Column By Mike Bibb
As predictable as an upset stomach following too many helpings of grandma’s coconut cream pie, overindulgence from a politician’s reassurances that he “Only needs one more term to complete the important work” he’s been involved in, usually leads to several doses of Pepto Bismol and a quick run to the bathroom.
It was good while it lasted, but the after-effects often leave a bitter taste and a sore rear end.
That’s the nature of the election game – and we know it. Every two and four years it rolls around, replete with candidates pledging to do a better job by slamming their opponents’ inexperience, ignorance, and blunders.
As if – somehow – the Democrat and Republican gods have bestowed upon them a special calling to gather the wandering masses to hear and see the knowledge they profess to possess if only voters mark the tiny oval on the ballot next to their name.
Democracy, they call it, and it’s always in peril if the other dude/dudette wins the contest.
But before the ballots are counted, there’s the important fact of life every candidate faces –money.
Democracy cannot be saved – by either office seeker – unless the public’s wallets, purses, and corporate checking accounts are tapped for whatever funds are available.
The more dollars and cents tossed into the pot, the better the chances of winning.
Las Vegas oddsmakers can predict, with a fair amount of accuracy, the outcome of an election by simply totaling the amount of financial donations.
For example, the election campaign for United States President, a job paying about $400,000 a year, will gather hundreds of millions of dollars for publicity expenses. Campaigns of U.S. Senators, depending upon the population of the state, can run into several million dollars.
As a result, a candidate may have the best-sounding sales pitch, offer unique solutions to a particular problem, and kiss more babies than his adversary, but if his advertising budget isn’t keeping pace with the other guys, then it’s a tough row to hoe.
Just as certain, an incumbent usually has advantages in name recognition, financial support, and insider encouragement.
Which stands to reason. A veteran politician can boast of a record fans and donors can refer to. A “first timer” doesn’t have this benefit, only his word he’s a better choice.
There’s the distinct possibility the really big money involved in the political process is sort of a trifecta affair, with multiple contributions made to several opposing contenders. Ensuring no matter who wins, or loses, the monied patrons will be covered.
Candidates may differ in style, presentation, and talking points. On the other hand, some scripted speeches often sound eerily similar, regardless of party association, almost as if the topics were extracted from a centralized speech editing center.
Major network news programs seem to broadcast this anomaly continually. Turn on CNN, and the reporters are yammering virtually the same info – nearly word-for-word – you see and hear on MSNBC, ABC, CBS, NBC, etc.
There are a few conservative networks – and their influences appear to be growing – but for the most part, our news sources lean decidedly Left.
This year, however, is a little different. We have two guys seeking the U.S. presidency who are as far apart in every way possible as they can be.
The only common denominator is they both have served a single term in the Oval Office, and they both want to return next January.
Joe Biden, 81, has been in national politics for 50 years, beginning at age 30. Donald Trump didn’t get into the arena until he was 70. He is currently 78.
Joe’s been employed by the government most of his adult life. He dabbled in the private sector when he was a young attorney. For whatever reason, it didn’t work out. He’s been on the Federal payroll ever since.
Trump was born and raised in private business. His dad was involved in commercial office and real estate construction in New York City and became very successful. Donald learned the trade and took over when his father retired and later passed away. Presently, Trump, and his family, own and manage multiple businesses in the United States and Europe. His net worth is estimated to be around three billion dollars.
Joe relies upon the comfort and conveniences provided by a benevolent government; Donald’s success is predicated upon his business smarts and ingenuity.
As a result, Joe goes to bed at 8:00 p.m. and gets up around mid-morning; Donald is constantly on the go.
It’s night and day between the two.
Not unexpected, except for the fact Joe has used his Department of Justice to go after Trump to convict and imprison him for alleged criminal violations.
This is the first time in U.S. history a current President is seeking to thwart a former President’s reelection campaign by concocting various crimes and misdemeanors to jail and remove Trump from the campaign trail.
To date, Joe’s efforts have only been partially successful. Trump’s been convicted, but his conviction is gradually being whittled away by other courts who’ve ruled his cases suffered from certain improper procedures – gag orders, evidence, and prosecutorial rules infractions.
Trump returned to the campaign, conducting multiple rallies around the country. He draws large crowds, often numbering in the tens of thousands. He’s popular with his followers and curious onlookers.
Joe, on the other hand, doesn’t have nearly the audience appeal. Teleprompter presentations are frequently marred with gaffes and dopey tales of his past. When he finally gets around to condemning Trump, his “facts” are often out of sync with reality.
Finally, after enduring multiple investigations, two impeachment proceedings, an FBI raid on his home, indictment, conviction, and numerous days in court, an attempted assassination was carried out on July 13, 2024, as Trump was speaking during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.
A 20-year-old shooter fired eight rounds toward Trump, grazing his ear, and striking, killing, and wounding two rally attendees. The young assassin was eventually shot and killed by a Secret Service sniper.
Trump came within less than an inch of having the right side of his skull blown apart.
A security lapse in the outer perimeter of the rally area may have allowed the shooter to enter unimpeded and fire from an elevated position with an unobstructed view of Trump on the speaker’s platform. Also, it’s been announced the shooter’s presence was discovered and reported to police at least an hour before the incident.
If true, Biden’s Secret Service Director has some explaining to do. A failure of this magnitude shouldn’t have been caused by a void in established procedure. Yet, that’s exactly what looks like happened.
Is this another vivid example of the incompetency of a Biden agency of government? After a while, the monotonous droning of “Cleanup in aisle 6” is no longer relevant but expected.
We’ve reached a point where Joe, his cabinet, and department supervisors are routinely stepping in their piles of poop. Which should be a learning lesson. . . if only they realized it.
The July 13 act of extreme violence was a climax to years of Democratic hounding and negative press reporting. Hardly a day passes when the media fails to report some kind of derogatory story blaming Trump and his family.
In denying responsibility, Democrats can plead they didn’t encourage Trump’s shooter to do what he did, but their toxic influence through the media, and other outlets, is a contributing factor.
Predictably, an attempted murder of a former President is producing negative results for the Dems. To such an extent party members, influential supporters and big monied donors are beginning to retreat from openly endorsing Joe Biden.
Then – out of the blue – Joe suddenly said he had COVID, shortened a Las Vegas campaign stop, and returned to Washington.
Here we go again with the COVID excuses. If true, it will be Joe’s third or fourth round with the virus. This whole affair is getting more bizarre by the minute.
In a matter of a few days, Trump was wounded by an assassin’s bullet, the Secret Service Director appears clueless about how it was allowed to happen, Joe caught COVID, even though he was vaxxed and boosted, and Kamala’s pacing the floor, nervously wondering if she’ll actually have to do something.
What a messed-up week, even by Washington standards.
I’m almost positive many electors will have this in mind when they enter the voting booths on Nov. 5.
All of this political chicanery – on top of too much coconut cream pie – is sure to guarantee the 2024 Biden (or whomever) v. Trump fracas will be the most intestinal challenging election ever conducted.
Regardless of the outcome, Pepto Bismol stock is sure to be a winner!
