Republican Debates So Far A Joke

It’s like being on a playground and listening to kids argue about whatever. The Republican presidential candidate debates so far have been nothing but name-calling, backstabbing, character assassination, questioning of your patriotism — a shouting match. No real information is shared with the public, and you feel embarrassed for those who are participating; and these are the choices for the Republican party? The only thing the debates have provided so far are sound bites for the media to share that make the participants look even more ridiculous. A true debate is a platform on which topics are chosen so that ideas and different points of view can be presented so the public can make an informed decision. This isn’t what’s happening.

Contrary to the presidential debates was the mayoral debate between Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher and Representative Bob Filner. Although two of the four candidates chose not to participate — City Councilman Carl DeMaio and District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis — the debate did provide some insight as to where these candidates stand on some of the key issues facing San Diego.

The next presidential election will be the most important election of our lifetime. The questions that need to be answered are many. How will we create new jobs; how will we handle immigration, healthcare, education and a tax code that needs to be revised; will Social Security still be viable; real estate foreclosures and mass transportation; government spending and the deficit; not to mention our foreign policy and what role the United States will play in the world economy. How will the new governments in the Middle East interact with the U.S.? We are at a crossroads. The next president needs to provide the vision and the leadership in which we can meet these challenges and rise again as the premier power of the world. So far, our political leaders are more interested in the office, and not the people that they serve.

This needs to change now.

Jeff Mitchell, Publisher