While chopping
veggies for a soup to ward off early winter weather in the Pacific Northwest
and the first round of winter colds, I heard a tribute to now-deceased Sen.
Mike Mansfield by the author of a new book about him, and was startled that I
had failed to mention him recently as a man of principles in politics and one who served a very long
time as a public servant. The only
politician who told LBJ to his face
that his plans in Vietnam would bring disaster, he also originated a bipartisan
committee of Senators (and Reps) to investigate what became Watergate, just 3
months after Nixon was reelected by a landslide in 1972, convening only members
with no presidential ambitions (thus we got Ervin and Talmadge, elders unafraid
to ask the ugly questions), something never done previously. Fascinated with China from his youth, he
later served as Ambassador to Japan under Carter and Reagan’s full 8
years. This is a
remarkable man who forged a signature to get into the armed services while
under age, then served in all three branches and as a copper miner for 9 years before
getting his high school and college education simultaneously, and then running
for Congress, representing his adopted state of Montana with distinction. I have been
ruminating on personality and politics, again, in light of several deaths and intent
to retire announcements recently, several of whom are decidedly “characters”,
leaving the bulk of Congress filled with bland bureaucratic members. This is a loss, in my opinion. Thank goodness McCain refuses to go
away, or Barbara McKulski, who more mildly replaces Bella Abzug. We need elected officials with personal
integrity and also the fearlessness to speak up against the grain when
necessary, like Dennis Kucinich is doing now in the tradition of Paul Wellstone,
unafraid of sticky labels thrown at him.
We even need irascible opponents, like Thurmond was, to bring color and
individuality to politics so that the general public can see somebody like themselves up there
representing them and not feel distanced or awed by the process that in truth
is operating everyday in their name. This only
partly explains the popularity of Dean right now, or for that matter, Nader’s
popularity in the 2000 cycle.
People distrust “talking head suits” who will say anything for the
campaign commercial and then not follow-through. Accountability is the foundation of checks and balances, and
since politics requires some compromise, it’s best to make sure you “say what
you mean and mean what you say” when trying to get there, as GDubya might acknowledge
in private, about credibility gaps. - KWC |
- RE: Re: [Futurework] All the President's votes? Karen Watters Cole
- Re: Re: [Futurework] All the President's votes? Ed Weick
- [Futurework] Bush League Stephen Straker
- Re: [Futurework] Bush League Ray Evans Harrell
- RE: Re: [Futurework] All the President's votes... Harry Pollard
- RE: Re: [Futurework] All the President's votes? Karen Watters Cole
- RE: Re: [Futurework] All the President's votes? Cordell . Arthur
- RE: Re: [Futurework] All the President's votes? Karen Watters Cole
- Re: Re: [Futurework] All the President's votes? Ed Weick
- RE: Re: [Futurework] All the President's votes... Harry Pollard
- Re: Re: [Futurework] All the President's v... Ray Evans Harrell
- RE: Re: [Futurework] All the President... Harry Pollard
- RE: Re: [Futurework] All the President... Harry Pollard
- RE: Re: [Futurework] All the President's votes... Harry Pollard
- Re: Re: [Futurework] All the President's votes? wbward