"A Ring Full of Hats"
Mar. 3, 1999
"A Ring Full of Hats"
Gov. George Bush of Texas announced today that he was officially considering seeking the Republican nomination for president. This comes right on the heels of Pat Buchanan's bid and proclamation that he intends to restore American morality. When you add in Dan Quayle's recent activities, a possible Elizabeth Dole candidacy, and the expected run of Al Gore, it looks like a pretty crowded field. Can many more hats fit in the ring?
I fear that the American public will grow weary of the words "morality" and "integrity" long before the election of our new leader. Every candidate will emphasize values and honor, but there is very little that any of them can do to make us believe their words. If there is such a thing as an honest politician (a truly oxymoronic phrase in my eyes), I'm afraid he or she is as rare as a unicorn and just as skittish. Who would be masochistic enough to run the gauntlet of a presidential campaign after the Clinton fiasco? Mother Theresa faces less scrutiny in her bid to sainthood than anyone in this next presidential race.
Sex is not the issue. I do not care to know about any future president's private life. I DO, however, want to trust my president. What Clinton has done to destroy any shred of trust or belief in politicians is his biggest crime. He has placed "president" about 10 places below "Car Salesman" in the list of most despised professions. The job ahead of all those people who have flung their hats into the ring is to convince voters that there is any reason to place our trust in another leader. What an uphill task that will be.