WAS OUR PRESIDENT OFF STAGE?

WAS OUR PRESIDENT OFF STAGE?

By Andy Weddington

Thursday, 24 August 2023

They key to good decision making is not knowledge. It is understanding. We are swimming in the former. We are desperately lacking in the latter.  - Malcolm Gladwell

Objective analysis of last evening's conversations with nine candidates - eight on television, one on X - of mind they have what it takes to be President of the United States.

Watched both start to finish and have not given any attention to media talking heads. 

No winner. 

Not all merit mention. 

Fox News ...

Christie ... clothes tailored but neither demeanor nor physically fit for President. As reminder, when governor he ordered bridge traffic choked to punish voters, and lied about so ordering. Hard no. 

Pence ... looks and behaves the oral surgeon. Hard no.

DeSantis ... much to like. Jury's out. Still looks and sounds like a governor.

Haley ... sound bite candidate. Wrong on Ukraine. Hard no. 

Ramaswamy ... is pounding clearest message. Sent him Tweet: "You did not win for losing the most important battle - discipline. Take the attack, keep silent and stoic, then when called upon unleash measured, withering, and lethal fire. Our President must be disciplined - ever calm in storm and chaos." To watch. 

X ...

Trump ... Tucker Carlson's Episode 19 and worst interview to date. Forty-six minutes of Trump rambling and waffling. No strong answers. No tough questions - nothing on covid and all surrounding nonsense. Nor anything on mutilation of children. Wasted opportunity. Voters learned nothing. Though popularity a phenomenon. Most famous human on Earth. 

Now, a few days ago I watched Tucker Carlson's Episode 18. 

For fifty-two minutes he interviewed Colonel Douglas Macgregor, U. S. Army (Retired) about Ukraine.

Instructive. Riveting, actually. 

The above nine candidates ought to have watched that interview, and I wonder if any did?

Every voter ought watch. 

Colonel Macgregor's experience, knowledge, expertise, and common sense apparent. 

Most importantly, he oozes calm, confidence, authoritativeness, and general sense of understanding. 

He was articulate and blunt answering and expounding upon difficult questions. 

No nonsense. No waffling. No slogans, bumper sticker burps, nor catchy ear candy.

Polished. 

He spoke to reality. Truth.

That he can be analytical and compelling about Ukraine so could he be on any matter concerning national security; the job of President.

That wealth and donors determines whom to be President aggravating beyond language. 

At this point, political "experience" be damned, Colonel Macgregor strikes me as most qualified.

That's conclusion not endorsement; and he'd probably scoff.

Is there others? Of course. Now to find them! 

If yet to watch the interview, search Tucker Carlson on X and scroll. Worth every minute of your time. 

So, to conclude ... that a man suffering dementia (and clearly progressing) was installed as President, and carried through to date, opens all sorts of possibilities.