By Chris Ryan
Concord, NH
People dislike and distrust politicians, perhaps more now than ever.
Back in 2003 when Double-A baseball was coming to New Hampshire, it was speculated that the team name would be the “New Hampshire Primaries” to reflect our state’s cherished “First in the Nation” status.
The public was outraged!
People thought it was unsavory to be affiliated in any way to the dirty business of politics.
It was deemed to be a better alternative to name the team the “Fisher Cats”.
A fierce nocturnal revolting creature best known for praying on and killing beloved household pets was deemed to be a more suitable branding.
That brings me to the 2016 Presidential election where Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton have a combined negative approval number of -37. Trump is -27, Hillary -10.
The public’s collective refrain has been, “Is this the best we can do?!”
On Thursday at the State House in Concord dark clouds were overhead as a hard rain fell down and the curtain went up in New Hampshire on the Libertarian Presidential ticket of former Republican New Mexico Gary Johnson and former Republican Massachusetts Governor William Weld.
With the GOP’s consternation over Trump, some of the bong-toting Bernie supporters unable to bring themselves to be “With Her” and the general public viewing this election as a race to the bottom it would appear this might be a perfect storm for this duo.
But, I wouldn’t count on it.
There’s three key problems: 1.) The wrong guy is #1 on the ticket 2.) The whole thing is based on getting to 15% and making the debates and I’m unsure of the likelihood of that 3.) They lack any sort of significant organization or infrastructure that is reflective of a national Presidential campaign.
As I walked with the pair over the State House down main street in Concord, they were repeatedly stopped by folks who recognized and wanted to meet Bill Weld. Gary Johnson looked like a spouse attending their partner’s work party, awkwardly awaiting a, ‘Look at me, I’m here too!’ moment.
This brings me back to the initial meeting with the duo and the press. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but was pleasantly surprised by how intriguing the meeting was. These men appeared to reflect the broad feeling of many in the GOP of, “Dude, Where’s My Party?” They spoke of limited government, moral decency, the significance of the Constitution.
In NBA regular season games teams usually play at about 50-75% of their capability. Weld was doing this at the presser while Johnson was in playoff mode at 100%. Weld was still outshining him. The man was brilliant, eloquent, self-effacing and on message. On a stage with Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump he would not only hold his own, but might appear to be the adult in the room while those two traded insults.
At one point, Johnson began speaking of a Co-Presidency, I perked up and asserted that if that were going to be how they governed, why not start now with a Co-Candidacy? I was shot down. Weld joked that he couldn’t keep up with Johnson’s pace and he was the better one to be the lead candidate.
You might want to rethink that guys.
Your margin for error is razor thin and if the moment arrives where you do make the debate stage, it would be wise to make the most of it.
