Personalities And Policy — By John Reed

Personalities and Policy
Last week’s weather has many doubting the idea of global warming but I’m sure by August it’ll be another story. Our opinions change as outside conditions warrant. Also true in politics…
Few on either side of the aisle would have foreseen Trump’s comeback just three years later. Seems like most people are voting *against* certain candidates, inviting even more negativity. Trump won the first time in large part because Hillary Clinton was such an unpalatable choice. And it’s certain Biden won as opinion shifted against Trump.
Buyer’s remorse seems to have set in once again as the current president’s poll ratings are so low even Trump looks better.
Unfortunately it’s becoming harder to separate character from policy. Is it even possible to support one politician or another based on their policies alone? All I hear is “he’s too old” or “he’s a narcissistic dictator.” It could be argued both are true, but we really need to hear the differences in policy.
Our history is full of truly despicable politicians, but their legacies are their policies. Womanizer JFK held Russia in check and sent men to the moon. RMN was a crook but ended the Vietnam war and engaged China. Trump and Biden both made major progress (often in opposing directions), despite their personalities.
I blame the media for reducing the conversation to “gotcha” clips instead of reporting impartially the events of the day. I’m showing my age here, but I can’t help wondering how Cronkite, Huntley, or Brinkley would cover the news today.
Meanwhile we’re in for another ten and a half months of what will likely be the ugliest campaign in decades. Doubtless our regular pundits will spill plenty of ink between now and then. I’ll weigh in from time to time myself.
Buckle up, it’s going to be a wild ride!