Back in October 2015, I wrote a column titled “Decision 2016: Wake Me When It’s Over!”

I just reread it and I regret to inform the readers of my monthly column that my political prognostications have proven to be hollow and useless. That is because I totally misread the depth of “anti-establishment” fervor that continues to sweep the country,

In October, I predicted that the Republican ticket would be former Florida Governor Jeb Bush and Ohio Governor John Kasich. As a firm believer that governors make better presidents than senators, my wishful thinking got the better of me. What represents “The Establishment” more than governors and senators courting lobbyists to propel them into the White House?

Speaking from experience, I simply underestimated the desires of the electorate to “throw the bums out!” No one has ever experienced an election quite like this one.

Back in October, I had no idea that the American people would rally around real estate tycoon Donald Trump as their preferred candidate for President of the United States. In fact, I only mentioned Donald Trump once in my earlier column and even then it served as a reference to those candidates who had no political experience.

And now it is decision time for Michigan voters on March 8. I still find it incomprehensible that so many people whom I truly admire think that Donald Trump is the answer to all that is wrong with American politics and that The Donald will surely win the Michigan Republican Primary.

They believe his “leadership” and his ability to “speak the truth” about the federal government will make him a remarkable, powerful and effective President of the United States, once he is elected. Trump supporters are fascinated by his business success and his vast wealth. They support him because he is not surrounded by lobbyists and beholden to special interests.

At a time when our nation’s immigration policies are in shambles, American foreign policy is leading us towards Cold War II, and our economy has become more and more susceptible to the weaknesses of the Chinese economy, the volatile oil fields of the Middle East and the failed social policies of Europe, the last thing we need to get us through these truly perilous times is an entertaining but divisive, crude and insulting New York real estate developer!

What we need now in Washington is a cool, calm seasoned politician like Kasich. Compared to the Trump-Rubio-Cruz brand of in-your-ugly-face politics, the Ohio governor has stayed above the name-calling, mudslinging, lying, and insults.

Kasich needs to be heard and understood. As the national media gains control of this election through its Donald Trump mouthpiece, John Kasich’s serious and thoughtful campaign becomes the antidote to the reprehensible circus that is the Republican primary of 2016.

Too bad Governor Kasich is emblematic of what the voters like least about 2016 presidential politics.

 

A native of Niles, Jack Strayer moved back home in 2009 after living and working in Washington DC since 1976. Strayer has served as a congressional staffer, state legislative press secretary, federal registered lobbyist and Vice President of the National Center for Policy Analysis. He is a nationally recognized expert on federal health policy reform and led the fight for the enactment of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs).