My Point of View by Jennifer Vogt-Erickson

This past week I visited the Vesterheim Museum in Decorah, Iowa, and I happened to read Michael Chabon’s introduction to “D’Aulaires’ Book of Norse Myths” (2005) in the gift shop. One part struck me as especially fitting amidst the presidential race’s drama:

“We all grew up — all of us, from the beginning — in a time of violence, absurdity and Armageddon, prey and witness to the worst and best in humanity, in a world ruined and made interesting by Loki. I took comfort, as a kid, in knowing that things had always been as awful and as wonderful as they were now, that the world had always been on the edge of total destruction, even if, in Maryland in 1969, as today, it seemed a little more true than usual.”

Violence, absurdity and Armageddon. We’ve still got it all.

I have plenty of trepidation about what’s going on in the GOP, and it has less to do with policies than with rhetoric right now. The self-proclaimed billionaire’s flippant calls to rough up protesters at his rallies started coming to a head in at least two cities over the past weekend. His supporters were photographed at a previous rally making what looks like a Nazi salute toward him. He was slow to denounce the support of a former Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan.

It’s not difficult for other leaders with any sense of history to see that this is a trajectory we don’t want to follow.

Late last week, Ben Carson, who seems to be a decent person despite being confused about details on many policy issues, ended his quest for the GOP nomination and endorsed the candidate who has thrived on indecency. It was the final absurdity of his campaign.

The two remaining candidates in the GOP race that the establishment favors, Marco Rubio and John Kasich, are so far behind in delegates that they can mainly only try to influence which of the two front runners wins each state.

There’s a good chance the leading candidate will be able to win enough delegates before the Cleveland convention to wrap up the nomination. At that point, would he keep talking like an uncouth dictator or clean up his act? I would rather not find out.

It’s also entirely possible that the GOP convention will be contested. Today, with several winner-take-all delegate states holding primaries, including Florida and Ohio, the picture will probably become clearer.

The candidate who is gaining fastest on the front runner is one of the most disliked members of his party. He abhors compromise and puts many issues in terms of large, impending crises — constitutional crises, security crises, moral crises. Armageddon looms. Most prominently in his mind.

Obviously I’m hoping that neither of the two GOP front runners get the nomination. Both of these candidates seemed like remote possibilities nine months ago, before an angry base upended the GOP race. I’ve addressed why I think the leading candidate is a terrible choice. I would prefer not to delve into why Ted Cruz is an even worse choice, but he’s not losing ground yet, so I may feel compelled to, soon.

Even if Rubio somehow manages to win Florida, he has fallen on the sword of his own puerile words while trying to take down the leading candidate, who somehow gets away with his serial monosyllabic bullying. Maybe Kasich can muster his way to the top of the ballot at a contested convention. Or maybe Mitt Romney will ride in on his dressage horse and win the day. Anything can happen if the real estate icon doesn’t get enough delegates to seal up the nomination. Brace yourselves, Cleveland.

Admittedly, I’m hoping for a contested convention because I prefer Kasich. He’s really conservative, but he doesn’t incite violence and he works well with other politicians. This shouldn’t be such a tall order, but this year it is. I never cheer on the candidate whom I think the Democrats will have the easiest time beating (in this case, the one whose family name was originally Drumpf). Anything can happen, and either candidate can win the general election. I want the best candidate from each party to match up on Election Day.

Democracy is often next to the edge of its own half-dug grave. Uncertainty is universal, upheaval is common, and the end has seemed near in every age. Martin Luther once said, “Even if I knew tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.” Have courage, be brave and stay civilized.

 

Jennifer Vogt-Erickson is a member of the Freeborn County DFL Party.