Political Fracas: Is Bill Randles politically naive?
Barb ShellyI’m back to answer my own question: Should Bill Randles get more respect?
Having participated in a 45-minute sit-down with the Kansas City lawyer who is campaigning for the Republican nomination for Missouri governor, I would say no. Not politically.
Randles is a brilliant man who obviously has a lot of integrity and is genuinely indignant about kids being cheated out of good educations, politicians lining the pockets of themselves and their friends, and out-of-control bureaucrats.
But his prescriptions are right out of a free-market think tank, unfettered with any consideration of how they would work in the real world, or how he, as governor, would get a money-grubbing legislature to go along with them, or actually put them into practice.
Randles favors eliminating the income tax and thinks he could avoid a massive sales tax by getting rid of all exemptions, which sounds good until you contemplate the chances of getting the Missouri legislature to go along with that.
He wants to stop unelected bureaucrats from coming up with burdensome regulations, and give that power to elected representatives. That, he said, is a sign of trust in the wisdom of the people.
Not for me. Having seen how things work in Jefferson City, and how much money flows into the campaign coffers of the elected representatives, I’m more inclined to trust a state bureaucrat. Who, by the way, has probably been laboring for years at a pathetically low salary and under constant assault from folks who want to blame unelected bureaucrats for all of our problems.
When asked how he would get the legislature to go along with his ideas, Randles said he’s been on the trail and the persons likely to be elected to the House and Senate are more conservative than those they’ll be replacing, so everything should line up just fine.
Randles has done a lot of research on many topics, but not enough into how Jefferson City really works. In many respects he comes across as politically naive.
My earlier Political Fracas post drew some great comments, mostly from people who think Randles definitely should get more respect.
Here’s an excerpt from a post by Laine Jeep: “It has become obvious that ‘establishment’ politics and ‘establishment’ politicians are not working and, in fact, are creating the unconstitutional mandates and spending, resulting in a greater depth and length of this recession. Bill Randles is not an ‘establishment’ candidate. He understands the challenges we face today and bases his ideas and problem solving skills on the foundation of the U.S. Constitution.
And another from Phil Cardarella: “Brilliant and articulate is not the be-all and end-all. For 2000 years, the best and the brightest brilliantly articulated the Ptolemiac system wherein the sun revolved around the earth. And the Papal equivilant of the Tea Party burned those who disagreed at the nearest stake. You can be brilliantly and articulately wrong.”
Check out the rest of the comments here.
George Hunsucker
Northland
11 months agoWell, if ms. shelly is against him, he may be just the “right” candidate!
Ann Hines
11 months agoI believe Randles is “brilliantly and articulately” right. Just considering our three choices: Nixon ignores the will of the people, and we’ve had enough of his corruption. Spence has a fabulous business head, but managing this state is more complex than finances alone. Having spent time listening to and asking questions of both, the choice is black and white: Randles has the best comprehensive plan for getting Missouri out of the dumps! Too long have we been shackled by bureaucratic regulations, federal strings, and anti-business/job-killing policies. I get excited about the future of our state when I think of the freedoms that will be restored through his policies.
Thank you for your articles Ms. Shelly. I encourage you, and any other doubters, to spend time looking more closely at the three candidates’ idealogy, policies, and character. I think you’ll come to see Randles as the best choice, too. :)
John Errante
11 months agoSo Bill Randles is politically naive because he has the will to use the power of the governor’s office that others would not BECAUSE they’ve been bought out politicians?
He’s politically naive because he hasn’t caved into the mindset that you have to move left to get anything done with a GOP legislature?
You have reduced fierce political disagreement with “naivete.” Just because YOU think things should work — or do work — a certain way, doesn’t mean it is RIGHT or PRUDENT and MUST continue down that path.
I can’t un-elect a bureaucrat. I can’t campaign for their job. I can’t even call them out individually as a citizen without a bevy of harassment charges. Yet, they hold, in many cases, MORE power than elected officials. How does that make any sense? Oh by the way, it’s plainly unconstitutional, which makes the whole argument moot to begin with.
Quite frankly, your “observations” do not make you qualified to understand what a governor can legally do or not do. They can only demonstrate what YOU’VE seen politicians do. So what? You honestly think that a majority GOP legislature, even a liberal GOP legislature, will have the votes necessary to override a Governor Randles’ veto? I highly doubt that.
Just because some legislators roll around in the mud, doesn’t mean the governor has to do the same. Jay Nixon seems perfectly content to. Dave Spence appears like he’ll be content with the same.
It is intellectually dishonest to disqualify someone for “naivete” because someone is willing, capable and knowledgeable enough to use tools to their full potentials where others do not or can not. That is like calling a NASCAR trained driver naive for thinking they can can drive at 200mph, just because you’ve only seen a car go up to 100mph.
The operative word for this article isn’t “naive” in regards to Bill Randles. The headline should have been “KC Star Reporter Can’t Comprehend Constitutional Law; Projects Insecurity Onto Randles.”
Ron Beedle
11 months agoBILL RANDLES absolutely deserves all the respect he has earned. He is the only candidate working hard with the grass roots citizens and is completely suitable and qualified to be the next Governor of Missouri. Absolutely Bill should get more coverage! He is running on a comprehensive platform that takes power from Jefferson City, and sends it back where it belongs, to the people.
Bill should have more media coverage. I will be voting for Bill on August 7!
Nancy J. Kraus
11 months agoShelly just CONFIRMS that Randles is the right man for the job. She prefers bureaucrats! Why would anyone think a writer for the ‘Falling Star’ would understand the free market and a man who supports it. Vote for Bill Randles.
Susie Thoma
11 months agoI don’t look at the party, but the candidate. Have followed Bill for atleast 2 yrs and have discovered he’s the man to lead Missouri constitutionally. Attended several forums where all candidates were in attendance. That made my decision who is most qualified.