That is why i am pressuring him to set up a blog. Keith? I will help you Bosco Bosco wrote: > Damn Keith. You're a hell of a good writer. I love your insights and > the skill with which you present them. Have you ever considered > pursuing it further? If so, have you written anything I could see? > > > Bravo!!! > > Bosco > --- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > >> well, that's the balancing act of being a leader of any kind: >> weighing what you think is right versus what those you serve think. >> Always keep only your own counsel, and you're an autocrat, harmful >> to the people. Do whatever is popular, and you're a weakling, not >> helping the people to see what's best for them in times when they >> don't know it themselves. >> >> Maybe I'm a cynic, maybe I distrust authority. But I always think >> of those times in history when the majority (or the most vocal and >> influential minority) of the population wanted something that >> wasn't right or moral, or simply efficacious in the long run: when >> whites wanted slavery, then later, Jim Crow. When men didn't want >> women to vote. When Germans actively wanted--or passively agreed >> with--the subjugation of the Jews. When white South Africans wanted >> their colored countrymen to remain as second class citizens. A >> century from now, perhaps some will look back on a society that >> taxed gays but refused to let them serve in the military equally, >> or enjoy the same domestic rights as the rest of us, and say "If >> only there had been a leader who'd done what was right instead of >> what was popular". After 9-11, this country wanted blood--anyone's >> blood. I always liken America's mood then to that of a crazed dog >> that snaps at and attacks whomever happens to be near. Bush and his >> gang poin >> ted us in that direction, then said "This is what they want". And >> all of our leaders--almost every dang one of them with a few >> notable exceptions--went along with that fevered fervor, afraid to >> buck the will of the people. Well, that's why I have a leader: to >> see things more clearly in times when perhaps I can't, to make >> decisions based on more information and considered thought than I >> have. >> >> If I'm going to have someone lead me, it's because he or she has >> the capacity sometimes to make me better, to see the bigger picture >> in ways I can't always do. That requires someone with certain >> convictions and basic principles that will guide him or her, that >> won't change with the times or the whim of the public. A leader >> should be a rudder for a ship in a storm (lots of metaphors I >> know!) that can guide us in the right direction. Yes, sometimes >> sticking to a set of beliefs stubbornly can be wrong. Bush is proof >> of that in the way he's singlemindedly pursued a disastrous foreign >> policy. But you know, at least I know where Bush stands, and >> that's a good thing because i can then decide that he's not right >> for the job and get him out. I know who and what he is, and I've >> decided he's not right for me. There's a certain honesty and >> courage in his stance, that allows me to see him for what he is and >> then--fire him. And that's the point: a leader leads by trying to >> get us to go in cert >> ain ways, based on what we want and what he or she thinks is best >> for us. If those two views differ greatly, then perhaps that leader >> will be sent packing. Look at how McCain is hated for >> ultra-conservatives because he wants a more reasoned approach to >> illegal immigration, and the Bush tax cuts. But despite what it's >> costing him, he still holds to those views. yet at the same time, >> he's trying to modify them somewhat to go along with the people. A >> balancing act. >> >> But with someone like Romney, who keeps changing to meet the mood >> of the day, how can we ever know whether he's ultimately good or >> bad for us? How will I know that in that one moment when I am >> wrong, and I need him to be right, he won't do the popular thing >> instead of the right thing? >> >> A >> -------------- Original message -------------- >> From: "maidmarian_thepoet" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> I may be stepping into it...but what exactly is wrong with a public >> official supporting the wishes of his constituents? I wish that my >> officials here really supported my beliefs instead of catering to >> the >> religious right. Of course, you can say that they are supporting >> them---but that's my point. Wasn't he being a true representative >> of >> Mass. voters at that time? Now he is claiming that he could be a >> true >> representative of conservative voters. Isn't that his job? >> >> I am still recalling listening to a "This American Life" episode in >> which a guy who was pro-choice supported Bush because he didn't >> flip-flop on issues. He admitted that he didn't like any of Bush's >> stances on issuses, but he voted for him because he didn't >> flip-flop. >> Why on earth should I vote for someone who won't vote my way? He's >> my >> representative, not a representative of his own convictions. If he >> can >> change my mind because he believes me wrong, that's one thing. But >> he >> shouldn't be voting his convictions whilly-nilly. >> >> Ok, I will get off my soapbox now. :-) >> >> --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: >> >>> Like i said, an opportunistic flip-flopper. He was pro-choice, >>> >> pro >> immigration (in terms of working something out instead of sounding >> like >> a Klansman), not averse to taxes as needed (which he calls "fees", >> but >> same difference). I heard a speech he gave just a few years back >> where >> he explicitly said he didn't want to try and recreate the Reagan >> days. >> Now he's a rabid ultr-conservative nut who evokes Reagan more than >> some >> of us call on God! >> >> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >> >> >> >> >> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >> >> >> > > > I got friends who are in prison and Friends who are dead. > I'm gonna tell ya something that I've often said. > > You know these things that happen, > That's just the way it's supposed to be. > And I can't help but wonder, > Don't ya know it coulda been me. > > > > ____________________________________________________________________________________ > Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page. > http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > >
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