My mouth certainly had the look of shock Thursday as the images of four of the six people vying to lead our country flashed on the screen before me.

Admittedly, I have not managed to watch all 11 of the Republican debates, but certainly Thursday’s spectacle — and that’s what most of it was, a political game of spitball between three of the four — told me enough about the character of the four men seeking my vote on Tuesday.

On some level, I understand the anger that fuels much of the support for billionaire investor-turned candidate Donald Trump.

He speaks to the masses of Americans who are simply fed up, fed up with Washington, fed up with being told they don’t matter any more and fed up with a world that simply seems to not care about American values anymore.

Sadly, though Trump’s stances on these issues are little more than sound bytes. He has no real plan. He claims he can single handedly reform government spending and do away with unnecessary federal bureaucracy. All of that is fine and dandy — and he’s not the only candidate to suggest such.

But even when the debate moderators Thursday tried to pin him down on specifics, he failed to explain. The moderators pointed out that all of the programs he sought to reform — if you cut them out entirely, not merely renegotiate them — wouldn’t total the amount he claims to save.

He’s not that stupid. He’s a successful businessman, but clearly he believes his supporters are dumb enough to follow his words, even when they don’t make sense or lack any facts.

His stances also seem to waffle in the wind. At Thursday’s debate he reiterated his stance that our nation should torture civilians or kill civilians if necessary in interrogations. Such moves are illegal under current U.S. law and international treaties to which the nation is a party.

Trump’s response when asked what he would do if military leaders refused to carry out unlawful orders — an unconscionable rule in the military — was classically arrogant.

He simply said, “They won’t refuse. They’re not going to refuse, believe me.”

Mere hours later, perhaps after counsel from someone wiser, he backed down from his hardline stance.

As the back and forth bickering continued, I couldn’t help but notice the children in the audience behind the moderators.

The small faces were slightly out of focus, but clearly visible in their mocking for the cameras and trying to gain public attention. At first, I didn’t give the little TV hounds much thought until I realized, “These children are in the audience watching these three fools rip one another to shreds.”

Then it dawned on me. The children in the audience were unconsciously reflecting what they saw before them — grandstanding for attention.

Tuesday, Mississippians will head to the polls to choose either a Democratic or a Republican candidate. My hope is that many of the state’s Democrats will realize the power they stand to wield by crossing party lines and voting for the best Republican option on the ticket — and the only adult on the stage at Thursday’s debate — Ohio Gov. John Kasich.

He’s the only person running who seems to have the brains, the experience, the character and the temperament to be our nation’s leaders.

The others are either shams, socialists or politicians who seem to lie to get by or just nasty-spirited people.

Our country should not be ruled by an angry mob, but by sound, logical men who understand the threats our world faces — at home and abroad.

Three guys who are yelling and screaming at each other don’t seem fit and, to me, neither do the two on the blue side of the ticket either.

Kasich appears to be a civil adult, which is what America is lacking at the moment — and what is sorely needed in leadership.

 

Kevin Cooper is publisher of The Natchez Democrat. He can be reached at 601-445-3539 or kevin.cooper@natchezdemocrat.com.