Who Won? Let’s Hope None of Them!

In full disclosure (in case the title didn’t say it), I lean liberal and generally scoff at anything titled the, “Tea Party Republican Presidential Debate.” That said, the intro to the republican debate began like a football game and ended like a beauty pageant.

Each of the players (uh, I mean candidates) were announced amid cheesy fight-type music. I expected slapping of hands in a tunnel of people and for the candidates to plunge through a banner, maybe proclaiming something like, “No Taxes or Death” or “Everyman for Himself,” ending with a series of chest bumps. The pre-game show was made complete with a rendering of the national anthem by a tone def recitation reminiscent of an intro to an elementary school production about the founding fathers.

Once the candidates were properly announced they moved to the beauty pageant. Each took their podium, smiled big, and told everyone watching why they were pretty and deserved to be Miss America. It was cute.

The actual debate was typical. If you didn’t watch it, you didn’t miss anything. It was pretty generic in general: repeal “obamacare,” reduce taxes, fuck obama, kick out illegal immigrants, reduce government spending, etc.

Some of the highlights for me are as follows:

1. Rick Perry suggests we need to explain to children that social security will not be there for them when they grow old as a part of his be honest plan. So sit down with your five year old and explain how what’s good for grandma isn’t good for them.

2. Michelle Bauchmann says that she is someone who understands medicare. I’m not sure how.

3. Rick Perry tries to back track his statement that social security is a ponzi scheme.

4. Perry takes complete credit for job growth in Texas. Romney slaps him with the fact that job growth was larger under both Bush and Richards’ administrations. Paul slams him with the fact that most of it was government job growth. Ooo.

5. John Huntsman makes reference to Kurt Cobain. It doesn’t make him look cool.

Those are the main highlights, for me. I took extensive notes on the debate and could give you a more informative take on, well, bullshit. There’s little to no information, just spin and more spin, like all political topics, so I decided against going on and on about what Newt thinks about the federal reserve, or what Cain thinks about the tax code. You can read that somewhere else from a much more informed perspective, one that did not require several drinks just to sit through the debate.

I will say that I am happy that Ron Paul was not only included in the debate, but also got significant airplay and position – he was next to Rick Perry. I don’t necessarily support all of Ron Paul’s views, but I don’t like the right wing media’s attempt to diminish his contribution to the process. From what I’ve seen, Fox News slights Ron Paul every chance they get. Regardless of your political leanings, that’s just plain wrong.

Out of all the candidates, I will say that Romney seems the most sound of mind – the most presidential. I’ve had my doubts about how Romney will stand now that Perry has entered the race. I think he’ll do just fine. Honestly, I think Obama would have a more difficult time against Romney than Perry, and will make the prediction that Romney will be the Republican nominee for that reason alone. Republicans will vote Republican. With Romney they have a greater chance of middle ground conservatives and traditional Republicans voting. I could be wrong. Only time will tell.

Ultimately, I felt that the debate is summed up by this idea: “I’m selfish, I don’t care about anyone but myself and maybe my family. I want everything I can get and fuck anyone and everybody else.” And that is why I will never be a republican. I think some of the party’s ideas and ideals are right on, but this total selfishness will never convert me.

I think that everyone should have a chance but I also believe that the deck is stacked. I don’t think that we should take care of people who don’t want to contribute, but I don’t think we should get rid of programs that genuinely help people just because there are a few people that take advantage of the system. I think that we should aspire beyond what I want and what you want, and instead try to be something great, something that we all want. We need to think beyond our personal goals and strive toward our societal goals, because deep down, within us all, we want to be Great! You just have to decide the meaning of greatness to you – that a few people succeed, or that we All succeed! You can be great by yourself, but it’s lonely, unless you can lift the masses to follow with you.

Individually we are weak. Together we are strong.