Here's
how to tell them apart.
By Donald Kaul
 |
| For more cartoons by Bill Day, CLICK HERE |
The Republicans have a big problem. Their presidential primary
contest is beginning to resemble the New York marathon — hordes of contestants
as far as the eye can see.
How is a voter expected to choose among them, particularly since
virtually all say pretty much the same thing?
To name a few examples, the entire gang of 15 or more
politicians wants to cut taxes, roll back the Affordable Care Act, ban
abortion, crack down on undocumented immigration, keep gun laws weak, and do
nothing about global warming.
They also uniformly despise Hillary Clinton.
As part of my continuing effort to make the world a better
place, here’s a brief analysis of a few top GOP candidates. I hope it helps you
tell them apart.
Jeb Bush: The former governor of Florida and latest member of the Bush dynasty angling to occupy the White House is the nice-guy conservative of the bunch.
He’s no less conservative than the others, mind you — except for
the suspicion that he’s soft on immigrants because his wife grew up in Mexico —
but an iron fist in a velvet glove nevertheless.
Jimmy Stewart would play him
in the movie, if there were a movie and if Jimmy Stewart were still around.
Carly Fiorina: The former CEO of Hewlett Packard is easily
spotted since she’s only woman seeking the Republican nomination.
She’s a failed corporate executive who thinks she’s the perfect
answer for voters who’d like to vote for a woman but can’t stand Hillary.
Maybe.
Rand Paul: The senator from Kentucky passes for this gang’s
anti-war candidate. Even if Paul did sign that silly GOP letter that tried
to sabotage nuclear talks with Iran, he’s still way, way out to the left of
mainstream Republicans, who are nothing if not bellicose.
Paul also has other libertarian-based ideas that make him an odd
goose in this company of ducks — especially his opposition to the NSA
spying on us all.
Lindsey Graham: The senator from Mars — I mean, South Carolina —
has yet to meet an international problem that he doesn’t think U.S. troops can
fix. I get the feeling that he’d bomb Canada if he got the chance.
Marco Rubio: The senator from Florida is the closest thing to
John F. Kennedy the Republicans have had in years.
He’s young, he’s good looking, and he gives a good speech. He
gets a lot of mileage from how hard his parents, Cuban immigrants, had it when
he was growing up. He’d be the ideal vice president for Bush if they didn’t
both hail from the same state.
Ben Carson: As the only African-American contender, he’s as easy
to pick out in this crowd as Fiorina. He’s a brilliant brain surgeon, and a
rip-roaring speaker prone to saying some strange things.
Ted Cruz: As the leader of the Senate’s
does-not-play-well-with-others caucus, it’s unclear how he would forge
requisite alliances with Congress if he were elected. He sees his function as
being the sand in the gears of government. People who love him, love him a lot.
To the rest of us, he’s Darth Vader.
Chris Christie: The New Jersey governor is Tony Soprano on the
hoof. If a blustering bully is your idea of a national leader, he’s your man.
Scott Walker: The Wisconsin governor is the one wearing a little
label on his lapel that says: “If found, return to the Kochs.” His viability as
a candidate depends on whether he remains the billionaire brothers’ favorite.
Mike Huckabee: The former Arkansas governor did quite well in
his failed 2008 presidential bid as the pick of the religious right, which
dominates the Iowa GOP caucuses.
This growing flock also includes the following sure-to-lose
politicians: Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal, Ohio governor John Kasich,
businessman Donald Trump, former Texas governor Rick Perry, and Rick
Santorum.
Remember Santorum? The former senator from Pennsylvania and
father of seven kids is the biggest zealot and easily the least likable guy in
the race. If he wins, expect a mass exodus to Canada.
OtherWords
columnist Donald Kaul lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan. OtherWords.org.