It's Early, But Speeches Are Being Written -- Presidential Poltics 2015-16

You can see a campaign as being like a story or like a legal argument or a speech, but in the effort to win-over voters there is going to be the competition and how the potential voters hear and interpret what is being said. This makes the campaign into a war-like struggle. Yes, there are many voters who are already committed or leaning to one side or the other, but there are other purposes than to win votes. It's important to state clearly to Americans and the world what you would do as president. It's important to explain your positions in some detail -- those will be studied and perhaps picked apart by the economists, retired general and other 'experts'. It's important to make your case for the voters, but also to show it in contrast to the likely alternative(s). And when the opponent(s) start yelling "You lie!", or worse, it's important to have self-control and to behave as a president would. America needs to know it can depend upon its leaders and a campaign is one of the best ways we've devised to learn which we trust and want to lead.

As a competitive event it helps if you have lots of help, lots of resources and can put them to their best use. This makes the campaign more like a war effort where goals are set and focused on until met, where individuals are deployed like weaponry to tackle this or that problem and where pragmatism has to weigh more than it would in our daily conversations about a party's ideas and policies and track record. Who can run a giant campaign better is also a determinant of who can run the U.S. government well enough (at least that's the assumption). Very often in international affairs or in efforts to pass legislation a president is called upon to "win support" for an effort. Campaigning is the quintessential example of that and as such is a pretty good indicator of success.

What can make a person more successful at this? Some intelligence, a lot of humor, a crazy perseverance and a great feeling of the importance of public service. Without these the public won't even be interested in supporting a candidate. And then there is EXPERIENCE. It's not always necessary for a candidate who has experienced campaign people around them, but it certainly helps. Even more, it's the specific kind of experience which is relevant. The closer one's experience is to the mountain yet to be climbed the more likely they have the skills needed. A lot of Representatives never run for the Presidency and most never run for a Senate seat. Simply running for a state-wide position is different than running within a district (often carefully composed by the party's Gerry-mandering process). Running for a state-wide position like senator or governor is much more similar to running for president (which is a set of state-wide races, sometimes all in play at once).

Some politicians seem to be made of gold: they never lose. Some fight fight fight and struggle for a long time before winning (Ronald Reagan, for example, only won the presidency on his 3rd try). Once they win nobody cares about the past. The public cares about the future!

I, like most people, have had sporting teams I favor. But, there have been many times when I simply wanted to see excellence and I root for that, regardless of which team or individual exhibits it. Not having favorites is less depressing, but it's a bit less fulfilling too. In politics I think the American public often feels they know who the loser will be every time -- them. Politicians who can bring hope for a better day to the American public will at least get their attention. Leaders who can in fact create or build a better day will be re-elected and regaled as Great Presidents. I have too often felt America was lacking in those, so I always hope for that above all else and that's what I will fight for!