GOP CHOICE: PUPPET OR PUPPETEER?

I watched the GOP Fox debate last night (Thursday, August 6, 2015) with relish. It was the best "debate" in my long memory of these events. Fox crew members mischieviously and effectively probed the weaknesses and foibles of the ten men who claim they want to represent us as President. The goal of the Fox team obviously was to skewer the present front runner, the non-politician, unpredictable, bombastic, Donald Trump, businessman, and real-estate tycoon from New York. They tried hard, but in my view failed. "The Donald" trumped them all. He acted like himself. He was refreshingly genuine. The Foxy questioners did however manage to upend and hurt the chances of the "puppet candidates" who are the choices of the GOP monied interests and elite GOP power. Perhaps that was not their intention, but that was what happened.

"Jeb" (John E Bush) who represents the powerful interests of the wealthy "country club" GOP and the uppity Bush family was perhaps mortally wounded Thursday night. JEB (he shuns and rejects the "Bush" moniker) has the most money, and the most powerful and connected friends in high places. This third-in-line Bush, son and brother of former Presidents had the look of a scared deer in headlights all through the event. His body language and answers were wobbly and his voice quavered. He did not help his cause and those of his powerful supporters.

Scott Walker, the darling of the secretive, sinister-appearing multibillionare Koch brothers and their powerful union hating friends appeared to be and acted the part of a balding, minor town official. His brief, stattaco, over-rehearsed, stock answers only gave support to the impression that someone up above (like the Pinochio wood carver Geppetto) was pulling his strings. He may have been reelected "three times" (an exaggeration) in a blue state, with the massive financial support of the Koch brothers, but even all their money could not help him appear "presidential" (or even worthy of the town clerk job) exposed to probing questions as he was on the Fox debate stage. Scott Walker with all his Koch money is mush.

Chris Christe, reminded us how he could beat up on the small guy, as he stomped the skinny and high-C-voiced Senator Rand Paul who had the temerity to attempt to protect our Constitutional rights from intrusive spying. I guess domestic spying is just fine with tough guy Christie who genuflects meekly in front of the Adelsons and Kochs who tell him what to say. These two candidates did not impress either. Dr.Carson, an obviously charming and nice man, appeared to be an itinerant physician who just happened to walk in on the debate right off the street. Gov Kasich, of Ohio, on home turf, looked a little scruffy, like he had been mugged just before he arrived. He was the GOP exception who gave the most humane response to questions about gay rights and immigration. Ex-governor Huckabee seemed to be there solely to advance the sale of his snake oil remedy.

But the best line of the night was that of Mr. Trump, who when asked about his past support for Democrat candidates...a question meant to give him a mortal political wound, responded with an answer that revealed the great, embarrassing truth and naked corruption of American politics. His response: HE GIVES MONEY TO GET FAVORS.

"I give to everybody. When they call I give. And you know what? When I need something from them...I call them. THEY ARE THERE FOR ME. And that's a broken system." He went on to describe how after he gave to Hillary Clinton's campaign, when he asked her to come to his wedding...she came. "SHE HAD NO CHOICE. BECAUSE I GAVE."

So what we must decide in this election is who do we want to lead us, a puppet or a puppeteer? Who is pulling the strings of the candidates? Who controls them like Trump controlled Clinton? Who is giving money to get favors in return? Do we want a Pinoochio or a Gippetto?

Perhaps we can find a candidate with no strings attached, a man or woman who answers only to the electorate? Perhaps the polls which show Trump in the lead are just that...the electorate seeking a non-puppet candidate?