I just listened to the first thirty minutes of the 9^th Republican faux-debate. CBS host of ‘Face the Nation’ John Dickerson is the moderator. He forced the presidential wannabees to answer questions about some of the issues. That proved to be a sad fact for the candidates. All of them claimed to have experience regarding national security, when the truth is that not a single one of them has ever made a decision regarding the issue.

One foreign policy event did come forward, and it was presented by Donald Trump and not refuted by any other candidate. He truthfully claimed that the invasion of Iraq destabilized the Middle East and allowed the rise of ISIS, and procreated the civil war in Iraq.

Rubio not only defended George W. Bush, but he claimed that he kept us safe. Really? What happened after Bush’s failure to act before 9/11 when the intelligence agencies gave him information of a direct threat? This is a man who fails to study history and learn from the mistakes of his predecessors. Only Donald Trump was willing to tell the truth.

By the end of the first hour, I had to ask myself: “Do any of these political morons know anything about our nation and its history. They are offering ‘pipe dreams’ without concrete solutions. How has the Republican Party devolved so horribly in 15 years?

Finally, during the second hour the fun began. A heated exchange began between Rubio and Cruz, and then Bush and Trump. The funny thing is that they were all wrong. Not one of them had realistic ideas. After eight previous debates, the six candidates on the stage once again failed to say anything to impress intelligent voters.

The most interesting fact of the evening was the reality that no matter who was speaking, at least half of the audience was ‘sitting on their hands.’ None of the six passengers in the clown car were impressive.

Any ideas offered were destructive and not positive. Other than Kasich, all of the other five were an embarrassment to the caring and hardworking members of past Republicans. I’m sure that South Carolinians would prefer to have their Governor, Nikki Haley as a candidate they could support. If I were a card-carrying member of the Republican Party, I would renounce my membership and become an Independent.

I do have to admit that the pretend GOP debates are far more fun than the Democrats who actually deliberate the issues, but my overall impression remains the same; these guys just plain suck.

I love being an Independent because I do not feel obligated to support an individual simply because he or she represents one of the major parties. I vote for the best candidate. Sadly, not one of the six remaining offerings by the GOP would ever receive my vote. If you cannot display some form of intelligent rhetoric as you attempt to convince the American people that you deserve their vote, I cannot cast my ballot for you.

We need change, and that is why I understand Bernie Sanders and his plan for the majority of the American people. Patriots are few in today’s United States.

Op-Ed

By James Turnage

Photo Courtesy of DonkeyHotey

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