Patton: Message Candidates

No doubt about it. The American people are mad at politicians, and they're looking for outsiders to shake things up.

When Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders rant and rave against the status quo, their words resonate with the voters. Trump and Sanders take the words right out of the public's mouth, and speak for the populace. So, voters feel a sense of kinship with these two candidates and come to support them.

Only one difficulty. While Trump and Sanders accurately identify the problems, they don't clearly explain in detail how to solve them.

Trump says he is going to build a wall to prevent illegal immigrants from entering the United States; he is going to create jobs; he is going to strengthen the military; he is going to prevent for a time Muslims from entering our nation; he is going to further curtail abortions; and, last but not least, he is going to make everyone say Merry Christmas.

But, Trump provides no details as to how he will accomplish these things. "How long will the wall be? Where will it start? Where will it end? How high will the wall be? Of what materials will it be made? How long will it take to construct the wall? How much will it cost? Where will he get the money to build the wall? (Mexico dismisses out of hand the idea of paying for it. How specifically will Trump convince them to do that?)

Never mind. His followers are pleased , it seems, just to hear Trump say things they agree with. and do not ask for more details.

Donald Trump is attempting to talk his way into the White House.

The same might be said of Bernie Sanders. Sanders wants to raise the minimum wage to $15.00; abolish trade treaties struck with other nations; encourage immigration; end restrictions on a woman's right to choose; have a "tough, but not stupid" foreign policy; and break up the Wall Street banks.

Exactly what is a "tough, but not stupid" foreign policy? Sounds good to most people (which is, of course, why Sanders says that), but what are the specifics? How exactly will you defeat ISIS? What precisely will you do with President Assad of Syria? And how will you improve Arab-Israeli relations?

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Sanders signature campaign issue is breaking up large Wall Street banks. For a long time, he was not closely questioned on this subject because few took him to be a serious candidate. Now, with Sanders emerging as a major contender, that has changed. Recently, he has had to contend with close scrutiny by the rough and tumble New York press.

"My former colleagues on the New York Daily News editorial board sat down with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on April 1 for an illuminating interview. The more I read the transcript, the more it became clear that the candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination doesn't know much beyond his standard stump speech about breaking up the banks and how he had the good judgment to vote against the Iraq War in 2002." (Jonathan Capehart, Washington Post, 4/5/16).

"Bernie Sanders sat down with the New York Daily News editorial board last Friday, seeking its endorsement in the upcoming April 19 Empire State primary. It did not go well for the senator from Vermont.

"Time and time again, when pressed to get beyond his rhetoric on the evils of corporate America and Wall Street, Sanders struggled. Often mightily." (Chris Cillizza, Washington Post, 4/5/16).

"Having been a socialist independent for most of his political career, the senator seems to have become accustomed to leading efforts that may not succeed. He seems very good at pointing out what people should be mad about, but has not been so good in outlining how a President Sanders would succeed after the 'revolution.'" (Harold Jackson, Philadelphia Inquirer, 4/8/16).

So, we have two candidates, Trump and Sanders, trying to talk their way into the White House using superficial, rabble-rousing stump speeches as the vehicle to get them there.

We deserve more. We deserve presidential candidates who do not toy with our emotions, but rather offer serious, well-thought-out policy positions that let us know exactly what they will do should they become president. Who are these people? John Kasich and Hillary Clinton come to mind.

Gary Patton is the author of two books, "Selling Mt. Washington," a political satire about New Hampshire politics, and "Outtastatahs: Newcomers' Adventures in New Hampshire, " a humorous account of the struggles of newcomers to this state. Both books are now available in Portsmouth at the River Run Bookstore , Discover Portsmouth, and Tugboat Alley. In Exeter, these books can be obtained at The Water Street Bookstore and the Country Store at RiverWoods. In Hampton, look for them at the Galley Hatch gift shop. In North Hampton, both are available at "The Book Outlet." In Concord, these books can be found at Gibson's Bookstore. They are also available on-line at Amazon.com.