#Obama, #Romney, #Santorum, #Gingrich, #Paul: The Winner will be the Least of the Worst.

Republican primaries continued last night. Rick Santorum won in the States of Alabama and Mississippi. He received about a third of the vote. Mitt Romney finished in third place but did not lose much of his delegate lead. The trek continues.

The gentleman who will next lead the country will be the least of the worst. No one of the Republican side seems to have generated enthusiastic support and in many cases do not seem really qualified to lead the country, to address the problems which in spite of a slightly improving over all economy must be reckoned with. Of course, the current occupant of the White House has, indeed, a dismal record and left the building except to campaign. The prospect of four more years of the current group’s hands on the throttle is chilling. 

I say the best of the worse will win but that is no consolation. It is like "less bad" but it is still bad. It would seem we have a group of people seeking to be President that no one really wants.

First, let's take the Republican candidates one by one.

Romney has an impressive resume and in my opinion more qualified to be President than the rest. However, he does not seem to connect with people and has been characterized unjustly as a person out of touch with the majority of Americans. The main criticism in the Republican Party is that he is not conservative enough. It is balderdash. How conservative do they want? Is an ultra-social conservative really what America needs? Is that the answer to our fiscal woes? Romney has an image problem and while he tries to keep on message, he just does not make people comfortable in a believable fashion. He has shown electoral weakness throughout, as he cries he is inevitable.

Santorum is a one trick pony. He is a hard social conservative prone to say silly things, which unfortunately he believes.  I respect his views and his tenacity but let's face it; he is not what the country needs. He is a reverse Obama. We need someone to help pull the country together, lead, build a common purpose again and at least try to work with those of differing views. He is not that guy. He would have no chance of being elected over Obama in the devil of what I know is better than the devil I do not know. 

Gingrich is a well-worn, non-fuzzy, ethically challenged, personally tainted career politician. He was a very good leader of a minority party buzzing around the arrogant and out-of touch Democrats long time ago. He won the revolution but did not fit into the aftermath. He knows how to push the hot buttons, how to identify the opposition but he does not know how to pull it all together. If he were not selling books, audiotapes and influence, he would drop out altogether. 

Paul is actually the most likable of the four. His libertarian philosophy, which used to be called wacky, has grown in acceptance, although his purest thoughts in some cases appear to be unrealistic. He knows he cannot win the primaries or the general election but he pursues the quest to make his point. It is hard to say anything mean about him but he also is not capable of being President.

The choices are grim.  Although there is no perfect candidate, this is a mediocre slate. Looking at the other side:

Obama has been (and is) a polarizing politician. He has given up trying to solve problems and has repeatedly failed to provide any solutions, although he talks a good game and criticizes even better. He was not ready or qualified to be President and his reign just keeps getting worse. The economy has improved slightly in spite of his actions not because of them. Now the country is facing bulging new debt, expanding government, the specter of crippling taxes to come, a nuclear Iran and no real inspiration or plan to get us out of it.  His approval ratings are low and a majority of the public believes he does not deserve a second term. A second term with him as President will be worse than the first. 

So there you have it. One of these men will be the next President of the United States. The election is a long way off and voting choices will be influenced by events to come--job growth, the economy, Iran, Afghanistan, floods of political money, Supreme Court decision of health care to name a few. I am not optimistic for the future and disappointed with the present.