Two of our dearest friends visited us last week from Colorado. Like us, they’re both transplants from Washington, D.C., where they worked in politics. Dale worked for a well-known conservative Republican senator while Barbara worked for a super-liberal Democratic senator. Both later worked in private industry and remain fiercely insightful political observers. So, as we drank Kalispell Brewery Cream Ale, we talked with this bipartisan couple about the upcoming election. Here are some of their thoughts:
Who will win the 2016 election and why?
Barbara – Clinton will win, much to her good fortune of having drawn Trump as an opponent. I don’t believe Trump even wants to win this race. Here’s the thing though, Clinton is completely predictable while Trump is completely unpredictable. Voters who are afraid of Trump’s unpredictability will tip this election in her favor.
Dale – Clinton will win. I’m an “establishment Republican” who won’t vote for Trump because I don’t believe he is temperamentally suited for the presidency. She’s simply the lesser of two evils.
What’s your opinion of the current Democratic and Republican parties?
Dale – I’m appalled by the unwillingness of both parties to work together on any issue whatsoever. Clinton so believes that Republicans want to do her harm that I doubt she’s going to reach across the aisle if elected. Sadly.
Barbara – Both parties are an accident waiting to happen and Republicans are a lot closer to going over the cliff.
Dale – I do believe though that one good candidate can unify the Republican Party pretty easily. That candidate won’t come from D.C. but from the state and local levels
Barbara – I agree that the Republicans have done a much better job recruiting from the local level.
Where will that one good Republican candidate stand on issues like immigration, globalization and social issues?
Dale – I’m looking for a candidate who’s more moderate on social issues, but I believe we need a stronger border. We simply can’t keep allowing tens of thousands of foreigners to overstay their visas while vast numbers of middle-eastern young men who won’t defend their own countries come here without our acknowledging the security risks they all might pose.
Barbara – It’s complicated. I believe it’s unconstitutional to ban immigration on the basis of ethnicity or faith but we have to do a much better job of managing who’s coming here. Trump is the king of the sound bite but this issue is tougher than that. Having said that, I’d give you a much more conservative answer today than five years ago.
What can politicians do to improve America’s prospects better?
Barbara – Work together and get something done.
Dale – Reach across the aisle and act more like statesmen than politicians.
So much wisdom beyond the Beltway … Thanks Barbara and Dale!