely, thank you, by selling exorbitantly priced ink cartridges for its printers.
As far as Ben Carson, he seems typical of many slash and burn surgeons – quick to cut and always certain, even after making a costly mistake. Internists refer to surgery as a non-thinking area of specialization. Carson emphasizes that he is not a politician because he thinks it is a calling which is beneath him. That’s a really close call.
Fortunately, though Fiorina didn’t realize it, H-P already had been ruined by others, but was doing very nicely, thank you, by selling exorbitantly priced ink cartridges for its printers.
As far as Ben Carson, he seems typical of many slash and burn surgeons – quick to cut and always certain, even after making a costly mistake. Internists refer to surgery as a non-thinking area of specialization. Carson emphasizes that he is not a politician because he thinks it is a calling which is beneath him. That’s a really close call.
6
Gail Collins asks, “Some political experts believe he is the kind of Republican who can do well in Iowa. Is that true, Iowa?” Well, does he want to “take the country back” from the “radical leftwing,” the “liberal elites,” and “tree-hugging progressives?” Does he want to cut domestic spending while increasing the military budget? Does he hate government and taxes and unions and gay marriage? Can he embrace medical science while denying climate science and evolutionary science? Is he a Christian? Is he the right kind of Christian? Does he absolutely love his country and our armed forces and our Second Amendment rights and the unborn and American Exceptionalism more than anyone else who ever lived in whole wide world? If so, then yes, I would say he can do quite well with a specific political party within Iowa (q.v. U.S. Representative Steven King, R-IA, 4th District).
6
"We can all look forward to hearing a candidate vow to return us to the golden days of the Hoover administration." Yeah...Archie Bunker for president! Oh wait, he's a fictional character and the actor who played him is dead. Then again, when did that ever stop anyone?
4
He did sing, "Mister, we could use a man like Herbert Hoover again."
Gail, Great column today. I do wonder however, if any of those 30,000 workers will vote for Fiorina, or any Republican.
8
Hard to believe that carly got 42% of the vote against boxer. ben is juist hard to believe-makes one wonder what kind of surgeon he really. I have seen the term "brilliant" used but that is a much abused term. He has not shown any sign of an intellect for a long time now. Huck continues to be a joke. What kind of nuts give these people, as well as cruz, rand, rubio, et al, money?
9
2010 was a bad year for Democrats, and incumbents in particular. Boxer and Brown did well to win against the money that Carly Fiorina and Meg Whitman threw at them respectively. Until "Demon Sheep," it was up in the air whether Barbara Boxer would hold on to her job. Harry Reid wasn't supposed to win, either, but luckily enough Nevadans thought that Sharron Angle was a bridge too far, even for many Republicans.
1
Gail,
Once again, the Republicans are providing you with an embarrassment of riches. With so much material to work with, your columns, particularly those which point out the foibles of the candidates, will practically write themselves!!
Once again, the Republicans are providing you with an embarrassment of riches. With so much material to work with, your columns, particularly those which point out the foibles of the candidates, will practically write themselves!!
9
We need Jay Leno and David Letterman around to make fun of them. I'll miss that this election cycle.
On Carson, I am betting that a candidate who insists on alienating others with mean-spirited and fact-free attacks (see, e.g., the Affordable Care Act and slavery; homosexuality and prison) is the very embodiment of the word "impolitic." And also, accordingly, of the word "unelected".
On Fiorina and her forcible ejection from H-P and her humiliation at the hands of Sen. Boxer, wouldn't you have to had to accomplish something to present yourself plausibly for the top job in the world? Turned on a faucet? Opened a refrigerator door? Buttoned a blouse? Something?
On Fiorina and her forcible ejection from H-P and her humiliation at the hands of Sen. Boxer, wouldn't you have to had to accomplish something to present yourself plausibly for the top job in the world? Turned on a faucet? Opened a refrigerator door? Buttoned a blouse? Something?
8
While I would like to stay open minded about our candidates to learn more, based on what I have heard so far, have to write Carly Fiorina off. After watching Demon Sheep, cannot even give her high marks for good marketing.
Reminiscent of Leona Helmsley. Claims enormous accomplishments that read like enormous ego. Attacking Hillary is not a strategy for leading the US.
Reminiscent of Leona Helmsley. Claims enormous accomplishments that read like enormous ego. Attacking Hillary is not a strategy for leading the US.
6
Fiorina is aiming for the VP slot, figuring she'll be the perfect antidote to the estrogen that will presumably top the Democratic ticket. She's honing her attack dog skills for the 2016 campaign, although she more closely resembles a hyperactive chihuahua than a scary pit bull. I guess they can sell her as a new, smarter Sarah Palin for Republican women voters? At least with Palin we got some good laughs. There's nothing even remotely amusing about the graceless Carly Fiorina.
11
The strongest thing Hillery has going for her are her opponents!
7
Possibly the worst tech CEO in history. Her ambition far exceeds her talents and character.
12
I lived through Carly's term at HP. A politician is exactly what she is. She'll tell you just what you want to hear and then do what she thinks is best for her. The Republicans will love her.
19
I can't help but think that most of the Republican candidates are not serious about running but are just trying to boost their perceived value on the lecture circuit and if they happen to freeload for a couple of months off some poor sucker's campaign contribution, then all the better.
8
I wonder if the attraction to Mike Huckabee that seems a part of my fellow geezers isn't part of our early youth and has as much to do with trust we bestowed on Huckleberry Hound. One of the things we all knew from our day to day lives is we could always trust Huckleberry to try and do the right thing.
I doubt if Huckleberry would even be a faint blip on the radar if his name would be the more appropriate Uriah Heep.
I wonder how we feel would about the aptly named sanctimonious Rick Santorum if he had a more comfortable moniker like Mr. Bumble.
I doubt if Huckleberry would even be a faint blip on the radar if his name would be the more appropriate Uriah Heep.
I wonder how we feel would about the aptly named sanctimonious Rick Santorum if he had a more comfortable moniker like Mr. Bumble.
4
Rest assured flock, Pastor Huckabee will be taking America 'back to Christ' after Ben Carson frees us from the bonds of universal healthcare slavery and Carly Fiorina drives America out of business the way she did with HP.
GOP rapture is the greatest show on Earth.
GOP rapture is the greatest show on Earth.
20
The anti-politician voices of the people spend all their time moneygrubbing to the wealthiest 300,000, making promises to the plutocracy. They never spend any time thinking about the 100 million underclass or what is by far the worst child poverty among all wealthy countries.
For the wannabe Honest Abes (another career politician) politics is all greed all the time to further government of the wealty, by the wealthy and for the wealthy.
The Republican clowns are venal, petty, mean, dishonest, sycophantic and stupid embarrassments to America.
For the wannabe Honest Abes (another career politician) politics is all greed all the time to further government of the wealty, by the wealthy and for the wealthy.
The Republican clowns are venal, petty, mean, dishonest, sycophantic and stupid embarrassments to America.
10
Carly's running because she failed so spectacularly at HP, she can't get a job as s businessperson. Maybe she should be saying that our founding fathers didn't want competent people running the government.
7
There are many worse forms of government such as communism and fascism. But very worst is a theocracy, where the leader purports to speak for God. Huckster is a theocratic. To him, abortion is a sin, but it can be a blessing for rational people.
9
2
Ms. Fiorina claims she is best suited for the job of Presidency because she is not a Politician but a business woman yet was fired from the company Hewlett-Packard she was running in early 2000.
The most scary thought she portrays as a failed business woman yet has the audacity to take on Hillary Clinton.
The most scary thought she portrays as a failed business woman yet has the audacity to take on Hillary Clinton.
7
Republicans seem to want to generate hysteria--wild-eyed predictions and threats, loud noising of Armageddon: this is their bread-and-butter these days. It out-McCarthies McCarthy.
Carson's claim, for example, that the HCA is the worst thing "since slavery" is sheer madness. Worse than the Great Depression, worse than the Civil War--indeed, than the world wars, Korea, and Viet Nam all rolled into one. Worse than the robber baron days, with their child labor and work houses and slums of the poor. Vouchers for health insurance? Why, sputter, sputter, gasp, howl.
I'm not a big fan of the HCA, either, for reasons not germane to this discussion. But until republicans can stop being insane, or pandering to those who are, or fostering it, for God's sake, there's really no point in talking to them at all. We'll have to find ways to work around them if we can. And if not, well, we're in trouble.
Carson's claim, for example, that the HCA is the worst thing "since slavery" is sheer madness. Worse than the Great Depression, worse than the Civil War--indeed, than the world wars, Korea, and Viet Nam all rolled into one. Worse than the robber baron days, with their child labor and work houses and slums of the poor. Vouchers for health insurance? Why, sputter, sputter, gasp, howl.
I'm not a big fan of the HCA, either, for reasons not germane to this discussion. But until republicans can stop being insane, or pandering to those who are, or fostering it, for God's sake, there's really no point in talking to them at all. We'll have to find ways to work around them if we can. And if not, well, we're in trouble.
193
The tactic is called fear and loathing. There's a segment of the population for which it is very effective.
2
"[C]hild labor and work houses and slums of the poor"? I believe that's what the modern GOP calls The Good Old Days.
2
Like it or not, we must deal with politicians, but it doesn't have to be a dirty word. Great politicians are great negotiators, but many Republicans these days pride themselves on never compromising. This is not a good thing for most people, including politicians.
6
"a little like applying for a job as brain surgeon by announcing, “I am not a physician.”"
it goes deeper than that...... for decades republicans have been running for government jobs all the while telling the voter that government is the problem. when was the last time one of them got elected and then willingly quit? i guess they sometimes quit when they've made enough money or get a better job offer.
to me, voting republican is like taking you car to a mechanic that hates cars and isn't really that interested in how they work.
it goes deeper than that...... for decades republicans have been running for government jobs all the while telling the voter that government is the problem. when was the last time one of them got elected and then willingly quit? i guess they sometimes quit when they've made enough money or get a better job offer.
to me, voting republican is like taking you car to a mechanic that hates cars and isn't really that interested in how they work.
12
Someone running for president who introduces themself by saying, "I'm --- ----, and I'm not a politician" is not only lying to you from their very first sentence, but assuming that you're stupid enough to believe them.
12
The strategy is much like Fox News. Complain and inflame. These "candidates" aren't out there to be serious. They're getting paid to keep the circus going so that the actual candidate might look sane and fit for office. Remember Mitt? And the background he stood against? This time around we have many of the same crowd. The Kochs like Walker, who didn't even get a college degree. So it's true: they really aren't politicians. They're the backup band. Gail, your columns are what makes this charade bearable.
9
I think the only thing you left out, Gail, is Washington and Jefferson: slave holders.
1
Comment 200 years from now:
Nelson Mandela: Meat eater, wearer of animal skins.
Enough with the presentism, judging the past by the standards of the present, setting yourself up as the ne plus ultra of morality. For one thing, as far as righteousness goes, it's pretty cheap: they've stopped giving out medals for being against slavery. For another, as my opening example notes, you had better hope your descendants go easy when they judge you by their standards.
Not only is the arc of history long, it has a long, long way to go toward righteousness. Washington, and especially Jefferson, were philosophically and morally complex enough to be conflicted about slavery (and Jefferson was forced to strike from the Declaration a paragraph condemning the slave trade); Northern hands were far from clean on the subject. And I'll bet you haven't thought much about the creature that died for your lunch.
Nelson Mandela: Meat eater, wearer of animal skins.
Enough with the presentism, judging the past by the standards of the present, setting yourself up as the ne plus ultra of morality. For one thing, as far as righteousness goes, it's pretty cheap: they've stopped giving out medals for being against slavery. For another, as my opening example notes, you had better hope your descendants go easy when they judge you by their standards.
Not only is the arc of history long, it has a long, long way to go toward righteousness. Washington, and especially Jefferson, were philosophically and morally complex enough to be conflicted about slavery (and Jefferson was forced to strike from the Declaration a paragraph condemning the slave trade); Northern hands were far from clean on the subject. And I'll bet you haven't thought much about the creature that died for your lunch.
Republican candidates, what a motley herd! Pay your nickle you take your choice! Well spent!
2
A question begging to be asked: why are two relatively young "non-politicians " , running for political office, no longer engaged in the professions they once practiced.
6
Gail Collins for President and New York Times commenters for Cabinet and Congress!
8
Speaking of "wooly rugs" I pine for the entry of non-politician Donald Trump
8
Demon Hair vs. Demon Sheep. I like it. Preferably with both speaking entirely in Japanese, with subtitles.
Tokyo better watch out.
Tokyo better watch out.
1
I love the Demon Sheep!
Let's hear lots more about him!
I hope that the Demon Sheep becomes Gail's new Seamus the Dog.
Let's hear lots more about him!
I hope that the Demon Sheep becomes Gail's new Seamus the Dog.
3
"politician," is, has become, a pejorative, it suggests rather unfitness than qualification for public service...physician is (still) accepted as qualification.
it maybe that if campaigning comes down to a litany of "i am nots..." (a politician, hillary, a socialist, kenyan, etc.) we can do away with the election and give the office to the tweetnik who ends up with the greatest number of followers.
it maybe that if campaigning comes down to a litany of "i am nots..." (a politician, hillary, a socialist, kenyan, etc.) we can do away with the election and give the office to the tweetnik who ends up with the greatest number of followers.
1
Who changed the age limits on Politicians as well as the requirement that all Politicians Must hold a law degree! How can they be elected when they do not know our Laws! EX: does a neurosurgeon knows the laws of this land!?
And she didn't register to vote until she was 43?!? (That tidbit is in the Demon Sheep comments)
Thanks for the video!
Thanks for the video!
9
I don't trust anyone who claims to know what God and/or famous dead people think about contemporary politics.
10
Ronald Reagan was, gasp!!, a politician.
5
Doug,
If you go back to Reagan's epiphany during the time McCarthy took over the GOP you will find that he was more pitchman a la Paul Harvey than politician. He was the beautiful escort you had on your arm when you went to the Gala. He was great to look at and he sold your tobacco products but before he went anywhere you paid the fee.
Reagan was a schmoozer whose core was empty he believed what he was paid to believe nothing more nothing less.
If you go back to Reagan's epiphany during the time McCarthy took over the GOP you will find that he was more pitchman a la Paul Harvey than politician. He was the beautiful escort you had on your arm when you went to the Gala. He was great to look at and he sold your tobacco products but before he went anywhere you paid the fee.
Reagan was a schmoozer whose core was empty he believed what he was paid to believe nothing more nothing less.
Would LaPierre consider Carson and Fiorina to be "demographically symbolic" too? If so, of what, megalomaniacs?
5
Sure there are lots of strange people vying for the GOP nomination. But the clown car really needs one more.... C'mon Donald T., we need you...
2
(laughing) NO. No, we don't.
I am waiting for some operative's comeback to Ms F's attacks on C's "transparency"...
a retort along the lines of all well and good but "Carly, we all see through you"
a retort along the lines of all well and good but "Carly, we all see through you"
2
Aren't most of these people simply taking other people's money to run a public audition for a gig on Fox?
7
Could we also talk about politicians constantly talking about how government doesn't work and that's why we should hire them? If someone came into your business for a job interview and all they talked about was how broken your company is and that you can't expect it to produce anything, would you hire them for the job? That is essentially a part of every conservative candidate's stump speech, and yet we keep considering them viable candidates. If the business is so bad, they shouldn't want to be part of it. And we definitely should not hire them.
236
More than that; they believe government can't work and is in fact evil, and are determined to prove it, if elected.
I'm not following the logic there.
I'm not following the logic there.
2
If you were on an airliner that suddenly encountered serious technical problems, would you think "We need somebody who isn't a pilot!"?
Neither would I --
Neither would I --
11
Carson's remarks about the ACA being the worst thing that has happened in this nation since slavery, comparing American society to Nazi Germany and claiming that President Obama resembles most psychopaths, actually reveal that the good doctor himself is a psychopath, and no brain surgery will be able to reverse that.
As to Fiorina - she is just another no-nothing clown in the ever expanding Republican clown car. But she certainly feels entitled to run this nation into the ground as she did with Hewlett Packard.
As to Fiorina - she is just another no-nothing clown in the ever expanding Republican clown car. But she certainly feels entitled to run this nation into the ground as she did with Hewlett Packard.
8
As hardened and cynical as I have become about politics, Gail still makes me laugh. Thanks for brightening my Thursday!
5
IN one fell swoop, Ben Carson destroyed the "well, he's no brain surgeon-" comeback.
13
Dear Ms. Collins,
Perhaps you can give us some kind of advice on how you manage to stay sane. Let me explain: you actually READ all the clap trap that the clowns from the GOP/TP/KOCH AFFILIATE produce!
Let me be the first to say "thank you" for condensing all this material in your columns (A few less screeds I have to read). It is, indeed, a great public service.
But consider yourself for a moment. Do you have nightmares of some Huckabee/Fiorina/Walker hybrid creature stalking you? This burden must be almost impossible to bear.
I realize it's somewhat simpler to consider the Democratic field; Ms. Clinton and Mr. Sanders. This probably allows you to have all the time necessary to "size up" their opponents from the Republicans whose ranks seem to grow daily.
But do not allow all of this to, how can I put this, "freeze" the logical portions of your brain (Much like heroin, overdoses of "stupidity" can have devastating effects. I understand trying to read and comprehend anything from Scott Walker causes the hippocampus to literally turn to jelly; reading stuff from the likes of Mr. Huckabee or Ms. Fiorina must also induce similar results).
So for the sake of all of us readers, please watch for warning signs of debilitation (Example: Mr. Walker writes something that appears "logical" to you; time for that brain scan!). You are sorely needed to put a humorous spin on what is a becoming a great, American tragedy, "The Elections".
Perhaps you can give us some kind of advice on how you manage to stay sane. Let me explain: you actually READ all the clap trap that the clowns from the GOP/TP/KOCH AFFILIATE produce!
Let me be the first to say "thank you" for condensing all this material in your columns (A few less screeds I have to read). It is, indeed, a great public service.
But consider yourself for a moment. Do you have nightmares of some Huckabee/Fiorina/Walker hybrid creature stalking you? This burden must be almost impossible to bear.
I realize it's somewhat simpler to consider the Democratic field; Ms. Clinton and Mr. Sanders. This probably allows you to have all the time necessary to "size up" their opponents from the Republicans whose ranks seem to grow daily.
But do not allow all of this to, how can I put this, "freeze" the logical portions of your brain (Much like heroin, overdoses of "stupidity" can have devastating effects. I understand trying to read and comprehend anything from Scott Walker causes the hippocampus to literally turn to jelly; reading stuff from the likes of Mr. Huckabee or Ms. Fiorina must also induce similar results).
So for the sake of all of us readers, please watch for warning signs of debilitation (Example: Mr. Walker writes something that appears "logical" to you; time for that brain scan!). You are sorely needed to put a humorous spin on what is a becoming a great, American tragedy, "The Elections".
7
So she married ATT and her career was on it’s way. Says a lot about Frank Fiorina and decisions that should not have been taken. Now, she goes around telling people that she is a success. Liar, liar...
9
As they like to say in Texas, Carly is all hat and no cattle.
5
Will Gail call Hillary "The rather mean left winger?" I would suspect not.
1
only if she earns it. Otherwise, it's unfair to Mr. Many Gs.
Jon Stewart ran Fiorna's ad vs Clinton video. Fiorina fired 30,000 employees and ran Hewlett-Packard into the ground then was "rewarded" with a multi-million dollar golden parachute. Fiorina said "I ran one of the largest tech companies in America. I UNDERSTAND how our economy works!" Stewart looked into the camera and saId "Yes you do Carly..yes you do!"
(Oh god we are going to miss you Jon is Democalypse 2016!!)
BTW as far as Carla saying she is tech savvy? "...her campaign staff somehow didn’t lock up carlyfiorina.org.
You know who did? About 30,000 frowny face emoticons. an emoticon for every one of the thirty thousand employees she fired."
http://www.wired.com/2015/05/carly-fiorina-website-mistake/
Go to carlyfiorina.org Amazing!
(Oh god we are going to miss you Jon is Democalypse 2016!!)
BTW as far as Carla saying she is tech savvy? "...her campaign staff somehow didn’t lock up carlyfiorina.org.
You know who did? About 30,000 frowny face emoticons. an emoticon for every one of the thirty thousand employees she fired."
http://www.wired.com/2015/05/carly-fiorina-website-mistake/
Go to carlyfiorina.org Amazing!
8
Did she strap the demon sheep on top of her car when she drive away from HB?
1
An unusual note in this epistle of Gail, as if she'd seen it all before, recognized how hollow and fraudulent it is and has a pang of sadness that there are people stupid enough to vote for people like this. As to Molly or Gail? Gail, by a quip.
Hewlitt-Packard had the intelligence to fire Ms Fiorina. Let us hope the voters (sheep?) in the Republican primaries have the same brains.
5
"Demon Sheep" - fantastic, Ms. Collins, Fiorina's attack video ranks up there with your Seamus, the Romney dog, in the cage atop their family station wagon. And the Republican candidate's own "demon sheep" blunder about having "binders full of women" - another memorable quote from the 2012 Presidential campaign fiasco for Republicans of all stripes. And betting on candidates like Carly Fiorina and Ben Carson the brain-surgeon, who've never been elected to anything, is a warning flag on thin ice to American voters. I wonder why Dr. Carson and Ms. Fiorina feel obliged and qualified to run for our Presidency? Your column today is brilliant and memorable, Gail, thank you.
4
I just plain love you Gail!
3
The only sense in which founders such as Jefferson, Adams, and Madison weren't professional politicians is that they were BOTH longtime public servants AND did other things, not one or the other. And as for "citizen government" without a political class, most if not all of these men were Freemasons, a group repeatedly accused of being a secret, elitist clique of those who thought they should manage the country to keep it out of the hands of the unwashed and uneducated hoi polloi. Wouldn't it be nice if the Republican candidates actually read the biographies of those whom they constantly invoke.
2
Thank you! I hadn't seen the Demon Sheep ad! It is truly a crazy-pants all-out paranoid freakout! Made my day.
3
" really, there are smarter buys."
!
Gail,
At least both Fiorina and DR. Carson have long term REAL jobs and results to brag about.
What is madam neo-con-aka Hilarious Clinton-work history?
Are we going to count WalMart patronage gig-as governor spouse-a real job?
Are we going to count 8 years in the Senate with virtually no record of laws passed of her own , except the shameful Patriot Act and Iraq War-a real job?
Are we going to count 4 years as SoS with worldwide trips for photo-ops and window-dressing a real job?
Will madam-neo-con supporters advise or educate us on her "real work experience, accomplishments, or results " if any, to qualify her as POUS?
!
Gail,
At least both Fiorina and DR. Carson have long term REAL jobs and results to brag about.
What is madam neo-con-aka Hilarious Clinton-work history?
Are we going to count WalMart patronage gig-as governor spouse-a real job?
Are we going to count 8 years in the Senate with virtually no record of laws passed of her own , except the shameful Patriot Act and Iraq War-a real job?
Are we going to count 4 years as SoS with worldwide trips for photo-ops and window-dressing a real job?
Will madam-neo-con supporters advise or educate us on her "real work experience, accomplishments, or results " if any, to qualify her as POUS?
1
Gail, wherever did you get the idea that electing more politicians would salve the political process?
Gosh girl, open up those baby blues and look around you? Are you happy with your local politico? And who is the Queen of the Politicos? Yep, none other than Hillary Herself, who has given new meaning to the word "expedient" since the Grand Politico Bill was in office.
I'd rather go for a candidate who's well read, and can tell you about it in her own words, like Fioriana can. Plus, she's running for office, not because she's "dead broke," but she really wants to transcend the stupid politics and politicians.
Count me among those ready for this Demon in Wolf's clothing!
Gosh girl, open up those baby blues and look around you? Are you happy with your local politico? And who is the Queen of the Politicos? Yep, none other than Hillary Herself, who has given new meaning to the word "expedient" since the Grand Politico Bill was in office.
I'd rather go for a candidate who's well read, and can tell you about it in her own words, like Fioriana can. Plus, she's running for office, not because she's "dead broke," but she really wants to transcend the stupid politics and politicians.
Count me among those ready for this Demon in Wolf's clothing!
1
Ms. Collins:
Thanks for a brilliant and witty piece. This column shows how an opinion article should be done.
Thanks for a brilliant and witty piece. This column shows how an opinion article should be done.
3
We can dismiss Carson who has gone off the deep end. You have to wonder what's in his Kool-Aid???
Fiorina sounds like she has intelligence, but let's ask her about global warming science. If she is truthful she wont make it to face a Democrat, she will be eliminated by the Republican voters. If she takes the Republican line that she is not a scientist, we will know she is a politician...and therefore is lying to the public on multiple levels.
Fiorina sounds like she has intelligence, but let's ask her about global warming science. If she is truthful she wont make it to face a Democrat, she will be eliminated by the Republican voters. If she takes the Republican line that she is not a scientist, we will know she is a politician...and therefore is lying to the public on multiple levels.
2
Wait, wait Gail – you forgot to mention that most of the Republican candidates who are " not politicians" are also "not scientists"! And a lot of the Republican politicians are also "not scientists," meaning not equipped to deal straightforwardly with issues like climate change and women's rights.
Let's hope the "nays" don't have it. Let's hope they are all "not presidents."
Let's hope the "nays" don't have it. Let's hope they are all "not presidents."
5
Does anyone else find it interesting that people with no experience of political office but with a measure of success in, say, business or medicine, always seem to want to enter the political arena at or near the top? Ross Perot goes from very successful businessman to want to be President. Carly Fiorina, whose actual business acumen is suspect, wanted to start as a U.S. Senator and, failing that, sets her sights a tad higher. Meg Whitman, the current CEO trying to dismantle HP also wanted to start as Senator. On the Democratic side, Ralph Nader, a lawyer who created consumer advocacy, wanted to start as President. This is the march of the ablest egos.
1
For true motivations of the multitudes of republican presidential candidates one needn't look much past bald-faced narcissism, vanity book publicity or auditions for Roger Ailes.
6
Fiorina should run on the fact she was fired for incompetence since most of our better presidents were poor businessmen. For instance, Teddy Rosevelt lost half the fortune he inherited. Whereas, as Gail pointed out, the president who was most successful in business was Herbert Hoover.
9
This is really rich stuff. Ms. Collins writes about "public men, whose experience in private enterprise frequently involved running a plantation into the ground."
Now we have a madman armed with a scalpel and a public woman, whose experience in private enterprise orchestrated running one of the world's top tech firms into the ground, declining any responsibility for the mess she dropped behind her.
These folks should be President, were it not for Mike "Ultra Slim-Fast" Huckabee or Rick Santorum whose sanctimonious homilies make Carson and Fiorina look like models of serious reflection by comparison.
Oh, the rolling GOP clown car. May it crash yet again -- but not into us innocent American by-standers. But if we stand-by, yet again, then we'll be anything but innocent.
Now we have a madman armed with a scalpel and a public woman, whose experience in private enterprise orchestrated running one of the world's top tech firms into the ground, declining any responsibility for the mess she dropped behind her.
These folks should be President, were it not for Mike "Ultra Slim-Fast" Huckabee or Rick Santorum whose sanctimonious homilies make Carson and Fiorina look like models of serious reflection by comparison.
Oh, the rolling GOP clown car. May it crash yet again -- but not into us innocent American by-standers. But if we stand-by, yet again, then we'll be anything but innocent.
29
There is an old saying among doctors to the effect that surgeons are just doctors without bedside manners. It's instructive to understand what this means: a lack of empathy for the patient. Ben Carson doesn't like the Affordable Care Act because he doesn't have a clue what it means to those without health insurance. He can't imagine the worried lives they live, just a step away from solvency should a medical emergency occur. Carson is a self-interested physician of the selfish sort. At the heart of his antipathy is his fear that he may lose his princely income which is far greater than the value of his contributions to society.
47
Having spent the last week in D.C, and NYC I can say without a doubt that one thing our forefathers really believed in was politics and government.
In banana republics we see government run by those with no experience and we don't see any monuments to a lasting form of citizen run government.
Can't wait to discus the Huckster.
In banana republics we see government run by those with no experience and we don't see any monuments to a lasting form of citizen run government.
Can't wait to discus the Huckster.
9
The prevalent theory on the right these days that "Government should be run like business" is truly scary, especially if you've had the privilege in the past 30 years or so of working for the imbeciles who pass themselves off as management.
47
Yeah. Nobody EVER does anything wrong in the business world.
Most businesses operate on the model of top-down command. Why don't those right-wingers come out and say that they're against democracy and for dictatorship.
The Republicans have an army of candidates while the Democrats are a laughingstock with one candidate waiting for the coronation. Hillary Clinton doesn't like primaries so with the help of her husband, all potential opponents step aside to guarantee her a victory: this happened in her first race for the U.S. Senate and twice in her Presidential campaigns. Remember, she was the candidate who told the "Today" show six years ago: "It'll all be over by Super Tuesday." Along came Barack Obama. Cheers for Bernie Saunders for entering the race but we all know there were Democrats who aren't running because of the Clinton machine. Secretary Clinton hasn't given one interview in the 24 days since she first announced: it's great to be the Queen!
2
I wouldn't be too proud of that army of Gomer Pyles.
To my knowledge Ms Clinton has discouraged no one from running against her. I think that when you have someone with a legal background who is comfortable on the world stage and has successfully run for and served in public office ( unlike Ms Fiorini) it is easy to decide on who is the best candidate. Don't blame the Democrats for not loading up a clown car every 4 years and inflicting that mess on all of us.
Yeah, too bad for Republicans it's an army of clowns. Have you heard that Texas is about to be invaded from south of the border by ISIS terrorists carrying vials of Ebola and from the north by the U.S. Army?
3
Hopefully, Carson and Fiorina will drop out soon. Neither is remotely qualified to be President of the United States. Surgeons and CEOs often have big egos, but this is a bridge too far. POTUS is the biggest job in the world. They are doing all of us a disservice by denegrating the office.
18
they're in it for the notoriety, a currency quickly devalued. it was just as bad last time around, what with ghouls like Gingrich , Giuliani and Trump.
1
We all know nature abhors a vacuum, and the list of Republican presidential candidates seems to demonstrate that. As the GOP flounders trying to come up with a viable candidate, the void sucks in all the tattered remnants of elections past (Crystie, Huckabee, Walker), along with a few newbies (Fiorina, Carson).
Looks to me they all just suck.
Looks to me they all just suck.
14
Haven't we already had a Republican president who ran a business into the ground before doing the same with the country?
Fiorina is channeling W.
Fiorina is channeling W.
56
These GOP candidates love the label..common sense. They use it more than McDonalds uses salt. Most people love both the taste of salt and the idea of common sense. But when the GOP candidates say..common sense...I find the word nonsense would be more factual.
Their goal appears to be that the United States be a small government super power, the first ever. They believe the market place AKA extreme capitalism with lots of cronyism is utopia. They are telling us that Medicaid costs will go down by trillions if moved to block grants for the states as the elderly in nursing homes and the very disabled will get out of their hammocks and find jobs.
GOP Common Sense looks more like fictional story-telling with some very frightening scenarios.
Their goal appears to be that the United States be a small government super power, the first ever. They believe the market place AKA extreme capitalism with lots of cronyism is utopia. They are telling us that Medicaid costs will go down by trillions if moved to block grants for the states as the elderly in nursing homes and the very disabled will get out of their hammocks and find jobs.
GOP Common Sense looks more like fictional story-telling with some very frightening scenarios.
26
Ms. Collins, thank you for this column. It's a subject that should have been addressed a long time ago--and reiterated every time some amateur decides to run for the most powerful job in the world. Would it kill Fiorina or Carson to run for mayor or city council or county commissioner to get their feet wet and see if they have a talent for politics?
23
All I feel entitled to optimistically hope for is that three hundred years hence people will be able to read the works of our Jonathan Swift writing about our Walpole government. I also hope that ten years from now our Jonathan Swift is not writing our Modest Proposal.
11
It's why this paper tires me more and more. Your bias is insufferable.
Making fun of Carson -- a black neuro-surgeon -- and Fiorina -- a female executive -- and doing it as blithely as you please. And pretending -- or worse, believing -- that your hypocrisy isn't positively glaring.
And your front page? Three items on the sureness and goodness and inevitability of Hillary.
Edgy mean spiritedness and political prejudice is boring and annoying on Fox, and equally here.
Making fun of Carson -- a black neuro-surgeon -- and Fiorina -- a female executive -- and doing it as blithely as you please. And pretending -- or worse, believing -- that your hypocrisy isn't positively glaring.
And your front page? Three items on the sureness and goodness and inevitability of Hillary.
Edgy mean spiritedness and political prejudice is boring and annoying on Fox, and equally here.
1
Take note that none of the humor was directed either at the fact that Fiorina was a female executive or Carson a black neurosurgeon. Rather, the point is that both are running on their political inexperience being a plus - and it shows in humorous ways. If these two candidates can't take the gentle ribbings Gail Collins administers here, they really, really, really don't belong anywhere near the White House.
10
It's called an opinion piece. She's paid to give her opinion, not to be without prejudice towards political candidates.
2
I agree, Carson is such an easy target--he satirizes himself! But he does deserve all the derision he gets.
4
I wonder if Ben Carson let some random ignoramus off the street do some of his operating for him.
Glorifying idiocy has become the GOP way.
Glorifying idiocy has become the GOP way.
45
It all depends how one defines "politics" or "politician" when laying out a career for setting up the "us" and "them" appeal to voters. Surely some element of political craft and maneuvering are requisite for moving up the corporate ladder. To say that timing, persuasion, opportunism and treading on others does not come in to play for success might be an argument suited for a Martian audience, but common sense here on Earth dictates otherwise. Anytime aspirants employ that "aw shucks, I'm just as dumb in the ways of the world as you are," the probability is that they are.
9
I would not want a self-described "non-political business person" in a political office because the political model of business is fascism.
41
Hold on a minute. Before we rush to judgment let’s consider the counterfactual case. It might be beneficial to elect a Republican with no political skills. In such a case he or she would be incapable of implementing the right wing agenda. If we have to elect a Republican, an incompetent one could be the best choice. Of course, there is some risk associated with this strategy. The Vice President and some members of the Cabinet might be wily in the ways of government and able to manipulate the levers such that terrible outcomes ensue leaving large parts of the world in turmoil and violence and our economy in tatters. In fact, there is a recent case study precisely centering on those points. That experience aside, I am still attracted by the idea of incompetent over competent Republicans. Think about it.
9
We already had an executive team like that.
Been there. Done that. The current quagmires are the result. Please, let's not try it again.
These boutique candidates serve a purpose, in a likely Koch orchestrated bait and switch operation. The eventual nominee, likely to be Rubio, Paul, or Bush, will look less insane and less stupid by comparison.
20
In China the "Head of State" is the General Secretary of the Communist Party. One only attains this position after decades of working one's way up the bureaucratic and political ladder and demonstrating superior competence along the way.
Maybe they have a better idea.
Maybe they have a better idea.
1
Most of us are unaware of the money being raked in by the likes of the Huck, Carly, and that brain surgeon guy. The speaker's circuit alone commands many millions a year. The "inspirational" books they crank out, often with someone else at the laptop, are best sellers among hearty, oldish Tea Partiers, and, who knows, a prize gig at Fox News may be in the offing.
"Presidential candidate" is the easiest get for the resume. Huckabee in particular has won the trifecta since his last run. Trouble is, being in the Fox spotlight for four years has forced him to amp up the nasty so as to be able to continue shoveling anthracitic bile into the furnace of hate for Obama and his liberal anti-Americans.
I'm guessing he no longer even recognizes himself. Mammon will do that to you.
"Presidential candidate" is the easiest get for the resume. Huckabee in particular has won the trifecta since his last run. Trouble is, being in the Fox spotlight for four years has forced him to amp up the nasty so as to be able to continue shoveling anthracitic bile into the furnace of hate for Obama and his liberal anti-Americans.
I'm guessing he no longer even recognizes himself. Mammon will do that to you.
14
The GOP engine appears to be fueled primarily by contempt for the American people. The question then becomes whether they have or have not accurately judged the level of self-contempt among the American people.
8
Actually, it is not self-contempt they bait to get elected, but contempt for others - any other group that they say benefits and shouldn't from current policy or from government. The people that vote GOP do not seem to ever look at themselves and their own condition or how that relates to the GOP agenda.
1
I'm for all these Republican candidates. Without them the election would be no fun at all.
9
Carly Fiorina is quite right to say that the founding fathers didn't intend the US to have a professional political class. Why can't she grasp that their intentions didn't pan out? That history has shown understanding how to govern takes practice, and is a full-time job?
As the joke about French politicians goes, who cares if it doesn't work in practice? It works in theory.
As the joke about French politicians goes, who cares if it doesn't work in practice? It works in theory.
7
The founding fathers also did not intend to ever have a woman as president....
My sister was one of those 30,000 people whose jobs Carly destroyed. She received her retirement package - years early in a very productive IT career - and took it because it contained health insurance. But she had to walk the plank first. She had to train people in the Philippines to take over the jobs of all her multi-person team, so they could be laid off. Then she would be laid off with her paltry package -at the peak of her career.
To me, Carly Fiorina is a rotten, unethical sham who benefited from corporate boards' practice of paying people off with millions to get rid of them - but to keep that practice going in case they are ousted one day. A legend in her own mind, but not in mine.
To me, Carly Fiorina is a rotten, unethical sham who benefited from corporate boards' practice of paying people off with millions to get rid of them - but to keep that practice going in case they are ousted one day. A legend in her own mind, but not in mine.
51
Well, it doesn't really matter, anyway. Hilary and Jeb seem to be the only ones who have the right experience to do the job, not matter how we may dislike either of them. The others are just clowns, as they are often described, not just by me. (Personally, I think All Republicans are clowns, but unfunny. It's like a religion of sorts, so the adherents don't do a lot of thinking or questioning.)
8
Yes, and if Jeb wins he'll appoint Carson Secretary of HHS or Surgeon General. And Fiorina Secretary of Commerce (though she is really angling for the GOP VP slot). Be afraid. Be very afraid.
Well, President Fiorina, instead of raising taxes to balance the budget, can just lay off a couple of million Americans. Maybe we can ship them to Canada or Mexico. Problem solved.
19
Anyone remember how much of a golden parachute Ms. Florina got for trying to destroy HP? I can only conclude that someone who believes herself to be so intelligent, so savvy but is considered by her own Board to be a failure must have been trying to fail. I should warn Ms. Fiorina that while the perks for a former prez are substantial (Mr. Clinton's speaking fees, for example, a very nice example of how "the market" functions), they don't come near matching those of a major corp CEO for doing nothing but going away. Oh, by the way, her golden parachute came to 400 times the average annual salary of a median earner in America, which means, of course, you or I could live for 400 years on the windfall she received for failing to do her job well. Must be nice to be rewarded so generously. Well, anything to get rid of her, I suppose.
1
But the thing that makes me uneasy is that, in our wacky political world one of these non-politicians could become President, or end up on the Republican ticket in the Vice-President spot. Keep McCain and Palin in mind. Once on the Republican ticket your odds are about 50/50 that the American populace will tip your way. We've gotten lucky in the last two elections; I don't know how long our luck will hold out.
But I don't know which is worse, non-politicians, or life-time politicians who are anti-government from the first day of their decades-long career in politics. I'm thinking of our absentee governor, Scott Walker. If anyone sees him around your state send him home. We haven't seen much of him here since he was re-elected last November.
But I don't know which is worse, non-politicians, or life-time politicians who are anti-government from the first day of their decades-long career in politics. I'm thinking of our absentee governor, Scott Walker. If anyone sees him around your state send him home. We haven't seen much of him here since he was re-elected last November.
17
Same situation here in N.J. with absentee Gov. Christie!
1
For those who value lying, one percenter law breakers who have a history of zero accomplishment and who gives new meaning to the concept of hypocrisy, Hillary is an excellent choice.
2
As if that's all she did, not wanting to debate right now the shortcomings of Republican candidates this time or in past elections whom voters like Dude Abiding support/supported. Let's see, if we can show Ms. Clinton in the worst light, just because it's the flavor of the month for those who are angry at the world, I guess such voters agree that it was right to judge Sarah Palin purely on her Couric interview because that's what showed her in the worst light. Oddly enough, at that time, conservatives were touting Ms. Palin's other accomplishments while mayor and governor, i.e. in political positions. Why focus on Ms. Clinton's shortcomings and not her strengths? Simple answer, because Dude Abiding does not like her for personal reasons and wouldn't vote Democratic if Saint Sebastian returned to run on the Democratic ticket and Emperor Bokassa were running as the GOP standard-bearer.
The more Republican candidates crawl out from under their respective rocks to announce they are running for President, the more gleeful we progressive Democrats get.
We can't help it. We are laughing all the way to the White House!
We can't help it. We are laughing all the way to the White House!
4
Why would any person who is not a politician run for election to the most powerful political office in the world?
Ben Carson is an arrogant articulate mugging clownish buffoon educated professional ignorant god talking black man who has never been elected to any political office.. Carson is the current Republican answer to the arrogant inarticulate mugging clownish buffoon uneducated ignorant preacher politician failed candidate black man Rev. Al Sharpton. Carson is Herman Cain 2016. But for their permanent sun tans this trio would be little noted.
Carly Fiorina is a corrupt crony capitalist corporate plutocrat welfare queen. Fiorina is novel because she does not have a Y chromosome and is not an intemperate immature ignorant reckless fickle idiot like Sarah Palin and Michelle Bachman. But unlike Palin and Bachman Fiorina has never won any election to any political office. Carly ran HP aground by firing thousands and walking away with millions.
Huckabee's claim to fame is that he is also a military service evader with one wife from Hope Arkansas. Just like Bill Clinton..
Ben Carson is an arrogant articulate mugging clownish buffoon educated professional ignorant god talking black man who has never been elected to any political office.. Carson is the current Republican answer to the arrogant inarticulate mugging clownish buffoon uneducated ignorant preacher politician failed candidate black man Rev. Al Sharpton. Carson is Herman Cain 2016. But for their permanent sun tans this trio would be little noted.
Carly Fiorina is a corrupt crony capitalist corporate plutocrat welfare queen. Fiorina is novel because she does not have a Y chromosome and is not an intemperate immature ignorant reckless fickle idiot like Sarah Palin and Michelle Bachman. But unlike Palin and Bachman Fiorina has never won any election to any political office. Carly ran HP aground by firing thousands and walking away with millions.
Huckabee's claim to fame is that he is also a military service evader with one wife from Hope Arkansas. Just like Bill Clinton..
3
funny thing this demon sheep. but what does it have to do with ms fiorina's capacities as president? who was she calling demon sheep? and really, with all the money available to her, couldn't ms fiorina create at least an animate sheep? the kind we see in movies instead of a man disguised as one?
3
When Florin and Carson say they should be elected president because they have no experience in politics, that probably means that people should trust them because they don't know, yet, how to fool people through political manoeuvring.
2
Not a chance. You don't get to be CEO of a large company without knowing something about political maneuvering. The other guy? Not so sure - it probably also takes some maneuvering to be head surgeon, but if that position is based on pure talent, then I have no idea how that particular talent relates to leading the county. Many people are smart, have ideas, can write them down and make speeches but most do not have an ego so big they think it qualified them to lead the country.
I, too, would like to think better of Iowa. I grew up there. But its overwhelming embrace of backward conservative thinking (with significant liberal outposts in university towns) is a national embarrassment. There seems to be no end to the gullibility that any GOP buffoon will find waiting there. A state with a proud history has become the land of meaningless straw polls and caucuses unrepresentative of anyone, all wrapped up in frenzied media coverage. What a waste.
20
About the only card that the Republicans have left to play, aside from attacks in Democrats, is a false and debased notion of democracy, the kind that says that since every citizen over 18 has an equal vote, anyone's judgment is as valid as anyone else's. In such a view, as Charles Pierce has pointed out, the enemy is the expert, the one who knows more on a subject than the average Joe or Jane.
(I'm not getting into vote suppression here; that's for another thread.)
Republican presidential politics is looking more and more like the world of Harrison Bergeron.
See what you started, John McCain?
(I'm not getting into vote suppression here; that's for another thread.)
Republican presidential politics is looking more and more like the world of Harrison Bergeron.
See what you started, John McCain?
4
I agree. Some time during the last decade (maybe around 2000?) it became a "thing" for a politician to claim to be "just so folksy" (AKA stupid) and "just one of you guys." The educated, knowledgable, astute and thoughtful among us - or among the politicians - were labeled elitists. I continue to say "Everyman" is not a qualification for the highest office in the country - or even for most offices.
1
The GOP field is beginning to have all the appearances of the midget car at the circus that whizzes and chugs into the center ring belching smoke and confetti, lurches to a stop accompanied by a series of thunderous backfires and then disgorges a seemingly impossible hoard of zany clowns.
Let the games begin!
Let the games begin!
7
It is not a coincidence that the metaphor being used to describe the increasing number of entries for the presidential race on the GOP side is "Clown Car". They just keep piling out, each trying to be more outrageous than the previous ones.
The GOP side seems to be all about posturing; Clinton and Sanders seem to be trying for substance. Sanders definitely is.
The GOP side seems to be all about posturing; Clinton and Sanders seem to be trying for substance. Sanders definitely is.
5
Doesn't the phrase "the rather mean right-winger we’re stuck with now" apply to the entire GOP these days?
I have yet to understand why the biggest Bible thumpers are among the meanest politicians. Was compassion redacted from their copy of the book? I imagine it is the same version used by the Spanish Inquisition (that no one expects), the Crusades, and the Puritans.
Few of these people can think for themselves. They either need a book (or their interpretation of it), or a Koch brother to tell them what to do. This is not the kind of person who should be representing this country as President.
I have yet to understand why the biggest Bible thumpers are among the meanest politicians. Was compassion redacted from their copy of the book? I imagine it is the same version used by the Spanish Inquisition (that no one expects), the Crusades, and the Puritans.
Few of these people can think for themselves. They either need a book (or their interpretation of it), or a Koch brother to tell them what to do. This is not the kind of person who should be representing this country as President.
13
The Presidential Debates should be restricted to debating the contents of videos of the candidates claims. For candidate X, the other candidates would select the video clips. This would be interesting and this would avoid any softball questions.
2
The debates are a waste time…the moderators do a terrible job. They do not ask hardball questions, do not rebut outright lies and by not doing what they are supposed to, , fail the public who will be voting in 2016. Why continue to watch when you come away with the same overworked campaign promises and noting of substance.
Let Jon Stewart moderate a few debates.!!
Let Jon Stewart moderate a few debates.!!
1
Whenever Ms Fiorina bashes Hillary Clinton, all I hear is a jealous woman who is bitter that she was not chosen as prom queen. If Carly wants to be a viable presidential candidate I wish she would start acting like one. She can do that by trying to be a presidential candidate who happened to be a woman and not like a woman presidential candidate who so far thinks this is popularity contest and the cutest girl wins. Ms Fiorina should start each day by asking herself "what would Andrea Merkel do?".
4
Carly could shut down non performing cities, send sanitary work offshore, build roads in China and install them with illegals, in return we take the garbage and toxic waste of the world and pump it down in fracking holes, heck, works for me. We pay her if it works, she pays us if it doesn't? Can we deal? My vote is for sale to the highest bidder.
6
Fiorina and Carson are bumbling Tea Party sideshow acts, charlatans feeding on fears, playing for the base. They are now rabid dog politicians, no longer a CEO or a scientists. Expect the most vitriol from these two as they get marginalized.
Huckabee is the scary religious panderer--quote the bible, play on hard-right homophobia, sell wacky books. Expect those duck hunter guys at one of his rallies.
They serve a political purpose: do the dirty work for Jeb Bush, mobilize the base into a blood-lust frenzy, energize talk radio with soundbites, preach trickle-down, preach low taxes, preach the pull-up-your bootstrap mentality, play the religious card, the patriotic card, the tough on crime card, the smoke them out card, and take a seat at Fox News whenever possible.
Huckabee is the scary religious panderer--quote the bible, play on hard-right homophobia, sell wacky books. Expect those duck hunter guys at one of his rallies.
They serve a political purpose: do the dirty work for Jeb Bush, mobilize the base into a blood-lust frenzy, energize talk radio with soundbites, preach trickle-down, preach low taxes, preach the pull-up-your bootstrap mentality, play the religious card, the patriotic card, the tough on crime card, the smoke them out card, and take a seat at Fox News whenever possible.
4
Mike Huckabee had two good moments. One was when he called the Club for Growth the Club for Greed.
The other was when he said that Jeremiah Wright was no big deal, because pastors and parishioners often disagree.
A stopped clock is right twice a day.
The other was when he said that Jeremiah Wright was no big deal, because pastors and parishioners often disagree.
A stopped clock is right twice a day.
I've always been puzzled by how frequently Fiorina appears on Meet the Press.
1
Look at the god-awful mess we're in and have been in for decades, all thanks to "professional" politicians. We've had many Presidents and other top ranking officials without political experience and they've done remarkable jobs.
Yes, some have other reasons why you'd not want to vote for them, but not being a seasoned corrupted, lying, greedy politician with decades of rotten behavior behind him or her, is not one of the reasons.
Carson is a decent, highly intelligent man with decades of experience in very high tension situations making good decisions in a cool calm manner. The POTUS needs someone who can gather the best and brightest around them and listen to them (unlike Obama) and make rational decisions.
Senator Rubio is an excellent young man with good ideas, sharp and quick - just about anyone on either side of the isle would be preferable to Clinton. If you can't see that you're completely steeped in their kook-aid.
Yes, some have other reasons why you'd not want to vote for them, but not being a seasoned corrupted, lying, greedy politician with decades of rotten behavior behind him or her, is not one of the reasons.
Carson is a decent, highly intelligent man with decades of experience in very high tension situations making good decisions in a cool calm manner. The POTUS needs someone who can gather the best and brightest around them and listen to them (unlike Obama) and make rational decisions.
Senator Rubio is an excellent young man with good ideas, sharp and quick - just about anyone on either side of the isle would be preferable to Clinton. If you can't see that you're completely steeped in their kook-aid.
1
Rubio's ideas are from the 1950s!!!!!!!!!
I'm not sure that I would vote for a dog catcher who didn't have any experience in catching dogs. In fact if this were actually the case then we wouldn't be voting for a dog catcher: we would be voting for a person who wanted to become a dog catcher. How is that any different from voting for a non politician to become a politician? Sounds lose lose to me.
2
Ms. Collins,
This is welcome news from you to hear that Mr. Carson is a neurosurgeon because I was just going to check on the web about what causes a brain seizure. We need Mr. Carson as doctor in the house; one of the guardians of our building, without a political bean in his mind, got taken to the hospital and we might feel reassured to have updates from this non-political doctor, who is still going on about old Adolph, and does not have anything of importance to add to his bid for Presidency.
Awful story about Iowa where an elderly man visited his wife of many years in a home, and got arrested because they showed each other some matrimonial tenderness.
Hewlett-Packard was a great company in my days and glad that Ms. Fiorina is a stellar representative of the above. It sounds as if we could be fleeced sheep though if working for her like demons.
Personally I want a strong political and reasoned candidate for President, tough if necessary, who is interested also in the human causes to be found in the Public Sector, and we also are in the midst of rebuilding our Nation. While this American has yet to see a demon sheep, there are quite a few political goat-heads who seem intent in butting us off the mountain.
Thank you for clarifying the dim light-bulb agendas of these latest Republican hopefuls, while Mrs. Clinton, averse to playing games, is busy attending state matters. Sending you wishes for this sunny day in May,
Con amore e cheese to Ms. Fiorina.
This is welcome news from you to hear that Mr. Carson is a neurosurgeon because I was just going to check on the web about what causes a brain seizure. We need Mr. Carson as doctor in the house; one of the guardians of our building, without a political bean in his mind, got taken to the hospital and we might feel reassured to have updates from this non-political doctor, who is still going on about old Adolph, and does not have anything of importance to add to his bid for Presidency.
Awful story about Iowa where an elderly man visited his wife of many years in a home, and got arrested because they showed each other some matrimonial tenderness.
Hewlett-Packard was a great company in my days and glad that Ms. Fiorina is a stellar representative of the above. It sounds as if we could be fleeced sheep though if working for her like demons.
Personally I want a strong political and reasoned candidate for President, tough if necessary, who is interested also in the human causes to be found in the Public Sector, and we also are in the midst of rebuilding our Nation. While this American has yet to see a demon sheep, there are quite a few political goat-heads who seem intent in butting us off the mountain.
Thank you for clarifying the dim light-bulb agendas of these latest Republican hopefuls, while Mrs. Clinton, averse to playing games, is busy attending state matters. Sending you wishes for this sunny day in May,
Con amore e cheese to Ms. Fiorina.
1
I have been watching Alpha House, a sitcom produced and written by Gary Trudeau for Amazon. If you have the opportunity to watch do it. Trudeau in his sarcastic best portrays Republican Senators as well as their reelection campaigns or, in a Rubio perfect portrayal, plan to run for President.
This show perfectly depicts where the Republican Party was and what it has now become, a party of misfit toys. My favorite characters are the Democratic senators portrayed by Cynthia Nixon and Wanda Sykes who call the Republicans out for what they have become. Religious fanatic gun carrying zenifobs. Nixons best line was " Jesus was one of us. He was a democrat ".
This show perfectly depicts where the Republican Party was and what it has now become, a party of misfit toys. My favorite characters are the Democratic senators portrayed by Cynthia Nixon and Wanda Sykes who call the Republicans out for what they have become. Religious fanatic gun carrying zenifobs. Nixons best line was " Jesus was one of us. He was a democrat ".
6
There may be smarter choices among the Republicans, but those folks are more intellectually endowed than to allow their lives to be run through the mud. Not much avaailable anywhere of the patriotic sensible types.
Carly Fiorina's track record includes cratering two once-healthy companies and destroying the livelihoods of 30,000 people, and she decided that qualified her to write a memoir? This woman's arrogance and vanity is astonishing. Her track record may be admired among the corporate CEO class (and trust me, it is) but her candidacy is a sick joke. I only hope Gail found Fiorina's memoir at the bottom of the dollar bin, which is where it belongs and frankly, 99 cents more than it's worth.
8
So last time the Republicans put up Mitt Romney who showed up in a picture with his buddies covered in dollar bills and then proceeded to bash 47 percent of his fellow Americans. This time we have Ms Fiorina putting 30000 people out of work and walking away with a bundle. I can see the conference table at the Republican National Committee looking something like an Austin Powers movie with Dr Evil at the head deciding which bunch of folks they can throw at us this time. I have the feeling that each of these candidates has their own particular job: Ms Fiorina to bash Hillary, Carson to bash Obama, Huckabee to bash whoever he considers to be the infidel, Walker to bash unions, Rubio to point out that all immigrants except Cubans are not ok. I admit I am confused about Cruz. He's just too off the wall.
7
It has been noted that only in politics and prostitution is it considered a plus to have no experience.
10
I suspect that Fiorina is angling for the VP slot, since having a woman on the ticket might help the Republicans. Then, when the third (!) President Bush keels over from lack of nutrition, she steps in and fires half the government. Don't laugh: stranger things have happened.
5
I wouldn't argue with assertions by Fiorina or Carson that they aren't politicians. Apparently Fiorina wasn't much of a CEO either. As to Carson, his writings are a bunch of flag-waving rhetoric that doesn't say much of anything but appeals to the tea party. I cringe to think that either of these people might become President but don't think I have much to worry about in that regard.
8
I'm waiting for the next Republican faux pas. It's been a little over a month so they are due for a big one. The only debate or mystery is which one will put their big fat feet in their big fat mouths. All the GOP has done since St. Ronnie was in office is to go on about the wonders of unfettered, lawless, and generally destructive capitalism in America. In their eyes if you lose your job, cannot find one, are in need of medical monitoring, have an accident, become homeless because you can't find a job, use any government program, you are a parasite. You are undeserving of any sort of help and should be jailed or left to die on the street. And if you are a pregnant female who doesn't want to have a child, or has been raped and is pregnant as a result, or you are carrying a child that has a grave defect which is incompatible with life, they know best. Last of all, since 47 GOP senators signed a traitorous and treacherous letter to Iran to deliberately undermine Obama, not one of them should be running for the presidency. They have shown a complete disregard for how the government is supposed to work. I'd sooner elect Benedict Arnold.
10
I can't claim but only speculate that America's founding fathers wanted to be a royalty class unto themselvdes while claiming otherwise. I also speculate that most Americans would prefer an absolute monarchy if it meant it would keep them safer than other forms of governing.
Can Carson do well in Iowa? No. If Dr. Carson was white, he would win in a landslide; but requiring the vote of the types of people that will be casting them in Iowa to win, Dr. Carson will be lucky to accrue a 2% tally.
Aged Tea Party'ers love to have Dr. Carson around - as long as they don't actually have to be in his presence - to point to him as "evidence" they have no racial bent when accused, but would never drop his name in a box to represent them when no eyes are looking.
Aged Tea Party'ers love to have Dr. Carson around - as long as they don't actually have to be in his presence - to point to him as "evidence" they have no racial bent when accused, but would never drop his name in a box to represent them when no eyes are looking.
5
As a proud Republican, I am not a physician, nor a scientist...but I know that during a legitimate rape, the female body has a way of shutting that whole thing down. And friends, just this past January it snowed more than a foot in Alaska, and the Democrat socialist leftists are trying to scare you into thinking that global warming whoseywhatsis thingamajig is real? The next thing these pinkos will be telling you is that the cavemen who roamed America riding dinosaurs 500 years ago weren't white and didn't speak English."
8
Jesus Christ spoke English, too, according to "Ma" Ferguson, the first female governor of Texas. (She took over the office when the previous governor, Pa Ferguson, was in prison.)
According to Wikipedia, at least, Ma Ferguson was well read and she was probably speaking tongue in cheek.
Let's give Ben Carson a break. He'd probably be able to cut healthcare spending to the bone based on his career: he believes that the only medical service that should be paid for is neurosurgery. Cancer (unless it's in the brain), heart disease, diabetes, mental illness: you're on your own.
And who needs a candidate who can fire people in a bunch of different languages like Carly Fiorina. Donald Trump can do it in only one and that seems to be sufficient.
And who needs a candidate who can fire people in a bunch of different languages like Carly Fiorina. Donald Trump can do it in only one and that seems to be sufficient.
4
Reading an earlier comment that used the word, "arrogance," with regard to Carly Fiorina, I thought I should look up the distinction between the words "egoist" and "egotist."
"Egoist" describes any of several philosophical constructs, generally holding that the primary objective in life is the benefit of "self" despite the effect on others. There are, though, various flavors of how the egoist deals with other people in reaching that primary objective (deferring, egalitarian, exploitative, etc.).
An "egotist," however, is entirely self-centered, with a self-perception of greater worth and value in (almost?) all human characteristics, far exceeding the qualities of those around them (this perception is almost always a delusion). This word is more in line with "arrogance." I think the word describes not only the current crop of presidential aspirants, but politicians in general . . . a need to show superiority in order to gain (love and) attention.
(In my research, I learned that I am an "ethical utilitarian." Who knew?)
"Egoist" describes any of several philosophical constructs, generally holding that the primary objective in life is the benefit of "self" despite the effect on others. There are, though, various flavors of how the egoist deals with other people in reaching that primary objective (deferring, egalitarian, exploitative, etc.).
An "egotist," however, is entirely self-centered, with a self-perception of greater worth and value in (almost?) all human characteristics, far exceeding the qualities of those around them (this perception is almost always a delusion). This word is more in line with "arrogance." I think the word describes not only the current crop of presidential aspirants, but politicians in general . . . a need to show superiority in order to gain (love and) attention.
(In my research, I learned that I am an "ethical utilitarian." Who knew?)
9
An ethical person who does not like being condescended-to tries not to condescend to others.
1
The most notable non-politician of the last century was Dwight Eisenhower. His only elected office was as President.
True, his experience as a general showed astute political sensitivities in coalition with difficult personalities, but five star general and Supreme Allied Commander in Europe is still not a professional politician.
Looking at everyone on offer on both sides, I'd rather vote for Eisenhower.
Generals Clark and Petraeus were once spoken of that way, but nobody ever mistook either one for Eisenhower. I'm not suggesting either one of those, but there just might be one out there now.
It is worth thinking about, after looking at the alternatives. Who else, a billionaire in person rather than by proxy, or a banker?
True, his experience as a general showed astute political sensitivities in coalition with difficult personalities, but five star general and Supreme Allied Commander in Europe is still not a professional politician.
Looking at everyone on offer on both sides, I'd rather vote for Eisenhower.
Generals Clark and Petraeus were once spoken of that way, but nobody ever mistook either one for Eisenhower. I'm not suggesting either one of those, but there just might be one out there now.
It is worth thinking about, after looking at the alternatives. Who else, a billionaire in person rather than by proxy, or a banker?
6
We should rejoice in the ever-increasing flow of Republican presidential candidates. Each of these candidates will do her or his best to raise and spend a lot of money campaigning. They will be hiring campaign advisors. They will be spending money on ads in newspapers (maybe even the Times!), on TV, on radio, on the sides of buses. They will enrich the American economy and the benefits will trickle down to those voters who are not among the richest 1% digging into their pockets to support the candidates. This -- and this alone -- seems to be the Republican Program for Prosperity: More Candidates, More Campaign Money, More Trickle Down. We can only hope for more.
8
Precisely why we have a democratic republic, to help mitigate against mob rule of the heat of the moment. It's crazy to think lack of experience is a plus in something as important as legislating in our country's best interest. Granted our democracy has been usurped by big money interest/lobbyist and big contributors, which only makes voter apathy worse. The USA spends more on elections then any other democracy on the planet, but has the lowest voter turn out. But, when you add inexperience to the mix, these legislatures become nothing more than pawns in the big money game. The GOP's mission over the last 30 plus years is to claim government is the problem, and cut taxes until debt soars and services can't be provided, and then say, "see, government doesn't work". Look at Kansas, were the GOP legislature cut taxes to the point, they can't even keep schools open fro 180 days.
15
We don't have a tax problem. We have a spending problem.
The damage done to the lives of middle class citizens when they put Republicans into office with their Republican "free market, useless government" philosophy is incalculable. And yet, middle class voters in the South and Midwest continue to do this. Staten Island just voted to Congress such an anti-middle class politician, but he is pro-police! It would seem that voters hate "the other" guy more than they value and regard themselves, which is, I guess, how government can cut funds for the poor AND not repair highways and many voters say, "hurrah!"
Congratulations to Carson and Fiorina for adding the ultimate rung to the Peter Principle. If I remember correctly the principle was that within the corporate culture, people are encouraged to keep rising to their level of incompetence. These two candidates have taken that to new, aery heights even if neither is actually making a serious bid for the job. Still, in that pretending to run for president for a variety of opportunistic reasons has become a profession, boasting about one's lack of experience seems appropriate to apply for whatever job -- including "famous person" - they are actually seeking.
9
Carly Fiorina has already reached her level of incompetence and is seeking to rise even highrr.
"Some candidates think we should be actually drawn to their lack of political experience."
Some seem to think that very little "political" experience is much better than no "political" experience at all or a great deal of "political" experience. We've recently put a person into the highest office in the nation with very little "political" experience, twice.
Some seem to think that very little "political" experience is much better than no "political" experience at all or a great deal of "political" experience. We've recently put a person into the highest office in the nation with very little "political" experience, twice.
1
And even less executive experience
This is the summer of our deep content.
If we must suffer from the mendacity and obliviousness that are the hallmarks of our GOP, at least give us one season in which we can revel in the party's truly deep bench of contenders who will tell the rubes anything, anything, to get a slight advantage in Iowa and New Hampshire, two of America's most representative states.
I'm not sure whether Fiorina or Carson will be this year's Designated Trump, and who knows whether the Donald himself will toss his piece into the ring. Remember that in spring training, when every team's record is 0-0, each one can dream of winning the World Series.
So it is in the GOP, where an anachronism like Rick Santorum can seem plausible just for a moment and where a bilious Arkansan (I'd like to meet his tailor) can revisit when he actually was a contender and where shepherds of three states, Wisconsin, New Jersey, and Louisiana, that are slipping slowly into penury can each wave his resume and aver that what he did to his respective state he can do to America.
I hope not.
Meanwhile, the former governor of Florida is trying to convince all of us that he's not the candidate who will exhume John Calvin to rule over us all. Terri Schiavo.
The music swells as the clown car seems to sit empty. Is there anyone else in there?
C'mon out, Paul Ryan. Bring your cooked books that show how rich moochers deserve more while poor children deserve less.
I thought I saw Ann Romney in the wings. This could get good.
If we must suffer from the mendacity and obliviousness that are the hallmarks of our GOP, at least give us one season in which we can revel in the party's truly deep bench of contenders who will tell the rubes anything, anything, to get a slight advantage in Iowa and New Hampshire, two of America's most representative states.
I'm not sure whether Fiorina or Carson will be this year's Designated Trump, and who knows whether the Donald himself will toss his piece into the ring. Remember that in spring training, when every team's record is 0-0, each one can dream of winning the World Series.
So it is in the GOP, where an anachronism like Rick Santorum can seem plausible just for a moment and where a bilious Arkansan (I'd like to meet his tailor) can revisit when he actually was a contender and where shepherds of three states, Wisconsin, New Jersey, and Louisiana, that are slipping slowly into penury can each wave his resume and aver that what he did to his respective state he can do to America.
I hope not.
Meanwhile, the former governor of Florida is trying to convince all of us that he's not the candidate who will exhume John Calvin to rule over us all. Terri Schiavo.
The music swells as the clown car seems to sit empty. Is there anyone else in there?
C'mon out, Paul Ryan. Bring your cooked books that show how rich moochers deserve more while poor children deserve less.
I thought I saw Ann Romney in the wings. This could get good.
26
Oh, my, the one thing I am looking forward to in this political season is the series of debate debacles during which all these Republicans cut each other up. (Carson should be the most skilled by far.) Now, I worry that Priebus will read this column and decide twitter-offs are infinitely preferable to those risky debates before audiences who so love blood.
5
I could care less whether a candidate has experience in the political arena. What I do care about is whether that candidate is smart enough to recognize the most significant problems in our country and not focus his or her energy on absurdities (e.g., Texas takeovers); a candidate who can speak coherently in complete sentences; a candidate who does not think going to war is the answer to every foreign crisis; a candidate who has spent his or her time wisely and doing something that has been a benefit to society; and finally, a candidate who is not going to campaign about the importance of freedom while telling me the government should control my uterus.
17
It is almost a foregone conclusion - the Republicans are not going to produce a viable candidate. Ms. Clinton will be the next president.
The real issue now is to give her the tools to allow her to preside effectively - a Congress ready to do its job. Otherwise, we will have eight more years of paralysis in governing.
The great Tip O'Neill coined the phrase "All politics is local". It is true. Let the sane party's candidates to the House and Senate run as representatives of their communities and expose the Republican candidates as what they really are - the tools of wealth and corruption.
The real issue now is to give her the tools to allow her to preside effectively - a Congress ready to do its job. Otherwise, we will have eight more years of paralysis in governing.
The great Tip O'Neill coined the phrase "All politics is local". It is true. Let the sane party's candidates to the House and Senate run as representatives of their communities and expose the Republican candidates as what they really are - the tools of wealth and corruption.
11
We need more 'gail collins' to comment on the sad bunch of non-politicians that seem proud in their own incompetence, and dubious bravado in cutting others into chopped meat. Carson's statements are so out of order that he may well have his head checked for a dangerous condition, ignorant egomania. Fiorina, as she attacks Clinton, lacks class, and empathy is nowhere to be found. And Huckabee is an ex-Fox Noise politician, akin to a charlatan trying to convince everybody he is, or ought to be, the chosen. Are you telling us we have to endure all this nonsense for the longest time? Do these pre-candidates for non-political office think, by any chance, that the public is stupid? Incidentally, although you didn't raise the awfulness of the "tedcruzes" this time, they seem implicitly part of the circus out there.
17
The non-politician politician has been tried at the state level. People in Minnesota are still angry, at themselves, for electing pro wrestler Jesse Ventura as governor of the state in 1998. They don't understand how they made such a horrendous mistake.
Texas elected the leader of the Light Crust Doughboys country music swing band as governor. W. Lee "Pappy" O'Daniel had been very popular on the radio with songs such as "Mean, Mean Momma" and "It's Funny What Love Will Make You Do". He served two, two year terms and went on to give Lyndon Johnson his first and only defeat for elected office. Some say he set Texas back 50 years; others say it was already there.
Here's the take away: being president of the U.S. is tough duty. Most of the choices that come up are between two poor or dangerous options and the choices come up thick and fast, like utility poles in front of an out of control, speeding car. It has nothing to do with brain surgery or laying off employees and everything to do with picking the right option that might help people or save thousands of lives. Tough work.
We give our presidents a great house/museum, their own 747 and lots of other stuff, including television air time. In exchange, we begin filleting them even before they have a chance to be sworn in. 30 years in politics is too long, ten years too few. If you haven't been around the track, the track will be wound around you...your neck.
Doug Terry
14
If delusional immodesty in over estimating one's intelligence, insights and expertise (along with obscene riches and the foreign policy chops of Sarah Palin) were vital attributes in a world leader - the U.S. President no less in a time of demented inequality - Ms. Fiorina would be the perfect fit.
14
I have never held political office. I have some ideas about governing and governance. I believe in consensus. I am not (and have never been) wealthy. I do have a master's degree. I am, perhaps, one of the few persons of color to have read Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur. I have read The Lord of the Rings about 55 times. I love Wagner's operas. I love Bruckner's symphonies. I have loved the Boston Red Sox, the Boston Celtics, and (gulp!) the New England Patriots all my life. There; that ought to do it. I announce my candidacy for president of the United States.
34
Just be quiet about liking Bruckner's symphonies - that's really, really elitist.
2
The GOP has made "politician" a dirty word, while being the most aggressive practitioners of its worst aspects. The GOP that wants to "drown government" while its red states root in the federal government trough. The GOP wants to make government more responsive to people like those Tea Party folks, while doing everything it can to beggar actual people in favor of corporations and the super-wealthy. The GOP, and admittedly, too many the corrupt and venal Democrats, will do nothing to reform either campaign finance laws or the utterly poisonous impact of giant lobbyists.
We clearly DO need true politicians for our highest offices. Meaning people who have both an understanding of and demonstrated ability in handling "public life." People who get our country and its values, and realize both the need to represent their constituents and the need to preserve our core values. Which often requires compromise. And the best politicians manage principled compromise, aimed at making progress toward ultimate goals. Pragmatism and realism are strong American traits, lost too often in recent decades through the demands of shrill ideology or the lure of the bribing dollar.
Carly Fiorina is worse than an empty suit. She is a black widow who has profited by sucking the life out of huge businesses, and destroying jobs. She is the ultimate anti-feminist and anti-populist. She makes people like Jeb Bush look good. Now there's a thought.
We clearly DO need true politicians for our highest offices. Meaning people who have both an understanding of and demonstrated ability in handling "public life." People who get our country and its values, and realize both the need to represent their constituents and the need to preserve our core values. Which often requires compromise. And the best politicians manage principled compromise, aimed at making progress toward ultimate goals. Pragmatism and realism are strong American traits, lost too often in recent decades through the demands of shrill ideology or the lure of the bribing dollar.
Carly Fiorina is worse than an empty suit. She is a black widow who has profited by sucking the life out of huge businesses, and destroying jobs. She is the ultimate anti-feminist and anti-populist. She makes people like Jeb Bush look good. Now there's a thought.
20
Fiorina should seriously consider the fact that there is no golden parachute awaiting a "resignation" should the plebes ever gain the upper hand in helping her to reduce the size of government, starting with herself, if in the nonexistent chance, she ever became president. Alas, no pension for an impeached regal wannabee.
For her the vast left wing conspiracy has begun before the ink has dried on her statement of intent for candidacy. This is entirely new, a certified loser appearing at the start of the race.
For her the vast left wing conspiracy has begun before the ink has dried on her statement of intent for candidacy. This is entirely new, a certified loser appearing at the start of the race.
11
This idea of electing an 'outsider' is indeed odd - especially since in government you have to know the players well and cut deals to get anything done. (cf. the recent New Yorker profile on E. Warren and how she allied herself with the head lobbyist of community banking: http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/05/04/the-virtual-candidate
I am enthusiastic about Hillary because she is arguably the most informed experienced and bright candidate for the Presidency in my lifetime, with the possible exception of LBJ.
I am enthusiastic about Hillary because she is arguably the most informed experienced and bright candidate for the Presidency in my lifetime, with the possible exception of LBJ.
15
Someone please tell these narcissistic monsters that the presidency is not an entry level job. Having held office before is actually a plus. No one elected Fiorina or Carson to a state legislature, or Congress, or US Senate. They know how to boss people around -- badly, and filled with bad ideas, especially in Fiorina's case -- but they don't know anything else.
25
Can you give us one example of significant accomplishment Obama achieved during his ultr-short tenures as state and federal Senator?
Simply getting elected to a lesser office is certainly no qualification for holding the highest office in the land, either.
Simply getting elected to a lesser office is certainly no qualification for holding the highest office in the land, either.
Fiorina's ambition to become president is part of that businessman's arrogance. The businessman thinks just because he ran a business successfully, he can run a government successfully. Well, Herbert Hoover and George W. Bush were businessmen and they ran the country into the ground. The government cannot and should not be run like a business.
45
George W Bush was never a businessman, despite the MBA. He sold his position and money as son of a president be part of a few failed oil firms, then was hired as politically connected glad hander front man for some rich guys who wanted the government to cooperate with them and pay for their stadium.
1
The anti-government line came out of the Reagan Era when "government" meant regulation for all those Western landowners who farm and ranch on government lands. It was also handy shorthand for describing people who depend on government for handouts (black folk). And "too much government" inevitably involved any program that didn't involve buying weapons.
But "government" and "spending" has never ever been used to describe endless foreign wars that consume trillions.
Those wars are not conducted by the American government. They are spontaneously inspired by our love of freedom which we bring to other lands sorely in need of liberation.
Strange that the patriots in the Republican Church think it is loyal to rip down the very structure which represents these United States, government by the people.
But "government" and "spending" has never ever been used to describe endless foreign wars that consume trillions.
Those wars are not conducted by the American government. They are spontaneously inspired by our love of freedom which we bring to other lands sorely in need of liberation.
Strange that the patriots in the Republican Church think it is loyal to rip down the very structure which represents these United States, government by the people.
34
One of the reasons we get these Republican candidates who are a bit eccentric is that there is no longer any downside to making outrageously untrue statements in public. Dr. Carson diagnoses the president as psychopathic, but seems unconcerned that such an assertion tells us nothing about Obama but a great deal about Dr. Carson himself.
As far as the demon sheep, it was creepy looking, but the regular sheep were cute. The ad overall was rather lame and totally negative, and makes me wonder why a person with Ms. Fiorina's resources couldn't make a substantive argument for herself.
As far as the demon sheep, it was creepy looking, but the regular sheep were cute. The ad overall was rather lame and totally negative, and makes me wonder why a person with Ms. Fiorina's resources couldn't make a substantive argument for herself.
222
How refreashing that at least one political party is going to have a vigorous debate and exchange of ideas to choose their candidate for the office of the Presidency while the other is merely holding a coronation ceremony to annoit the consumate inside-the-beltway denizen as their candidate.
Ask the same question of the HP board.
The ones you have to watch is the accusers, not the ones being accused. Sociopaths endow on others what they are themselves.
Lee. as far as the fact that there is no downside to making outrageous statements is that sociopaths are also incapable of feeling shame. The fact that Fiorina wrote about her spell at HP and that she was not mortified to even talk about it says much to me. I run away from people like that, not vote for them.
Lee. as far as the fact that there is no downside to making outrageous statements is that sociopaths are also incapable of feeling shame. The fact that Fiorina wrote about her spell at HP and that she was not mortified to even talk about it says much to me. I run away from people like that, not vote for them.
1
Perhaps someone can explain why the candidates try so desperately to appeal to their "base" these days, presumably the far left wing for Democrats and the "far right" for Republicans. They say outrageous things that could possibly only appeal to either one of those two extremes. Those on the far right or the far right will never cross party lines anyway to vote so why all of the silly rhetoric.
In the case of Fiorina and Carson they both became politicians the day they threw their hats into the ring for any public office. Fiorina used a hatchet to try and unseat Boxer, the same one she used on 30,000 HP employees. Carson shows all the signs of the surgeon with the "god complex" and what makes him think that we would want a president that is so brash and arrogant that he would say such outrageous things about a sitting president in a public forum where that president is present. Is this a man we would want seated at a table with other world leaders. With Huckabee he is just posturing to bolster his ratings and hopefully his pay grade at FOX Noise.
In the case of Fiorina and Carson they both became politicians the day they threw their hats into the ring for any public office. Fiorina used a hatchet to try and unseat Boxer, the same one she used on 30,000 HP employees. Carson shows all the signs of the surgeon with the "god complex" and what makes him think that we would want a president that is so brash and arrogant that he would say such outrageous things about a sitting president in a public forum where that president is present. Is this a man we would want seated at a table with other world leaders. With Huckabee he is just posturing to bolster his ratings and hopefully his pay grade at FOX Noise.
12
Candidates try to appeal to their base in order to get through the primaries, in which the most extreme members of the base are most likely to vote. Once the primaries are over, watch how the two-faced hypocrites suddenly shift toward the center.
I've wondered that as well, and came to the conclusion that it must be because of the primaries. Only your party votes in the primary elections, and in order to win those, you must appeal to the base. That is way the candidates are (usually) way to the "right" or "left" during primary season, and then try to real it in when it comes time for the general election, when they have to start appealing to the "I don't know"s.
I don't see much pandering to the base on the left, they are mostly ignored until problems become too big to ignore
2
For years the Republicans have pandered to the paranoid, fear-filled, right-wing nut-cases in this country. Together with their partner-in-crime (Fox News), they have also caused the ranks of that contingent to swell by offering justification and support for their crazy ideas. And since, unfortunately, it is the paranoid loony-tuners who vote and who rant, rave and get attention, this country has become ungovernable as there's now an entire main-stream party which must continue to pander to ... well, the self-destructive instincts of the near-insane.
I hope that the majority of Americans both reject this insanity and then vote to assure it doesn't infect the highest office of the land. But I have virtually no hope that there's enough sanity out there to finally marginalize, permanently and dramatically, the nut-jobs who seem to have such a death hold over the Republican party.
I hope that the majority of Americans both reject this insanity and then vote to assure it doesn't infect the highest office of the land. But I have virtually no hope that there's enough sanity out there to finally marginalize, permanently and dramatically, the nut-jobs who seem to have such a death hold over the Republican party.
17
Taking the name of God in vain to inoculate itself against communism was the dumbest public policy move in US history.
1
Now that Fiorina has officially announced her "candidacy" and currently places near the bottom of the pile of Republican "candidates," it's noteworthy that she is the only woman the party can produce. Please don't remind me of Palin. Given that most of these guys are running for no reason than publicity and have zero chance, thankfully, of winning, what does Fiorina's polling status say about the Republican party's attitude toward women? Pretty dismal I would say.
17
Why is everyone so excited about an election campaign to replace Barack Obama in January, 2017. After all the Republican campaign to replace him started in November of 2008 as soon as it was obvious he had won a clear majority.
A one term Obama was what they determined right at the outset. Lo, they were disappointed again, but they were disappointed, of course, when the demon citizens somehow re-elect. Thank goodness, in eight years, the GOP learned to spell Benghazi and find the postal code for Tehran so they could write letters there.
This campaign is all but over. Oh, there will be messy primaries in which the bible will be thumped, a lot of hate stirred up, but really, the campaign for 2020 is already underway.
Just in case the GOP decides to allow us to vote. By then, the new voting rights restrictions will have taken place and bear traps will be placed in strategic neighborhoods to ensnare those who might vote against the oligarchy.
A one term Obama was what they determined right at the outset. Lo, they were disappointed again, but they were disappointed, of course, when the demon citizens somehow re-elect. Thank goodness, in eight years, the GOP learned to spell Benghazi and find the postal code for Tehran so they could write letters there.
This campaign is all but over. Oh, there will be messy primaries in which the bible will be thumped, a lot of hate stirred up, but really, the campaign for 2020 is already underway.
Just in case the GOP decides to allow us to vote. By then, the new voting rights restrictions will have taken place and bear traps will be placed in strategic neighborhoods to ensnare those who might vote against the oligarchy.
35
Nothing significant ever gets legislated during political campaigns, so we can expect to be hung up in the present status quo indefinitely.
Ms. Collins argues that candidates send conflicting signals as they run for high political office while disclaiming any elective experience.
I offer, for mature reflection, the idea that there is a certain class of candidates who can play the political role very well, even without prior experience. I am referring, of course, to actors who find themselves in political roles.
Ronald Reagan, for example, an accomplished actor in his day, played the role of Governor of California so well he was subsequently cast to as President, for two terms no less. He played the role so well that to this day, people still think he was an actual politician and effective leader. He fooled a lot of the people, a lot of the time.
All of this brings me to my conclusion, that we can dispense with politicians who really are politicians, and businessmen (and women), neurosurgeons, and others who proudly claim that they are not politicians even as they seek our votes.
As with Ronald Reagan, history has shown that the most popular leaders may be actors pretending to be leaders, and have therefore won the contest for Positive Political Perceptions (PPP) . On this basis, therefore, I propose that we give serious consideration to nominating Kevin Spacey for the office of President of the United States.
Mr. Spacey, as an actor portraying Frank Underwood, has had deep experience pretending to be President, which surely is better than candidates who pretend not to be politicians.
I offer, for mature reflection, the idea that there is a certain class of candidates who can play the political role very well, even without prior experience. I am referring, of course, to actors who find themselves in political roles.
Ronald Reagan, for example, an accomplished actor in his day, played the role of Governor of California so well he was subsequently cast to as President, for two terms no less. He played the role so well that to this day, people still think he was an actual politician and effective leader. He fooled a lot of the people, a lot of the time.
All of this brings me to my conclusion, that we can dispense with politicians who really are politicians, and businessmen (and women), neurosurgeons, and others who proudly claim that they are not politicians even as they seek our votes.
As with Ronald Reagan, history has shown that the most popular leaders may be actors pretending to be leaders, and have therefore won the contest for Positive Political Perceptions (PPP) . On this basis, therefore, I propose that we give serious consideration to nominating Kevin Spacey for the office of President of the United States.
Mr. Spacey, as an actor portraying Frank Underwood, has had deep experience pretending to be President, which surely is better than candidates who pretend not to be politicians.
45
very good, walker...kevin spacey would be great....but i would like to put michael douglas' name up for consideration..... i thought he and annette bening made a fabulous president and first girlfriend.....
I nominate the whole cast of West Wing.
Candidates know these things to be true:
1. Americans don't know history, but recognize a few names and key events (not necessarily in chronological order however). You can claim that any historical figure is your role model, and most will not see any problems with your claim.
2. Americans think they could be President better than the current office holder. They have incredible hubris.
3. American hate Washington DC, the government and politicians. They hate to pay taxes. They need their guns to protect from a government takeover? The Texas state government is watching military basis to be sure they aren't planning to take over the state and impose sharia law?
4. Americans love their own benefits (Social Security, Medicare, VA. government pensions).
5. Americans think they've succeeded on their own and can't stand anyone who hasn't. Disabled people, poor children, etc.
Given those truths, it is possible for just about anyone to appeal to voters with completely negative messages.
Watch Alpha House (TV Series by Garry Trudeau) for the best skewering of the above.
1. Americans don't know history, but recognize a few names and key events (not necessarily in chronological order however). You can claim that any historical figure is your role model, and most will not see any problems with your claim.
2. Americans think they could be President better than the current office holder. They have incredible hubris.
3. American hate Washington DC, the government and politicians. They hate to pay taxes. They need their guns to protect from a government takeover? The Texas state government is watching military basis to be sure they aren't planning to take over the state and impose sharia law?
4. Americans love their own benefits (Social Security, Medicare, VA. government pensions).
5. Americans think they've succeeded on their own and can't stand anyone who hasn't. Disabled people, poor children, etc.
Given those truths, it is possible for just about anyone to appeal to voters with completely negative messages.
Watch Alpha House (TV Series by Garry Trudeau) for the best skewering of the above.
25
In the fine tradition of Tom Delay the Exterminator, people like Carly Fiorina and Ben Carson, who don’t know their elbows from their ankles in the world of politics and show no respect for it, are applying for positions of great power. They could establish a drop more credibility by showing a modicum of respect for the individual occupying the White House before spewing pie-in-the-sky fantasies about how they will remake the American government.
26
They must believe that presidential activity is magic, similar to the genie god who can watch every person, hear everything, and knows what you're thinking, all while sitting on a cloud in the sky. He even goes to football games, on the weekend!
1
I'm not so sure that the best qualification for president is a history in politics, which nowadays means being controlled by special interest groups. The leader of the senate is shamelessly beholded to the coal industry, which he places in front of all other constituents.
But if you're going to go with a non-politician, you should at least consider someone with a successful resume tied to her area of expertise. Fiorina was propelled into the ranks of high-powered executives during her time at Lucent in the 1990s. She was part of a leadership team that established new benchmarks for executive excess and mismanagement. Her appointment at HP is one of the last examples of a technology executive failing up, a strange phenomena prevalent through the 1990s and into the early 2000s.
At least maybe the surgeon was a competent doctor.
But if you're going to go with a non-politician, you should at least consider someone with a successful resume tied to her area of expertise. Fiorina was propelled into the ranks of high-powered executives during her time at Lucent in the 1990s. She was part of a leadership team that established new benchmarks for executive excess and mismanagement. Her appointment at HP is one of the last examples of a technology executive failing up, a strange phenomena prevalent through the 1990s and into the early 2000s.
At least maybe the surgeon was a competent doctor.
5
The ability to speak truth to power is one of Gail Collins's most admirable virtues. Today we have Carly Fiorina and Ben Carson identified by Gail as presidential candidates who might brag "about not being a politician". They obviously need to prove their worth in spite of not being politicians but each has a unique ability to "speak truth to power" if only due to race and gender. They are not white males like the other candidates in the Republican race and they are more easily compared with President Obama and Hillary Clinton who have turned race and sex into Democratic vote producing machines far beyond what their political talents would justify.
Fiorina had the nerve to officially announce with a video and incorporate a snippet of Hillary. Some in the public must be shocked to learn that there are now two women running for president and annoyed because they need to find something beyond gender to evaluate which candidate would be the better president.
Carson has the nerve to be a black man capable of brain surgery. He not only spoke out against the failed design of Obamacare but was able to keep President Obama on his good behavior during a prayer breakfast. Carson puts the blame and the credit on parents (or a single parent) in his belief that parental love can overcome the tragedies that must be endured in the ghetto. President Obama thinks community organization and lots of protest is the solution - or is it simply forcing demon sheep to get ready for the slaughter.
Fiorina had the nerve to officially announce with a video and incorporate a snippet of Hillary. Some in the public must be shocked to learn that there are now two women running for president and annoyed because they need to find something beyond gender to evaluate which candidate would be the better president.
Carson has the nerve to be a black man capable of brain surgery. He not only spoke out against the failed design of Obamacare but was able to keep President Obama on his good behavior during a prayer breakfast. Carson puts the blame and the credit on parents (or a single parent) in his belief that parental love can overcome the tragedies that must be endured in the ghetto. President Obama thinks community organization and lots of protest is the solution - or is it simply forcing demon sheep to get ready for the slaughter.
1
Your comments regarding Carson are predicated on the assumptions that Obamacare is a failure (or suffers from 'failed design'), that what you describe as 'good behavior' on Obama's part was due to Carson, and that parental love can overcome the kind of poverty due to low wages, predatory lending practices that weigh especially on the working poor, as well as the subsequent necessity to work several jobs and thus never have time to spend with one's children.
I don't see Obama advocating the 'lots of protest' you decry (and apparently blame upon him); and community organization within Baltimore — including truces and organization among gangs — is precisely what is keeping a lid on escalating violence.
Perhaps you might rethink your polemic.
I don't see Obama advocating the 'lots of protest' you decry (and apparently blame upon him); and community organization within Baltimore — including truces and organization among gangs — is precisely what is keeping a lid on escalating violence.
Perhaps you might rethink your polemic.
3
Carson's cut-throat rhetoric makes me cringe at the thought of submitting my brain to his scalpel. Much less (or is that "more"?) the fate of our nation.
1
The biggest problem with that is the "prayer breakfast." I cringe ever time I hear that term. Talk about sheep.
1
Business men and women claim that their experience with running a company eminently bestows upon them the ability to run a government.
Hah!
Take, for example, Governor Rick Scott of Florida.
This former business man whose company, Columbia HCA, at that time paid the largest fraud fine in history, 600 million dollars, for Medicare fraud ran his initial campaign on the promise of running the State "like a business" and, of course opposing anything and everything proposed by the Obama administration. He walked away with 350 million in stock and Colombia HCA tanked. Great business leadership.
Governor Rick, now in his second term, and the Republican dominated Florida legislature have slowly diverted Florida taxpayer's money to the privatization of education (poorly run for-profit charter schools and corrupt higher education for-profit "universities"), law enforcement (for-profit prisons) and health care (Scott has publicly stated that he wishes to privatize "all" hospitals in the State).
He also adamantly opposes Obamacare to the detriment of 800,000 uninsured in Florida.
Florida and many States like it are being drained and slowly disintegrating because of this "Government like a Business" philosophy. The money is going to a few private enterprise companies, with very little return.
The government of the United States of America has been around since 1776 and has done very well. How many businesses have been around that long?
Not many.
Hah!
Take, for example, Governor Rick Scott of Florida.
This former business man whose company, Columbia HCA, at that time paid the largest fraud fine in history, 600 million dollars, for Medicare fraud ran his initial campaign on the promise of running the State "like a business" and, of course opposing anything and everything proposed by the Obama administration. He walked away with 350 million in stock and Colombia HCA tanked. Great business leadership.
Governor Rick, now in his second term, and the Republican dominated Florida legislature have slowly diverted Florida taxpayer's money to the privatization of education (poorly run for-profit charter schools and corrupt higher education for-profit "universities"), law enforcement (for-profit prisons) and health care (Scott has publicly stated that he wishes to privatize "all" hospitals in the State).
He also adamantly opposes Obamacare to the detriment of 800,000 uninsured in Florida.
Florida and many States like it are being drained and slowly disintegrating because of this "Government like a Business" philosophy. The money is going to a few private enterprise companies, with very little return.
The government of the United States of America has been around since 1776 and has done very well. How many businesses have been around that long?
Not many.
20
I am losing my patience with these politicians who think they are taking the high political ground by claiming to know what the founding fathers wanted us to do. The virtue of what they did was to affirm a set of fundamental rights: liberty, freedom of expression and religion, protection against oppressive government, etc. And even though they did not full observe them (think slavery, non-rights for women), they set the template that we have been following since then. And this template has allowed us to extend rights to persons who were excluded before. This is revealed clearly in the words Edmund Randolph who was on the committee charged to formulate the laws passed by the Congress. Randolph maintained that only essential principles should be inserted, lest government be clogged by permanent, unalterable provisions which ought to be shaped to later times and events.
So forget the cheap words of these supposed admirers of "strict constitutionalism", from politicians to Supreme Court judges. It is a cover for denying rights to people and, specifically, it is something that the founding fathers did not want. What they wanted us to do is to apply the marvelous guidelines that they transmitted to us and to apply them as they best fit our society.
So forget the cheap words of these supposed admirers of "strict constitutionalism", from politicians to Supreme Court judges. It is a cover for denying rights to people and, specifically, it is something that the founding fathers did not want. What they wanted us to do is to apply the marvelous guidelines that they transmitted to us and to apply them as they best fit our society.
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You're right. And records from the Constitutional Convention show that the founders could barely agree if rain was wet. There really is no such thing as the Founders' Original intent. their
1
Frank in Durham, I applaud your common sense comment. Thank you!
They belong to a group who claims to know what "god" wants us to do. This sounds like a natural progression.
2
You fail to mention that the voters have been put off from relatively inexperienced candidates by the present incumbent. They are probably looking for at least two terms as a governor or senator in this election. They also want younger candidates with recent experience, not retreads from 2008.
This will weed out a large segment of the current field. Candidates like Walker and Kasich will have a considerable advantage.
This will weed out a large segment of the current field. Candidates like Walker and Kasich will have a considerable advantage.
1
No, I'm not put off by the present incumbent. But it does creep me out that a college dropout is somehow seen as equivalent to a Harvard law school graduate and professor of constitutional law at a top university, in terms of job-relevant knowledge. A resentful Walker even tried to turn the University of Wisconsin into a student financed job training program after outlawing workers' right to brain collectively with their employer.
8
Walker and Kasich, oh my, shall we continue down the road to ruin? The GOP needs to locate a human being with some positive attributes. Does running your state into the ground qualify a candidate to lead our nation or destroy it?
1
Except Obama was not a professor, just an adjunct instructor. BTW, what do Washington, Lincoln, Jackson, Truman, Taylor, and Cleveland all have in common? None had a college degree, along with several other U.S. presidents.
Also how do you brain collectively?
Also how do you brain collectively?
"In 1985, she married AT&T executive Frank Fiorina" where she also became an executive.
"Fiorina was forced to resign as chief executive officer and chairman of Hewlett-Packard, following "differences [with the board of directors] about how to execute HP's strategy." Since then she has been described as one of the worst tech CEOs of all time."
Huckabee, oh how we need an evangelist for office, with such credentials, it is no wonder that Aimee Semple MacPherson never became a governor or even a senator.
What these people have is called chutzpah where I came from. But even an idiot can run for president, I think a few have tried before, to what's new?
She managed to run Lucent down to where it had to merge with Alcatel. The Alcatel gave her enough influence that it went from one of the most successful IT companies, to a money losing one for several years now.
During her tenure at HP, HP laid off 30,000 of its workers.
Well if you want smaller government, I guess she will be a real TP hero.
"Fiorina was forced to resign as chief executive officer and chairman of Hewlett-Packard, following "differences [with the board of directors] about how to execute HP's strategy." Since then she has been described as one of the worst tech CEOs of all time."
Huckabee, oh how we need an evangelist for office, with such credentials, it is no wonder that Aimee Semple MacPherson never became a governor or even a senator.
What these people have is called chutzpah where I came from. But even an idiot can run for president, I think a few have tried before, to what's new?
She managed to run Lucent down to where it had to merge with Alcatel. The Alcatel gave her enough influence that it went from one of the most successful IT companies, to a money losing one for several years now.
During her tenure at HP, HP laid off 30,000 of its workers.
Well if you want smaller government, I guess she will be a real TP hero.
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Gee, I wonder if Carly will visit any of the shuttered HP buildings when she swings through Nashua, NH?
I suspect, not. The little people have never been on her radar except to wave flags at HP rallies which, by the way, resembled state rallies for Kim Jong-Il.
I suspect, not. The little people have never been on her radar except to wave flags at HP rallies which, by the way, resembled state rallies for Kim Jong-Il.
115
As long as Americans want HP printers cheaper and cheaper but with more features, this will continue...with or without her
The strategy could work, at least with Republicans. They prefer to listen to non-scientists on issues like global warming. Tthe fact that police tend to strongly favor gun control doesn't sway them. They appear to like being led by people who don't really know the job -- I mean, remember Dubya?
28
Police do not favor gun control. There have been a number of polls taken the most recent in 2015 of 15,000 officers. below is the website for one of them. The poll was taken of sworn police officers not administration police chiefs hired by city councils.
http://www.alloutdoor.com/2015/04/28/police-oppose-gun-control-support-a...
http://www.alloutdoor.com/2015/04/28/police-oppose-gun-control-support-a...
Ben Cason is 63 years old and is always noted to be "retired". There's something there for some good investigative reporting. Ask the nurses he worked with....
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Not that he's going to ever be president, but yes. If you are the most brilliant person ever performing miracles to save children's lives, why quit at 60? If you have a problem with your hands (no indication of that) you can continue to use your expertise and experience administrative and mentoring and teaching positions. Carson did have a high administrative position.
Republicans have come up with a number of, let's say, interesting personalities over the years. In Carson's case, it's hard to believe that the cra-cra came out of the blue. Has anyone interviewed as you suggested nurses that worked with him, or anyone else in the department he ran for years, etc? In my experience, people are who they are and barring a nervous breakdown or something don't turn into different people overnight.
I always thought there was a dearth of much of any stuff from Bush II's fellow students (MBA, really?) or people who worked under Condoleezza Rice, for example.
Republicans have come up with a number of, let's say, interesting personalities over the years. In Carson's case, it's hard to believe that the cra-cra came out of the blue. Has anyone interviewed as you suggested nurses that worked with him, or anyone else in the department he ran for years, etc? In my experience, people are who they are and barring a nervous breakdown or something don't turn into different people overnight.
I always thought there was a dearth of much of any stuff from Bush II's fellow students (MBA, really?) or people who worked under Condoleezza Rice, for example.
1
Thanks, Gail, for deconstructing Fiorina's word salad. Mark Twain once said that a cauliflower is nothing but cabbage with a college education. In Fiorina, we have a better educated Sarah Palin, but a mind still in a vegetative state.
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Her slogan can be: What I did for HP, I can do for the US. It has the advantage of accuracy.
237
Best comment ever!
3
She says she understands how the economy works. She spent millions losing to Barbara Boxer, and can now hope to increase her losses pursuing the presidency. Is THAT what she thinks "stimulating the economy" means? Yikes!
5
Fiorina & Carson are simply doing what Republicans, Fox News, and the right-wing media always do--take a well established truth, fact, data, or piece of wise common sense and turn it upside down & inside out to make what is true false, and what is false true.
It's the old Orwellian doublespeak--"war is peace" (Bush-Cheney), "freedom is slavery" (Koch bros), "ignorance is strength" (the entire GOP)!
Experience counts? Heavens no, not when selecting the president of the most powerful country in the world. What America needs to run this country is a business woman who was a miserable failure at running a gigantic corporation, or a doctor with plenty of loony political opinions but is totally clueless about law, foreign relations, democracy, or what government is for. As Dr. Carson said recently about same-sex marriage and the Supreme Court:
"So if the legislative branch creates a law or changes a law, the executive branch has a responsibly to carry it out. It doesn’t say they have the responsibility to carry out a judicial law. And that's something we need to talk about."
We know how much the GOP adores Wall St. and the business world, but research indicates some of our worst presidents were businessmen. Harding, Coolidge, Hoover, & GW Bush ranked high on the worst list.
http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/presidential-campaign/262749-hist...
Maybe we should replace the CEO banksters with inexperienced people who hate money
It's the old Orwellian doublespeak--"war is peace" (Bush-Cheney), "freedom is slavery" (Koch bros), "ignorance is strength" (the entire GOP)!
Experience counts? Heavens no, not when selecting the president of the most powerful country in the world. What America needs to run this country is a business woman who was a miserable failure at running a gigantic corporation, or a doctor with plenty of loony political opinions but is totally clueless about law, foreign relations, democracy, or what government is for. As Dr. Carson said recently about same-sex marriage and the Supreme Court:
"So if the legislative branch creates a law or changes a law, the executive branch has a responsibly to carry it out. It doesn’t say they have the responsibility to carry out a judicial law. And that's something we need to talk about."
We know how much the GOP adores Wall St. and the business world, but research indicates some of our worst presidents were businessmen. Harding, Coolidge, Hoover, & GW Bush ranked high on the worst list.
http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/presidential-campaign/262749-hist...
Maybe we should replace the CEO banksters with inexperienced people who hate money
48
So now we have "I am not a politician" added to "I am not a scientist." Fine. Stay out of politics then.
74
I am waiting with bated breath for another Republican to say "I am not a crook."
1
Yeah, because professional politicians have done such a wonderful job, right? Clinton has more garbage in her baggage than the entire rest of the field, both sides and appears to be the only one the Democrats have...a very sad day for decent Americans to have to support.
A winning slogan that would appeal to me is "I am not an evangelist."
Romney has to be enjoying all this the most as it makes him the likeliest of dark horses who could emerge at a convention. The clown bus riders will knock each other off (too many seeking the same slice of primary voters in each category). Winners are often the majority's second choice.
8
Gail, you forgot that RINO the demon sheep with the rug and the cardboard mask had electric red eyes that lit up. It was clear then as it is now that Carley Fiorino is not ready for prime time. She had clawed her way to the top of H-P and wound up losing 30,000 jobs and getting fired. Fiorino’s announced run for the presidency is a clearly narcissistic fantasy. What are her accomplishments and qualifications except a the belief that effects some rich people that wanting to be president is the same as being remotely qualified to hold that office. Her announcement rates a roll of the eyes and a small knowing smile.
Ben Carson is another matter. He is a rich ultra conservative retired neurosurgeon, a black who believes that after attempting to destroy the presidency of the first black president the party of rich white men will nominate a black man to run against a white woman, whether he is and Uncle Tom or he isn’t.
Carson is one of the ultra conservative and paranoid minority who think that Obamacare is comparable to slavery, that we live under Nazism, that the government is trying to overthrow the government and whether he believes in UN black helicopters has not yet been explored.
He is a wing nut and his appearance can do nothing but help the Democrats who would love to hear more of the wit and wisdom of Ben Carson. Neither will be around very long.
Ben Carson is another matter. He is a rich ultra conservative retired neurosurgeon, a black who believes that after attempting to destroy the presidency of the first black president the party of rich white men will nominate a black man to run against a white woman, whether he is and Uncle Tom or he isn’t.
Carson is one of the ultra conservative and paranoid minority who think that Obamacare is comparable to slavery, that we live under Nazism, that the government is trying to overthrow the government and whether he believes in UN black helicopters has not yet been explored.
He is a wing nut and his appearance can do nothing but help the Democrats who would love to hear more of the wit and wisdom of Ben Carson. Neither will be around very long.
41
Sheldon Bunin
We do seem to have an affinity for political and religious crackpots. It sounds as if Dr. Carson might be one of the original creators of Godwin's Law, if not Frankenstein.
The Affordable Care Act, presently known as Obamacare, saved not only my unemployed pocket and health, but has given insurance and reassurance to many hard-working young people, the children of life-long friends. This Nation's new health insurance program is the worst thing since slavery? Has this non-political doctor worked on a plantation for slave labor, or does he just feel 'the pain'?
Well and dandy, and another person in the Lemon Light with a day of fame.
We do seem to have an affinity for political and religious crackpots. It sounds as if Dr. Carson might be one of the original creators of Godwin's Law, if not Frankenstein.
The Affordable Care Act, presently known as Obamacare, saved not only my unemployed pocket and health, but has given insurance and reassurance to many hard-working young people, the children of life-long friends. This Nation's new health insurance program is the worst thing since slavery? Has this non-political doctor worked on a plantation for slave labor, or does he just feel 'the pain'?
Well and dandy, and another person in the Lemon Light with a day of fame.
If you talk to docs in the non-surgical specialties, you'll find that they distinguish themselves by saying they are in the "cognitive" specialties. Surgeons have that great hand-eye coordination, but sometimes that's about it. Seems to be the case for Dr. Carson.
And Hillary is a rich ultra liberal carpetbagger.
“Our founders never intended us to have a professional political class,” Fiorina says, turning to the camera.
Nor did the "founders" intend to country to be run by merchants or women, for that matter. Gentlemen-farmers is who the "founders" had in mind to run the country.
If the Republicans must put forward a woman, better Fiorina than Palin.
Nor did the "founders" intend to country to be run by merchants or women, for that matter. Gentlemen-farmers is who the "founders" had in mind to run the country.
If the Republicans must put forward a woman, better Fiorina than Palin.
10
But, mainly, they never wanted religious fundamentalists running this country. That was something many people had come here to escape. I can't believe we haven't wiped it out, yet.
That is an incredibly low bar.
I have a queasy feeling that Huckabee is just Sarah Palin resurrected only s lot meaner spirited; I never knew that he was so genuinely ignorant and empty. I guess I missed his act the first time around, and my TV can't get Fox, so ...
But that Carly is an original. Sort of. If you have forgotten Michelle Bachman and the hereinabovementioned Miz Palin. Or the nine-nine guy from last republican sideshow. And Rand Paul and that guy from Texas who say really wonderfully shockingly stupid things. Maybe Carly can buy some hip advice that will get her past the first debate, because the competition isn't that forbidding after all. But if and when anything resembling "policy" as in "politics" rears its head, Carly will be at a loss.
Yup, she got paid off handsomely by Hewlett Packard for just going away and now she will portray that as actually accomplishing something and that she's a success. She's so totally smart and all. Makes me wonder what the folks at HP were thinking and glad I never bought one of their products. I don't think even the poor benighted republican primary voters in Iowa will buy Carly. But again Iowa republicans will swallow anything, won't they. Remember who won the Iowa caucus last time?
But that Carly is an original. Sort of. If you have forgotten Michelle Bachman and the hereinabovementioned Miz Palin. Or the nine-nine guy from last republican sideshow. And Rand Paul and that guy from Texas who say really wonderfully shockingly stupid things. Maybe Carly can buy some hip advice that will get her past the first debate, because the competition isn't that forbidding after all. But if and when anything resembling "policy" as in "politics" rears its head, Carly will be at a loss.
Yup, she got paid off handsomely by Hewlett Packard for just going away and now she will portray that as actually accomplishing something and that she's a success. She's so totally smart and all. Makes me wonder what the folks at HP were thinking and glad I never bought one of their products. I don't think even the poor benighted republican primary voters in Iowa will buy Carly. But again Iowa republicans will swallow anything, won't they. Remember who won the Iowa caucus last time?
50
And, Iowa is so relevant in the grand scheme of things in the US, eh?
Since the Citizens United decision by five partisan Republicans on the Supreme Court, the Republican Party has come under control of a few individuals with immeasurable wealth. The most horrendous aspect of this disaster is the unwillingness of the media to recognize it. Every day, our major media outlets feature Republican hate-mongers looking to enrich themselves with bribes by running for President.
97
So Steyer, Buffett, Gates, Dell, Soros, Immelt, Hollywood liberals, and other wealthy libs don't control the Democrats, and try to enrich themselves with bribes in your opinion. Give me a break. Your hypocrisy is massively evident.
Political money goes mostly to just to raise more money and to opiate the media.
Perhaps this is all part of the Republican party's master plan: Put someone like Jeb Bush up against a doctor who seems in serious need of one himself, along with someone whose most notable accomplishments involve negotiating fat severance packages for herself after job performances that define "incompetence." This way, the former governor comes off looking all the more statesmanlike. After all, the strategy worked for Mitt Romney--though he wound up being exposed in the general election.
33
The Republican Clown Train is at some level fun to watch, and it will take votes from a candidate like Jeb Bush, but it discourages serious national discourse.
Worst of all, by comparison it helps Tea-party wackos look serious enough to get votes for Congress.
Worst of all, by comparison it helps Tea-party wackos look serious enough to get votes for Congress.
The only thing that would make me happy that Jeb Bush is in the race would be the chance to see him debate Terri Schiavo.
Thanks Ms. Collins. An example of the Times giving space to someone who can actually write superbly, think and analyze with brilliance. She even makes us laugh sometimes (we'd forgotten about the demon sheep).
97
Yes, she can make us laugh, alright. Did you ever hear her tell the story of the dog on a politician's car roof? I'll bet, winchestereast, you can tell us which party he belonged to.
1
I can't help thinking Gail Collins is a little fed up with all these shenanigans, since this is less humorous than usual, but would agree the subject is definitely not funny. I never knew there were so many different kinds of narcissism.
One good thing about Fiorina, she makes Clinton look really good. She's all about the hair and makeup.
I was brought up to think that political figures should be public servants, and there were a good few of them around. Tip O'Neill came to mind
"Oh what a tangled web we weave
When first we practice to deceive."*
I'd like to see some expertise, not only in government, but in science. Things are getting bloody dangerous!
*(Sir Walter Scott)
One good thing about Fiorina, she makes Clinton look really good. She's all about the hair and makeup.
I was brought up to think that political figures should be public servants, and there were a good few of them around. Tip O'Neill came to mind
"Oh what a tangled web we weave
When first we practice to deceive."*
I'd like to see some expertise, not only in government, but in science. Things are getting bloody dangerous!
*(Sir Walter Scott)
60
Susan Anderson
When a friend tells me that we are going to be in an economic mess, a political crash, or heading for a disaster of some kind, I usually know that things are already bloody dangerous, and that it's time to take out the broom and bucket to stench the flow, while also feeling that expertise in government and science are needed more than ever.
Ms. Fiorina is leaving the Corporate World to become a Public Servant? There is nothing sheepish about this, only it smells fishy and indigestible.
When a friend tells me that we are going to be in an economic mess, a political crash, or heading for a disaster of some kind, I usually know that things are already bloody dangerous, and that it's time to take out the broom and bucket to stench the flow, while also feeling that expertise in government and science are needed more than ever.
Ms. Fiorina is leaving the Corporate World to become a Public Servant? There is nothing sheepish about this, only it smells fishy and indigestible.
What these candidates have in common, as Ms. Collins points out, is an ideology that is based upon dismantling the federal system. Nearly all of these so-called Republican candidates are simply wolves in sheeps' clothing.
100
--no, they're wolves in wolves' clothing. Nothing meek, placid, or peaceful about these candidates.
1
When I listened to Carly Fiorina's announcement of her candidacy in which she criticized Hillary Clinton for lack of leadership experience, I had to laugh. Like her or not, Hillary Clinton has achieved much: co-founder of Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families; first female chair of the Legal Services Corp.; first female partner in her law firm; one of the National Law Journal's 100 most influential lawyers (all these before being First Lady); US Senator; Secretary of State, etc. Personally, those accomplishments mean more to me than Ms. Fiorina's questionable effectiveness and tenure as a corporate executive.
645
Questionable? What an understatement.
3
Put me down for like her not....
2
"When I listened to Carly Fiorina's announcement of her candidacy in which she criticized Hillary Clinton for lack of leadership experience, I had to laugh. "
It's all part of the Conservative "black is white/purple is green" service. Tell people something often enough, no matter how ridiculous and they begin to believe it. Shout Bengazi enough no matter how many times your very own party has found nothing amiss and people will begin to believe where there is smoke their is fire. It works. The shills of big business know this.
It's all part of the Conservative "black is white/purple is green" service. Tell people something often enough, no matter how ridiculous and they begin to believe it. Shout Bengazi enough no matter how many times your very own party has found nothing amiss and people will begin to believe where there is smoke their is fire. It works. The shills of big business know this.
4
It seems the only qualification for running for the presidency in the Republican party is to be able to come up with creative ways to insult our president or Hillary.
I guess I shouldn't worry about the election since I live in Texas and the military is planning to overtake us soon. But, wait! I have a governor who is watching my back. Whew!
I guess I shouldn't worry about the election since I live in Texas and the military is planning to overtake us soon. But, wait! I have a governor who is watching my back. Whew!
516
I gotta love Texas! It's the only state with local politicians nuttier than the ones in Tennessee.
1
" I have a governor who is watching my back"
Yup—and he's probably armed!
Yup—and he's probably armed!
1
Fiona's idea of debating in the 2010 California Senate campaign was to make snarky comments about her opponents hair. That she has so exclusively zeroed in with cheap, nasty comments about Hillary suggests that where she is most comfortable is not in reasoned debate but instead relishes a cat fight, a telling sign of her own level of incompetence.
170
Katy Couric usually has successful interviews with almost ALL candidates..well except for one VEEP candidate in 2008...of all the gall! Asking Caribou Barbie, a journalism major what newspapers and magazines she read to gain her understanding of the world news before she was picked to run.
"I read all the news!"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9go38MgZ4w8
Katy asked Fiorina "Since you are polling at 1% have you considered a vice presidential slot?"
Fiorina retorted "Would you ask a male candidate that question??"
Kay said "Well yes if I had a male candidate at 1% polling I WOULD ask that question." Thank you Katy--another one bites the dust. Fiorina comes across as mean, dumb, and angry.
As Jon Stewart is calling this early race with Fiorina, Ted Cruz, Ben Carson, and Mike Huckabee: ("The 2016 Road Back to your own House!")
"I read all the news!"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9go38MgZ4w8
Katy asked Fiorina "Since you are polling at 1% have you considered a vice presidential slot?"
Fiorina retorted "Would you ask a male candidate that question??"
Kay said "Well yes if I had a male candidate at 1% polling I WOULD ask that question." Thank you Katy--another one bites the dust. Fiorina comes across as mean, dumb, and angry.
As Jon Stewart is calling this early race with Fiorina, Ted Cruz, Ben Carson, and Mike Huckabee: ("The 2016 Road Back to your own House!")
2
Hair compare is exactly how I'm going to decide who to vote for, and Hillary's hair is vastly superior to Carly's.
1
And yet, you and your party have embraced our current POTUS who had what most would have considered next-to-no experience and have defended every misstep he has made due to that inexperience.
5
Or perhaps it shows what happens when you get to be President, with minimal experience. Being good at cutting people open or destroying a fine company provides little more useful executive experience than running at the mouth about what is wrong with other people.
9
Heaven knows I have my differences with Obama (though I did vote twice for him; given his opponents, I wouldn't change my vote in retrospect; and given the current GOP field, if he could run again I'd hold my nose and vote for him vs any of them). But he had more experience in government than either Carson or Fiorina, and moreover a scholarly background in Constitutional law, government, and political science. Where he has come up short is in the very area that actual hands-on political experience provides - politicking and horse-trading, essential 'people skills' - such as LBJ had. Business leaders, who are accustomed to top-down autocracy, 'my way or the highway' management structures, or the self-employed, who answer only to themselves, are even less likely to develop these skills than was Obama, who was at least a community organizer.
4
Obama's actually made precious few "missteps" in his remarkable presidency. One can only imagine how much progress our nation would have made if the GOP hadn't chosen "make Obama a one-term president" as their sole goal, even after Obama was reelected by a second landslide. I resent having to pay the salaries of my state's Republican lawmakers, who have done nothing since Obama's election and re-election but cost us $24 billion with their failed government shutdown, and sign the #47Traitors letter. Pennsylvania and the nation both deserve much, much better.
7
Ms. Fiorina argues that she understands how the economy works. She fired 30,000 workers, was herself fired from her executive position for her failures, and walked away with a $20 million golden parachute.
She does indeed understand how the economy works.
We want a politician who not only understands how it works, but wants to change how it works -- especially for people like Carly Fiorina.
She does indeed understand how the economy works.
We want a politician who not only understands how it works, but wants to change how it works -- especially for people like Carly Fiorina.
861
But remember most politicians who get fired end up doing very well financially (remember Eric Cantor) so she already has that experience.
Yes, she certainly would be comfortable with Cantor (and good riddance to him). With Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, not so much.
Yes, she fully understands how the economy works for selfish manipulators who plunder other people's enterprises and walk away, oblivious to the devastation left in their wakes, just like Mitt Romney.
They are the last kind of people we need in the White House.
They are the last kind of people we need in the White House.
2
I could never decide which columnist I liked more: Gail Collins or Molly Ivins. At this point, I think they are both fabulous.
As Gail Collins reminds us today, Carly Fiorina is funnier than Phyllis Diller, except that Phyllis Diller was a comedienne by intention.
Before I read a column by Gail Collins, I always sit down first.
Otherwise, I would fall down from laughing.
As Gail Collins reminds us today, Carly Fiorina is funnier than Phyllis Diller, except that Phyllis Diller was a comedienne by intention.
Before I read a column by Gail Collins, I always sit down first.
Otherwise, I would fall down from laughing.
89
Gail is brilliant, isn't she?
Gail Collins doesn't always make me laugh. Sometimes she abandons her tongue-in-cheek style to make very serious points - to really make me think and to show how invested she is in being a journalist. Today's column is in that vein. Although some of her columns have been very serious, this one blends her usual style with a very serious point.
And we could really use Molly Ivins right about now. Sigh.
2
Looks like there is an epidemic of megalomania in the Republican party.
31
Jerry
Perhaps we are being diverted by this political mob, while the Empire Rulers get ready to place a puppet President in the White House.
Perhaps we are being diverted by this political mob, while the Empire Rulers get ready to place a puppet President in the White House.
I work in politics, but primarily with volunteers, and solidly on the left. I don't watch TV at all except for Republican presidential primary debates, as they are hilarious. But if she is going to refer to the founding fathers as the founders the whole time it might stop being a drinking game and become a wretching game. The whole clown car is disgusting!!!
30
Founding father. n. An imaginary figure with a real historical name. Conjured up to support untenable political arguments.
With apology to Ambrose Bierce.
With apology to Ambrose Bierce.
Where does one start? Well, I for one would love to screw up badly enough to get fired and walk away with 20M. I then would bury myself somewhere out a sense of shame, and to hide so they couldn't find me to take back the money. But that's just me. Between the Texas takeover stupidity and just your average right wing conspiracy theory du jor, it's hard to believe these candidates are getting a dime of support for their positions from people who otherwise appear to be sane and grounded. But they are. God help us.
77
“Our founders never intended us to have a professional political class,” Fiorina says, turning to the camera....
No, clearly they preferred the country to be led by demagogues and saviours put into office by the ignorant, the uneducated, the intemperate and the frightened. Fiorina's self-promoting cattiness is designed solely to put down Hillary - someone overwhelmingly more qualified for the job of President than she is. No wonder Hewlett-Packard gave this woman a big ole' golden parachute just to get her to leave.
No, clearly they preferred the country to be led by demagogues and saviours put into office by the ignorant, the uneducated, the intemperate and the frightened. Fiorina's self-promoting cattiness is designed solely to put down Hillary - someone overwhelmingly more qualified for the job of President than she is. No wonder Hewlett-Packard gave this woman a big ole' golden parachute just to get her to leave.
84
The Republican field reminds me a tad of the science fiction novel by Philip K. Dick, "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" In the book, most types of animals were endangered or extinct due to extreme radiation poisoning from the war as well as extreme climate change. For the surviving humans, to own an animal was a sign of status. More importantly, what was highlighted were the empathic emotions humans experience towards an animal.
The main character, Deckard, once owned a real sheep although it died and he couldn't afford to purchase another. So he replaced it with a malfunctioning synthetic black-faced Suffolk ewe. The androids didn't own animals as they were incapable of emotion as well as empathy. Deckard's task was to track down renegade androids who have assumed human identities in this post-apocalyptic world of the future. As a bounty hunter, he had to apply an empathy test called "the Voigt-Kampff test."
Since the GOP consists of anti-science blowhards intent on throwing mud at Pres. Obama & Hillary Clinton instead of providing any substantive policy initiatives, it seems necessary to administer each of them "the Voigt-Kampff test" as they seem to display an utter lack of empathy. If they don't pass the empathy test then the public will know that they are indeed synthetic & unfeeling robots developed by Koch Industries et al sent to destroy our country.
The main character, Deckard, once owned a real sheep although it died and he couldn't afford to purchase another. So he replaced it with a malfunctioning synthetic black-faced Suffolk ewe. The androids didn't own animals as they were incapable of emotion as well as empathy. Deckard's task was to track down renegade androids who have assumed human identities in this post-apocalyptic world of the future. As a bounty hunter, he had to apply an empathy test called "the Voigt-Kampff test."
Since the GOP consists of anti-science blowhards intent on throwing mud at Pres. Obama & Hillary Clinton instead of providing any substantive policy initiatives, it seems necessary to administer each of them "the Voigt-Kampff test" as they seem to display an utter lack of empathy. If they don't pass the empathy test then the public will know that they are indeed synthetic & unfeeling robots developed by Koch Industries et al sent to destroy our country.
84
There is a word for this -- sociopath.
Government isn't a business. In business, the CEO sets policy. Politics is the art of getting people to go along with your position that have fundamental disagreements with it along with the power to reject it. This requires a high degree of social intelligence and the ability to negotiate. Our current crop of Washington officials have neither of these qualities. They are not politicians. They are rigid ideological fanatics incapable of compromise. They talk about female body parts like they were tires and oil filters, no social intelligence.
I'm a very good problem solver but would make a lousy politician. I don't have the patience or skill to convince someone I view as being totally unreasonable or even delusional. Congress is full of unreasonable, delusional people and convincing them is precisely the task of a true politician.
If Congress was staffed with true politicians, there would be no gridlock. We need true politicians that understand the importance and function of government and endeavor to make it work. Most of these self-proclaimed non-politicians wish to do the opposite. They want to disable government. No, they truly are not politicians. They are anarchists.
I'm a very good problem solver but would make a lousy politician. I don't have the patience or skill to convince someone I view as being totally unreasonable or even delusional. Congress is full of unreasonable, delusional people and convincing them is precisely the task of a true politician.
If Congress was staffed with true politicians, there would be no gridlock. We need true politicians that understand the importance and function of government and endeavor to make it work. Most of these self-proclaimed non-politicians wish to do the opposite. They want to disable government. No, they truly are not politicians. They are anarchists.
100
outstanding!
If Carson does well in Iowa, I am leaving. He might, though. Yesterday, I was in line at school to pick up my grandson, when I glanced sideways to find a lady in dark glasses keeping what appeared to be "Skeletor" and a doll with blood all over its face in her back driver's side window. (Keep in mind I am in the kindergarten drive-up.)
I rolled down my window and said to the assistant principal, who was walking about, "what is up with that?" He shook his head and said, "we don't know." So, there's one vote for Carson.
And, then, when I decided to call school to discuss it further, the phone lines wouldn't work. (It happens every time it rains really hard.) Rumor was, McDonald's was cash only, and later in the evening, I found out the ATMs wouldn't work. It would be a nightmare, if I wasn't awake.
And, then, a pediatric critical care nurse whom I spoke with over the weekend (my grandson plays baseball with her son) informs me that in her circle, our area is referred to as the "Triangle". Gail, could you check and see if the "Republican" Governor, Terry Branstad has an online subscription, because I'm hoping he reads my comment --- we could use some help! And, I don't think we need anymore Republicans, I can't handle another "Skeletor"!
I rolled down my window and said to the assistant principal, who was walking about, "what is up with that?" He shook his head and said, "we don't know." So, there's one vote for Carson.
And, then, when I decided to call school to discuss it further, the phone lines wouldn't work. (It happens every time it rains really hard.) Rumor was, McDonald's was cash only, and later in the evening, I found out the ATMs wouldn't work. It would be a nightmare, if I wasn't awake.
And, then, a pediatric critical care nurse whom I spoke with over the weekend (my grandson plays baseball with her son) informs me that in her circle, our area is referred to as the "Triangle". Gail, could you check and see if the "Republican" Governor, Terry Branstad has an online subscription, because I'm hoping he reads my comment --- we could use some help! And, I don't think we need anymore Republicans, I can't handle another "Skeletor"!
17
Hi Gramma, Help is on the way, Scooter Walker . You haven't seen anything until Koch Franchise rolls into town to sell their man. If you are lucky you will get the latest update on his coupon wardrobe ( we get updates in every State, only thing left to reveal is socks and underwear) credit card debt and lack of education, which is his goal for America. Low wage jobs, schools run by anyone who can pass an on-line test to be certified as a teacher, Charter Schools with no accountability, sale of all natural resources to Corporations, and distruction of Universities. Well that's just for starters, but Iowa will have the first shot at putting this wreaking ball to ground. Start agitating now Gramma if you care about your Grands future.iowa has the first shot to bring this wrecking ball to ground, start agitating now.
Hasn't Fiorina already been promoted to her level of incompetence once before?
79
She'd trying to prove the Peter Principle is not true. She wants to rise above the level of her incompetence, not to it.
"Hasn't Fiorina already been promoted to her level of incompetence once before?"
Twice. Once at Lucent and then again at HP.
Twice. Once at Lucent and then again at HP.
For an ex-CEO of a tech giant, her campaign`s online missteps do not bode well for the experienced CEO argument.
The person who registered www.carlyfiorina.org really does not like her, and with 30,000 reasons.
The person who registered www.carlyfiorina.org really does not like her, and with 30,000 reasons.
31
Carson is the man with a smiley face and an evil tongue who just can't help himself from saying nasty things about our president and gay citizens.
Fiorina seems unlikely since she was fired from HP and lost her bid to be a California US senator.
I'm sticking with Hillary and Bernie Sanders; they would make a great ticket.
Fiorina seems unlikely since she was fired from HP and lost her bid to be a California US senator.
I'm sticking with Hillary and Bernie Sanders; they would make a great ticket.
70
So what you are really saying is "not a politician" begets "not enough relevant experience" begets "not qualified for the job." Why did I not read this or anything close in your newspaper in 2008?
1
Oh I don't know. Community activist = local politician. Law professor, experience in congress and the senate... those all sound like political jobs to me.
BTW: Only Levine, back in the day, read the actual intelligence reports on what was going on in Iran. That's the kind of attention a real politician pays; knowing who has the capacity to generate accurate information, contextualizing it, and following the course that will be best for our country, both our citizens and our international position.
When Carly started to say handheld PDAs were computers, I knew she'd lost her grip on reality.
BTW: Only Levine, back in the day, read the actual intelligence reports on what was going on in Iran. That's the kind of attention a real politician pays; knowing who has the capacity to generate accurate information, contextualizing it, and following the course that will be best for our country, both our citizens and our international position.
When Carly started to say handheld PDAs were computers, I knew she'd lost her grip on reality.
1
@Ralph Bianco - It is possible that the alternative choice in 2008 was so much worse that voting for the lesser of two evils is what happened. The alternative, a septuagenarian with a hare-brained VP selection, was indeed extremely frightening.
Ralph,
What are you saying? In 2008 the economy was on the brink of collapse and here it is 2015 and you want the same people who gave us Cheney/Bush 2008 to reestablish 2008.
I thought that's what I was reading in 2008 was stop beating your head against the wall it feels good when you stop. I don't punish failure but not learning from failure is unforgivable. Another GOP executive seems more than likely to be the end to the 240 year old dream. My great fear is that in the words of Tom Lehrer "We will all go together when we go." I know there will never be an apocalypse just a little ping in the universe.
What are you saying? In 2008 the economy was on the brink of collapse and here it is 2015 and you want the same people who gave us Cheney/Bush 2008 to reestablish 2008.
I thought that's what I was reading in 2008 was stop beating your head against the wall it feels good when you stop. I don't punish failure but not learning from failure is unforgivable. Another GOP executive seems more than likely to be the end to the 240 year old dream. My great fear is that in the words of Tom Lehrer "We will all go together when we go." I know there will never be an apocalypse just a little ping in the universe.
It's always mystified me why politics is the one field where lack of qualifications are considered to be a qualification. By the same logic, if I needed a neurosurgeon, the last person I should want to hire would be Ben Carson, and I should just get some random guy off the street.
In no other profession, trade, or service do we expect a job applicant to answer the interview question 'why should I hire you for this job?' with 'because I have absolutely no experience or training and it'll take me two years just to find the bathrooms'.
The only example I recall of a man who made a success in a field he knew nothing about was Charles Foster Kane proclaiming 'I think it would be fun to run a newspaper'. I guess 'I don't know what I'm doing, but I'm doing it anyway' would work there. ;}
In no other profession, trade, or service do we expect a job applicant to answer the interview question 'why should I hire you for this job?' with 'because I have absolutely no experience or training and it'll take me two years just to find the bathrooms'.
The only example I recall of a man who made a success in a field he knew nothing about was Charles Foster Kane proclaiming 'I think it would be fun to run a newspaper'. I guess 'I don't know what I'm doing, but I'm doing it anyway' would work there. ;}
19
Sounds like you are describing Obama
Don't confuse the Iowa Republican caucuses with the state of Iowa. The former is controlled by a rather small number of intolerant evangelicals. The Democrats take part as well, it's just that their usual voice of reason doesn't attract as much media attention as the :Republican sideshow. Iowa went Democratic 5 of the last 6 Presidential elections. It's still purple.
44
Our political class is performing so well....why change.
3
I congratulate Fiorina's campaign team for their creativity and I hope the "Demon Sheep" ad is only the beginning. I haven't laughed so hard since I watched Wallace & Grommet in "A Close Shave."
14
Is this kinda like voting for a guy with only limited political experience, no major legislation to his name and who had never served in the military nor run so much as a lemonade stand in his entire life?
4
No, actually it is nothing like that; and you seem to have missed the point entirely. Actively campaigning on the premise "I don't want to be good at the job" is very different from a lack of prior experience.
You mean like Abraham Lincoln? Oh wait, he did run a two man law office and served for a couple of weeks in the local militia.
Carson: a neurosurgeon in need of a head-doctor. Fiorina: a wonderful example of what Republican "success"looks like- wreck a company, lay off 30,000 people, blame everybody else, and walk off with a golden parachute.
Please Republicans, nominate one of these fools.
Please Republicans, nominate one of these fools.
125
Wasn't the clown car already full? Or, is it now a bus?
235
It's a train wreck.
54
Either a double decker bus, or perhaps an 18-wheeler.
6
The new GOP-for-POTUS Clown Bus is, I believe, a 17-wheeler. Thank heaven, it's doomed to fall over at the first turn to the far right.
3
Ms Fiorina's tenure at HP is quite Shakespearean and her efforts to out-maneuver her board of directors can take a lot of politicians to school. The summarily - but very public - firing of some of top executives there cements her place in the business annals. But let see her track records. Her claim to fame is to give birth to Lucent. Home of Bell Lab. Once a proud symbol of American know-how. Very soon, it will be Nokia-Alcatel-Lucent. A Finnish-Franco concern. She bought Compaq but dumped Agilent. So who need Damien if you have Carly?
31
Fiorina, who was lauded as the first woman to lead a Fortune 20 company, Lucent, seems largely a PR creation.
As Fortune magazine put it:
''Dig under the surface, however, and the story grows more complicated and less flattering. The Lucent that Fiorina walked away from, taking with her $65 million in performance-linked pay, was not at all what it appeared.''
It turns out Fiorina pumped up Lucent and its stock price using questionable accounting techniques. http://for.tn/1QpB4ex The stock price did not take long to collapse, forever ruining the good as gold history of former AT&T company stock.
But $65 million from Lucent was a nice parting gift for her, along with the nearly $20 million she received when she was forced out of HP.
It would be nice if people like Fiorina, who enrich themselves at the expense of workers and share owners, would just stay quiet, perhaps doing some constructive philanthropic work.
But she is another who has become a legend in her own mind with aspirations to do even more damage as our President.
As Fortune magazine put it:
''Dig under the surface, however, and the story grows more complicated and less flattering. The Lucent that Fiorina walked away from, taking with her $65 million in performance-linked pay, was not at all what it appeared.''
It turns out Fiorina pumped up Lucent and its stock price using questionable accounting techniques. http://for.tn/1QpB4ex The stock price did not take long to collapse, forever ruining the good as gold history of former AT&T company stock.
But $65 million from Lucent was a nice parting gift for her, along with the nearly $20 million she received when she was forced out of HP.
It would be nice if people like Fiorina, who enrich themselves at the expense of workers and share owners, would just stay quiet, perhaps doing some constructive philanthropic work.
But she is another who has become a legend in her own mind with aspirations to do even more damage as our President.
718
Executive pay contracts such as the Lucent 65 million and 20 million from Hewlett-Packer are iron clad, failure allowed. Meanwhile millions of Americans can't get a raise to the minimum wage in order to barely survive and they're the moochers?
Fiorina a is yet another arrogant, self regarding phony whose ego is the biggest item in her possession. For years now, we have watched our fellow citizens elect people who hate government and the results have been predictably wretched. Have the voter's noticed, not really? I guess some are too busy freaking out about normal military activity planned in the Republic of Texas and head nodding to Ben Carson's declaration that Supreme Court decisions won't apply the him should he be elected.
Fiorina a is yet another arrogant, self regarding phony whose ego is the biggest item in her possession. For years now, we have watched our fellow citizens elect people who hate government and the results have been predictably wretched. Have the voter's noticed, not really? I guess some are too busy freaking out about normal military activity planned in the Republic of Texas and head nodding to Ben Carson's declaration that Supreme Court decisions won't apply the him should he be elected.
4
In defense of HP, it was probably worth $20 million to be rid of Fiorina.
2
She's just a former corporate vampire, like Mitt Romney. Both made their poke by ruining otherwise healthy companies. I'd call them vultures, but at least vultures have the courtesy to wait until you're dead to strike.
1
The great thing about being an American is that any boy or girl can grow to be an adult and announce they are running for President. You don't have to have any special expertise. The current crop of Republican candidates proves it. But make room in the car - Christy, Santorum, Perry, Bush, Walker, Jindal, Graham, etc (where's Waldo?) have not announced yet. Late night comedians are going to have a lot of material to work with. Shame Jon Stewart is retiring.
186
And Colbert would have had a field day, too!
5
Tom: Don't forget that most Republican candidates are running for President for entirely ulterior motives. They want to promote books and speaking tours. They want a gig on Fox, or at Heritage. They want media exposure for other projects (even if they are reality shows!). For some, like Santorum, campaigning is his full-time job! For someone like Cruz, it's an attempt to increase his long-term influence in other spheres. The nomination is not the main objective.
While Adelson might pick a Huckabee or a Cruz, the mainstream corporate-controlled Republicans will not permit a loony to get the nomination. It'll be Bush, perhaps Walker, or one of the other establishment types (e.g., Graham, Portman) who will ultimately be chosen. The GOP likes fanning the flames of fear for voter-turnout, but corporate interests are far too important to be sacrificed for right-wing Father Coughlinisms. Not increasing taxes on the rich and deregulation are MORE important to the overseers of the GOP than are abortion, gay marriages, or illegal immigrants.
While Adelson might pick a Huckabee or a Cruz, the mainstream corporate-controlled Republicans will not permit a loony to get the nomination. It'll be Bush, perhaps Walker, or one of the other establishment types (e.g., Graham, Portman) who will ultimately be chosen. The GOP likes fanning the flames of fear for voter-turnout, but corporate interests are far too important to be sacrificed for right-wing Father Coughlinisms. Not increasing taxes on the rich and deregulation are MORE important to the overseers of the GOP than are abortion, gay marriages, or illegal immigrants.
2
God almighty--I just watched the Demon Sheep video and on the basis of that alone, Fiorina is not qualified for the Presidency. Candidates have to know how to communicate, and that long, meandering insult to human intelligence with the man crawling around in costume at the end is not it.
It took me 3 minutes longer to read your column, Gail because I was laughing so hard. Of course, it's really not a laughing matter. As I wrote the other day, why don't we all declare? There are tons of intelligent posters here with good ideas--maybe we could run as a committee.
I'd rather have a 300-person presidency than one retired neurosurgeon who makes inflammatory statements bereft of reason. Is it just me--but somehow when I listen to Carson, the last phrase that comes to mind is "neurosurgeon." Did someone at Johns Hopkins give him a lobotomy as a retirement present? It sure sounds like it.
I thought 2012 show the paucity of qualified candidates on the right, but this current crop beats the band. I almost feel sorry (note, I said almost) for conservatives--so many choices, so little gravitas.
But thank you for the laughs, Gail. I needed that to start my day. It's a grim world out there in the political pasture. Just ask the sheep.
It took me 3 minutes longer to read your column, Gail because I was laughing so hard. Of course, it's really not a laughing matter. As I wrote the other day, why don't we all declare? There are tons of intelligent posters here with good ideas--maybe we could run as a committee.
I'd rather have a 300-person presidency than one retired neurosurgeon who makes inflammatory statements bereft of reason. Is it just me--but somehow when I listen to Carson, the last phrase that comes to mind is "neurosurgeon." Did someone at Johns Hopkins give him a lobotomy as a retirement present? It sure sounds like it.
I thought 2012 show the paucity of qualified candidates on the right, but this current crop beats the band. I almost feel sorry (note, I said almost) for conservatives--so many choices, so little gravitas.
But thank you for the laughs, Gail. I needed that to start my day. It's a grim world out there in the political pasture. Just ask the sheep.
734
Christine, that is so well said. Thanks.
Perhaps Carson and Fiorina are running to make Jeb look comparatively good.
Is it possible someone's paying them to do this?
Anyway, it's a nice conspiracy theory.
Is it possible someone's paying them to do this?
Anyway, it's a nice conspiracy theory.
Carson has demonstrated both intelligence and skill in his prior career. Unfortunately, he has also demonstrated arrogance bordering on megalomania (anyone else ever meet a surgeon like that?), an unwillingness to listen, a rigidity and narrow-mindedness, and an absolute rejection of anyone whose views on every issue do not parrot his own. Carson is scary for many reasons but we are safe because the current version of the Republican Party would never nominate a Black man any more than they would nominate a woman. At the end of the day, the Clown Car always seems to stop at the gates of Fox News ....
3
Fiorina's only claim to fame is getting fired as CEO of HP after firing 30,000 workers but developing poor corporate performance. She is just a self-centered egomaniac who likes to see her name in the newspapers, and she has no demonstrated skills to lead the nation let alone a major company. Unfortunately our presidential circus campaigns are filled with self-centered egomaniacs, but who else would subject themselves to the grueling two year run for the presidency of the U.S.?
55
It's like the myth if the "Washington outsider." We should have learned with George W. Bush what happens when we elect an outsider. He (or she) surrounds himself with a bunch of unelected insiders (Cheney, Wolfiwitz, Rumsfeld etc.) who then pull the strings. Thanks, but I want a president who gets up the day after the inauguration knowing how to get things done; a president to has a deep bench of connections to call upon.
It is nonsense to say that a good politician is not a good leader. Any good leader is naturally also a good politician whether in the corporate world or in government. Political savvy is nothing more than having excellent people skills, being able to read one's audience, knowing how to think on one's feet, and being able to field an 'out-of-left-field' question or incident smoothly and well.
It is nonsense to say that a good politician is not a good leader. Any good leader is naturally also a good politician whether in the corporate world or in government. Political savvy is nothing more than having excellent people skills, being able to read one's audience, knowing how to think on one's feet, and being able to field an 'out-of-left-field' question or incident smoothly and well.
136
The last "politician", in the fabled understanding of the word, that I can remember is Lyndon Johnson. He actually "politicked" the Civil Rights movement into the law of the land.
Maybe Fiorina can be legitimately tarred for her job at HP, and the Doc can be discarded because of his insane invective, but the gridlock, endless wars, and incapacity to deal with the nation's problems, is the handiwork of politicians.
But we don't want to throw the baby out with the bathwater, unless it's Rosemary's.
Maybe Fiorina can be legitimately tarred for her job at HP, and the Doc can be discarded because of his insane invective, but the gridlock, endless wars, and incapacity to deal with the nation's problems, is the handiwork of politicians.
But we don't want to throw the baby out with the bathwater, unless it's Rosemary's.
12
Neither Carson nor Fiorina would be good as president. Carson, rather like Liam Neeson, has a very specific set of skills. Firoina, as far as I can tell, has none.
44
Judging by one of his previous movie roles, Liam Neeson also looks better in a skirt.
Gail Collins correctly uses the word "want" in her first paragraph. The Constitution only has 3 requirements for the office of President. Natural born citizenship. Age 35 or greater. Have lived in US for 14 years(why this number would need some research). Other than that the selection is wide open. We vote on our beliefs, since our Constitution leaves it up to us except for the above. Some of those beliefs are more thought out than others.
The bigger problem lies elsewhere. Too many don't vote or test the views on a broader citizen basis. We have cloistered ourselves into tight cells of unbending, untested beliefs.
From two lines from Bob Dylan's "A Hard Rain is A Gonna Fall":
"I saw ten thousand talkers whose tongues were all broken..."
"I heard ten thousand whisperin' and nobody listenin'......"
The bigger problem lies elsewhere. Too many don't vote or test the views on a broader citizen basis. We have cloistered ourselves into tight cells of unbending, untested beliefs.
From two lines from Bob Dylan's "A Hard Rain is A Gonna Fall":
"I saw ten thousand talkers whose tongues were all broken..."
"I heard ten thousand whisperin' and nobody listenin'......"
23
Probably because the Founders had a thing for the number seven. There was also 21 years for voting until quite recently, and now there's 21 years for drinking.
1
Have lived in the US for 14 years.
Hm. Just speculating:
Constitution ratified, 1788.
Minus 14 ... 1774.
I suspect it was an attempt to prevent the possibility of Loyalists born in the 13 colonies returning from Canada and hijacking the new government. Just because the war was over didn't necessarily mean it was over; we picked a second fight with England in 1812, during which, in fact, we invaded Canada.
Hm. Just speculating:
Constitution ratified, 1788.
Minus 14 ... 1774.
I suspect it was an attempt to prevent the possibility of Loyalists born in the 13 colonies returning from Canada and hijacking the new government. Just because the war was over didn't necessarily mean it was over; we picked a second fight with England in 1812, during which, in fact, we invaded Canada.
There is nothing wrong with people entering government service from other walks of life. Our founding fathers (sadly, no mothers) did that. The alternative is a ruling caste, which has far worse problems.
One of NJ's best US Representatives in recent times was Rush Holt, who was an ex-college professor.
The problem that we face is twofold.
First, Ms. Fiorina and Dr. Carson want to start at the top, without getting any relevant experience at lower levels. This is a sign of great arrogance and shows the weakness of underestimating complex issues.
Second, professions all have their defining characteristics. Rock drummers are lunatics. Mathematicians are maladjusted nerds (I can speak to this because I am one). And speaking of arrogance, politicians tend towards lying, manipulative, self-serving narcissism. The political profession attracts them like fecal matter attracts flies. Maybe not all politicians are like this. But try to name more than one or two who aren't.
Ms. Fiorina and Dr. Carson fit the manipulative, narcissistic description to a T. They already ARE politicians, despite what they say. How do you think Ms. Fiorina became a CEO and Dr. Carson got his media cred? They are just not in federal government yet.
One of NJ's best US Representatives in recent times was Rush Holt, who was an ex-college professor.
The problem that we face is twofold.
First, Ms. Fiorina and Dr. Carson want to start at the top, without getting any relevant experience at lower levels. This is a sign of great arrogance and shows the weakness of underestimating complex issues.
Second, professions all have their defining characteristics. Rock drummers are lunatics. Mathematicians are maladjusted nerds (I can speak to this because I am one). And speaking of arrogance, politicians tend towards lying, manipulative, self-serving narcissism. The political profession attracts them like fecal matter attracts flies. Maybe not all politicians are like this. But try to name more than one or two who aren't.
Ms. Fiorina and Dr. Carson fit the manipulative, narcissistic description to a T. They already ARE politicians, despite what they say. How do you think Ms. Fiorina became a CEO and Dr. Carson got his media cred? They are just not in federal government yet.
46
Rock throwers might be lunatics, but come on, drummers? Maybe rock bass players, considering that Huckabee is a bassist, loves Jimi Hendrix, was a
Baptist preacher and wants to be president. That seems to me a bit likr lunacy on the fringes.
Can you imagine Huckabee playing "It's Still Raining" with Hendrix in the Electric Ladyland studio? The place would have emptied so fast there would have been negative air pressure (which, by the way, is impossible).
Somebody, please give the man a joint.
Baptist preacher and wants to be president. That seems to me a bit likr lunacy on the fringes.
Can you imagine Huckabee playing "It's Still Raining" with Hendrix in the Electric Ladyland studio? The place would have emptied so fast there would have been negative air pressure (which, by the way, is impossible).
Somebody, please give the man a joint.
There is something about being a politician that is necessary to representative government for one is not dealing with employees, but trying to promote a vision that will propel action for a vast number of people who do not agree with him. That does not mean that one who is not a career politician lacks these skills. What we are seeing are those claiming not to be politicians relying on some of the dirty tricks of politicians including fear-mongering and divisiveness.
22
Carly Fiorina almost sank HP, was rewarded with a 20 million dollar parachute, and then ran a truly pathetic campaign for the Senate in Californa. Guess she believes that her "arc of failure" bends straight to the White House.
56
Most GOP candidates are qualified for very little. But they've found the key to the beating heart of Fox--well, lots of keys. Any lie will do, so long as it is about Obama, Pelosi, Democrats, or all three.
Hiding in the noxious weeds of the latest Texas hissy fit is the clear implication in Gov. Perry's defense of our Defense. It's OK, he said, to criticize the Federal government, but don't criticize the military. So the military is not part of government? Already outsourced to the Koch Bros? Unfortunately, this also fits with Right Wing views of Police Depts. They are above the law. Why? Because we need them!
Hiding in the noxious weeds of the latest Texas hissy fit is the clear implication in Gov. Perry's defense of our Defense. It's OK, he said, to criticize the Federal government, but don't criticize the military. So the military is not part of government? Already outsourced to the Koch Bros? Unfortunately, this also fits with Right Wing views of Police Depts. They are above the law. Why? Because we need them!
39
Des, isn't Texas Gov. Abbott criticizing our military right now? He's called out the Texas Guard (not the National Guard) to keep an eye on the Jade Helm 15 military exercise to make sure that the Army doesn't take over Texas.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/07/us/conspiracy-theories-over-jade-helm-...
(I love the WalMart tunnel allegations that are part of this conspiracy theory.)
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/07/us/conspiracy-theories-over-jade-helm-...
(I love the WalMart tunnel allegations that are part of this conspiracy theory.)
3
Let's hope Ms. Fiorina straps Demon Sheep to the roof of her station wagon and takes him on a good, long vacation.
336
Dear Ewan:
That's a fine idea and let's call him "Shaun." Perhaps Gail can make him a leitmotif in many future columns, alongside the Romney family's luckless hound, Seamus. Just because Mitt isn't running doesn't mean we would like to hear more of Seamus's Canadian vacation.
That's a fine idea and let's call him "Shaun." Perhaps Gail can make him a leitmotif in many future columns, alongside the Romney family's luckless hound, Seamus. Just because Mitt isn't running doesn't mean we would like to hear more of Seamus's Canadian vacation.
2
Let's hope the tired animal-on-the-roof joke dies a well deserved death. Especially disconnected from its original context, in which it served to remind us of what kind of man Mitt Romney is, it's really not funny anymore, except perhaps to people who love movies with two-digit roman numerals in the title and hang on for dear life to a joke for fear of never finding another. The essence of humour, said Freud, is surprise, and there is no surprise left in this meme.
Are you the Scottish poet laureate McTeagle made world-famous by Monty Python? ("Can you lend me a quid 'til Tuesday?")
3
One of them is a sanctimonious, money grubber and he was once a governor!
18
When I worked in high-tech, many of my colleagues would tell me how they were not political, that they were not a politician. My takeaway was that they were just really bad at politics.
20
amazing but true science fact: the republican field gets larger and smaller at the same time.
300
How true. The collective IQ of each of their states rises significantly when they leave their for the campaign trail. Too bad the collective IQ of the state they are visiting must go down as a result.
lol. Wish I could 'thumbs-up' you twice!
Suggested campaign motto for Fiorina:
The Ego has landed.
The Ego has landed.
304
The Ego landed 6 years ago.
.
.
2
Ah, heck. That motto applies to all of them. Who, but a massive ego would dare put themselves forth? And that includes the one I will vote for, Hillary, and all the ones for whom I have voted for in the past
Really, if the woman couldn't make a decent ink-jet printer, how is she going to run the country?
469
Precisely right!
Maybe she'll do to the US what she did with HP - we can merge with a country with no infrastructure and drain the US of all resources that aren't allocated to paying the President $100 Million to leave office. Carson doesn't deserve mention - he's a tiresome, nasty waste of the elements that make up a human being.
"The American people aren’t just shareholders. They would like their government to be efficient, and they would like the budget to balance. But they also want a lot of other stuff — protection from evildoers, compassion for the needy, assistance in retirement, highways without potholes, good schools, a healthy environment."
I would like to believe the above is true--except that we keep electing Republicans to government.
I would like to believe the above is true--except that we keep electing Republicans to government.
241
Mr Dickinson: I agree with you, but am absolutely dumbfounded at how the repubs are able to convince people to vote against what they really want and need. This is the unfortunate genius of the GOP.
17
James and Stage 12: It's not really such a mystery; it's the old "divide and conquer" plus the old "blame the outsider" that's been going on for hundreds, even thousands, of years.
"You can fool all the people...."
"You can fool all the people...."
4
Could they all just live in Texas, serve in Texas, be non-politicians in Texas and make sure that it becomes its own country and none of the rest of us have to worry about our taxes supporting them, dealing with their paranoia, and having no more presidents/presidential candidates to muck up our own country.
375
Wonderful idea. I'm all for making Texas it's own country. There's some folks from TN I'd like to send to join them.
10
We could airlift Austin to New Mexico or Southern Colorado.
3
Individuals such as Florina and Carson are like aging athletes. They are getting near their sell by date, know they should hang up the cleats but keep soldering on, attempting to do something to achieve a concept not even smart boys can understand. So instead of going going out on top, like Sandy Koufax or Jim Brown, you get YA Title on in his own knees bloody face and all, or Bob Gibson getting shelled then having his own words about growing old thrown back in his face by a teammate. These two had some moments but they are no Jack Kennedy, even put together. Pass, go write a book(another one I guess in both cases) go give lectures, play golf, just get our of our collective faces.
41
I love the Republican line-up!!! They've got politician-haters vying to be politicians and ALL of them are proud government-haters hoping to run the government they hate. I swear, it's enough to make we switch parties.
But since I live in Texas, I won't get to... come summertime, I'll be incarcerated in a subterranean jail under an abandoned Walmart.
But since I live in Texas, I won't get to... come summertime, I'll be incarcerated in a subterranean jail under an abandoned Walmart.
580
I hope I get placed in the the subterranean jail, that will be better than being in FEMA camps out in the hellish heat here.
4
Alberta, the only Republican-like province in Canada, just elected a socialist government. This is like Bernie Sanders being elected governor of Texas.
7
Intriguing! please explain.
Amazing. All of the would-be POTUS' will change the nation by their election. Of course none of them actually have demonstrated the ability to get things done by working with a legislative and/or judicial authority.
For some strange reason we love people who pose as authoritarian - exactly what does now work well with legislatures or courts. the "We'll do it my way" approach slams into a brick wall. What will those who are aspirants to the office of POTUS do to get their legislative agenda in place? Ask that question and watch the aspirant move on to the next question about their personality or why their opponent is the spawn of Satan.
Actual leadership is a rare commodity in human society. We the People think that each official we elect has that quality. Few actually do and we forget that We the People are the government and We the People must lead the nation - the elected officials are our place holders, not our rulers. Unfortunately the real sovereign of this nation (We the People) have abdicated leaving us to the tender mercies of power-hungry elected officials who only care about themselves and their backers.
For some strange reason we love people who pose as authoritarian - exactly what does now work well with legislatures or courts. the "We'll do it my way" approach slams into a brick wall. What will those who are aspirants to the office of POTUS do to get their legislative agenda in place? Ask that question and watch the aspirant move on to the next question about their personality or why their opponent is the spawn of Satan.
Actual leadership is a rare commodity in human society. We the People think that each official we elect has that quality. Few actually do and we forget that We the People are the government and We the People must lead the nation - the elected officials are our place holders, not our rulers. Unfortunately the real sovereign of this nation (We the People) have abdicated leaving us to the tender mercies of power-hungry elected officials who only care about themselves and their backers.
36
Clearly our, the U.S., political system is broken. If anything is demonstrated by this editorial it is this fact.
9
Reminds me of the the old Doonesbury strip when Perot was running touting his business skills. Trudeau had a series of cartons that went something like, "Hi, I'm a plumber and I've come to fix your roof" to " Hi I'm the postman and I've come to fix your teeth" to finally "Hi I'm a businessman and I've come to fix the country".
475
It's dismaying how many people don't understand you can't run a country 'like a business.' The goals, skills, and tools of a business in our capitalist system are not only different but in some cases actually antithetical to those of government. Obvious examples are externalities - a Walmart keeping wages low and cutting benefits by foisting the responsibility on the state, or a McDonald's dealing with the litter problem of its disposable containers by, well, not dealing with it and leaving it to the taxpayer to pick up the litter. The motto of business is to grab the bucks and pass on the costs; government is where the costs wind up.
36
@ACW: OK, well instead we've let millionaire politicians run the show. How's THAT working out? Would a businessman do a worse job?
Concerned: Yes, because, if you read my original comment carefully, you will see from the examples I give that the successful businessperson specifically solves his or her problems by passing them on to government. Once they're in government, though, upon whom do they foist them?
7
We are all better off by keeping Carly Fiorina among the long-term unemployed – albeit with hefty severance check.
24
Thank you very much for the link to the Demon Sheep ad on Youtube by Ms. Fiorina. I watched it for 1:01 (of its 3:21 entirety) before I got so bored I could not stand it anymore. I found myself looking at the clock after 0:45 and thinking is this ever going to get to the point? When you listed Thomas Jefferson's elected offices, I remembered Hillary Clinton has been elected and appointed twice on her own (NY Senate; US Secretary of State) and served twice more (Arkansas First Lady; US First Lady). She really is a towering national leader and she knows her way around the halls of public service. When improbable candidates (Fiorina, Carson) announce their intentions, I have come to believe they really do not do it because they have any interest in the job. It's just because there is so much money to make (and lose)!! Stephen Colbert make great fun of this with his SuperPac in 2012.
45
Can we have a tweet-off about the Demon Sheep versus Seamus on the roof?
4
Well, being First Lady requires nothing more than marriage to a powerful man. Hillary was an incompetent lawyer prior to that, who was fired for graft.
The Senate? That was handed to her as a sop for being an ex-first lady. And she wasn't even a resident of NY before that! She was from Arkansas -- ever wonder why she did not run for Senator of ARKANSAS?
Secretary of State? that's how Obama bought her off for the nomination -- otherwise, she would have jabbed at him for 4 years. Clearly, there was collusion to make her (rather than Biden) the future candidate. This was all planned, years ago.
I used to like Bill Clinton, but the Clintons today bear no resemblance to the Arkansans who once sat in the White House. They are extremists, hard-left liberals now and Hillary is not qualified to be POTUS.
The Senate? That was handed to her as a sop for being an ex-first lady. And she wasn't even a resident of NY before that! She was from Arkansas -- ever wonder why she did not run for Senator of ARKANSAS?
Secretary of State? that's how Obama bought her off for the nomination -- otherwise, she would have jabbed at him for 4 years. Clearly, there was collusion to make her (rather than Biden) the future candidate. This was all planned, years ago.
I used to like Bill Clinton, but the Clintons today bear no resemblance to the Arkansans who once sat in the White House. They are extremists, hard-left liberals now and Hillary is not qualified to be POTUS.
1
WOW, CC, that's quite a rant! Got any facts to back of any of this? No, didn't think so. Take a Xanax and relax.
3
I think that the existence of TV and its use in national politics and campaigns has drawn into the fray people who might not have run before they could get that kind of attention. That might also explain the disdain for local politics, where higher tech media attention is less of an issue.
17
the key measures of the new candidacies is who can cast the widest net of blame while misreading history. there are more to come. Lindsey Graham is waiting beside the old South's Corinthian columns will reduce a hand written endorsement from one of West Point's finest and the South's greatest generals, Robert E Lee.
Eric Cantor is fine making millions and will not be heard from. former Secretary of State Rice will refuse to be drafted. but all of the current field believe you can win the world's most powerful office by small talk, snark and a little bitterness. What happened to don't worry, be happy?
So far, Carly sounds like a competing cheerleader, who claims she's more fit even if she doesn't know the cheers! Will she propose a strategic merger with China in order to capture the global market? she has much to be admired but leaves much to be desired--in a presidential candidate. Is this her burning ambition or simply the next best thing?
No matter. Run all. Even with all the chatter, most of them know they cannot win. Maybe they will move to Texas, take over the government by religious coup and govern by as a joint coalition.
Their first acts? Monitoring US troop exercises, overturning citizen bans on fracking, restricting abortion, ignoring the high rate of pregnancy for teens, setting up certification mills for teachers, putting Confederate History into textbooks, and re-electing Ted Cruz to the Senate!
Eric Cantor is fine making millions and will not be heard from. former Secretary of State Rice will refuse to be drafted. but all of the current field believe you can win the world's most powerful office by small talk, snark and a little bitterness. What happened to don't worry, be happy?
So far, Carly sounds like a competing cheerleader, who claims she's more fit even if she doesn't know the cheers! Will she propose a strategic merger with China in order to capture the global market? she has much to be admired but leaves much to be desired--in a presidential candidate. Is this her burning ambition or simply the next best thing?
No matter. Run all. Even with all the chatter, most of them know they cannot win. Maybe they will move to Texas, take over the government by religious coup and govern by as a joint coalition.
Their first acts? Monitoring US troop exercises, overturning citizen bans on fracking, restricting abortion, ignoring the high rate of pregnancy for teens, setting up certification mills for teachers, putting Confederate History into textbooks, and re-electing Ted Cruz to the Senate!
80
Wow. In one fell swoop, Gail, you cleared out these "bored with personal success" people who would definitely be "Hooverites". 1922 my uncle worked for Hoover in Near East Relief food distribution. Hoover was a geologist who overcame the distance problems of feeding the always starving where we are mired today, He was rewarded to govern the US where he hadn't been in years, nothing of Wall Street, of corrupt Washington and big oil which had sucked our country "Dry", When WW1 vets marched on DC for the promised bonus that never came Hoover called out the army and they fired on the vets with real bullets in reply.
76
Fired on by men led by the money-loving, would-be GOP Prez later on, Douglas MacArthur.
5
The 'founders,' excepting the more radical anti-federalists, absolutely believed in a political class. A belief in the need for a politically adept, economically disinterested elite was one of the cornerstones 18th century republicanism. It's why we have a Senate. It's why we have the Constitution instead of the Articles of Confederation. Carly Fiorina needs to read Gordon Wood - or perhaps just stop abusing American history.
177
Every single one of the founding fathers (remember that in most places only property owning white men, and never women, could participate) was a "politician". In those days it was not a dirty word.
The rise of the political parties and machine politics changed that.
But would you really want someone who never held any office to run the country?
The rise of the political parties and machine politics changed that.
But would you really want someone who never held any office to run the country?
8
Running a post-industrial world power of 320M+ population is to running the 13 semirural isolated colonies as piloting a 767 is to riding a tricycle to the end of the driveway. The ideal of Cincinnatus, the citizen called to do his duty who then retired to his farm, was in fact feasible. Washington, who refused a crown and president-for-life title and retired after two terms, was often called the American Cincinnatus.
The founders, though, had all read the classics and knew the history of ancient Athens. They distrusted democracy because they'd seen what happened there, and in fact did envision themselves as a ruling caste. If you could dig them up, they'd be shocked and appalled at the direct popular election of senators, the extension of the franchise, and the inevitable rise of 'faction' and of demagogues. Whether they were right is arguable; Churchill supposedly said that democracy is the worst form of government except for all the others, and also that the greatest argument against democracy is five minutes talking to the average voter.
The founders, though, had all read the classics and knew the history of ancient Athens. They distrusted democracy because they'd seen what happened there, and in fact did envision themselves as a ruling caste. If you could dig them up, they'd be shocked and appalled at the direct popular election of senators, the extension of the franchise, and the inevitable rise of 'faction' and of demagogues. Whether they were right is arguable; Churchill supposedly said that democracy is the worst form of government except for all the others, and also that the greatest argument against democracy is five minutes talking to the average voter.
10
Our Founding Fathers were all products of the Age of Enlightenment. We could certainly use another one of those now, no? Instead we get people denigrating education, esp. science and teachers.
We are in an age of de-lightenment.
We are in an age of de-lightenment.
13
I could use a sheep to keep my weeds in check. Ms Fiorina is welcome to apply for the position.
87
Not a bad idea. Ben Carson can bring his surgica tools for proper sheairing.
15
the most recent crop of republican candidates strike me as little more than ellipses.
it leaves you wondering what they're omitting....
it leaves you wondering what they're omitting....
22
"... when she went to college she studied philosophy, ancient Greek, Latin, French and German ..."
That's what my son studied in high school. And he got top marks. But I don't think that qualifies him to be President of the U.S.
That's what my son studied in high school. And he got top marks. But I don't think that qualifies him to be President of the U.S.
260
I'm surprised she admits to having such an elitist education. I bet she won't repeat that claim on the campaign trail.
13
Perhaps in the midst of all those language classes, Carly neglected to take American history. Once upon a time, her experience--as a failed CEO and losing senatorial candidate--would have qualified her for nothing more than a quiet retirement on a Florida beach. In today's GOP, it makes her a presidential candidate.
626
She may have TAKEN Greek, French, etc, but did she actually pass those courses? It's my understanding she worked her way up from being a SECRETARY to HP CEO (wow, wonder how that happened?).
1
Not only does Ms Fiorina not have any political experience, her business experience is debatable. And that's only because I'm being kind.
Her experience and success lies in the level of self-delusion she can bring to the table.
Her experience and success lies in the level of self-delusion she can bring to the table.
414
Almost as memorable as the glowing red eyes of the man in sheep's clothing in Ms. Fiorina's ad was the accent of the voice-over actor who narrated it. Not only did he not have a California accent, but his absence of "r" sounds sounded very much like a 1930s Hollywood idea of what a New York or New Jersey gangster sounded like.
28
I grew up in California, and for twenty years after I left I did not realize that Californians even have an accent. I call mine a Burbank accent- I sound as if I grew up on NBC.
"People who run for president boasting that they aren’t politicians are frequently just trying to compensate for a lack of political skill."
Yes! This is a point that is not made often enough. Some of these people, particularly (but not exclusively) from the business world, seem to think that if they somehow reach the White House that they will be able to do what they did as an impervious CEO. Even generals, as Truman noted when referring to Eisenhower, can have a tough time adapting to an environment where other political leaders just ignore them or say one thing and do another. Neither Carson nor Fiorina (nor Cruz, Santorum, Huckabee, Paul, Walker, et al.) shows any sign of knowing how to work with a hostile Congress or recalcitrant foreign leaders.
It would be refreshing, actually, for one presidential candidate to explicitly admit to being a politician, and to tell us why that is a good thing for a person running for, well, political office. Possessing at least some humility is a worthy trait in a president and candidates disavowing their political statuses are least likely to have it. Let them promote themselves and their books, entertaining us with their debate zingers and colorful speeches, so long as they remain far from the presidency. Or else prevail on them to explain, especially if they have not served a day as vice president, governor, senator, cabinet member or general, what makes them so special. In other words, dare them to compare themselves to Lincoln.
Yes! This is a point that is not made often enough. Some of these people, particularly (but not exclusively) from the business world, seem to think that if they somehow reach the White House that they will be able to do what they did as an impervious CEO. Even generals, as Truman noted when referring to Eisenhower, can have a tough time adapting to an environment where other political leaders just ignore them or say one thing and do another. Neither Carson nor Fiorina (nor Cruz, Santorum, Huckabee, Paul, Walker, et al.) shows any sign of knowing how to work with a hostile Congress or recalcitrant foreign leaders.
It would be refreshing, actually, for one presidential candidate to explicitly admit to being a politician, and to tell us why that is a good thing for a person running for, well, political office. Possessing at least some humility is a worthy trait in a president and candidates disavowing their political statuses are least likely to have it. Let them promote themselves and their books, entertaining us with their debate zingers and colorful speeches, so long as they remain far from the presidency. Or else prevail on them to explain, especially if they have not served a day as vice president, governor, senator, cabinet member or general, what makes them so special. In other words, dare them to compare themselves to Lincoln.
228
Try to fire a senator who opposes you.
11
Eisenhowers role in the war was primarily political. He was busy dealing with Churchill, Stalin, and de Gaulle, not in the details of military operations.
4
"It would be refreshing, actually, for one presidential candidate to explicitly admit to being a politician"
Harry Truman did. A refreshingly honest man. He'd never make it through the primary in either party today.
Harry Truman did. A refreshingly honest man. He'd never make it through the primary in either party today.
14
It's curious that those "non-politician" business leaders who aspire to become our president would never seriously consider someone with no business experience to be CEO of a major corporation. I think Ross Perot sabotaged his campaign in '92, because he knew he would never effectively lead the nation.
82
James Landi
When Mr. Perot announced that he was running on the Independent Ticket, he received a somewhat similar reaction to Mr. Sanders, two different people, and yet some long-time Democrats were intrigued.
One knew at the time that it was improbable but it caused a divide in the Democratic Party, where the Campaign Managers for both Democratic hopefuls were trying to iron it out. But having listened to him after he stepped down, I believe he felt that he could lead the Nation.
When Mr. Perot announced that he was running on the Independent Ticket, he received a somewhat similar reaction to Mr. Sanders, two different people, and yet some long-time Democrats were intrigued.
One knew at the time that it was improbable but it caused a divide in the Democratic Party, where the Campaign Managers for both Democratic hopefuls were trying to iron it out. But having listened to him after he stepped down, I believe he felt that he could lead the Nation.
Huckaee is in for the money. He'll be President the day after
the B'Nai B'rith honors Yassir Arafat.
Mr. Carton is a neurosurgeon who apparently removed his own
brain. Mouth opens, stupid flies out.
Ms. Fiorina ran HP into the ground and got canned for lying to
her Board of Directors.
Right hire the person who mows your lawn to fix your broken leg.
the B'Nai B'rith honors Yassir Arafat.
Mr. Carton is a neurosurgeon who apparently removed his own
brain. Mouth opens, stupid flies out.
Ms. Fiorina ran HP into the ground and got canned for lying to
her Board of Directors.
Right hire the person who mows your lawn to fix your broken leg.
367
The neurosurgeon who removed his own brain! Ouch!
15
OK, I thought your line about Carson having apparently removed his own brain was the funniest thing I'd hear all day...but then I watched the Demon Sheep ad! You either have to laugh or cry, I suppose, and with the possibility of Santorum and Christie soon pushing their way into the Tea Party Clown Car, I expect my sides will be splitting for months to come.
15
Correct - o - mundo, Gail; since when is being POTUS considered an entry level position ?
Especially for aspirants who come from occupations more widely-renowned for producing egotists than team-builders ?
Admittedly, being a national pol also takes a certain amount of narcissism, but the arrogance/hubris required to seriously presume you can SELL yourself to the American people as the best candidate is the breath-taking personal quality that exceeds all others.
An astonishing characteristic, and a true warning sign, never mind whether you were successful in your former career field.
Since when is the office of POTUS a position to be treated like running for a spot on the local school board. the quintessential entry level political slot ?
Especially for aspirants who come from occupations more widely-renowned for producing egotists than team-builders ?
Admittedly, being a national pol also takes a certain amount of narcissism, but the arrogance/hubris required to seriously presume you can SELL yourself to the American people as the best candidate is the breath-taking personal quality that exceeds all others.
An astonishing characteristic, and a true warning sign, never mind whether you were successful in your former career field.
Since when is the office of POTUS a position to be treated like running for a spot on the local school board. the quintessential entry level political slot ?
318
R Law~"Since when is the office of POTUS a position to be treated like running for a spot on the local school board. the quintessential entry level political slot ?"
But what is even more disturbing is that they have many of the electorate convinced that leading the country is an entry level position. They don't want the brightest person in the room, they want the most rage filled, believing that they will never be the target of that rage, as if being full of anger and hatred will qualify you for a job that requires a cool head and diplomacy. Or believing that you can "fire" your way out of a difficult situation like the country is just one more "reality" television show. It is frightening that a large portion of our country agrees with this philosophy and feels that these dangerous egomaniacs are qualified to lead one of the most powerful nations on earth. Rand Paul suffering from foot in mouth disease made some racist "jokes" on the situation in Baltimore. It reminds me of Bush's "Those weapons of mass destruction have got to be somewhere,"."Nope, no weapons over there ... maybe under here. (March 26, 2004) How have we fallen so far that this kind of ugly, hateful behavior is not only accepted but applauded? Yet a certain segment of our society seems to thrive on this ugliness and rage. We question and are appalled by the bully mentality of our children, wondering where their anger and hate are coming from. We need only look in the mirror.
But what is even more disturbing is that they have many of the electorate convinced that leading the country is an entry level position. They don't want the brightest person in the room, they want the most rage filled, believing that they will never be the target of that rage, as if being full of anger and hatred will qualify you for a job that requires a cool head and diplomacy. Or believing that you can "fire" your way out of a difficult situation like the country is just one more "reality" television show. It is frightening that a large portion of our country agrees with this philosophy and feels that these dangerous egomaniacs are qualified to lead one of the most powerful nations on earth. Rand Paul suffering from foot in mouth disease made some racist "jokes" on the situation in Baltimore. It reminds me of Bush's "Those weapons of mass destruction have got to be somewhere,"."Nope, no weapons over there ... maybe under here. (March 26, 2004) How have we fallen so far that this kind of ugly, hateful behavior is not only accepted but applauded? Yet a certain segment of our society seems to thrive on this ugliness and rage. We question and are appalled by the bully mentality of our children, wondering where their anger and hate are coming from. We need only look in the mirror.
31
I wouldn't care to have Fiorina on the school board either.
56
The unfortunate, and unvarnished, truth is that winning the electorate means appealing to the lowest common denominator. This reflects the sad state of affairs where aspiring to be a teacher, astronaut, scientist or have a skilled trade, is scorned for it's necessary effort and striving in a world where one can simply invent the next app or gamble on some investment strategy and become fabulously wealthy. The pool of candidates in the GOP stable have always appeared to celebrate their lack of intellect to just that end. I drive a pickup and wear a cowboy hat and boots now and then, would you vote for me? I'm not a scientist, nor did I play one on TV, but I did sleep in my trailer last night, and watched "reality" shows before retiring. This puts me on the same page as a large swath of the voting population. I've never shot a coyote to protect a puppy, though I have shot coyotes. I did get immunized as a kid, but I didn't have any choice, know what I mean?
I can't help but think that if most voters were old enough to remember Alfred E. Newman, they'd abandon the clown car from the circus of the macabre faster than rats from a sinking ship. I'm not all that thrilled with the democrats either, they seem to have drifted miles from who they were 50 years ago or so, and now seem to have no wind in their tattered sails and a leaky raft.
Alex Trebek can't run, he's from Canada, so who's left with the recognition needed plus a modicum of humility and common sense?
I can't help but think that if most voters were old enough to remember Alfred E. Newman, they'd abandon the clown car from the circus of the macabre faster than rats from a sinking ship. I'm not all that thrilled with the democrats either, they seem to have drifted miles from who they were 50 years ago or so, and now seem to have no wind in their tattered sails and a leaky raft.
Alex Trebek can't run, he's from Canada, so who's left with the recognition needed plus a modicum of humility and common sense?
7
A creator of the Demon Sheep,
I dislike Fiorina a heap,
A Hillary hater
To Oligarchs cater,
And her Tea Party instincts run deep.
I dislike Fiorina a heap,
A Hillary hater
To Oligarchs cater,
And her Tea Party instincts run deep.
568
Larry, you never fail to impress.thank you, Mr. Eisenberg.
1
...run deep and true!
You'll have to add "view" to the first line,
And "yes, I do," to the second line.
Which lends validity and closure to line 5.
You'll have to add "view" to the first line,
And "yes, I do," to the second line.
Which lends validity and closure to line 5.
1
Hilary opposes oligarchs, right?
1
I love Fiorina's idea that a lack of qualifications qualifies her for a job. It's not entirely original, since numerous Republicans before her have cited their lack of scientific expertise as qualification enough for denying climate change and evolution. But citing not being a politician on a job application for president of the United States takes the concept to new heights, especially when Republicans angrily demanded that Obama prove his citizenship, show his college transcripts and take a loyalty oath for several years after he had the job.
The one qualification that Republicans can always cite on their resumes is a deep and abiding lack of concern for the people they wish to govern. Fiorina captured this brilliantly in the Demon Sheep ad. For one thing, people are portrayed the way Republicans appear to see them, as sheep: dim-witted herbivores, ready to be fleeced. Her signature on Grover Norquist's infamous No Tax Pledge is proudly displayed, promising to starve the government. But starving the government is just another way of starving the people that it serves. She may have laid off 30,000 souls at HP, but if she becomes president of the moocher-infested U.S. of A., look out. Heads will roll.
Speaking of heads, maybe she should seek Ben Carson's professional advice. If she thinks she's got a chance to be president, she may need to get a few screws tightened.
The one qualification that Republicans can always cite on their resumes is a deep and abiding lack of concern for the people they wish to govern. Fiorina captured this brilliantly in the Demon Sheep ad. For one thing, people are portrayed the way Republicans appear to see them, as sheep: dim-witted herbivores, ready to be fleeced. Her signature on Grover Norquist's infamous No Tax Pledge is proudly displayed, promising to starve the government. But starving the government is just another way of starving the people that it serves. She may have laid off 30,000 souls at HP, but if she becomes president of the moocher-infested U.S. of A., look out. Heads will roll.
Speaking of heads, maybe she should seek Ben Carson's professional advice. If she thinks she's got a chance to be president, she may need to get a few screws tightened.
808
"lack" and "politician" have become synonymous. the flavour doesn't seem to matter (republican, democrat, etc.).
i don't remember that it was always so, though perhaps that's just a result of me turning into a cranky old guy.
...excuse me, i have to go yell at some kids for stepping on my lawn....
i don't remember that it was always so, though perhaps that's just a result of me turning into a cranky old guy.
...excuse me, i have to go yell at some kids for stepping on my lawn....
18
Remember when Michael Bloomberg first ran for mayor? He filled the airwaves with ads attacking "politician Mark Green."
3
I don't think we have to worry about either Carson or Fiorina becoming the Republican candidate. They have about as much chance as I do of winning the nomination. Unfortunately the candidates who do have a chance of winning are just as scary as these two and about as competent to hold office.
29
But I take your point. If you're surfing the net for a good financial advisor, you don't want to settle for a priest.
Huckabee might finish, but he'll lose. My mother-in-law, a survivor of three of Hitler's camps, would say of Jackie Mason that "he's too Jewish". Huckabee is just TOO Christian for most of America. And nobody likes a nudge.
I don't have a major problem with people who claim not to be politicians but seek election to public office, because I've found that many actually are pretty effective politicians. Fiorina has been a top executive at AT&T/Lucent and Hewlett-Packard. I know both environments well as a consultant, and NOBODY survives for five minutes in high positions there without an extremely refined political talent. She'd make a fine Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Ben Carson as a physician I don't know, except that he's not a priest.
And if I'm REALLY shopping for a president with no political talent, I need search no farther than 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, D.C., 20500.