A Political Season Like No Other


 

I have a multitude of thoughts after Super Tuesday. Let’s start with some concise remarks about the candidates, beginning with the Republicans.

Donald Trump: At the beginning, considered a joke. Then, an entertaining distraction. Now, on the verge of becoming the nominee of his adopted party. How did this happen? There has always been in this country a population susceptible to a demagogue. Trump is a man void of principles who seeks to win at any cost. Has no limits or boundaries.

Ted Cruz: Won his home state of Texas. That was essential. Thinks of himself as the alternative. But the GOP establishment will never support him. As a general election candidate, he is unelectable. Way too far to the right.

John Kasich: Desperately trying to be the “sane” alternative. Always on his best behavior. Refuses to stoop to gutter-level attacks. Has a one-state strategy: winning his home state of Ohio. His wing of the party (moderate centrist) doesn’t seem to exist anymore.

Marco Rubio: Stressing youth, the “suburbs” favorite. Acceptable to the ruling class of the GOP, but recently has joined Trump in debasing the discourse with crude, unpresidential language. Must win home state of Florida on March 15. Otherwise, it’s over for him.

Ben Carson: Out. Never should have been in.

Turning to the Democrats.

Hillary Clinton: On a roll. Barely got by with Iowa and Nevada. Big win in South Carolina, which propelled her to big victories in the South. Would not have done it without huge African American turnout. Email issue not going away, could stymie her for November.

Bernie Sanders: Bad night for the leftie. Some solace in winning Colorado, Minnesota and Oklahoma. Oklahoma? (Strange — must be because Woody Guthrie’s song, “This Land Is Your Land,” is their anthem.) Raised an astonishing $42 million in February. That will let him stay in all the way to Philadelphia. Will continue to push Hillary to the left.

Everyone is now consumed with Trump. Can he be stopped?

Paul Ryan and Mitt Romney have weighed in. But in the end, the delegates will decide. The convention in Cleveland could be one of massive intrigue: plots and subplots, twists and turns. Anti-Trump forces could be planning credential challenges and rules changes. A new candidate could emerge. This aspirant would be viewed as the savior — a sensible option that would stop the pending “chaos in Cleveland.”

This is a political season like no other in recent memory. The nation is deeply divided and seems permanently polarized. The concept of bipartisanship — even the word ‘bipartisan’ — is nowhere to be found (the Supreme Court vacancy is a case in point). Each side believes getting elected and staying in office is the paramount and only objective.

“Reaching across the aisle” is now considered a sign of weakness. There are very few, if any, inspiring or uplifting moments. Campaigns are supposed to be rough and tough. I am fully aware of that. But it must be said that one person has poisoned the process. That person is Donald Trump. The voters in that party need to come to their senses.

*Political analyst Mark Plotkin is a contributor to the BBC on American politics and a contributor to TheHill.com. Reach him at
markplotkindc@gmail.com.*

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