"I just want to show you what my politics are"

Three books. Whoops, I guess there are four. To begin this story, there was a column recently in the Saint Paul Pioneer Press written by a young lady who is just discovering the works of Sylvia Plath. It occurred to me I never have read anything by Plath, either, who is sort of a feminist heroine and who committed suicide in 1963 at age thirty. Plath is just the kind of novelist and poet whose head I would like to have gotten inside of, so I ordered two books, her novel, "The Bell Jar," and a biography, "Pain, Parties, Work -- Sylvia Plath in New York, Summer 1953," by Elizabeth Winder. I may (or may not) write a post about Plath after I finish the books. I really am being drawn into them. I also had begun reading (now interrupted), "I, Ripper," by Stephan Hunter. It is a novel revolving around Jack the Ripper (another individual whose head I would like to have gotten inside of) and a reporter trailing him. The book beneath them all is, "Minnesota in the Civil War and Indian War -- 1861-1865." I will skip the subtitles. It was published in 1892 and cost me a pretty penny. It consists of official reports and correspondence, including mention in a few places of one of my ancestors who rode with the Renville Rangers and became an officer with the 2nd United States Cavalry. I have been re-reading it, a bit here and a bit there. The music is the song, "Politician," performed by Cream in Royal Albert Hall, first in 1968 and second in 2005. If you listen to the lyrics, you will understand why it fits in with my words. Cream was the late Jack Bruce, on bass and front man; Ginger Baker, on drums; and Eric Clapton, on rhythm guitar and vocals.

Words spoken by Senator Thomas Jordan
in the novel, "The Manchurian Candidate"
by Richard Condon -- 1959:

"Would I block you? I would spend every cent I own, and all I could borrow, to block you. There are people who think of Johnny as a clown and a buffoon, but I do not. I despise John Iselin and everything that Iselinism has come to stand for. I think, if John Iselin were a paid Soviet agent, he could not do more to harm this country than he's doing now .... If you attempt a deal with the delegates, or cause Johnny's name to be brought forward on the ticket .... I will bring impeachment proceedings against your husband on the floor of the United States Senate. And I will hit him, I promise you, with everything in my well-documented book."

I know, but ....

I know politics are boring to some. They should not be, but they are .... so, if you think the next presidential election to be a boring topic, skip the rest of this post and thank you, for your partial attendance ....

It is a long, long, very long way until the political season in the United States actually gets into the picking and choosing stage. But, it is getting increasingly entertaining, the next debate among contenders for the nomination from the Republican Party is just a few days away, September 16, and I have a few thoughts. First, on the Republican side of the ledger:

Early on, I had been leaning toward Jeb Bush, the son of the forty-first president and brother of the forty-third president, as my "prohibitive favorite." He has been largely invisible since leaving the Florida governorship about eight years ago, and, I guess, I never did have a firm opinion about him beyond hearing a lot of people singing his praises.

After watching him in the first GOP debate, in news conferences and interviews, disappointment is my word of choice. He has been slow, inarticulate, stumbling and stuttering in presenting his positions and viewpoints.

Donald Trump, to me, would be even more ridiculous as president than Barack Obama has been. It would be replacement of one narcissistic, egomaniac with another. Obama has been an outlaw president, which, in theory, could not be without the presence of an emasculated Congress. Trump, no doubt, would be an even greater disaster.

Ben Carson simply does not have enough real-world experience to do the job, but would make an exemplary member of the next president's cabinet. Carly Fiorina falls into that category, too, and her corporate leadership experience could be put to good use.

Ted Cruz might be my man, because of his Hispanic ties and his religious background and beliefs, but mostly because of his intellect and his interpretation of the U.S. Constitution. This paragraph, undoubtedly, will be continued as the election draws nearer.

Marco Rubio and (unfortunately) John Kasich are the only others among the Republicans who are of consequence at the present time, although I sort of wish Chris Christie would catch on, too.

Next, on to the Democratic Party side of the ledger:

There are not enough negative adjectives in the dictionary for me to use in regard to Hillary Clinton. Without using too many of them, I believe she is a habitual liar (or should that be pathological ?? .... either way, it seems to be a "politically genetic" trait among the Democratic hierarchy these days), morally bankrupt (she is a good match for her husband in that sense), a coward and .... well, we will stop there.

A while ago in another post, I mentioned that I could vote for Jim Webb. He has good experience in government, as the one-time Secretary of the Navy among other posts, and he has an absolutely exceptional record as a combat Marine Corps officer in Vietnam. In that sense, I think of him as a for-real giant among giants.

Then, too, there is "Good Time" Joe, Joe Biden. (That comes from an old joke about Joe.) Apparently, Biden is considering entering the race. The thought that frightens me most about him is his age, which also frightens me about many of these wanna-be presidents on both sides of the political aisle.

The difference between Biden and his current boss -- Barry, Barack Obama -- is that Biden understands there are many brilliant, dedicated individuals with years of vast experience available to assist and to advise him, while Obama has never learned -- even after nearly seven years as president -- that he is not the smartest guy in the room.

Other than that, Joe, Joe Biden has proven through decades of public service that he is the type of individual who would always put the best interests of the nation ahead of his own wishes or legacy or ambitions -- again, just the diametric opposite of the current resident of the White House.

And, Biden would not abandon Americans to be murdered by terrorists in Benghazi or anywhere, as did the current darling of the Democratic Party. Hmmmm .... I meant Mrs. Clinton, but the words apply to Mr. Obama equally well.

Otherwise, ignore the other current contenders among the Democrats.

I suppose I will be updating this from time-to-time ....