Lincoln Chafee is the unknown candidate of the Democrats running for President. He does have an extensive background in serving the public in Rhode Island. This includes being Governor, US Senator and Mayor of Warwick Rhode Island. If you go to his official website one of the first things you see is his mantra; “Politics change. Values don’t.” A very nice idea that is true and also wrong at the same time.
Mr. Chafee has not realized that while everyone has seen examples of the changes in political thinking that have changed over time; it actually goes in cycles over a period of time and it always will. If you look back at the turn of the 19th into the 20th Century you would see that progressive politics was in vogue at that time while into the middle of the century you would see conservatism take hold and then see liberalism be in vogue. And then in the 21st century you see that progressive politics took hold again and now is waning. It just goes in cycles just like nature does with the seasons; you just have to be aware that it is happening to notice it changing.
On his website is the following are his Priorities:
Prosperity through Peace – He believes he has a plan to keep the peace in the Middle East and use the money here at home instead. This is what happened before World War II with disastrous results, we can not ignore what is happening around us.
Strengthen Economic Opportunity-He says that young people and families deserve a better chance to achieve the American Dream. That is well and good but we all must prosper; not just the Middle Class or the Rich.
Environmental Stewardship-Responsible environmental stewardship can coexist with economic strength. This is the most realistic statement he makes and I will not argue this point.
Ensure Freedom for All Americans-I will always fight to protect personal liberties guaranteed in the Constitution. He goes on about “Conservative forces have been chipping away at our personal freedoms. I will never allow any American’s personal liberties to be diminished, including a woman’s right to control her own personal reproductive decisions. And the Federal government should never torture prisoners or tap people’s phones without warrant.” I agree that our personal freedoms have been eroded due to the threats we are now facing, but while we should push back against the erosion of our freedoms under the United States Constitution this should be done in a very delicate balancing act that also prevents those who threaten our freedom from using our well won rights against us.
Chafee has said that Hillary Clinton “was “obviously” vulnerable over her private email scandal Tuesday and that the controversy was a “big deal” in the race.”
On CNN’s “Alisyn Camerota asked him whether Clinton, as the 2016 Democratic frontrunner, was now in political trouble over her use of a private server while she was secretary of state.
“Yes, obviously,” Chafee said on CNN. “It’s a huge issue. It just is, and you see it in the news and reflected in the polls. Voters want choices, and that’s what we should have, and it’s going to be six good candidates, it looks like, if the vice president gets in … I’m proud of my record. I voted against the war. Vice President Biden did vote for it. Secretary Clinton voted for it. This is what choices should all be about. Your judgment, your character, your past record, your vision for the future.”
It is very interesting how he sees this as a huge issue and then throws out his own thoughts on how Bidden voted for war and he did not. A real politician at work and one who has a very big hill to climb before he could ever be considered for President, he would have to somehow beat Bernie Sanders to the liberal finish line and I do not see this happening.
That is my opinion- Jumpin Jersey Mike
