Louis Roney: Man is a political animal

• “People want to see great things happen for our country.” — Donald Trump. But it seems we shoot ourselves in the foot every time we make a deal with any other country. The whole world knows it. We don’t need enemies; we are our own enemy. We are exporting our means of production and its income to any country who seems to want it. We are simultaneously exporting our patented industrial production secrets.

If we end up with nothing who would be surprised?

• Four innocent people who did nothing wrong but get captured by Iran were released in a trade for seven Iranians who were criminals and 14 diplomatic prisoners. Who was the designer of this bizarre tradeoff? Who do you think? Should we be happy? That the Americans are free at last — jubilant! That they were held at all — furious! Now what kind of predicament did our “great leader” get us into? Well, now the world knows that America will negotiate for Americans “detained” (kidnapped) and held for ransom in foreign countries. Is this diplomacy or just diplomatic extortion?

• We give and give, and give! “A fool and his money are soon parted.” Utterly charming, isn’t it, that the Malaysian government has “misappropriated” some $4 billion in American money, which has somehow become “lost.” When will we ever learn?

• Iowa: Over at last! Republican facts: Cruz “won” with 28 percent of the vote; Trump – a non-politician – came in second with 24 percent; and Rubio was third with 23 percent, which wasn’t supposed to occur. Now we have three front-runners as the candidates headed into New Hampshire on Tuesday. At least the voting has started, so we can get this over with!

• We now have a socialist, Bernie Sanders, running for president. In a flashback to the 1930s, I recall Norman Thomas and his somewhat daring run for president on the socialist ticket. In the ’30s the word “socialism” was tossed around to describe the political trends unleashed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was as far left a Democrat as the country had ever know. The Depression was then in full sway and all Americans were caught up in feelings of sympathy for people who were having “a tough time.” Of course, many of the socialist ideas spawned by FDR have now become part of Democratic dogma, and we have adopted some of his paternalistic leanings for keeps. Our universities may have run interference by hiring faculties full of “liberals.” Republicans today take for granted the inclusion of such feelings in our electorate, and few who lean to the right would seriously argue. Today, 43 percent of college kids are for Bernie (at last count). How about your kid?

• Governors gain: Last week was the last debate before New Hampshire voted on Tuesday. Finally the governors came to life! If we had seen this kind of back and forth six or seven debates ago, the political scene would look decidedly different. Chris Christie (The Bull) was his bombastic self; Jeb finally came alive, looked like he was having a good time, and had answers that said something; and Kasich was his laid-back pragmatic self. He has a winning past as a congressman, and a good present as a working governor, and could have a terrific future if only his quirky personality could connect with the public. We’ll see. Meanwhile Trump is still a huge force and did well, and Rubio, once he got started, was his usual keen self. The Carson/Cruz mess has diminished both men.

Even with his Iowa win, Cruz was not a shining light last evening. Poor Dr. Carson was practically ignored. Too bad. His calm, measured reasoning has much to be said for it – but who’s listening to reason these days?

The governors were “on the ball” – too little too late?

• Speaking locally, there are some people who are honest “to a fault ” — and always vote for the betterment of the community no matter what — a rare commodity. When you have such a person already on the Commission who is running against someone who is suggesting wrong-doing and self-interest, and hasn’t any background or experience – time to end the discussion. Aren’t we best off with a winner who looks out for the good of us all?