Be careful with wishes
As a bit of a student of history I look at our current election cycle with more than a little bit of fear. The children of Israel kept asking God to give them a king. Pretty soon he tired of their pleading and did just that. Not all of them were benevolent and many were downright tyrants. We currently have a president that gives every indication of being a narcissist. He takes little guidance from his counselors and does not give credence to opposing views. He is paired with a Congress (both houses) who are much more concerned with reelection than wise governing. Both parties are more interested in winning than finding a solution.
Our current president ran on a platform of bringing the country together. He of all people has the opportunity for the largest bully pulpit to resolve race relations and what has he done. He has driven a wedge between minorities and the rest of the people for the sake of maintaining a minority electorate to perpetuate his party. The opposing party has been a collection of do nothings that can't bring themselves to even have a conversation about solutions to the problems we are faced with.
The electorate are fed up with all of them. Everyone feels it is time to throw the bums out but how? CAREFULLY!!!
Enter the Presidential candidates from both parties. The Democrats have their lady in waiting who is leaning on the good of the years that her husband was president. It was good times but we must remember that the congress at that time was Republican. Perhaps the best that happened was that they cancelled out the damage that either party could do. Who then claims credit for those good years? Low and behold Hillary has lived the good life so long that she finds herself so elite that she alone can determine the rules she must live by and what constitutes the truth. The most she has to offer us is that she could be the first woman president and a purported champion of women. Nothing else she has touched stands up to the scrutiny of achievement. Remember Obama's claim to fame was that, if he was the first black president he would unite us all. How did that work out? Along comes Bernie Sanders, not even a Democrat, a socialist, and an isolationist in a world where borders are being erased by the day.
The Republicans come up with a host of candidates to claim the mantle. Many have a lot going for them but they carry the baggage of the congressional do nothing party. A few like Carson, Forina, and Trump are from outside the political class and Washington insiders say they have no experience (perhaps a good thing). A few are governors and not yet a part of the Washington insider group.
Who does the electorate choose at this early date, Sanders and Trump?
Sanders is a little man with a very small worldview but being an independent gives him appeal. Trump if you have not noticed, is another narcissist who is also smarter than anyone else in the room and not afraid to tell you so. He is bombastic, crude and resentful of any criticism. He lacks the wisdom of Solomon of biblical fame but shows many of his father David's other traits. Being smart and having wisdom are two separate qualities if you have not noticed.
The electorate is hungry for a leader and it appears they would settle for a king. Nearly a century ago Germany had an electorate with similar frustration and whom did they choose to bring to power? Another narcissist, a man named Adolph Hitler, for those of you too young to remember or too quick to forget.
For me I guess I would rather have someone who engages their brain before their mouth, is somewhat humble, God fearing and a proven problem solver. Of those I see out there I like Dr. Ben Carson, Carly Forina, or even Jim Webb on the Democrat side. Let's not turn loose another king or crown another queen! The world is far too dangerous again.
Don Phelan is a Coeur d'Alene resident.