More Presidential Politics - The Republican Debate

Tonight, the Fox television network will host a pair of debates between the various remaining Republican candidates for their party's nomination to run for President of the United States. I say "pair" because there are so many candidates, they will not all fit on the same stage at once. The main card contains the most popular candidates, according to nation-wide polling. The second group, all of the other candidates, will appear on the "under card."

Many of the candidates that started the run have dropped out along the way – usually, because they ran out of money and donors to supply money. Let us face it: it is expensive as hell to run a major political campaign in this country.

The Under Card

Just like when you go to a boxing match, the under card is scheduled first, followed later by the main event. On the under card, we will see:

• Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, if he actually shows up. His campaign staff said he will boycott it.
• Former HP CEO Carly Fiorina
• Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee
• Former Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania

I cannot help but notice that most of these names are preceded by the word "former." It makes these candidates sound like a bunch of "has-beens." Is there a fundamental reason why they each no longer hold there former position? This perception creates an uphill battle for my attention as a voter.

The Main Event

In the main event, we will see:

• Donald Trump, a self-proclaimed billionaire businessman
• Senator Ted Cruz of Texas
• Senator Marco Rubio of Florida
• Dr. Ben Carson, retired neurosurgeon
• New Jersey Governor Chris Christie
• Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush
• Ohio Governor John Kasich

Donald Trump

Personally, this guy scares me. When I listen to his campaign speeches, I am reminded of when I was in school and had to listen to the speeches of Adolf Hitler in history and German classes. You will know what I mean if you read a translation of Hitler's speeches and substitute "immigrants" for "Jews" and "America" for "Deutchland."

Our Founding Fathers feared that democracy could lead to the rise of a demigod. They believed that the popular vote could be swayed by a great orator with malicious intent and, thus, they added the Electoral College to the Constitution to act as a "circuit breaker" to prevent the election of a would-be dictator.

Ted Cruz

Ted Cruz is a Texan of Mexican descent. Questions have been raised about his citizenship although he was born in Canada to an American mother. Under American immigration and citizenship laws, this makes him a native-born American citizen.

Marco Rubio

Marco Rubio is from Florida and is of Cuban descent.

Ben Carson, MD

Ben Carson is the only person of African-American descent running this year.

Chris Cristie

Chris Christie is best known for two things: the "BridgeGate" scandal and the Superstorm Sandy clean-up.

Jeb Bush

Another "former," Jeb Bush is the son of former President George H W Bush and brother of former President George W Bush. He speaks fluent Spanish and his wife is a Latina of Mexican descent.

John Kasich

John who?