Political Comfort Food

Bill Clinton and George H. W. Bush were their parties candidate for POTUS in 1992.  And in 2014 it is possible the Jeb Bush and Hillary Clinton may face off in 2016 for POTUS.  And in the interim we had eight years of George W. Bush as POTUS and Hillary Clinton as FLOTUS, Senator, from New York, Secretary of State.  The citizens of Florida had Jeb Bush as Governor from 1999 to 2007. I hope no one is upset by this use of internet slang.

On one hand all of these folks have had distinguished careers already.  If you were electing resumes, they would be finalists.  Depending on perspective, they may or may not be the best candidates for the highest office in the land.  Experience is important, the kind of experience is also important, and it seems both have sufficient administration experience to know the bells, whistles, and buttons to push.

I am concerned about the term dynasty or in this case competing dynasties.  Like it or not how long should individual families serve in office as an end run around term limits.

Incumbency already plays too big a role in government and some of the games played insure that those in office stay in office are legendary.  Term limits stir the pot locally or on a state by state basis as determined by local legislation somewhat, but only the Presidency is limited to two terms in national office.

Governing is not a family owned business.  Beating an incumbent increasingly only happens because the incumbent hasn't completed the process of consolidating power and developing his or her fund raising machine to freeze out any meaningful opposition.  Amazingly incumbents may even be crooks or be involved in scandal but still get reelected.

Approval rates for Congress and political parties are at historical lows and nothing seems to get done. The folks we elect do just enough to get reelected or scare off opposition.

And in the Presidency, where the public seems to have the most interest, all we want is more comfort food.  Grilled Cheese or Mac and Cheese.  Not a very balanced diet

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