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Thumper Rabbit Where Have You Gone?
Jul. 9th, 2004 08:25 amI'm sick of people in politics. Politics is a dirty game, there's no doubt about it, but at one time I thought there were people who got in the game for the public good. Somewhere along the way, the words of Anne Frank, "I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are still truly good at heart" seems to have melted away with like the Wicked Witch of the West.
Of course there's another phrase that's seemed to go the way of the dodo, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all." Thank you Thumper, for those words of civility. Too bad no-one listens anymore.
The moment that John Kerry announced his running mate, the fun began. Of course, Edwards was a no-brainer of a choice. First, it's someone still fresh in the minds of people, you didn't have to introduce him to America like you would if you chose a well-respected governor or something. Plus he has strengths in two places Kerry's been faulted on, communications and charisma.
Sure, right off the bat the Republican National Party was out there stating that he was a trial lawyer, a one-term senator, and placed on the ticket for his looks. Well, let's take a closer look here, most politicians right now were lawyers. Heck our last president was. They have the time and flexibility to do these things that others don't. This isn't a shock. Sure, I don't trust lawyers that much, but I don't see a lot of doctors, businessmen or other professions jumping for political office. We've allowed the system to become so corrupt, and the criticism so sharp, most won't even try. Besides, lawyers often have the best networking for political office.
One term senator goes along with the argument that he's put on the ticket because of his youth. He's 51. You know, legally, I can run for president. He beats me for several years. He also happens to be older than George W. Argument over. I also hear many Republicans laud term limits and new blood. You think being a fresh face would actually be a positive, that he hadn't spent half of his life sitting in congress. If Kerry needed more experience he would have picked Gephardt or another congressperson. There's plenty to choose from. Heck, he could have picked Sheila Jackson Lee, she's been around a long time, she's a woman, and she's black - wow, score! Of course she's crazy and a camera hog, so that takes away some points.
Again, lets take a look at our current president. He was a 1 and a half term governor from a state that has one of the weakest governors around. His political prowess comes more from his family connections than actual service. His brother Jeb has much more power and experience in Florida than George W. has.
George W. was paired with Dick Cheney to help his "gravitas" whatever that means. They picked Cheney not for his good looks, but for his experience. Bush was considered the good looking one of the team. Now four years later, there's been talk about dropping Cheney for someone more dazzling, say Condi Rice. Part of it is just to try and dispel the notion that George W is Cheney's puppet.
So the Democrats bring in someone who interested people in the primaries, who looks good and has an engaging speaking voice. That's good. So we get talk about how good his hair is. I seem to remember a young man chosen to help George H. W. Bush with his campaign. He wasn't that smart, but he did have a good batch of hair on top of his head. Dan Quayle was there to give some sex appeal to the ticket. Thank God no one tried to kill the president then.
From the AP: When a reporter noted that Edwards was being described as "charming, engaging, a nimble campaigner, a populist and even sexy" and then asked "How does he stack up against Dick Cheney?" the president immediately responded, "Dick Cheney can be president. Next?"
Uh-huh. Is this going to be how the campaign goes? Is this just going to be a immature pissing contest? "My Vice President has a pacemaker, what does yours have?" "Mine has shiny, bouncy and behaving hair!"
Let's get to the issues, dammit.
So what's our first issue? Oh yeah, Family Values. Is it 1992 again? Now we're not worried about Murphy Brown but Will and Grace? Let's grow up. Let's get to real things, Medicare, Social Security, Homeland Security, War, Peace and deficits.
When we get to these things, wake me up, OK?
Of course there's another phrase that's seemed to go the way of the dodo, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all." Thank you Thumper, for those words of civility. Too bad no-one listens anymore.
The moment that John Kerry announced his running mate, the fun began. Of course, Edwards was a no-brainer of a choice. First, it's someone still fresh in the minds of people, you didn't have to introduce him to America like you would if you chose a well-respected governor or something. Plus he has strengths in two places Kerry's been faulted on, communications and charisma.
Sure, right off the bat the Republican National Party was out there stating that he was a trial lawyer, a one-term senator, and placed on the ticket for his looks. Well, let's take a closer look here, most politicians right now were lawyers. Heck our last president was. They have the time and flexibility to do these things that others don't. This isn't a shock. Sure, I don't trust lawyers that much, but I don't see a lot of doctors, businessmen or other professions jumping for political office. We've allowed the system to become so corrupt, and the criticism so sharp, most won't even try. Besides, lawyers often have the best networking for political office.
One term senator goes along with the argument that he's put on the ticket because of his youth. He's 51. You know, legally, I can run for president. He beats me for several years. He also happens to be older than George W. Argument over. I also hear many Republicans laud term limits and new blood. You think being a fresh face would actually be a positive, that he hadn't spent half of his life sitting in congress. If Kerry needed more experience he would have picked Gephardt or another congressperson. There's plenty to choose from. Heck, he could have picked Sheila Jackson Lee, she's been around a long time, she's a woman, and she's black - wow, score! Of course she's crazy and a camera hog, so that takes away some points.
Again, lets take a look at our current president. He was a 1 and a half term governor from a state that has one of the weakest governors around. His political prowess comes more from his family connections than actual service. His brother Jeb has much more power and experience in Florida than George W. has.
George W. was paired with Dick Cheney to help his "gravitas" whatever that means. They picked Cheney not for his good looks, but for his experience. Bush was considered the good looking one of the team. Now four years later, there's been talk about dropping Cheney for someone more dazzling, say Condi Rice. Part of it is just to try and dispel the notion that George W is Cheney's puppet.
So the Democrats bring in someone who interested people in the primaries, who looks good and has an engaging speaking voice. That's good. So we get talk about how good his hair is. I seem to remember a young man chosen to help George H. W. Bush with his campaign. He wasn't that smart, but he did have a good batch of hair on top of his head. Dan Quayle was there to give some sex appeal to the ticket. Thank God no one tried to kill the president then.
From the AP: When a reporter noted that Edwards was being described as "charming, engaging, a nimble campaigner, a populist and even sexy" and then asked "How does he stack up against Dick Cheney?" the president immediately responded, "Dick Cheney can be president. Next?"
Uh-huh. Is this going to be how the campaign goes? Is this just going to be a immature pissing contest? "My Vice President has a pacemaker, what does yours have?" "Mine has shiny, bouncy and behaving hair!"
Let's get to the issues, dammit.
So what's our first issue? Oh yeah, Family Values. Is it 1992 again? Now we're not worried about Murphy Brown but Will and Grace? Let's grow up. Let's get to real things, Medicare, Social Security, Homeland Security, War, Peace and deficits.
When we get to these things, wake me up, OK?
