The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

As super Tuesday approaches and more and more people are going to cast their votes, the GOP candidates that remain in the presidential race are going to be under increasing scrutiny. As they should be. These men desire the most powerful position in the world, as the leader of a free and growing world power.

Many people support one or like one more than the others but are still unsure as to who they will vote for. Others are certain of the candidate for them - including me. However, nobody is perfect. Each candidate has assets and flaws that could be deciding factors in their bid of the White House and in their success as presidential leaders.

I have selected what, in my opinion, is each candidates best, worst, and ugliest quality. They may not be what others - or even the candidates themselves - would select. But, I believe that each quality selected is vital to their candidacy and their legitimacy. (Candidates are ordered alphabetically by last name as to afford the most unbiased list as possible.)

Ben Carson
     The Good: his unyielding principles
     The Bad: he doesn't stand out
     The Ugly: his lack of qualifications

I sincerely love Dr. Carson. I think he is an amazing man for having accomplished what he has with his humble beginnings. He is intelligent, he has a great sense of humor, and he is genuinely kind. I find that his unyielding principles are very magnetic; his greatest appeal is that he knows what he believes, why he believes it, and how to stand behind that. He doesn't waver, and that quality is comforting. Unfortunately, Dr. Carson hasn't seemed to be a standout candidate. He almost fades into the background. He doesn't inspire people to follow him or support him. He is quiet and reserved - which could be used to great advantage but hasn't been. Not only that, but Dr. Carson lacks governing qualifications. On paper, he would be an amazing leader. He is unyielding, he has worked with difficult people, he has managed people and a budget, and he has dealt with difficult situations tactfully. But, the world of medicine and the world of politics are different. The principles may essentially be the same, but the experiences are not. While he has many recommending qualities, Dr. Carson just doesn't seem to have the leadership experience that would be necessary.

Ted Cruz
     The Good: his complete commitment to the Constitution
     The Bad: his inability to connect emotionally to the American people
     The Ugly his sarcasm

Senator Cruz is a brilliant man with an amazing memory. Before he was elected as a senator, he worked as a lawyer fighting for the rights of Americans protected by the U.S. Constitution. He is hard-working, serious, and tough. His greatest quality is his complete commitment to the Constitution. As a middleschooler, Senator Cruz memorized the document because of how important he knew it was to him and to his country. He will honor and protect its meaning with every breath he has. Yet, as passionate as he is about the Constitution, Senator Cruz seems to have difficulty connecting emotionally to the American people. It's almost like his big brain gets in the way. Americans want an intelligent president, certainly, but one that also understands who they are and what they need. I'm sure Senator Cruz does understand the people that he wants to lead, but sometimes it isn't to believe that he does. Not only that, but Senator Cruz can be incredibly sarcastic. Not that sarcasm is wrong necessarily. But, it can be used to seriously hurt someone or when a situation is not taken seriously. Even with all of his qualifications, Senator Cruz seems to lack emotive personal skills.

John Kasich
     The Good: his trustworthiness
     The Bad: he is forgettable
     The Ugly: he is proudly bipartisan

Governor Kasich is a man with a lot of government experience. He has served as both a congressman and a governor, helping to do wonderful things for both the his home state and the nation. His abilities are certainly unquestionable. The best thing about Governor Kasich is that he has an innate trustworthiness. He seems completely genuine when he speaks; he comes across as one of the least sleazy people on the stage - someone who would rather give up his position before betray the people who elected him. However, Governor Kasich is rather forgettable. Most people forget that he's an option, what he looks like, or what his campaign platform is. He doesn't have that x-factor that people look for. Not only that, but Governor Kasich is proudly bipartisan. Being bipartisan is not inherently bad; at some point, everyone has to work with people that they don't necessarily agree with to make decisions that will benefit as many people as possible. But, Governor Kasich has been bipartisan so often that he seems to lack credibility as a Republican candidate. His experience is good, but he is one of the most forgettable candidates this year.

Marco Rubio
     The Good: his natural charisma
     The Bad: he does not stand up well to confrontation
     The Ugly: his questionable trustworthiness

Senator Rubio is a very relatable candidate. The story of his parents' immigration and how he was raised is inspirational to every young person. He definitely a hard-working American. Senator Rubio has a natural charisma that brings people to him. He is easy to follow and easy to listen to. He easily relates to everyday Americans and inspires a belief that he can do what is best for them. However, Senator Rubio has difficulty in confrontation. He tends to repeat himself, stumble over his words, and sometimes laugh off accusations that really should be handled. Often, he comes out of a scuffle looking worse off than his opponent, shaking the faith that he would be able to handle difficult foreign dignitaries. Not only that, but Senator Rubio has given the American people reason to doubt his trustworthiness. He was part of the Gang of Eight bill for immigration, working with four democrats - including Senator Chuck Schumer. Yet, when questioned about it, he either will denounce what the bill says, or he will claim that he believed in it at the time but is unsure of it now. This wavering causes doubt in the minds of Americans. Senator Rubio seems to be a natural leader, but somehow he seems to lack certain necessary abilities of leadership.

Donald Trump
     The Good: he brings attention to certain important issues
     The Bad: he seems to have no clear plans
     The Ugly: his arrogance

Mr. Trump is a successful businessman and has run his companies very well. He is shrewd, knows how to handle large sums of money, and believes in the American capitalist system. He has certainly been one of the most controversial candidates, and he has inspired a large following. Mr. Trump has brought a lot of attention to critical campaign issues. Before his bid for the White House, certain issues were not being discussed that now are - that needed to be discussed. He has been essential in good campaign and debate discussion. However, Mr. Trump seems to have no real plans to fix the issues that he has drawn attention to. No matter how many rallies and debates and speaking engagements he has, he very rarely ever says more about a problem than to describe the problem itself. Acknowledging a problem is the first step to fixing something, but repeating that a problem needs to be fixed doesn't actually ever fix the problem. Plans need to take shape and be usable to be viable options. Not only that, but Mr. Trump is undeniably arrogant. He offers no real plan all while proclaiming to be the best possible choice for America. Perhaps he is the best choice, but his arrogance brings a certain measure of uneasiness. If he spoke to Russian or North Korean or Iranian leaders the way that he speaks to his fellow candidates and interviewers, this nation would be at war. Mr Trump has been an essential part of the presidential race, but his ambiguity and his arrogance don't recommend themselves to the White House.

I have a candidate that I believe in, although I have clearly laid out that none of them are perfect. The strengths and weaknesses of each candidate ought to be weighed carefully and thoroughly considered. No candidate should be supported or elected simply because of emotion or logic. A leader has to be strong but relatable, smart but emotional, inspiring but grounded. Above all, the next president should love America more than anything and have a burning passion to see her return to glory.