Opinion : Trump, DeSantis, Kennedy Jr. and Doug

Ah, 'tis the political season. It's been somewhat comical to see all of the hats flying into the political ring.

So far, on the Republican side, there are now 11 candidates. There's that one guy that no one knows anything about, Donald Trump, followed by Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy, Perry Johnson, Larry Elder, Asa Hutchinson, Tim Scott, Ron DeSantis, Chris Christie, Mike Pence and Doug. 

Let's just cut to the chase on this. Chris Christie, 60, doesn't have a chance. He hates Trump, and that sums up why he's running. When I think of Christie, I remember him closing the beaches then plopping his behind in a chair, on the beach. Another of those "do as I say, not as I do" politicians. So I'm not interested.

Then there's Mike Pence, 64. I don't know maybe it's me, but this guy is the least exciting in the group running. When I hear his name I think, "Ho hum, boring." The guy just ran a Bud Light-type commercial that was from his "Candidate of Genius" line. The only thing missing was the Clydesdales. I'm thinking that was in itself a bad move. It was just so, I don't know, so 80s? He get a meh, for originality.

Asa Hutchinson. Love the first name, only because I've seen it in my family tree research. The guy is 72, and I'm thinking we really NEED another guy pushing that geriatric candidate button. Now, I love older people. I really do. But if we need someone to run for the football carrying nuclear codes, let's not get someone past the age of retirement. 

This brings me to Trump, 76. I'm so over seeing him. Hearing from him. News about him. The witchhunts directed at him, come on, we all know that's what's going on. But anyway, if he'd simply say, "I'm not running," all of this would go away. He doesn't do that though. 

Then there is Trump Light, Ron DeSantis, 44. I have to admit, I like this guy. Mostly because he's sharp, he's funny, and he doesn't take crap. Then there's the idea that he made Disney actually pay taxes after 50 years of not paying a dime. It seems like that might be why Mickey Mouse was doing so well. Add in as Fox called one of his kids "a random baby" it would be fun to see some little kids in the White House as well.

Let's see. There's the only woman in the race on this side so far, Nikki Haley, 51. I like her, but I don't think she has the right characteristics to win. There's nothing about her that makes her stand out in the crowd. She's well-spoken, she looks nice and knows how things work in government and around the world. But maybe the issue is that she's TOO smooth. I'd say plug her into a cabinet position again. She's a smart gal. Then again, I think someone in their 50s might actually be about where I want a candidate, ironically I think that's about the "prime" age for a presidential candidate. Don Lemon and I apparently disagree o that. 

Perry Johnson, 75. This guy, I'm really not sure what to do with. He seems to be pretty fiscally-minded and is apparently a millionaire.  I wasn't really impressed with him. Again, not that I didn't like what he said, but he just hits one of those buttons in my head that says, 'meh, next!"

Larry Elder, 71, well, I like listening to him talk, but I honestly couldn't tell you much about him. I think he has all the same beliefs as the others on the right but he doesn't have a shot if he's standing next to...

Tim Scott, 57. Now this guy, I love him too. He's not shy about telling you how rough his life has been, but he's also not one to whine about it. He doesn't have the idea that it's rare for a black man to be successful if they work at it. He made an appearance on The View after Joy Behar said that he didn't understand systemic racism. I guess as a white woman she can better educate him. Of course, like the weasle she is, she was "on her day off" when they scheduled Scott to come and answer her accusations. Any guy that can go on that show and hold his own against these women, he's a man's man.

Then there's the whippersnapper, Vivek Wamaswamy. Now just saying this guy's name, let alone typing it takes a bit of memory work. I like him too. He's the youngest kid in the pool at 37. But the kid is sharp. I think I respect him mostly because he's all for capitalism in a world where that has become a four-letter word, yet, without it, well, hello communism. He also believes that the voting age should be raised to 25 and I don't disagree with him on that either. I don't think he has a chance this time around, but we'll see him again in the future I'm sure.

Now we're down to Doug. Doug Burgum, 66. He's the former governor of North Dakota. And that my friends is all that I know about Doug. 

So we have 11 Republican candidates...so far. Here's a breakdown of the field. 

4 in their 70s, 3 white guys and a black man

3 in their 60s, all older white guys

2 in their 50s, one black man, woman

1 guy in his 40s

1 Indian man in his 30s.  Why the breakdown you ask? Just in case you think there isn't diversity over here. 

Standing in the wings is John Bolton, 75, Kristi Noem, 51, Liz Cheney, 56, Glenn Younkin, 56, Francis Suarez, 46. So there are more women thinking of throwing their purse in the ring and yet another guy in his 70s, just in case republicans run out. 

On the Democrat side, there is of course the President, Joe Biden ringing in at 80, and who will be 81 if he lasts until the next election. What can I say? I'm not sure which falls faster. Joe himself or his polling numbers. I really wish he wouldn't run again. I don't feel safe having him as our leader. My bank account feels very broke with him as president.

To be honest, I agree completely with his son Beau when he made a PSA as an attorney general about elder abuse. It's not funny, nor entertaining seeing our President falling down. So far we have 2 falls up the steps to Air Force One, once off of his standing bike, now on stage, and then he smashed his head getting out of the helicopter on the White House lawn. These are the only incidents that we've seen on camera, it makes you wonder how many times he's fallen outside of view.

I mean, "come on, man," as he would say. If his family really loved him, they'd convince him not to run again. I'm thinking Jill is loving her first lady position at the cost of her husband. I'm just really glad that he didn't hurt himself when he fell the last time. No one wants to see that on camera. But seriously, he's done his time, he's reached the top. Let him retire in the comfort of his own home away from the cameras. Quit putting him in situations that are humiliating him. 

The first to challenge President Biden is Marianne Williamson, a 70-year-old woman. She's described as an author and spiritual advisor (I have flashbacks to Nancy Reagan consulting astrologists). She's a "Spiritual Leader" for the Church of Today. I couldn't find out much about her church, or their beliefs. I have no idea if it's an offshoot of a mainstream church or what exactly it is. Politically, she's for legalizing marijuana, wants to reach 100% renewable energy by 2035, she's pro-abortion and wants to declare a national emergency over gun violence.

Robert Kennedy Jr., 69, is also in the race. A bit of nostalgia will come with his name. His only downside is his physical struggles to speak. I still found it fun to listen to his thoughts in a podcast that lasted over an hour. He's all about dismantling censorship online. He gets a bad rap when it comes to vaccines. After seeing COVID vaccine side effects in my family, I appreciate anyone who asks questions. He also believes that police need transforming and that they should be trained in de-escalation and mediation.  He also wants to take steps toward racial healing. 

According to the NBC News tracking website it doesn't appear that anyone else is waiting in the wings on the Democrat side.

We're still almost a year and a half out from the election. In the next six months, we'll be inundated with visits from all of these people. Go and meet these candidates any time that you can. Personally, I want to hear Kennedy and maybe a few others. 

It will be interesting to see how this shakes out and who will be left standing after the caucus. 

Debates, may or may not happen for some of the candidates either. If they refuse to debate, that will be a shame and not a smart move. 

So there you have it. Just a few thoughts on the political leaders of whom no doubt will affect our lives after the 2024 election.