A New Frontier

Well, last night’s debate did not turn into the shit storm it could have been. As she has been throughout the campaign, Hillary Clinton was poised, measured and offered voters some specifics on policy proposals but also told them where they could go to get much more detail on her policy initiatives. Donald Trump, on the other hand was combative, angry and defensive in the face of some very troubling revelations over the past few days. He spoke in broad generalities and offered few specifics other than his desire to see Ms. Clinton investigated and jailed. He did not direct voters to his website for specifics or even offer any concrete solutions to any of the problems facing America. I do not blame the moderators Anderson Cooper or Martha Raddatz because they did press him for specifics but none were forthcoming.

At this point in the campaign, with even Republican support running for the exits, it seems clear that Donald Trump will not be elected President. Never say never, but the handwriting on the proverbial wall seems clear. At this point, I question even if Mr. Trump actually knows what the President does and how his or her role is defined. He keeps talking about Sec. Clinton’s long history in government and why she has not been able to accomplish some of her proposals. Does Donlad realize that as a lone Senator, it is difficult to impose your will on 99 other well meaning public servants? Does he realize that as President you cannot just impose your own warped sense of justice and policy at will? He seems to have this view of the Presidency as an authoritative, megalomaniacal position where the system of checks and balances built into our system of government has no import.

Especially today with the extreme polarization and the importance of the decisions that must be made, a president must have the ability to negotiate and compromise and reach across the aisle to affect real change. Can you see Donald Trump capitulating on anything? My suggestion for Donald Trump would be to pick up everything, move to Russia or another authoritarian country and run for their presidency. I for one would much rather have him as an adversary than an ally.