Heard about these the other day, and reTweeted something about them. I even facetiously told my wife that’s what I wanted for Father’s Day.
But not really. My sense of enjoyment of the absurd doesn’t extend to enjoying the fact that SC politics is this dysfunctional. I think it’s too sad.
Republicans, however, sick of being (deservedly) the punch line for so long, are just enjoying the heck out of it. The above is from Shell Suber, via Facebook.
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“But not really. My sense of enjoyment of the absurd doesn’t extend to enjoying the fact that SC politics is this dysfunctional. I think it’s too sad.”
So why post it?
The Republican messes involve elected officials, a have a real impact on our state’s ability to attract and retain quality jobs, etc.
Mr. Greene is a sad story, although the op ed in today’s paper explained a lot of how he might have gotten elected: a Democrat “Tea Party” anti-incumbent sentiment. Rawl is an elected official; Greene is not. In a low information place, that as good enough for plenty of voters.
Given how apparently impaired Mr. Greene is, it’s in poor taste.
A friend sent me that picture this morning. I just thought it was pretty funny myself.
Why post it? Because it’s part of what’s going on on this story. And I wanted to say what I said: Not funny.
And Shell, I don’t think there was any ill will on your part posting this. We just have a cognitive disconnect based in party. Such as when Thad Viers kept saying “Green-Sheheen” the other night on “Pub Politics” (even though he was the only one NOT drinking alcohol). Republicans think it’s funny. Democrats think it’s not. In this case, I think the Dems are right, aside from their partisan reason not to be amused.
At least we’re not alone. Texas has its own female version:
http://michellemalkin.com/2010/06/21/kesha-rogers/
Let’s just suppose for a moment that a substantial number of Democrats actually DID want someone like Alvin Greene, a nobody without a record of living in the inner circle of American politics. Maybe they considered him a modern day Mr. Smith who goes to Washington in an unassuming, laid-back manner in order to do the bidding of real, working class people. I can see someone like that being a very attractive candidate. Folks could relate.
This all sort of falls apart once you see Greene in an interview. We can appreciate someone who is not completely polished in front of a camera. That is probably something people like about Sarah Palin. But this guy just cannot string 2 words together in any sort of coherent fashion. Plus we have his arrest issue to deal with.
It really is a shame we couldn’t have a bonafide Smith, aka James Stewart, in Greene’s position. I could vote for someone like that.
Jefferson Smith? A guy who wanted to use public funds and lands to create a camp for kids’ recreation (not to mention their “political indoctrination”)?
Why, the Tea Party would make mincemeat out of him, as yet another liberal wanting to grow government…
Also, Jon Stewart would have a fine old time for himself speculating about why this unmarried male congressman wants to spend all that time with a bunch of young boys…
@bud–you are right–and people did not get a chance to see Greene in action because that race was not covered in the dwindling media.
I, of course, believe in the value of experience, and would not make that choice, but it could be a valid one.
And Jimmy Stewart was an actor, in a fictional story.
good Job Brad…
It is good to read that people are really thinking about these things.
The candidates, the financial impacts of decisions, made and yet to be made, the military issues and rights of choice within a civil society.
Good job Brad, you are helping to provide a platform for some very valuable precious people to have
mostly, respectful discussions in a certain amount of depth. At least far more depth than most people are able to have with most people they encounter on a daily or weekly basis.
I think I should break out my “Bonnie Campbell for Governor” T-shirt. I bought that shirt when I was in Iowa in 1994 based on South Carolina’s lame duck governor, Carroll Campbell doing a George Wallace and appoint his wife Iris as governor.
1994 in Iowa was interesting. It had three-term governor, Terry Branstad running for a fourth term and competing with “Gopher” of the Love Boat fame, Fred Grandy, in the IA GOP primary.
Once the slots were decided, I saw countless Democrat and GOP ads for IA governor. I returned home the weekend before the November 1994 election. I thought I was back in Iowa because I saw commercials in South Carolina that were the same as in Iowa. The Democrats had a black & white PowerPoint commercial “Wrong on the Issues, Wrong for the state”; the Republicans featured their wives telling voters how great their husbands would be as governor.
I have to admit, that when I saw Greene on a TV screen clear enough to make out his printing, I thought, “1993? That dude can sure take care of his T-shirts!” Not to mention still fit in them.
Jefferson Smith’s boys camp would be demogogued to death in today’s congress. The women’s groups would scream about sexism. So we would have to set up a girls camp. And committees, focus groups and blue ribbon panels would be formed to ensure the two camps are treated equally.
The environmentalists would require enviornmental impact studies to ensure some endangered species of crustacean is not affected. The fiscal zealots would scream about the cost and the impact on the deficit. Liberals would want all kinds of racial and religious equality quotas. Then the various states would be passing out beanies to attract the camp to their state. Then we would need to pacify the ADA by ensuring all canoes are properly equiped with aids for blind, crippled and mentally challenged kids. The unions would get involved to make sure counselors and cooks are paid properly and that they are not subjected to unsafe working conditions.
Then there would have to be committees formed to ensure landscaping is done in accordance with approved standards for esthetics. All contractors and subcontractors who build the cabins and other buildings would have to meet rigorous standards for equal opportunity guidelines. Each contractor would be selected on the basis of a rigorous bidding process overseen by the newly created cabinet position of camp czar.
Then when everything is about to go forward a new set of committees, focus groups and blue ribbon commissions would be formed to ensure everyone is treated fairly and in accordance with all local, state and national regulations. A handbook would be developed to provided detailed information to the campers, parents and anyone else associated with the camp to explain the list of rules and regulations that each camper must follow. If the number of requests for attendance exceeds the available slots another committee would be formed to develop guidelines for ranking the applicants. This would include points for race, religion, ethnic origin and of course after a few years a legacy component would be included.
All in all the dream of Jefferson Smith would turn into a nightmare in 21st century America. Too bad, since the original intent was such a good one.
@bud,
This is one of the best posts ever. It is also the most truthful, accurate, and honest commentary about how things really are in America today.
BTW, I have personally run into most of what you said in real life when trying to work on a project on the campus of one of the most respected universities in the country.
It is a Gordian Knot of interwoven rules, regulations, edicts, laws, and individual interpretations of each.
That was good, Bud. Very creative.
@ bud–My brother’s beloved Boy Scout leader, Ron Frontroth, died recently, and even I was saddened. Boy Scouts, at least when I was growing up in Aiken, was light years better than Girl Scouts. Separate ain’t equal….
where can I get one of those tee shirts?
@Kevin–Try Cafe Press