In my Twitter bio I describe myself as a news junkie.
A quick anecdote to prove how I came to this conclusion is when I used to serve tables at a small restaurant that played the news on a TV in the corner, I would start tuning out orders to tune into whatever was happening on the screen. It reminded me of times I deliberately avoided sports bars on dates to actually have a prayer of capturing my boyfriend’s attention over dinner. It was a clear sign, at the time, that I was in the wrong profession (and was probably dating the wrong guy) making me happy to eventually trade over my tray of drinks for a desk and a laptop.
Just me and Uncle Lar, catching up.
With that said, if I’m a news junkie, my Dad is a full blown addict. It’s not an exaggeration to say that CNN is on in the background of my parents home an average of 10 hours a day. Larry King was practically a second Uncle to me growing up.
In journalism school, it was great because a quick five minute convo with my Dad and I was fully caught up on all the happenings of the world. Especially U.S politics.
So, I guess you can say my interest in the subject was inherited. I consider myself non-partisan in every sense of the political sphere. While I think it is vitaly important to vote, I would never openly support a candidate, be it Canadian or American. But, what I can tell you with one hundred per cent conviction is that the United States Republican candidates are making a complete mockery of the political system as a whole. Tuning in for my daily (over) dose of CNN lately is like flicking on the Young and the Restless. Except it would be named the Old and the Clueless.
The United States run their presidential elections completely differently from how we elect Prime Minister’s in Canada. To give you a little perspective, today is November 10, 2011. The next US presidential election will be held on November 6, 2012 … the Republican candidates have already been campaigning for several months. By the time the next President of the United States is chosen, the campaign will have been going on for almost two years.
Barack Obama is eligible for a second and final term as President and has already announced that he will seek nomination to be the Democractic Party’s candidate – a no brainer, really. But, that leaves Republican candidates to battle it out – and lately, it’s been one gaff after the other. Just as one candidate is getting over their latest public humiliation, another falls hard to a new scandal, on air blunder, or particularly ugly skeleton crashing out of their closet.
It’s seriously tempting not to sit in front of the TV with a big bag of popcorn and large Coke.
The leading Republican candidates are: Michele Bachmann, Herman Cain, Newt Gingrich, Jon Huntsman Jr., Ron Paul, Rick Perry, Mitt Romney, and Rick Santorum.
To give you a brief synopsis of just SOME of the recent madness that has gone on in this political ring, here are a few highlights:
"One thing I know, is that I don't know how to give a speech."
Last night, Rick Perry made a major blunder during a Republican candidates debate, when he was unable to remember which of three government agencies he would abolish. “Oops” was his best way of handling it.
It was such an error, that #RickPerry was actually trending in CANADA this morning. There have also been rumours that he’s gay (not that there’s anything wrong with that) complete with alleged sex scandal. I’m telling you, prime soap opera material.
Not to mention, he’s already been accused of being drunk or high during another speech in New Hampshire. I think he needs to leave public speaking to the professionals, or at least, nervous and awkward grade six students who can keep it together better than he can:
"Say whaaaa?"
Michele Bachman is considered the craziest woman in politics since Sarah Palin, who has now become less of a political figure and more of an A-list celeb. Catch her reality show lately? Well, at least she can admit that it’s where she belongs. Here’s a peek into the thinking of Michele Bachman:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/the-10-craziest-michele-bachmann-quotes
Trying to convince women to save a horse and ride a cowboy.
Herman Cain is perhaps in the stickiest situation of all the candidates. Sharon Bialek and Karen Kraushaar are two of at least four women who claim to have been sexually harassed by the candidate. He denies any such allegation, but when he referred to Bialek as “that woman” it was almost impossible not to make the Bill Clinton comparison. When will politicians learn? Probably never.
Even Mike Tyson thinks he’s a joke:
In my humble, and far from expert opinion, I think the Republicans are making their party as a whole look like a completely unstable choice.
If it were MY world and MY political party wouldn’t it make more sense to not attack each other, but to bind together and to put all your support into one candidate that will make your party look like a viable option against an already very popular Democratic candidate? Naw, probably makes more sense to fight each other to the death to make the whole pack look like a bunch of idiots. What do I know?
It’s easy to say that the political goings on of the United States have little affect on our daily Canadian lives, but as we’ve seen time and time again, (wars, gas prices, currency, etc.) it really does. And if you’re still not convinced, turn on Channel 33 for a few minutes today. It will make you feel seriously proud to be Canadian, in a nutshell.
A good job Cat.
Michele Bachmann looks like a midget in your photo.
Is there any possibility that Michele Bachmann and the Munchkin are related?
in a nutshell.