Slogans and Beyond: They Say So Much Without Saying a Lot

No matter what you say about all the folks who threw their hats in the ring this primary season as candidates for President of the United States,  you have to say they all started with high hopes and great expectations.  Sure, many, probably most of the 22 candidates went down in flames.  At times it felt like a reality show with each primary held, more candidates being voted off the island.  I suppose that is what has made this election cycle so dang fascinating.  

I found this list of the campaign slogans for each candidate at www.taglineguru.com which presents the 2016 U.S. Presidential Campaign Slogans (ranked highest to lowest) as follows.  The commentary is mine.

1. From Hope to Higher Ground.  Mike Huckabee - Wouldn't it have been nice to have moved from hope to higher ground instead of the hopeless morass we seem to find ourselves now?
2. A Political Revolution Is Coming.  Bernie Sanders - Perhaps there is a revolution coming, but I fear it man not be the one Mr Sanders is trying to start.  Things have gotten ugly.  Where is that higher ground referenced in #1?
3. Telling It Like It Is.  Chris Christie - Yep, this is sound advice.  We would all benefit from do this in every aspect of our lives.  I wish these folks were always telling it like it is.
4. Defeat the Washington Machine. Unleash the American Dream.  Rand Paul - Yes, the American Dream is being held captive..somewhere...but not necessarily where and how Mr Paul might thing.  I think it is held back by each and every one of us when we don't take a stand and remember what really makes this country great.  Read the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence and maybe the Bill of Rights.
5. People Over Politics.  George Pataki - This makes sense. It is the people that count.  It seems to me that many politicians forget for whom they work and why they were sent to Washington (or any governmental office) in the first place.
6. Reigniting the Promise for America.  Ted Cruz -  The source of this aside, this is something I think we all long for.  America was and still is the greatest experiment going.  It is the promise of a better life for all who live here and who immigrate from places of less promise.
7. Jeb!  Jeb Bush - Well, this is simple and to the point: the point being, ego is not the answer and you need more than a simple slogan.
8. Fresh Ideas for America.  Lincoln Chafee -  Can't argue with this.  There are plenty of old ideas, too, that need to be revived.  Don't throw out the proverbial baby with the bathwater you know.
9. Rebuild the American Dream.  Martin O’Malley -  This would make a truly great reality show ala the Home and Garden Channel.
10. A New American Century.  Marco Rubio - It is that.  Of course we are not alone in this century and the sooner we realize that, the better.
11. Believe Again.  Bobby Jindal -  Yes!  I think we are suffering from a dearth of leaders to believe in.  I want so badly to believe in our leaders.  But truly, how can we believe in anyone unless we believe in ourselves?  You know what they say about charity beginning at home.
12. Restore the American Dream for Hardworking Families.  Rick Santorum - I think most hardworking families still have the American dream.  It's just not with the current madness going on at the top.
13. Leadership You Can Trust.  Jim Webb - Again, yes, yes, yes.  If we have this, we have everything.  Even when we do, somehow there are those who find reason not to trust.  That comes from not (as in #11) beleiving in ourselves and knowing when to call our leaders on their fallacies and foibles.
14. Hillary for America.  Hillary Clinton -  Aren't we all?  If not, what are we doing here?
15. New Possibilities. Real Leadership.  Carly Fiorina - Hmm.  
16. Heal. Inspire. Revive.  Dr. Ben Carson - Yes, Dr Carson, you may have been less than charismatic, but you hit the nail on the head with this slogan.  We do need to heal.  We do need to inspire.  We do need to revive.  Most of all we need to have faith, hope and charity, but most of all love.  Where has the love gone?
17. Gilmore for America.  Jim Gilmore -  Sadly, I don't remember Mr Gilmore or why he is special for America.  I imagine that's why this slogan is number 17.
18. Ready to Be Commander-In-Chief on Day One.  Lindsey Graham -  Mr Graham, you are so right.  This is something we really need to think about when we go to the polls, whoever is up for election by then.
19. Make America Great Again.  Donald Trump - I'm sorry, but America may have its problems and not be the country of our founding fathers, of Lincoln, of Roosevelt, or Eisenhaur, Kennedy or even before 9/11, but when did we stop being great?  Probably when we stopped believing in ourselves and let the few block the progress of the many.
20. Kasich for Us.  John Kasich - I liked Mr Kasich somewhat.  And I believe he was and is for us.  But so are we all.
21. Reform. Growth. Safety.  Scott Walker -  Huh?
22. We Must Do Right and Risk the Consequences.  Rick Perry - Again, huh?  We must also be clear and do the right thing.  Sometimes what seems to be right at first withers with a closer examination.   

So there you have it. My two cents for now.  I'm done ranting about politics for now.  But really, we do need to pay close attention to what is said beyond the slogans.  Shake the hand, look into the eyes.  And read between the lines.  The truth is there for all of us to see.  

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