So, you're running from Hillary and Trump to Jill Stein. Why?

I'm sure Dr. Jill Stein is a lovely lady. Smart. Harvard Med School, practiced internal medicine for 25 years. A nice trim lady who, in olden times, would have made a compassionate country doctor who made housecalls to treat little Timmy's tummy ache. Okay, that's not really fair. She's done important medical research and she is an activist's activist. Done terrific activist work over the years. Wonderful résumé...and Jewish, too! But, the question is, is she really qualified to be President of the United States?

Let's get right to the point. Dr. Jill Stein has never held elective or appointive office or held any position in government. She has never run a business. If the latest Green Party convention is any indication of her leadership and organizational skills, by all accounts, the Green Party convention was a shit-show and certainly doesn't put her in the best light.

"But the disorganization, borderline paranoia and participation-ribbon mentality (literally, if the press badges were to be believed) on display left little hope that the Green Party will be anything more than an unproductive nuisance through November. Even when one calibrates one’s expectations ― it’s a given that the Green Party convention will more closely resemble a gathering of nursery school music teachers than hardened political operators ― what transpired was dismaying.

There was the convention’s agenda. It allotted ample time for privilege-checking and inventorying of everyone’s contributions to the dominant paradigm, but very little attention for nuts-and-bolts organizing, get-out-the-vote plotting and press strategizing. During one of the first gatherings of party officials Saturday morning, delegates spent nearly an hour on breathing exercises and aimless discussion about their “anti-oppression skills.” Participants came away knowing how to locate the “deep blue indigo tunnel” at the “throat center,” but not how to write an effective fundraising email."

 Read more...  ~ Eliot Nelson, HuffPost Hill Editor 

There have been people from all walks of life who have run for President who haven't held elective office but they're gone and mostly forgotten. Actual Presidents have held elective office whether as a State governor, U.S. senator, Cabinet position or other legislative offices. Only about three never held elective office before becoming President and they came out of the military: Zachary Taylor, Ulysses S. Grant and Dwight D. Eisenhower. Source  This is not to say it's not possible. Just not probable.

We like to see our Presidential candidates' tax returns. You know, just to see which tax loopholes they're jumping through and to see how generous of heart they really are, philanthropically speaking. What a coincidence, Jill Stein *just* released part of her 2015 Federal tax return today. There's been tremendous pressure on her to do it nigh these past five years and, finally, I'm sure, reluctantly, she did. She still has not released returns from 2011to 2014 so where's the hue and cry from voters who demand other candidates do so?

Jill Stein does have something in common with D. Trump. They are both Putinistas! At a conference in Russia this past winter, she criticized the U.S. human rights record as 'shaky' (agree) without so much as a mention of Russia's rather understatedly revolting human rights record. Dare you call their picking off investigative journalists, assassinating political opponents, their vile anti-LGBT vendetta, a 'human rights policy'? Did Jill Stein forget about that when she was in Russia or did she not want to tempt the assassination snipers by even subtly pointing out those abuses?

So, I'm just curious why legions are running to vote for Stein who has zero experience in government. At least Gary Johnson and his running mate, Bill Weld, are both two-term Governors and they make an interesting team to say the least. UPDATE!!!!! Scratch doofus Gary Johnson. Bill Weld must be withering inside every time Goofy Gary (this time it does apply!) opens his mouth and nothing comes out.

So, if you have an idea why Jill Stein is the default candidate, please tell me. I really want to know.

I am sure, whatever happens, Jill Stein will continue to be an excellent activist for progressive issues and, for that, I am grateful.

Fun fact: Jill Stein has cut several albums with collaborator Ken Selcer in the folk-rock band Somebody's Sister and is able to play the conga and djembe drums and guitar so there's always that. Nobody said she wasn't talented.

Note: I am a Bernie super supporter. This is the way I spin it so I feel better: "I am not voting for Hillary. I'm voting against Trump." ie: I'm holding my nose and voting for Hillary.