How The Game Is Played

Google Google Cock-a-Doodle
 Promises of boodle
Candidates  wrack their noodles
To dangle the best boondoggle

During an election the complaint  is chronic. "Politicians are all the same. They promise everything  but they never keep their promises"

At the same time , the candidates  hear the  query. "What are you going to do for me?"

They wrack their brains for the best answers, mostly without  a clue  whether or not the ideas are even feasible.

In  party politics, riding associations look for candidates with  the most appeal

In a riding with a high Sikh population, a Sikh would be good. An Italian would be a must in an Italian riding.

Money to pay for a campaign would be a valuable attribute.

A high school teacher is a good candidate because of all the students who would work in the campaign and   teachers who want  to see one of their own in power and  all the generations of connections  built up over the years. 

A person of colour would be good in a riding  with a high population of persons of colour.

A reputation for competence, integrity, knowledge  and experience would be nice to have of course.

But  they are not the first priority.

A lawyer is good. Being a  practising politician is not a detriment to a budding legal beagle. They can spend a couple of terms in politics without losing out on a legal career
. 
 Riding Associations used to be  the glue that kept a party together between elections. Generations of  family  loyalty and commitment to a political  philosophy would at least provide authority for  choosing the candidate. A  record of commitment to the community and reputation for integrity would stand a candidate  in good stead.
A flibberty gibbet, fly- by- night personality would  be equally well-known. and stand little chance of a nomination. Except if the character was appealing.An attractive  personality can never be  discounted.

Good looks are an asset.Being tall and a person of  physical substance doesn't hurt.

Politics has the ability to attract an omnibus of characters .and different levels of competence,

But if there isn't a core of competence and continuity in any  governing party,  the country is in trouble.

I fancy it's what we will need to be checking tonight when the votes are counted.