Watching the Rethug primary process unfold over the last few months and then Mitten’s performance once becoming the presumptive nominee has given rise to, what I admit, is a highly speculative thought.
It is a thought that I have taken a few hours to look at in terms of whether it is possibly valid or just a flight of fancy. The results of those mental exercises after the orange sherbets.
Presidential politics is a game of pressure. Further, without a doubt, most would agree that the pressure involved in winning a national parties nomination, then followed by a national general election campaign; pales in comparison to the pressures of the actual job once the POTUS is in the oval office (GWB not withstanding.)
While the old Native American saying, “Don’t judge a man before walkng in his moccasins” probably applies here, there are not many who would not trade their Wal-Mart footwear for the “Gucci loafers” Mittens has sported his entire, privileged life.
I will, by experience, concede that being a husband and a family man is far from a pressure free existence; so I have to give Mittens credit for the facing the pressures inherent in the interpersonal relationship with one’s spouse and the myriad worries and concerns of child rearing.
However, in Mitten’s case, a life time of always having millions in the bank or other assets blunts a major portion of those pressures. Most of us can only dream of what it would be like to know you have the funds to buy food, keep a roof over your family’s head, pay healthcare bills and cover the cost of educating our children, basically without having to lift a finger.
Sure, I believe, Mittens and Ann have had to “make ends meet” many times over their marriage. However, when a shortfall means no more than having to lay-off the third gardener, or sell one of the vacation houses, or liquidate some investments or even bring some off-shore cash back stateside; there is no real pressure involved in the process.
Well, what about the pressures of the heady world of Bain Capital, Wall Street and high finance; surely, Willard faced tremendous pressure there? I would contend, “Not really.”
Again, I will give Mittens credit for his masterful job in developing and carrying through on a business model that, for the most part, risks other people’s money, business entities, jobs, pension funds and, ultimately, tax payer dollars. Unlike real entrepreneurs who have to mortgage their homes and families future for their dreams of their own business; Mittens has sailed through on minimal investment of his own assets. Further, where is the pressure if you are sure to make money whether or not the company you have raided succeeds or goes bankrupt?
Finally, Willard has been running for President for most of the last decade. Did the recent Rethug primary process make him sweat? Not much.
Consider that this year Mittens was the party establishment favorite in a party known for giving the chosen one “his turn.” Further, he entered the primaries with national name recognition and a ton of personal cash which he could use if needed. Finally, with the exception of Jon Hunstman, who in retrospect dropped out way too early, he literally faced a short bus of very flawed and/or very inept rivals. Rivals he was able to easily smack down with the judicious application of negative advertising cash in whatever state wherein his rival was surging.
My point is that due to wealth, privilege and entitlement Mitt has had a largely pressure free life; to this point. Granted in his runs for the Senate and Governorship of Massachusetts he might have been concerned a few times; but, again, he was running for jobs he did not need with almost every advantage a candidate could dream of.
His quest for the presidency, however, does finally appear to be subjecting Willard to some pressure. I can only guess that he is driven by; raw ambition, bettering his old man or the need for the challenge of a tough conquest in an otherwise easy existence, or lastly, I would not discount Ann’s FLOTUS aspirations.
In any event, Mittens is facing a tough, up hill challenge that he appears to be ill-equipped, except for money, to face. He is just starting to learn that that using millions in smacking down the Texas hair do with nothing underneath, the wild-eyed Minnesotan, the randy Georgian, the Pizza maker, or the puritanical Pennsylvanian is not working so well on our smart, savvy and relatively well-liked POTUS. Buying victories against multiple, inept and very flawed challengers in scattered state by state Rethug primaries is not effectively scaling up to a nationwide race against a seasoned and demonstratedly effective political machine.
(It will probably be noted that I did not speak of Ron Paul in the above paragraph. That is for a reason. Until the Rethug convention is over and even there after, the possibility of mischief detrimental to Mittens on the part of the Paulites is still very real.)
Herein lays the gist of my speculation: “Is WillRMoney able to take the pressure of seeing his and Ann’s years-long dreams of the White House slipping away?”
It is my contention, admittedly hopefully, is that he can’t. Until demonstrated otherwise over the next 3 months, I feel that there are better than even odds we might see a very angry, frustrated “Mittens melt-down” in public. Where and when; I have no idea.
I do know, however, Willard is facing pressure the likes of which he has never dealt with before and I for one don’t think he, and his campaign, are up to it.