by Ray Keating
The 2016 election should be a big moment for Republicans.
After all, a divisive, failed Democratic presidency is coming to an end, and
either an ethically-challenged, lefty candidate with lots of baggage or a
crackpot socialist will be the Democratic candidate for the White House.
But things have not gone the Republicans way, so far.
A strong field of GOP candidates was transformed into a
circus when a narcissistic, flip-flopping, populist, former-Democrat reality TV
star jumped into the race for the party’s presidential nomination. And according
to poll after poll, a significant chunk of GOP voters have abandoned whatever
conservative principles they might have had and signed on with Trump. Why? Because
… well … they’re pissed off and Trump is a recognizable personality who also
seems mad and … well … what the hell! As a result, the media has focused on the
Donald Trump dramedy, rather than on the many problems with Hillary Clinton and
Bernie Sanders.
But it’s (hopefully) a long road to either party’s
convention, and (hopefully) much can and will happen.
The most interesting developments in recent days have been
reports that Michael Bloomberg, business billionaire and former New York City mayor,
is thinking about mounting an independent run for the White House. Republicans
should be chanting, “Run, Mike, run!”
An independent Bloomberg run would be a big plus for
Republicans. But how can that be? After all, as Gerald F. Seib wrote
in The Wall Street Journal this week,
“The hole in the moderate middle is wide enough that former New York City
Mayor Michael Bloomberg has begun pondering whether the conditions
are right for a presidential run as an independent, centrist candidate…”
“Centrist candidate”? Only a liberal in the media could call
Michael Bloomberg a centrist. As evidenced from his time as mayor, Bloomberg is
pro-abortion, anti-Second Amendment, pro-tax hikes, a big government spender,
and regulator extraordinaire as illustrated by his desire to dictate the size
of sodas.
Most people, I think, can see that Michael Bloomberg is no
centrist. In addition, Bloomberg has a bit of Trump in him in terms of being a
party switcher, as Bloomberg was a Democrat, ran for mayor as a Republican, and
then for re-election as an independent.
A Bloomberg run for president would clearly split the
Democrat vote, and help pave the way for a Republican win. So, here’s a
possible plus for Republicans this year.
But then again, this all should be quite obvious, so it’s
unlikely that Bloomberg will actually jump in the race. He has dabbled with
such things before.
However, if we want to play the game-changing independent
run, why not go all in? Bloomberg runs; Hillary gets the Democrat nod; Republicans
come to their senses and turn away from Trump to a sane, true conservative
candidate, such as Marco Rubio; and Trump throws a tantrum and also runs as an
independent. A wild four-way race. Would that officially make the U.S. a
political basket case?
______________
Mr. Keating is an
economist and novelist who writes on a wide range of topics. His Pastor Stephen
Grant novels have received considerable acclaim, including The River: A Pastor
Stephen Grant Novel being a finalist for KFUO radio’s Book of the Year 2014,
and Murderer’s Row: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel nominated for Book of the Year
2015.
The Pastor Stephen
Grant Novels are available at Amazon…
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