Editorial: Extremes in the lead in 2016 race

The Trump train continues unabated at this writing, Bernie continues to annoy Hillary on her way to being the Democratic nominee, and America is left wonder what has happened to its political system.

Outsider candidates are making a loud impact in the 2016 presidential campaign, showing that a large number of voters are dissatisfied in the extreme with business as usual in Washington, DC.

On the one hand, you have Bernie Sanders – an avowed socialist – preaching all the things the far left loves… wealth redistribution, “free” this, and “free” that. He is angry, and his followers are angry, that the Democratic Party under B.O. hasn’t done enough and hasn’t gone far enough to makes sure life is equitable for everyone. (Especially for the lazy and the whiners, but I digress….)

Then you have The Donald, riding an amazing tidal wave of frustration, and tapping into the polar opposite of Bernie’s people. Trump’s supporters are tired of empty promises to fix government and tired of what they see as endless “bad deals” whether they be foreign or domestic, economic or foreign policy.

Bernie’s people don’t care how he’s going to pay for it or who’s going to control the government that can give them everything. Donald’s people don’t care about details or who gets stepped on. They are extremes on the same pendulum.

The “reasonable” candidates in both parties seem to be Hillary Clinton – a lying, arrogant, corrupt witch of a woman – and (shockingly to the establishment) Ted Cruz – a Canadian by birth, who has no record of accomplishment in the Senate and is something of a fervent religious crusader the likes of which Texans seem to favor lately.

Barring some cosmic event, Hillary will be the Democratic nominee. The Clinton machine and the total infatuation with her by certain groups of voters (African-Americans and women) will insure that outcome.

Meanwhile, the Grand Old Party leaders are becoming horrified that Trump make soon lock up the delegates needed for the Republican nomination. (Depending on Tuesday night’s outcome, he may have already done it.)

The Republicans, unfortunately, have only themselves to blame for the rise of Trump. The party has had plenty of opportunities to enact real reforms and to walk the conservative walk, but they have largely blown it.

Aside from a few accomplishments following 1994’s Contract With America, national Republicans have failed to deliver. They talk about reducing the size of government, lower taxes, and less regulations. But they have either failed to stop – or outright given us – Medicare Part D, No Child Left Behind, the “Affordable” Care Act, and a ban on incandescent light bulbs. These guys have talked for years about abolishing the IRS and the Department of Education, but they can’t even muster the energy to end the horror and stupidity that is Daylight Saving Time.

And so a frustrated electorate turns its hope to the extremes, and the nation is shocked by this.

The situation boiled over last week in Chicago. Start with a planned Trump rally, filled with folks intent on “making America great again,” fueled by a steady diet of hot rhetoric, and then add some professional and planted “protestors” – folks who pervert free speech in the pursuit of a leftist agenda and whose main goals are not peaceful assembly but the incitement of racial disharmony and social chaos. It was a recipe for disaster.

We still have months to go in this election, and the outcome looks as bleak as it ever has. There is currently no good person with a chance to win the nomination of either party.

There may be an outside chance that the Republican Party will nominate someone other than Trump, but so far every criticism of him and every attack on him only raises his stature among his followers, striking a chord that resonates with memories of broken promises from those on the right and feelings of disgust for those on the left.

America can only wait and see what happens next.