Speaker of the House John Boehner meets with Pope Francis during the Pontiff’s historic visit last week to the U.S. Congress.  Uncon- firmed Capitol Hill rumor has it that Boehner’s stunning resignation is somehow connected to his part in inviting Francis to address Con- gress, where the Pope expressed criticism of politicians’ inability to get along and work together to help people for the good of all.

BOEHNER JOINS RAWLINGS-BLAKE IN WALKING
AWAY FROM THE NEGATIVE STACK-MODE FRAY
AS GOP FIELD GROWS MORE UNPRESIDENTIAL

DOES ANYONE LOOK ‘PRESIDENTIAL’?
 
By David Maril
 
While wondering what the decibel level will be from the howling of GOP Tea Party zealots when outgoing Speaker of the House John Boehner strikes a funding deal, with support from Democrats, to temporarily avoid a government shutdown and continue to fund Planned Parenthood, it’s interesting to note the following:

 Boehner’s resignation, less than a month after Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake announced she would not seek reelection, makes you wonder if the mean-spirited and ruthless nature of politics is driving decent people out of elected public service. Is there still room for elected officials with etiquette and class?

Whether you agree or disagree with the political positions of people like Boehner, a conservative — or Rawlings-Blake, a liberal — you have to respect them as elected officials who demonstrate respect for the offices they hold.

In my opinion, the fear of losing is not driving either of the two out of their offices.

Even though she hadn’t begun focusing on fundraising for reelection, Rawlings-Blake had an organized support group. Most importantly, the growing number of opposition candidates trying to defeat her would have divided up the anti-incumbent vote, making it nearly impossible to defeat her.

Boehner did face plenty of opposition from the irrational right-wing Tea Party
zealots who don’t understand, or care, that getting things done requires diplomacy and negotiating with people who have different points of view.

Still, he had enough backing from traditional, mainstream Republicans to survive. And if needed, he could have gotten support from Democrats crossing over to pass rational legislation.

But both Boehner and Rawlings-Blake obviously grew disheartened with the bitterness, character assassination and personal nature of the attacks from their critics and opponents.

After a while, any well-intentioned and conscientious person has to grow
weary of all this, no matter how thick-skinned they may try to be.

ROOM IN POLITICS FOR REASONABLE PEOPLE

Hopefully there will always be room in politics for reasonable people who know how to listen, think, and work in a responsible way with others who have different points of view.

However, most of the tactless bigmouth candidates running for president on the Republican side do not offer much of a reason for optimism.

 Looking at this unruly field of GOP candidates, it is more than fair to question how many of them show any semblance of being presidential.

Donald Trump, the early leader, is strictly a wealthy, colorful, entertaining bull in a china shop.

Trump is fanning the flames, appealing to the lowest common denominators of human nature. He is a magnet for uninformed and angry voters who
have been brainwashed to blame government for everything wrong in their lives.

Trump is unable to provide any specifics on the major issues a president faces. He answers every question with childish attacks on the media, his opponents and any one he perceives as standing in the way.

The more obnoxious he becomes, the more his support base cheers.

Carley Fiorina, a failed CEO who specializes in eliminating jobs, is being propped-up behind the scenes by GOP insiders who like the fact a woman is in their mix of candidates.

Marco Rubio, viewed by some in the party as a future star, is a charismatic, up and coming blowhard, lacking in judgment and tact.

Retired Johns Hopkins pediatric neuro- surgeon Ben Carson has a stellar repu- tation in the field of medicine, but no experience whatsoever as a politician.

Ben Carson is a giant in the world of surgery and medicine and a dedicated
humanitarian. He lacks, however, sophistication in matters related to politics and government and has demonstrated a shocking intolerance when addressing the complexity of many important social issues.

While mastering the art of fundraising by capitalizing on his last name, without mentioning it in campaigning, Jeb Bush has, so far, failed to project positivism and confidence as a presidential candidate.

Although serious and sincere, he too often appears clumsy and flustered, as if auditioning for the lead in the remake of a Henry Aldrich movie.

It can be said that Ted Cruz, who skillfully hides the fact he was considered a brilliant Harvard University law scholar, would be a natural for the villainous role of Snidely Whiplash, if there is ever a Bullwinkle cartoon series revival.

Cruz is bright enough to know his angry, unreasonable and narrow-minded persona will never win him election on a national level. He is apparently content establishing himself as an angry, anti-government Texas icon.

The one who would gain the most if Trump was not in the race is Chris Christie. The New Jersey Governor has that outspoken, take-no-prisoners style that appeals to Trump supporters fed up with pandering, spineless politicians.

In contrast to Trump, he is more rational, practical and experienced in governing.

Rand Paul becomes less presidential every day. Unlike his Libertarian father, Ron, he is coming up short in the idealism department and has settled into a routine of trading unimpressive insults with Trump and other candidates.

Mike Huckabee is bright and utilizes his preaching style effectively on camera to downplay his mean-spirited and intolerant nature. He knows his presidential prospects died years ago but the longer he participates in debates the more money he will get from Fox News when he resumes his TV show.

If the Republicans were really determined to retake the White House, they would give more consideration to Ohio Gov. John Kasich. So far, however, his message of bringing people together and his respectable experience on the national and state levels has pretty much gone unnoticed.

The rest of the pack should follow the examples of Rick Perry and Scott Walker by dropping out.

Lindsey Graham is a breath of fresh air with his domestic views and reasonable understanding of how Washington works, but he resembles a character out of Dr. Strangelove when it comes to foreign policy.

SANTORUM’S TRAIN LEFT PENN STATION YEARS AGO

The sanctimonious Rick Santorum’s train left one of Pennsylvania’s stations years ago.

Bobby Jindal’s unimaginative and uninspired campaign has been an embarrassment and may have repercussions for him on a local level in Louisiana if he plans to seek reelection as governor.

 Despite a hugely weak field of Republicans, the Democrats have the capability to turn a certain victory into a defeat.

Hillary Clinton, who has a giant organization and huge fundraising machine behind her, is not drawing a lot of enthusiasm. Even without the monotonous drone of her email controversy, she projects a tiresome, contrived image.

Clinton’s warmed over, stale candidacy, has opened the door for Bernie Sanders to gain some traction. But in the end, he lacks the organization to mount a significant threat to win nationally.

Even if he pulled off the impossible and did get the nomination, Democratic party leaders know he would do even worse than liberal George McGovern’s thumping by Richard Nixon in the 1972 election.

There is no way a candidate who promotes himself as a Socialist is going to triumph in a national election.

Sanders, however, can severely damage Clinton even if she gains the nomination. Even with her pandering and political acumen, she will have a hard time getting Sanders’ far-left supporters motivated behind her.

All of this uncertainty about Clinton is what keeps Joe Biden’s name alive.

The Democrats’ party leaders know a candidate who has a reasonable, broad base should win the election.

While Clinton has little appeal as a genuine, sincere person, believability and likability play up to Biden’s strength.
 
davidmaril@voiceofbaltimore.org
 
“Inside Pitch” is a weekly opinion column written for Voice of Baltimore by David Maril.

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