Primary Colorless

I’m not so sure democracy is all it’s cracked up to be when it comes to picking presidential candidates. I think we had better choices back in the days when political bosses picked a contender in a smoke-filled back room.

Of the eight one-time contenders for the Republican nomination, nearly all seem incapable of stirring much enthusiasm. There is a reason six different candidates once held a lead in the six months before the Iowa caucuses. None of these hopefuls has galvanized support of voters because they are, by and largely, bland, uninventive, inarticulate and unable to offer better economic solutions than the current occupant of the White House.

Certainly, Herman Cain set the world on fire until media interviews showed he failed to grasp much about foreign policy. Woman after woman coming forward to complain about sexual harassment ended his campaign. Voters still won’t tolerate a man who repeatedly steps out on his wife.

Which is only one of the problems facing Newt Gingrich. While he is the most intellectual of the bunch, Gingrich also is the most volatile and may have the heaviest baggage. Divorcing two wives after he twice committed adultery is no way to capture a nomination in a party populated by social conservatives.

Ron Paul would be a great candidate — if this was 1812 instead of 2012. Rigid isolationism isn’t welcome in either party, especially the GOP. And isn’t 77 a bit old to be sworn in for a first term in office?

Michelle Bachmann’s day in the sun fizzled almost immediately after it dawned. Rick Perry’s gaffes made George W. Bush look intelligent.

Mitt Romney has failed, after five years of trying, to electrify any great swath of the GOP electorate. While he looks the part, his vast wealth leaves the impression that he is out of touch with the common voter.

The only candidate I can support is Rick Santorum, and I voted for him yesterday in the Missouri primary that he won. Despite his three-state sweep on Tuesday, I fear with little financial resources, he soon will fall by the wayside, much like Mike Huckabee did four years ago after some early success.

Even though most of Democrat Barack Obama’s supporters believe he has let them down, he is poised to win re-election. He has the money, the power of incumbency and the probability that the economy will gradually improve until November.

Romney, the same as John McCain four years ago, is the choice of Republican bigwigs and donors with big bucks. But the party is more moderate than GOP voters at large. Social conservatives will stay home in droves if the slick Romney is the Republican nominee. His Mormonism will keep millions of wary evangelicals away.