Posted on 02.21.2020

The Fallacy of Campaign Financing

At the writing of this column, it is a well-known fact that a billionaire from New York is trying to buy the presidency. His well-financed strategy is such that he is able to circumvent the heavy lifting of the smaller primaries while the other candidates are slugging it out visiting small-town gatherings, shaking hands in diners and walking the streets letting the folks get to know them.

Instead, Michael Bloomberg has chosen to stand above the sweaty fray and buy expensive adds on the Super Bowl and the Daytona 500 and flood the length and width of the nation with television commercials that sing his praises and promises of what he could do for America.

And despite the fact that he condescended to appear in a Nevada debate, he is, for all practical purposes, putting all his huevos in one basket, depending on his great wealth to garner enough delegates on Super Tuesday when a third of all delegates are awarded in a single day, to at least make him relevant at the Democratic National Convention.

He has made the statement that he is willing to spend a billion dollars if it is necessary in his quest to be the Democrat nominee.

While there is not a candidate in the Democrats stable that I feel is up to the task of being president and not one I feel, if given the chance and the funds, would not do the same thing as Bloomberg, I ask you, is it fair for one of the richest men in America to - for all intents and purposes - buy the nomination for the most powerful position in the free world?

And another issue comes into play. The Democratic Party knows that everybody in their present slate of candidates is much too far to the left to garner enough votes in the general election to move into 1600 Pennsylvania Ave and Michael Bloomberg may be as close to a moderate candidate as they can come this year, in my humble opinion the Democrats, being the loyal bunch they are, will turn their backs on the candidates who have slogged it out on the front lines and turn to the interloper who they will view as their savior.

If I had to bet the ranch on the outcome of the Democrat nomination, I would have laid all my chips on Bloomberg, before the debate, anyway. 

If it’s not Bloomberg, I will rejoice because I’m pulling for Bernie Sanders to run as he is the one who will show the world just how much of a Bolshevik he really is and how far to the extreme left the Democrats have drifted and get this question of socialism settled, at least for the foreseeable future.

Now, to the real subject of this column, the unfairness of campaign financing and the rabid resistance of politicians of both parties to address it.

When a man like Michael Bloomberg, just because he is super-rich and won’t miss a meal or even have to sell a G5 to spend a billion dollars on running for president, there is something wrong with the system.

Also, the big donors who contribute to the campaigns of congressmen, Senators, Governors and all stripes of politicians have unfettered access to their offices and ask and receive favors throughout their tenures, while John Q can do nothing but suffer the consequences.

If you think it doesn’t happen you are totally naive, in fact, crony indebtedness follows some politicians from local office into the State House of Capitol Hill.

There has to be a better way, a fairer way, a more equitable way, a simpler and honest way that would level the playing field and eliminate the mile-wide loopholes whereby individuals and corporations deliver cash to a candidate.

I am not good at mathematics or savvy to the procedures necessary to eliminate the excessive giving and undue influence it buys, but a group of patriotic and nonpartisan scholars and lawyers could sit down in a room, identify the problems and recommend solutions in short order, because the problem areas are glaring.

How about a cap on how much a candidate can spend of their personal fortune in a campaign?

How about a cap on how much an individual or business could contribute by any means, PACs and other backroom entities notwithstanding?

And as the system was inspected bit by bit I’m sure other devious methods of buying influence could be identified.

I really don’t know how to go about it, but there are plenty of people out there who could overhaul the campaign contribution system resulting in a much leveler playing field, or at least prevent the buying of the highest office in our nation.

Personally, even if he should buy the nomination I don’t believe Bloomberg has the charisma, stamina or vision to beat Donald Trump, but the fact that this man, who through nothing but the power of money, could even show up in the polls should be enough to scare the hell out of America.

What do you think? 

Pray for our troops our police and the peace of Jerusalem. 

God Bless America

— Charlie Daniels

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Comments

Trump Train
Amen, Amen & Amen Charlie, I personally believe that the Trump train will steam roll over every one of them, and agree that I hope that the Democratic party feels the Bern, for it has truly become a socialist party , Obama be damned. I agree also what you tweeted the other day......."Hey Bloomberg you know as much about farming as a hog knows about an airplane, so how are you going to teach somebody else how to do it, Better stay in NYC where corn comes in cans." His arrogance is astounding, but I love how Pocahontas, scalped the man who wants to be president for the party of the #metoo movement in the debate the other night.....nuff said God Bless Plowboy
Posted by Plowboy
Really?
I've lost all respect I once had for you. You constantly list the "faults" of everyone, but you have nothing but admiration and praise for the Hypocrite in Chief currently infesting our government. Most everything you constantly complain about has been done by He Who Shall Not be Named, yet you support him no matter what. Stay tuned for my response since your TeamCDB Gestapo won't allow anyone to post anything except for fawning butt kissing responses. *NOTE* We allow plenty of non-"fawning" non-"butt kissing" responses, Just look through the last several soapboxes, and you'll see plenty which aren't in agreement, but as with most trolls, their number is smaller than those supporting. Often, trolls don't have the guts to put their names to anything they say, and when there is no legitimate email or name, then we will usually reject the comment. But you managed to actually keep yourself from getting posted by not following (or not even reading) what is laid out in the "PLEASE READ BEFORE YOU POST" section below the actual soapbox. Typhoid Larry isn't a real first and last name, but we're making an exception this time just to address your comments. - TeamCDB/BW
Posted by Typhoid
Responding to Plowboy
There's NOTHING leftist about the #metoo movement. -- Tru Cola
Posted by Tru
Bloomberg
I’m tired of the commercials and don’t hear much from the other side except “We hate Trump”. That seems to be the only platform the democrats are running on.
Posted by Albert
The fallacy of campaigning
Could not agree with you more but I still think Hillary is in the background somewhere waiting for the right moment. No doubt there isn't a demoncrat in the lit that I would give the time of sat for nor vote for . God bless you and your band for the upcoming years tour.
Posted by Paul
I betcha he's even got a commie flag ...
Comrade Sanders and his goon squads seem to be gaining quite a following, like the Pied Piper Bernie skips along playing his magic kazoo. Everyone sees the line growing behind the fearless leader, but they don't see the cliff he's about to lead them over. Sanders can't win the nomination we know the dems will force a brokered convention with HRC coming to rescue the party. Trump will win in a landslide no matter who runs against him. The biggest fear I have is the dems flipping the Senate and holding the House. You would find a CLOSED sign in the White House window we can't let that happen. The dems will be working hard harvesting votes and stuffing ballot boxes so we better be working hard to protect the voting process. Contact your local gov't web site to be a polling observer you are paid for your time training and working. You will get to know the locals and they you. At the end of the day you will feel good about yourself and you won't have to stand in line to vote! DeploraBill
Posted by bill
I Beg To Differ Tru
There's NOTHING leftist about the #metoo movement. -- Tru Cola Tru, just like slavery, the party of the KKK, the democrats, make the metoo movement one of their main taking points, which is OK except they use it to try and destroy honorable people like Brett Kavanaugh and Roy Moore. I would be the last person to tell anybody that sexual harassment is not an issue in all parties, however the Republicans are not trying to destroy peoples lives with false accusations and unfounded witch hunts. I for one have been in my share of scraps protecting women, for that is how I was raised. When asked a few years ago by a policeman why put some guy down for beating up on his girlfriend, of which I knew neither, I responded that all women are either someones sister, daughter or mother and I find it my duty to defend them for that reason alone....after much head scratching and debate the officers looked the other way while I made my exit........nuff said God Bless Plowboy
Posted by Plowboy
Communist
Thanks Charlie, been a fan and a patriot for 56 years. Seems like Typhoid and Tru Cola must be receiving a George Soros paycheck!! Anti American trash, just like George.
Posted by Skinner
Really?
*NOTE* A name is about accountability, If you want to be Typhoid Larry and promote your YouTube Channel, do it somewhere else.- TeamCDB/BW
Posted by Typhoid
Accountability?
I had a feeling that's who we were dealing with. Goodbye, Mr. Mills. - TeamCDB/BW
Posted by Typhoid
Trolls
CDB management. Is everyone who disagrees with the soapbox a troll by definition? *NOTE* Not at all, we have always allowed posts disagreeing with Charlie, like yours, and those are always welcome. This individual in question has a history here and I'm going to leave it at that. - TeamCDB/BW
Posted by Paul