Lack of Political Excitement

I rarely venture into the realm of politics for many reasons. But I felt the urge to make a brief comment and even a prediction!!! With former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson entering the Republican presidential race, early numbers show he has quickly pulled into a close second with Rudy Giuliani. By this account, most political observers seem to be thinking Thompson is an answer many Republicans were looking for. They are partially right. The reality is there is an incredible sense of apathy for Republicans on their candidacy. As they have looked at Giuliani, Romney, McCain and the rest and found them wanting in one way or the other, they are truly looking for Other. Somebody else, anybody else. The crop of candidates are extremely uninspiring. Thompson steps up, he is the Other.

But this won't last. There is nothing that really separates Thompson apart from he is late to the party. One of the analyst in the link above says he "speaks the language of the South." Gimme a break. Do they really think Southerners are that stupid that we are looking for a candidate who uses you'all when he talks to us.

If I was Thompson's adviser, I would tell him to say very little on issues. Stay blank so people like this analyst can color him in for the voters to paint whatever picture voters need in order to feel he is presidential. Because once he starts talking issues, people won't care anymore. He will just be another mediocre candidate. But he will at some point talk about his views and he will try to be everything to everyone and we will lose interest.

I realize this is a very pessimistic view of our current political climate, but it points to the fact that the need is not for one particular candidate but a change in the climate itself. Politicians who seek to serve the people who put them office and not get the people to serve them to keep them in office over and over again. Politicians who will fight vigorously for their ideas and their constituency but not fight for/against ideas based solely on party lines. Politicians who are humble enough to admit they are wrong whether with a political idea or moral behavior rather than lie and excuse themselves.

The only solution for this kind of change is the Gospel. Despite some Anabaptist leanings in me which resist any political involvement, I recognize Christians can not abandon the political realm. We must vote and be active when necessary. But we must not rest upon the political system itself to produce change. Nay, we must change the political system through the Gospel. Not to establish a theocracy or establish special favors for certain religious groups but to change the hearts of the people and their politicians to love each other and recognize the political authority they have is a gift from God. We must pray for our leaders, especially those who we see having different political views and different worldviews from orthodox Christianity.

Oh, I did not forget my prediction. In the last 150 years of US Presidential elections, 3 times we have fallen below 50% turnout of eligible voters. Last in 1996 when virtually no one though Bob Dole could beat a popular incumbent in Bill Clinton and turnout was only 49% . The other 2 times were in 1920 (49.2%) with the election of Warren G. Harding and in 1924 (48.9%) with the election of Calvin Coolidge, Harding's running mate in 1920 who became president in 1923 after Harding's death.

Interestingly, the 1920 election was an election where the only real political motivation was against the incumbent president Woodrow Wilson who was not running again. There was tremendous animosity against Wilson for joining the League of Nations and other problems oversees, as well as a sinking economy and various problems internally in the States. The presidential candidates seeking their parties nominations were extremely uninspiring. Harding in effect ran against Wilson and his policies. Sound familiar? I am predicting our current political climate will lead to a record low voter turnout of 48%. Depressing? Yea. Should we vote. Yes. Must we pray? Absolutely.