As I am so fond of pointing out, you can find incredibly smart things in, of all places, the movies. In this case, I refer to the Movie, "Dave" in which a guy who is a look-alike for the President takes over his job after the real President has a debilitating stroke (I recommend the movie, by the way). Anyway, Dave, as President, addresses a joint session of Congress and says, about scandal, "... once people start talking about scandal it’s hard for them to talk about anything else. So fine. Let’s talk about it." Truer words have never been spoken. As much as I hate to admit it, I think we are stuck with this scandal for a while; the Congressional investigations, the elections, what have you.
One of the most unfortunate things from which the American public suffers is an incredibly short political memory. A politician can do just about anything and, if he/she manages to weather the political storm for 6 months, they are pretty much home free; unless the scandal rises from the dead like the dreaded zombie. If there is an election and the opposition can manage to bring the allegation or charge to the forefront, then they can succeed in resetting the clock on the memory. The scandal rises from the grave and has new life, a lot like the career.
An excellent example of refreshing the political memory is the Willie Horton television ad in the 1988 presidential election. It refreshed in the eyes of the public the perception that Michael Dukakis was soft on crime recounting the release of a man with a life sentence on weekend passes during Dukakis' term of office as Governor. There are all kinds of arguments that it was not his personal responsibility, but it is an example of how a scandal can rise from the dead.
Representative Anthony Weiner may have such a zombie on his hands, assuming he can get through the six month period. Regardless of your political ideology, can you imagine how many times we are going to have to watch, over, and over, and over, the video of the teary-eyed Weiner apologizing (over and over and over) and accepting "full responsibility" (over and over and over)? I am already queasy at the prospect. This is going to be a zombie cat, and God knows how many lives this beast has.
In a fairly recent development, the scandal was actually turned into a television series. I refer to "The Good Wife." This show stars Julianna Marquiles and Chris North who are the husband and wife Florrick in the show. He had an affair, with a prostitute (or maybe more than one), got caught and was removed from his office as the Cook County, Illinois State Attorney. Is anyone thinking Eliot Spitzer at this point? In the show, former State Attorney Florrick is also arrested and jailed by his successor, something with which Eliot did not have to deal. The point is that this political scandal not only has risen from the dead, but has become King of the Zombies, with an eternal afterlife. Talk about adding insult to injury or rubbing salt in the wound...wow!
Well, I am not looking forward to the reruns on this particular issue and I am most certainly not looking forward to the eternal rise of the King of the Zombie Cats!
One of the most unfortunate things from which the American public suffers is an incredibly short political memory. A politician can do just about anything and, if he/she manages to weather the political storm for 6 months, they are pretty much home free; unless the scandal rises from the dead like the dreaded zombie. If there is an election and the opposition can manage to bring the allegation or charge to the forefront, then they can succeed in resetting the clock on the memory. The scandal rises from the grave and has new life, a lot like the career.
An excellent example of refreshing the political memory is the Willie Horton television ad in the 1988 presidential election. It refreshed in the eyes of the public the perception that Michael Dukakis was soft on crime recounting the release of a man with a life sentence on weekend passes during Dukakis' term of office as Governor. There are all kinds of arguments that it was not his personal responsibility, but it is an example of how a scandal can rise from the dead.
Representative Anthony Weiner may have such a zombie on his hands, assuming he can get through the six month period. Regardless of your political ideology, can you imagine how many times we are going to have to watch, over, and over, and over, the video of the teary-eyed Weiner apologizing (over and over and over) and accepting "full responsibility" (over and over and over)? I am already queasy at the prospect. This is going to be a zombie cat, and God knows how many lives this beast has.
In a fairly recent development, the scandal was actually turned into a television series. I refer to "The Good Wife." This show stars Julianna Marquiles and Chris North who are the husband and wife Florrick in the show. He had an affair, with a prostitute (or maybe more than one), got caught and was removed from his office as the Cook County, Illinois State Attorney. Is anyone thinking Eliot Spitzer at this point? In the show, former State Attorney Florrick is also arrested and jailed by his successor, something with which Eliot did not have to deal. The point is that this political scandal not only has risen from the dead, but has become King of the Zombies, with an eternal afterlife. Talk about adding insult to injury or rubbing salt in the wound...wow!
Well, I am not looking forward to the reruns on this particular issue and I am most certainly not looking forward to the eternal rise of the King of the Zombie Cats!
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Author's Note: I find myself being born out by the actions of recent days. Brietbart releases the photo of the "ridiculous bulge", au naturale, no less. Some Dems are calling for resignation, as are ALL the Teapublicans. I must say I am a bit impressed with Weiner's weiner, and I'm not even gay.
Don't ya just love a good scandal? Will the women involved write tell-all books, with pics, of course? Will they form a support group or book club; at least an online group? When do we get to see the movie? Has Disney tried to copyright "Weiner's Weiner"?
Thus, the saga continues....~SIGH~
If history has shown us anything it is that many great leaders in business, government and the military can lead stellar lives in the professional setting in which they strive, while simultaneously leading personal lives that are complete train wrecks.
There is no correlation between a good and stable home life and a successful professional career. While I have empathy for the various spouses who take the brunt of the mistakes made by their more celebrated mates, there is no evidence that what appears to be a continuing lack of judgment in their personal lives affects the judgments they make professionally. We of course would love our leaders to show some restraint or at least a greater degree of subtlety in their sexual escapades, but to be honest, I do not really care what consenting adults do, no matter how outlandish or distasteful I may find their personal conduct.
Humans of all ages have made silly asses out of themselves in the pursuit of sexual gratification and titillation since the dawn of time. I really do not foresee it ceasing anytime soon. I am amazed by those who have no memories or who conveniently forget their own sexual escapades, and the insane decisions they have made in pursuit of momentary pleasure.
I do not care who my doctor, lawyer, priest, Senator or President enjoys sexual trists with so long as it is with an adult and it is consensual. I understand that the Reptilian Brain we all have makes us do ridiculous things at times, and having a clear (and brutal) memory of my own past indiscretion I have confidence that while my sexual peccadilloes may have subjected me to ridicule, they did not interfere with my professional life. Passion is a wonderful thing, so who am I to say what or who another should be passionate about.
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