During my long tenure in the news business, I had one "feeler" to run for public office but unhesitatingly declined.
If the presidential election was today rather than eight months from now, I have a clue who would get my vote. But just a clue. I've been see-sawing on my pick throughout the zany debates that sometimes resemble an old WWF free-for-all, and have pretty much made up my mind who won't get it. That includes just about everybody, narrowing what to this point has been a wide-open field.
Bob Shryock I'm a registered Democrat who tries voting with my head. Sometimes that works, sometimes it doesn't. If Hillary Clinton gets the nomination and I stick to party lines, I'm leaning her way. She seems to be the most savvy candidate remaining in either camp. Sure, she carries baggage. Who doesn't? I don't see many presidential hopefuls who are baggage-free on either side of the political fence. I love Bernie Sanders, but somehow can't envision him going head-to-head with a coterie of tough-talking world leaders.
Fortunately, there is no rule that says I have to vote for Donald Trump, at this writing the likely GOP nominee - perhaps in a runaway. At one point I considered him a viable candidate because I found his candor refreshing, some of his ideas reasonable, and his quirky campaign attack on everybody that moves at times curiously humorous.
I no longer consider Trump amusing. His personality barrages on fellow Republicans, Democrat foes, women, the handicapped, even the Pope, have been, at best, consistently outrageous, aggravating me at times. Only Santa Claus has escaped a thorough Trump-ing, and Santa could be next.
My Dad, a newsman of all things, ran for office once, and regretted his decision the rest of his life.
A registered Republican who was editor of his hometown paper, Dad asked by the GOP committee to run for mayor. Dad mulled over his options and was a reluctant "yes," with full knowledge of the dangers, shocking family members and close friends who figured he knew better.
Mom was totally opposed, reminding Dad that a newspaper editor had no business serving in public office.
"Even if your intentions are admirable, every time a story appears that is pro-Republican you're going to hear about it," Mom told him over dinner one night. "Readers will have a field day second-guessing you, not to mention the paper. You'll divide the town."
Dad was a popular guy. He was a positive, savvy journalist who knew how to balance the scales. But as savvy as he was, he soon discovered Mom was correct in her judgment. The Democrats screamed when a story appeared that they felt put them in a bad light. And all stories quoting GOP candidates were deemed biased even if they clearly weren't. it was, after all, a Republican town.
So, as it turned out, Dad the newsman and would-be politician lost the election handily. To make matters worse, a significant number of readers canceled their subscriptions because they felt Dad used the newspaper in an ill-advised manner to promote his candidacy - even though it wasn't true, a biased reaction, from this view, for sure. In fact, many close friends and confidants solidly in Dad's corner lobbied on his behalf. If anything, they said, he over-compensated to make certain the paper appeared fair.
During my long tenure in the news business, I had one "feeler" to run for public office but unhesitatingly declined.
It seems I'd capitalized on Dad's tactical error. It was one of the few times in my life I could honestly say that.
There was another reason. I simply wasn't smart enough to serve.
But smart enough to not vote for Trump? We'll see.
Based on my sorry track record of picking winners, this one could go badly awry.
Bob Shryock may be reached at bshryock@njadvancemedia.com. Follow South Jersey Times on Twitter @TheSJTimes. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.