You Asked For It

I happened to notice a bunch of Democrats over at DailyKos moaning about the newly-elected Rep Stephanie Herseth (D-SD). She voted FOR the bill sought by the religious-right that would allow States not to recognize marriages performed in other States. Aside from the Constitutional implications of the bill, the proposed law is intended to slow down the spread of "gay marriage." Of course liberal Kossacks were disappointed, having gone overboard in supporting Herseth's election campaign. The goal was to undermine the infamous Republican Majority Leader Tom DeLay by electing a Democrat, and eventually return control of the House to Democrats. But, things aren't turning out as expected.

This brought me back to some thoughts I have had many times during the last 40 years. In a democracy, as the saying goes, 'the people get the government they deserve.' In Herseth's case, I am not surprised. During the special election campaign, she made it clear that she is "sort-of" pro-choice, and that she supported Bush's proposed anti-Gay Constitutional Amendment. The fact is, the woman ran for office in South Dakota which, as I understand it, has three kinds of creatures living there: Cowboys, Indians and Politicans. The Cowboys are just about 100% true-blue Republican, or, at any rate, conservative. The Indians don't vote much and aren't liberal or conservative; they are Indians.  Stephanie Herseth just barely got elected because enough Indians came out and voted for her. Without them, she couldn't make it in South Dakota. On the other hand, with only the Indians, no one makes it in South Dakota. Herseth is a Politician.

When it comes to voting in Congress, Rep Herseth cast her vote the way most South Dakotans prefer. Why? Because she's up for re-election in November. Party-smarty! Being a Rep is a fairly plush job with lost of perqs that people covet. It's pretty rare for a Congress person to just up and quit. So, at least a few months every two years, they vote their district. "All politics is local."

Let's be inconvenient and generalize this observation, after a word or two about another election.

I haven't been able to get anyone's attention lately, at least not about politics. They are all too busy trying to get John Kerry or George W Bush elected President. As happens every election, the reasons why we are having an election got lost a few months ago. Maybe before this year people were concerned about the issues: government policies and programs. Then they found themselves aligned with one group or another, and bonded with their fellow sufferers. After that, the issues didn't matter any more; it was our team, our guy, against the  other team(s) and their guy(s). Ever so quickly, high minded policy discussions sank into a quagmire of loathing and disgust, sometimes even hate, for the others. This is the same process that entrains people when a war comes along. In the end, only blood lust and survival matters.

I am sympathetic to those who dislike George W Bush. I wouldn't invite him to our house for coffee. Or tea. In fact, I just wouldn't invite him short of a promise to be paid a few million (how about $100,000?). I would be a little kinder to John F Kerry: I'd invite him for a lower price. But, on the whole, I would not care to spend a few hours with either man at the coffeehouse. For me, Kerry is a bore and Bush is a bigot. I don't expect to learn much from either. I don't expect them to have any novel, interesting ideas.

I tend to vote for the kind of person I would invite to my home, or enjoy talking with over coffee. Would Kerry make a better President than Bush?  Probably. Should either one be President?  No. Will I ever see a President with whom I feel comfortable?  Probably not in my lifetime. (Fortunately for the rest of you, that's not a whole lot longer.)

Now the generalization: the candidates are going to do whatever it takes to get elected and stay elected. Their ambition is to be top dog, and it always comes down to any which way.

So, if you want to know why George W Bush has done what what he has done, ask yourself. If Kerry gets elected, and things aren't what you expected, ask yourself.

A long time ago, on "You Bet Your Life," Groucho Marx was always kind enough to ask losers the consolation prize question: "Who is buried in Grant's Tomb?"

July 24, 2004

Last update: 11/07/2007

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