the opinionist

I know this is hardly a fresh fodder topic for grevious dissemination and elevated sarcasm but it’s been three days since the chairman of the Federal Election Commission predicated a $1 billion presidential price tag and I’m still trying to wrap my head around the news. To be frank; it makes me sad, angry and perhaps more than a little appalled for so many reasons.

Firstly, where is the outrage? We all shake our heads and then the debate moves quickly on to which of the presidential hopefuls can raise this kind of dough and who cannot! How swiftly we relegate perfectly qualified hopefuls to the scrap pile before the race even begins, before the general public is given a chance to absorb their credentials.

Surely the question is not who can raise such money but how can they raise this kind of money and what does this mean about their office? What are their obligations? What promises have they made along the way to get their sticky fingers on the desk of power in the Oval Office? Is it likely their whole presidential term, their agenda, has already been decided behind powerful doors and upon the checkbooks of corporate lobbyists and special interest groups before the Presidential race even begins?

I’m sure there are chuckles - of - ’schyeah! Jeez, which sand pit have you stuck your head in?’ - when I dare suggest such obvious assertions. Why do we accept it? Does it make us feel comfortable knowing big cigar smoking power-brokers are deciding our futures - so we can concentrate on our silly over-worked, over-taxed, under-valued lives without that kind of nonsense getting under our noses? Take the stench of rotten politics away - brush it under the carpet (or behind the beautiful cherry wood doors of some secret mansion in New England ) - or just get used to the smell - but don’t forget it’s still rotten!

I’ve been asking myself what I find appealing; attractive; interesting in a leader, a politician, a president (or prime minister). The conclusion I come to is again perhaps painfully obvious but … for the man (or woman) to be clearly the followers and believers of their own character! The minute the media dares to suggest some hidden power behind the curtain of ‘Vice President’, or ‘Spin-Doctor’, or ‘Lame Duck’, or ‘House of Saud’ etc etc is the moment I sigh and my focus moves onto the other dozen crisises on life’s radar.

Take Rudy Giuliani on 9/11 - striding at pull pace through the emotionally explosive streets of a brutalized NYC - making phone calls, making decisions, building everyone’s courage around him (and for us on TV) as he purposefully demonstrated his taking charge! He made each and everyone of us feel just a little bit more sane on a day of pure bloody insanity and shocking despair.

Take George W Bush - same period - with bullhorn, arm around firefighter - telling us and the world that justice would prevail. Of course this reflection has been torn down and ruined by five years of selective failure but that is another post.

How about Tony Blair - each and every time he speaks from his heart - at the podium as a guest of the White House? His articulate, sincere and passionate belief in his decisions, his agenda, his moment in power, in the history books, is attractive and is something every viewer must believe is worthy of leadership. His policies have been questionable - absolutely - but there is no doubt - surely - of his sincerity and his belief in himself, his character.
Point? How does this connect to the insane $1 billion price tag for the Presidency of the United States? Well, I believe in the power of word-of-mouth. I’m a believer that the right product sells itself, the right person for the job can shine through the pressures built on media bullshit. I believe the American people can, if they put their minds and souls to it, recognize the right person not by the number of advertisements they place during primetime for 18-35 year olds, and after 9pm on cable news for the over 50’s - but because they can recognize greatness.

Word-of-mouth - telling your friends, neighbors, colleagues, the chap next to you in the line at Starbucks - can win an election for the right person - whoever it is or will be.

I’m feeling optimistic and I hope the candidates, the Presidential hopefuls, won’t cave in to media pressure and quit the race for the sake of $1 billion.

Posted on December 22nd, 2006 under 2008, Elections, Hillary, President •  Email This Post • RSS 2.0 feed • Leave a response, or trackback