Simplistic Definitions and Ideas

Are for mass consumption only. Watching the so-called debates among political candidates my observation is that very little substance is present. Answers, being limited by time, are just a superficial glance of what the real sentiments of the participants may be. On the other hand, some candidates are so fixed in one or two issues that are pathetic. The media also contributes to the one theme story by repeating bits and pieces of the same answers ad-nauseaum. So, we have Hillary and her health care proposal, Tancredo wanting to deport 12 million people, Paul and Richardson and their common goal of ending the war now, Edwards with his humble beginnings and successful lawyering, Giuliani, perennial references to how he repaired New York, Obama the outsider, and everyone else on the list identified by mostly one or two issues.
I have never witnessed a more bland presentation of primary candidates. Basically, we could toss a coin and pick one, the result being the same.
The truth is that none of the candidates, some for lack of exposure to the media, forever concentrating on the top three or four, others because they simply don’t have a clear platform, can be distinguished from the others.
Where are the Kennedys, Reagans or Clintons (Bill) when we need them?
Voters as a whole are ready to follow a leader, strong, decisive and convincing. Not even a party, since the political traditions in both of them are blurred and sometimes undistinguishable from the other.
To compound the puzzle, given the totalitarian attitude assumed by the present administration, many are convinced that their vote makes little difference, given the absolute power presently vested in whoever sits in the White House. For all we know, any of the candidates, once at the helm, can tell us whatever they want, do anything they decide and change or void all the promises made. All they have to do is call on the magic words: Terrorism, War, National Security and label everyone who disagrees as Unpatriotic.
When not even the Congress can save us from a bad president many of us have become less gullible and a tad more pessimistic. That’s sad.