Survivor

I have not followed the TV program "Survivor," but, from its promos and trailers, I know its premise. That is that a bunch of people of all stripes are isolated on an island ... then they, one by one, vote off the island the losers. This generates lots and lots of intrigue ... backbiting, alliances, and cabals ... until there is just one left, the survivor.

Does this sound like the Republican race for president? It certainly does for me. Have Trump and Cruz formed a partnership to kill off Rubio and Bush? Is Fiorina pissed that she is being marginalized by the men? She certainly looks to be so. Huckabee, Santorum, Pataki and Graham are in the boat on their way back to the mainland. Christie is desperately seeking someone to partner with so that, as a pair, they can vote off a few of the front runners. Paul is playing me-too-ism in his attacks  on the establishment candidates ... hoping to be drawn in with the gang at the front. Frustrated, Bush and Kasich are flailing ... striking out at anyone who gets too near. Carson, having no taste for the fight, is standing off to the side ... perhaps expecting that the front runners will vote each other off. Rubio seems a little dismayed that so many candidates are attacking him for so little reason ... so he is trying to split the Cruz-Trump alliance.

How does this all end up? The survivor of this melodrama is then transported ... sunburned, scarred and weaponless, to another island, built on the Clinton Foundation, for the ultimate battle with Hillary Medusa and her hydra-haired wig.

The First Republican Debate

The upcoming Fox News Republican presidential-candidate debate to be held on August 6th in Ohio will have only ten participants based upon their poll rankings. Thus there is plenty of jockeying by the many declared and undeclared Republican candidates to make it onto this Fox stage ... as this probably will seal the fate of those not invited. Therefore which polling to be used is a major issue ... see: Washington Examiner Article and Washington Post Story.

If I had my druthers I would like the debaters chosen to be Ted Cruz, Carly Fiorina, Dr. Ben Carson, Marco Rubio, Jeb Bush, John Kasich, Scott Walker, Donald Trump, Chris Christie, and Bobby Jindal. I think that this group represents a sensational cross-section of conservative thought and accomplishment. I would have few reservations if any of these people become the eventual Republican candidate ... although I would prefer Scott Walker or Marco Rubio ... with possibly Fiorina or Carson as the veep candidate. (I reserve the right to change my mind after the debate.)

This group then would comprise two Hispanic senators, one woman, one black, one Indian-American Southern governor, two very successful Midwest governors, one straight-talking East Coast governor, one multi-billionaire, and one, a former Southern governor from the Bush dynasty. And three of these debaters would also be accomplished private-sector professionals (when was the last time that happened?) What then could be a better cross section of patriotic conservative Americans?

Unfortunately not making the stage would be Mike Huckabee, Rick Perry, Rick Santorum, Rand Paul, George Pataki, Lindsey Graham.and a slew of other lesser wannabes (see: 2016.Republican Candidates List.). Few of this group float my boat.