Best and brightest?

Come on.  Really?  Are Hillary Clinton and Chris Christie really the best and brightest?

While vehemently disagreeing with political commentators and pundits discussing the next presidential election as if it were imminent, it is even more infuriating to hear of "polls" that conclude Clinton and Christie are the "presumptive" candidates.  (We know polls can be constructed to provide predictable outcomes, so the purported results are not surprising.)

But I digress.

The question before us, are these actually the two best and brightest individuals who should compete for the office of president?  I think not.  The public record for Clinton speaks volumes: compulsive liar; not one achievement of note in the senate; not one achievement of note as Secretary of State; opportunist; supporting a lying adulterer; manipulative; egotistical; vindictive; amoral; and disdainful of the US Armed Forces.  Similarly, the public record for Christie paints a picture of a political bully.  (Clinton's public record is far broader, because she chooses to deliberately be in the public eye.)  But to listen to the commentators and pundits, these two folks will be the major party candidates for the 2016 election.

Why is it that our choices as voters should be limited to such individuals?  Where are the best and brightest?  Why don't they enter politics?  There are countless answers, not the least of which being the obvious insanity for what passes as political journalism.  When there exists Maddow on one extreme and Limbaugh on the other; when the so-called mainstream media is decidedly liberal; and when media attacks of the most vile kind (Bashir and Harris-Perry come to mind) are far too common, it is no wonder the actual best and brightest choose not to enter politics.  Continuing, when the likes of Weiner can receive financial and political backing, why should a man or woman of principle want to enter the arena?  When the likes of Cunningham abuse their elected office, why would a man or woman of ethics and integrity want to be viewed as a peer or colleague in Congress?  When members of Congress are arrested for buying illegal drugs, why would upstanding citizens seek public office.  When unions and their lackey elected officials ruin the finances of cities and states, why would experienced leaders want to join in those cesspools of financial irresponsibility and mismanagement?  With the abysmal approval ratings for members of Congress, why would an ethical man or woman of integrity and honesty want to join such a body?  When elected idiots proclaim that laws must be passed so they can be read; when aspirants for the presidency proclaim they voted for something before they voted against it; and when members of an organization have used their office for financial gain, why would anyone want to be part of such an organization?  And, saints preserve, when reviewing the work schedules and voting records of the members of Congress, why would those who believe in working hard for what they earn choose to seek a position in the company of such ne'er do wells?

So with whom are we, the people, left?

Sadly, maddeningly, disturbingly we are left with the population's dredges from which the political machinery, corrupt unions, and wealthy financiers choose pliant individuals to become candidates.  Principle, ethics, integrity, honesty, actual experience, and other rightfully qualifying characteristics are forsaken for political fealty.  Once anointed as the candidate of choice, communications, public relations minions, and surrogates go to work, selling their candidate and dishing out (often dubious) dirt on the other.  Along the way, realistic answers to substantive issues are obscured by artfully delivered rhetoric, in some cases by charismatic -- yet morally hollow -- individuals.  Political commentators and pundits shift into high gear.  Grand, undeliverable promises are made and the all too gullible electorate buy in.  Critical voices are shouted down as intolerant, biased, and/or ignorant.

The election results come in and even before the victor is sworn into office, the political commentators and pundits begin the process all over again.

Throughout, the truly best and brightest of our nation stand aside.  More is the shame, because we really need their help.