The most interesting presidential election we may ever witness
By Jacob Levy, editor and publisher
We aspire to be the newspaper of record of a civic-minded, economically strong and socially connected city. We are interested in Irvine first and last!
Does that mean that we should eschew mention of national matters? We pay federal taxes. Federal regulations affect us. Our seniors and physically challenged rely varyingly on Medicare and Social Security. The strength of the dollar impacts our businesses. If we are indeed to be civic-minded, economically strong and socially connected, how could we resist engaging with our neighbors? (As indicated in my publisher’s note, we love responses from readers.) Moreover, the 2016 presidential election is probably the most fascinating election we will ever witness.
Our form of government telescopes authority from individual to local/municipal to state to national lenses. This year, it could be posited that our form of government telescopes from individual to local/municipal to state lenses, at which point it kaleidoscopes to a national lens. It is rare that the incumbent vice president not be running. It is rare for a party to begin its nomination process with 17 declared candidates. It is rare for a person having no governing experience to seriously contend for a major party’s nomination. It is rare for the overall greatness of our system of government to be so thoroughly attacked as irredeemably in need of revolutionary change. The degree of coarseness of this campaign is much less rare. The amount of vilification is not rare. That we will, most probably, be proceeding to a contested Republican convention, and, most probably, to a Democrat convention without concession in advance by the candidate in second place, is, in the modern era, extremely rare.
Democrats are comparing the merits of the candidacies of a former first lady, U.S. senator and secretary of state, to those of a former mayor, U.S. congressman and current U.S. senator. The Republicans are comparing the merits of the candidacies of a real estate developer and marketing executive and reality TV personality to those of a former Supreme Court clerk, lawyer, state solicitor general and current U.S. senator to those of a former U.S. congressman, investment banker, news commentator and current governor.
We are citizens of our city and of our country. Let’s enjoy, cordially, actively, thoughtfully, safely, in the Irvine way, this election. If it has been fitful, let’s make it formative. Ours is an exemplary city. By our light, let’s help our country, and its civic discourse, stay exemplary.
Does that mean that we should eschew mention of national matters? We pay federal taxes. Federal regulations affect us. Our seniors and physically challenged rely varyingly on Medicare and Social Security. The strength of the dollar impacts our businesses. If we are indeed to be civic-minded, economically strong and socially connected, how could we resist engaging with our neighbors? (As indicated in my publisher’s note, we love responses from readers.) Moreover, the 2016 presidential election is probably the most fascinating election we will ever witness.
Our form of government telescopes authority from individual to local/municipal to state to national lenses. This year, it could be posited that our form of government telescopes from individual to local/municipal to state lenses, at which point it kaleidoscopes to a national lens. It is rare that the incumbent vice president not be running. It is rare for a party to begin its nomination process with 17 declared candidates. It is rare for a person having no governing experience to seriously contend for a major party’s nomination. It is rare for the overall greatness of our system of government to be so thoroughly attacked as irredeemably in need of revolutionary change. The degree of coarseness of this campaign is much less rare. The amount of vilification is not rare. That we will, most probably, be proceeding to a contested Republican convention, and, most probably, to a Democrat convention without concession in advance by the candidate in second place, is, in the modern era, extremely rare.
Democrats are comparing the merits of the candidacies of a former first lady, U.S. senator and secretary of state, to those of a former mayor, U.S. congressman and current U.S. senator. The Republicans are comparing the merits of the candidacies of a real estate developer and marketing executive and reality TV personality to those of a former Supreme Court clerk, lawyer, state solicitor general and current U.S. senator to those of a former U.S. congressman, investment banker, news commentator and current governor.
We are citizens of our city and of our country. Let’s enjoy, cordially, actively, thoughtfully, safely, in the Irvine way, this election. If it has been fitful, let’s make it formative. Ours is an exemplary city. By our light, let’s help our country, and its civic discourse, stay exemplary.
