When narcissism and nonsense goes awry in American politics

"The battle in American politics used to be for the middle. Now, it's all about the building and the intensity of support on the far left and far right wings of both parties. And we have forgotten about the people here in the middle. 

— Hamilton Jordan

AUBURN — Running for president shouldn’t be looked upon as a good gig.

This isn’t a Vegas act or an opportunity to open for the Rolling Stones at Gillette Stadium.

The job isn’t for celebrities who think it would be real cool to add United States president to their resumes.

The leading presidential candidate for the Republican Party, who has spent the last year alienating and dividing the country with his barbs and hollow promises, seems to think so.

Becoming president of the United States requires brains, sometimes brawn, charisma and certainly diplomacy. You are responsible for the greater good and the face of a nation that has a lot of say in the world.

Donald Trump lacks all of those prerequisites to become the leader of the free world, and he has proven this time and time again whenever he opens his loud mouth and spews nonsense. His repulsive speeches sound like guys trading stories about their sexual conquests in a men’s locker room.

But what troubles me more than Trump’s inane comments is the way he treats the office of the president — as if it is like putting down money on a horse at a crowded race track.

His us-versus-them rantings remind us of history’s despots who trigger wars and decades of suffering around the globe.

Sane people with half a brain believe Donald Trump is a nuisance who should stick to making money or filing bankruptcy to stroke and massage his narcissism.

He has become the master of doublespeak — jargon that is used by politicians can’t give the public a straight answer. According to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, doublespeak means: “Language that can be understood in more than one way and that is used to trick or deceive people.”

Educated voters, and you don’t have to be erudite to understand this nation’s political process, must shake their heads when they hear Trump’s endless empty-promises and insults that have enraged citizens at home and abroad.

He is banned in England for his balderdash. He has become a target of every comedian who can't wait to poke fun at a candidate who has ridiculed women and offered a half-assed excuse when a former Grand Wizard of the of Ku Klux Klan endorsed the GOP frontrunner for president.

He speaks of building a wall to prevent illegal immigrants from ruining this nation. I think our own leaders have done an impressive job of screwing up the country without the help of honest people fleeing war and poverty to build a better life — here.

But I agree we should at least build a barbed-wire fence — around the White House to keep Trump out.

He keeps touting that he alone will make America great again, and yet his misled minions suck up his ridiculous catch phrases like a keg of cheap beer.

Obviously, he could use a lesson on how our Constitution functions. Remember, Donald, this is a democracy, not totalitarianism or a dictatorship, and all the power is not given to one man to run the show in the United States.

We can thank our Founding Fathers for this masterpiece.

I still think America is great but is beset by many problems that other nations are also facing in the modern world.

Yet, he says what he wants, but nearly everything he says makes no sense, but it does make for a cheap sound bites.

I have trouble with people who hate the government. Our constitution was the best thing written since the Magna Carter. If you dislike many of our leaders and find them unworthy to hold high office, then vote them out.  The government isn’t the culprit here.

We are forgetting one thing. These guys and gals work for us. If you feel they haven’t done the job, vote them out, but please refrain from blaming the “government.”

It is our fault if we vote for shysters, crackpots and narcissists whose only allegiance is to themselves and filling their wallets.

If you want to make America great again, vote damn it — and become informed and get involved!  Don’t count on one man or a political party to look out for your best interests.

If our founding fathers could witness this nation’s political process in this century, Jefferson, Hamilton and Franklin would raise another Continental Army and tell the militias to “get their  muskets out.”

Do you really think the loony from Alaska or Maine Gov. Paul LeDisengage are really on your side? I know Donald Trump and his gang of brigands are not the answer.

If you are sold on their empty rhetoric and negative views of your own constituents, then cast your vote for your cat, write in somebody, but don’t go dissing the Constitution.

After all, it really is up to “We The People.” Hold that thought the next time you fill in your ballot.

A vote to end stupidity and allowing common sense to prevail

"He knows nothing and thinks he knows everything. That points clearly to a political career."

                                        George Bernard Shaw 

AUBURN, Maine — Frustrated citizens let us stand and give the United States Congress  a rousing round of applause for cleaning up their self-inflicted mess that made the United States appear like a house of cards and the laughing stock of the world. 

Federal workers are back on the job and national parks and monuments are open for business, but that doesn't mean there are no hard feelings between the public and its leaders.

It took over two weeks for our unreliable leaders to figure out that shutting down a government and dragging their heels on raising the debt ceiling wasn't good politics. This debacle was brought to you by a group of self-righteous fools who ended up drawing the ire of their fed-up constituents.

Let's hope citizens who do vote will channel their resentment and disgust at the polls when they cast their ballots.

Never forget that these class clowns made a mockery of our government and shut down a nation in a fruitless and reckless attempt to defund Obamacare that, by the way, was upheld by the Supreme Court.

Of course, there were a few congressmen with the horse sense to put an end to rampant stupidity that was precipitated by a rogue element from within the Republican Party.  You have to hand it to Tea Party members for bringing down the House and Senate with their warped convictions.

But American citizens weren't the only ones shaking their heads. This fruitless attempt to dump Obamacare and refusing to raise the debt ceiling triggered world-wide condemnations from Germany, China and France.

I was proud to see President Obama wouldn't budge on the issue and I cheered when the Tea Party was slapped back and received its comeuppance. 

Sure, congress and the president kicked our budget dilemma down the road and a sequel is already in production and will hit the big screens in February if our leaders can't find common ground and come to a reasonable decision.

That's where you come in — the American voter.   So please don't forget the "Hole in the Wall" gang at the polls because this rogue element doesn't care about its citizens or the harm these out-of-touch men have done to a great country's reputation, character and determination.