I'm a little mystified by this rush of presidential candidates to escape being labeled establishment.
Let's look at a few of the folks trying the hardest to escape this.
Hilary Clinton
Since 1979 she's either been married to an elected official, been an elected official, or had a cabinet post . That's 37 years she's been feeding at the public trough. Not to mention her sweet book deal and huge speaking fees. How can anyone even entertain the notion that she's not establishment.
Bernie Sanders
He's held elective office since about 1980 again that's 36 years of feeding at the public trough. I'll grant that he hasn't taken nearly as much advantage of his positions for financial gain as he could have, but still anyone who's been a US senator can hardly seriously claim to be anti establishment.
Trump
I'll just point out that he's admitted giving contributions to politicians on both sides of the aisle to get them do do what he wants them to do, as well as his love of eminent domain. Oh, and anyone who can say, "Well I just got a 1 million dollar loan from my dad...". Enough said.
Cruz
Started as a clerk for a federal judge as well as for a SCOTUS justice, worked in the Bush administration, and is a US senator. I guess you could say that maybe he's kind of JV establishment, but still establishment.
Rubio
Pretty much been either in elective office or academia since 1999, and of course one office is the US senate. Again, maybe JV, but still establishment.
I'm especially shocked that people actually buy this drivel from Bernie or Hilary and how come anyone could possibly think that it's a positive in either case.
No real point here, except I'm getting tired of these establishment types trying to pretend otherwise.
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2 comments:
I think the term is used to convey the idea that some have been a part of the "establishment" in such as way as to provide no change to the routine of federal government, that we will get more of the same. The sentiment is more ploy for some of them than for others. Cruz's reputation as pissing off other senators (according to some at least) would to some extent justify the claim that he is not an "establishment" guy. Rubio might have gotten away with it had he not aligned himself with various actions. Trump is more a part of it than either of them due to his long history of contributions to both sides as a businessman. (I don't begrudge a businessman from attempting to get favors from politicians as much as I abhor politicians who can be bought by businessmen.)
For the office of president, I don't know if we truly benefit by having someone run who has no knowledge or understanding of how things work in Washington. Maybe we would. But the world is such a complex mess right now, that some experience in that world is probably a greater plus than having none. The question is how much is too much that one is part of the problem, and how can we truly tell?
I think Cruz has shown integrity that the other leading candidate of either party have demonstrated, though Bernie might be true to his idiotic socialist leanings in a way that suggests integrity. That kind we don't need. But Cruz's stance against subsidies, particularly against the ethanol subsidies that could have lost him Iowa, demonstrates he sticks to his convictions, and it seems that quality is what makes him problematic for others in the Senate. It also makes him less an establishment guy.
I don't disagree with any of that, it's just so ridiculous to think that these guys believe that anyone will actually buy into this.
Particularly in the case of Bernie and Hilary, the other one that amazes me is that Hilary who has leveraged her establishment connections into millions of dollars from Wall St. actually thinks that there are enough stupid folks out there who believe her anti wall street shtick. I do especially agree that Bernie has enough integrity and that he actually is a true believer. The problem is (same with Trump to a degree) is that he is unlikely to be able to actually implement anything he wants.
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