Posted on May 23, 2015
Greed and the Presidency. Can any of the presidential aspirants claim to represent the common man?
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As 2016’s diverse cast of aspirants comes into sharper focus, so does a shared story, a common theme. It’s one of avarice, acquisitiveness and a resistance to living within the financial bounds of elected office.
It’s not new to this year’s players, but it’s especially vivid, not least because Hillary Clinton stars in the show. “Dead broke” upon leaving the White House, she and Bill chased not only fat book advances but also morbidly obese speaking fees, under the guise of needing to “pay our bills.”
And so she orated for dollars as long as she could, announcing her candidacy only after she’d collected a final fee estimated at $200,000 from the American Camp Association.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/17/opinion/sunday/frank-bruni-greed-and-the-presidency.html?hpw&rref=opinion&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=well-region®ion=bottom-well&WT.nav=bottom-well&_r=0
It’s not new to this year’s players, but it’s especially vivid, not least because Hillary Clinton stars in the show. “Dead broke” upon leaving the White House, she and Bill chased not only fat book advances but also morbidly obese speaking fees, under the guise of needing to “pay our bills.”
And so she orated for dollars as long as she could, announcing her candidacy only after she’d collected a final fee estimated at $200,000 from the American Camp Association.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/17/opinion/sunday/frank-bruni-greed-and-the-presidency.html?hpw&rref=opinion&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=well-region®ion=bottom-well&WT.nav=bottom-well&_r=0
Posted in these groups: 
Politics
Election 2016
Politics Election 2016
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 11
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When was the last time any serious Presidential candidate was not a millionaire?
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GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad
True PO1 John Miller, but I think --- and the author makes this point --- that the current slate of candidates are particularly hell-bent on "living the good life" while claiming to represent the interests of the "average" American. The question becomes, of course, to what lengths will they go to maintain their lifestyle and who's interests are they really more inclined to care about ...
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SSG Leonard Johnson
Hahahaha maybe the question should be when was the last time the president ended up broke when they left the White House. I think grant, and a few others back in the 1800's were a few of them
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PO1 John Miller
So none that most of us would remember, except for maybe Truman (for the older crowd of course).
The presidents of my lifetime all retired/died wealthy. Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush 42.
I wasn't around for Nixon's term, but I was alive when he died.
The presidents of my lifetime all retired/died wealthy. Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush 42.
I wasn't around for Nixon's term, but I was alive when he died.
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Suspended Profile
IMHO, all human beings act in their own self-interest. This is not to conflate self-interest with blind selfishness, or to say to act in a self-interested manner is inherently wrong (as I take the opposite stance). It is natural and inevitable, which is why I don't take too much issue with the fact that these people are trying to get as much as they can out of their position, but I DO take issue with how much power and leeway they are given. Rather than fight or abhor human nature, I'd recommend directing that frustration towards the system instead, and advocate limited gov't.
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I do not believe that a average man can become the President of the United States any longer. it all comes down to money and how much it cost to campaign to become president. I would just hope that there still a good man out there with integrity, honor, courage to do what is right for a country for a change.
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GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad
If by that you mean a politician who will put the country before him/her self anymore, I am right there with you. But, to be honest, I am running out of hope --- I don't see a single candidate out there that seems to be putting the needs of the nation first.
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Yeah, people are lining up to buy a book authored by me, Bob Nobody, about not only how it takes a village but how to be the village idiot. Then I'll go out and earn $200K a pop on the lecture circuit talking about my glorious days of building camp fires and blogging on the internet. After all, that's what all us common folk do.
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GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad
No worries MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca, I'll be happy to buy your book (assuming of course that you will buy mine)! :-)
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Seriously? Is this an issue? Would we rather have failures running the show? Well, we already do and look where that's gotten us.
Don't you just love the way the Left loves to vilify the rich? Evil. Greedy. Hogwash. When did success become unfashionable? America grew wealthy because its citizens grew wealthy. The middle class grew because they worked to emulate the wealthy but lacked the talent/luck/endurance to succeed as well. Still they succeeded.
My father was born to an immigrant family who had so little they lived in a company owned shack. They had no closets or cupboards. It mattered not. They had nothing to put in them. He fought his way out of the coal mines (literally fought as a prize fighter) then got an education and joined the middle class. That's success. That's America. Should we vilify him?
Personally I want to be represented and led by overachievers. Success breeds success. Sadly, most of the millionaires in Congress didn't become millionaires until they reached Congress. They sure didn't accumulate that wealth from their salaries. Where do you suppose they got it?
Don't you just love the way the Left loves to vilify the rich? Evil. Greedy. Hogwash. When did success become unfashionable? America grew wealthy because its citizens grew wealthy. The middle class grew because they worked to emulate the wealthy but lacked the talent/luck/endurance to succeed as well. Still they succeeded.
My father was born to an immigrant family who had so little they lived in a company owned shack. They had no closets or cupboards. It mattered not. They had nothing to put in them. He fought his way out of the coal mines (literally fought as a prize fighter) then got an education and joined the middle class. That's success. That's America. Should we vilify him?
Personally I want to be represented and led by overachievers. Success breeds success. Sadly, most of the millionaires in Congress didn't become millionaires until they reached Congress. They sure didn't accumulate that wealth from their salaries. Where do you suppose they got it?
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Somewhere out there there has to to be those who wish to support and take care of the people........the question is, how do we find them and get their much needed help?
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there's a couple conservatives that I like... I just wish Allen West would run he represents all of us veteran, soldier, common man, common lady
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SGT Anthony Bussing
HA! thats YOUR opinion....lets ask him why he resigned right before he was brought up on charges....
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SSG Leonard Johnson
Ha!!!!! He Man the F up sergeant and took care of is Joes....and of course most officers are given a chance to resign before the brought up on charges duh. how many times you been to combat son
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SSG Leonard Johnson
think about it young man... During world war 2 the Marines on Guadalcanal did a thousand times worse then what West did. they cut off Jap heads and put them on stakes in front of their position. and you're worried about a man putting a pistol to a hajjis head...seriously? Really? Come on man get real :-)
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Respectfully, we don't need them to represent the common man. In doing so they would be neglecting the "uncommon". We need a candidate that will represent the United States faithfully, through the lens of our Constitution. Taking no more power than is granted, acting generally as the constitution demands and not for the benefit of any group... Yes even that majority known as " the common man ".
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GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad
Respectfully, who is the "uncommon" ... can't say that I have heard that descriptor before SSG Gerhard S..
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SSG Gerhard S.
The "uncommon man" to which I referred would be all those that do not fit into the vague category of "the common man" to which you alluded. It is not a recognized or defined group, any more than is the "common" man. I used this only to illustrate that "representing" one group, means that other groups go unrepresented. I hope this helps to clarify my statement. Regards.
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