Clinton v Trump

The Letdown at Hofstra

The View from the Middle

Why did 100 million people watch last night’s debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump?  Let’s be honest!  Why do so many people watch the Indy 500?  Some people are just huge car fans and love to see the 200 mile-per-hour chess game being played out on the two and a half mile oval at Speedway, Indiana.  Many, especially the TV viewers, however, are attracted by the real-life possibility of a cataclysmic accident.

And such was the audience last night.  Some were political issue nerds like me who really want to sort through the positions of the candidates in order to decide who to vote for.  Others watched on the off chance that Hillary would collapse into an epileptic-like seizure and writhe on the debate floor, while others wanted to be watching when The Donald stepped across the stage and slapped Hillary across the face.  I’m not sure any of these viewers where satisfied last night.

First, there was no fireball apocalypse in the fourth turn of the Hofstra 500 last night.  The event was relatively civil, maybe even boring by Republican debate standards, and Hillary looked healthy and happy in her fire hydrant red pantsuit, so the catastrophe hopefuls were disappointed.  That left us with the issues.  So, how did that go?

While neither side will admit it this morning, there really were no fireworks in this area either.  Trump dominated the first part of the debate as the two candidates talked about taxes and the economy.  He looked and sounded like the businessman who will bring some common sense reforms to governing this nation.  He says he will reduce taxes and regulations and most business people in America understand that concept.

Hillary called this “Trumped up trickle down” economics, a totally planned line that I think fell flat.  She claimed that this has never worked, but Ronald Reagan was a big “supply side” economic advocate and many of us remember the Reagan recovery and economic expansion positively.  It really was “morning in America” as Ronald Reagan made us proud and safe and prosperous.  Donald didn’t say that, but my guess is he will say it next time.

Hillary was then successful in getting The Donald tangled up in his own personal shorts.  She forced Donald to spend too many minutes defending his refusal to release his tax returns, his business practices and his treatment of women.  Imagine that!  Hillary Clinton lecturing anyone on inappropriate treatment of women.  She defended her husband as 17 different women accused Bill of rape or sexual abuse, and then she and her surrogates performed character assassinations on every one of those same women. 

There were moments for each candidate.  The Donald skewered Hillary as the ultimate political insider who has been in Washington for 20+ years and done nothing.  I actually thought Hillary’s big moment was when she smiled and shimmied after a Trump onslaught about her temperament.  I’m sure this was a planned tactic, but it was effective.

I predict two things will happen in the wake of this debate.  Both sides will spin a victory for their candidates and the polls will change very little.  Second, Trump will learn more from this debate than Hillary.  He left a lot on the table (Benghazi, The Clinton Foundation and Hillary’s emails) and Kellyanne Conway, Trump’s campaign manager, will not allow that to happen in the next debate. 

Hillary's Basket of Deplorables

Are You an Adorable Deplorable?

The View from the Middle

I’m confident that Hillary would put me in her “basket of deplorables” yet I don’t see myself as a racist, a sexist, a homophobe, a xenophobe or an Islamaphobe.  I’m concerned about illegal immigration, but that doesn’t make me a xenophobe.  I’m always amazed at the work ethic of Hispanic Americans and I am very pro legal immigration, especially for those who truly want to assimilate into the fabric that is America.  Yet, because I think differently from Hillary on this issue, she thinks I’m a xenophobe.

I’m also pro-life and for Hillary Clinton that makes me a sexist or a misogynist.  I have a wife that I love, two wonderfully successful daughters, two fantastic granddaughters and five sisters.  Does Hillary really think that I hate women?  Even our dog Sophie is a girl.  Remember also that half of the 1.2 million children who are aborted every year are baby girls.  Is trying to minimize abortion and saving hundreds of thousands of little girls every year sexist or misogynistic?  If so, I’m guilty.

I’m concerned about some of the refugees that are coming from countries like Syria and Iraq because ISIS has already told us that they intend to infiltrate the refugee stream.  In Hillary’s mind that makes me an Islamophobe.  Other than converting to Islam, is there a way for me to prove that I don’t hate or fear peace-loving Muslims in America and around the world?  Unfortunately, my concern puts me in Hillary’s basket.

I’m in favor of defining marriage as the union of a man and a woman.  I understand that gay and lesbian couples want to commit to each other and would even like the same legal and tax benefits that heterosexual couples enjoy.  I’m good with that.  Just call it a civil union or a love contract or going steady.  I don’t care.  I just feel that marriage should continue to be between men and women.  This actually isn’t even a big deal to me, but Hillary thinks it makes me a homophobe.

Finally, I’m for school choice.  I would like every child of every family in America, White, Black, Hispanic or Asian, to have the same educational choices available to them that Chelsea, Hillary and Bill Clinton had when they were in the White House.  In fact, I would like them to have the same opportunity that I had for my children when they were growing up.  I think education and a strong families are keys to success in America.  Hillary Clinton doesn’t agree with me on this issue and she would suggest that this makes me a racist. 

My first thought as I contemplate Hillary’s “basket of deplorables” statement is that she vastly understated the number of deplorables there are in this country.  50% of this country, not just Trump voters, are pro-life.  70% are in favor of school choice that includes vouchers and 84% of Americans are in favor of more charter schools. Over 50% of the US is in favor of building a wall on our southern border and in delaying the refugee program from Syria and Iraq, while more Americans favor a traditional definition of marriage than oppose it.  Do the math.  This means that 98% of Americans support at least one of these deplorable positions. 

How can Hillary Clinton govern a populace that she holds in such low esteem?  Isn’t this the woman who’s campaign slogan is “We’re Stronger Together”?  Maybe it should be “Vote for Hillary, Even Though You Disgust Her”.  If you are part of the 98%, welcome!  To quote Donald Trump, Jr. – “I think she needs a bigger basket”. 

Clinton and Trump on the issues

Clinton and Trump: Cutting Through The Bull

The View from the Middle

I’m aligned with the vast majority of Americans who have decided that they don’t like either of our Presidential candidates.  Their combined negatives are so high they will certainly set a record for unlikability that will never be challenged.  When almost 60% of voters just don’t like either candidate, it creates a dilemma – should I vote for the one I hate less or should I just not vote at all?  I obviously encourage everyone to vote, so let’s all agree that these two people are jerks and let’s take a look at their positions on key issues and see if we can make an informed decision out of these mud slinging campaigns.

Let’s start with the areas where they either agree or where it will have the least impact.  For example, their stances on Entitlements are so close that it will not make a difference which candidate you vote for.  Neither one wants to cut SS or Medicare and neither has talked about how they will fix it.  This is the “ostrich” position, which I hate, but they both have their heads firmly in the sand - so no difference.

Abortion is another area that will not see much change no matter which candidate wins.  Trump has joined Clinton and much of the country and now supports access to abortion for rape, incest and health of the mother.  I’m also good with that.  Both candidates are against late term abortions, and should get snaps for that.  Hillary, however, is for abortion on demand and neither candidate is talking about how we should reduce the number of abortions.  They are close on the position and I also see little change no matter who wins.

Gun Control will also change little no matter who wins.  Hillary and Donald do hold very different views in this area, but nothing will come from these differences unless the Supreme Court changes dramatically, which I put as a separate issue.  Even LGBT rights should not be a big issue this year.  Sure, Trump is in favor of defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman (which Hillary supported not long ago), but neither candidate is anti-gay and both support transgender bathroom choice, which I believe is an issue waiting for an actual disturbance.

In the war on terror, Hillary wants to topple Assad (today) and Donald doesn’t.  Both talk tough but promise little.  Maybe that’s OK.  I really don’t want to tell ISIS our game plan anyway.  Even in the area of trade there are some similarities.  Both candidates oppose the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) (today) and oppose the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), which I’ll define as NAFTA plus.  Donald would impose some tariffs on countries that tilt the playing field in their favor, and I’m in favor of this so I might give a slight edge to Donald on trade.

In terms of Criminal Justice reform, Hillary is for adjusting non-violent crime sentencing and Donald has not taken a stance there.  That’s a slight edge for Hillary in my book.  And when it comes to the economy, you’re going to call me crazy, but it’s probably a draw.  Hillary supports a national $15 minimum wage, which I think is insane.  Let each state decide what that should be.  But most economists suggest that the best outcome for the country economically speaking is a Clinton in the White House and Republican control of both Houses of Congress.  In other words, business likes a government of deadlock and inactivity vs. a productive one.

So what are the big areas of difference?  Let’s start with Energy.  Donald and Hillary cannot be more different in this area and I consider this a huge subject.  Hillary is a climate change tunnel visionary and Trump is a global warming agnostic, as am I.  Hillary would like to ban off shore drilling and supports the Paris Accord.  Trump - not so much.  Finally, Hillary STILL would not approve the Keystone Pipeline despite the fact that it will produce thousands of short-term and long-term jobs with virtually no impact on the environment (maybe even a positive affect vs. alternative ways to transport this oil). Trump would approve Keystone.  Trump wins big on energy with me.

Healthcare is another important issue with vast differences between the candidates.  The differences, however, are not complicated.  Both candidates want a healthier America.  How they want to deliver that is disparate.  Hillary, obviously, supports Obamacare and would even move to a single payer system if she had her way.  Donald Trump would try to repeal and replace Obamacare with free market forces.  Make your choice.  Since I distrust the government, you can probably guess which solution I prefer.

Another issue with vast differences between the candidates is Immigration.  Donald wants to build a wall.  I translate that to “stronger border security”.  He also wants to withhold federal funds from sanctuary cities that refuse to enforce federal immigration laws.  Hillary opposes the wall and supports sanctuary cities.  Finally, Trump has recently softened his position on illegals that currently live in the US.  He supports citizenship for military service and wants to continue studying how to handle the law-abiding illegals.  You would think the left would applaud this change, but they have raked him over the coals for flip-flopping vs. cheering his new position.

In the area of education, Trump wants school choice and Hillary is a big public school supporter.  This actually confuses me.  When Bill was President, public schools were available for Chelsea to attend, but they chose to send Chelsea to the fancy schmancy Sidwell Friends School.  That name just reeks of elitism.  Personally, I want every child to have the same choice in schools as the Clinton’s and the Obama’s and Bush’s had.  I support anything that will give families more control of their own educational fate, so I favor Trump’s position here.

Finally, the next President will appoint at least two and possibly four new Supreme Court Justices.  Scalia’s position is vacant and Ruth Bader Ginsburg is currently 83 years old.  If Hillary were elected, I would expect Ginsburg to retire before her first term is completed.  Justice Kennedy is 80 and Stephen Breyer is currently 78, so you can see the possibility of four appointments in the next four years. 

Donald Trump is looking for constitutionalists like Scalia for replacements.  Not a bad model!  He has even listed the eleven jurists he is considering.  I encourage you to look them up for yourself.  Hillary has two litmus tests for her candidates.  They must support Roe v. Wade and they must favor the overturn of Citizens United.  Personally, I think it is inappropriate to demand specific decisions on specific issues for potential Justices.  What we all want are bright, experienced, trustworthy jurists who will uphold the constitution.   

Hillary best represents the establishment and Donald wants to disrupt the status quo.  No matter who you support, don’t let either side accuse you of misogyny, racism, bigotry, xenophobia, homophobia or islamaphobia for your choice of candidates this year.  Make your choice on the issues.  You may even want to carry this article around with you so that you can articulate your position and ask if your accuser has done the same due diligence.