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Edited on Tue Aug-26-08 09:15 AM by shadowknows69
This isn't my first run around the park politically speaking. It's not easy to admit one's age to oneself but I guess I've been a registered Democrat for twenty years now. At least that's what the annoying facts on my driver's license tell me and why I had thirty-nine melting, freaking candles on my last birthday cake.
I've always understood my duty as a citizen, at the bare minimum, is to vote, but I didn't become a true political junkie until it became my homework when I attended SUNY Morrisville for Journalism in the early 90s. I had professors with a fiery passion for the truth and old school news reporting. One in particular was a Vietnam Vet who cut his teeth as a news man at the Detroit Free Press during the Watergate years. He gave us an amazing vicarious trip through those times with every lecture and he remains one of the most influential people in my life.
More than anything my thirst for truth in all things, most importantly the people who represent us, made me pay attention to the people we elect and the reasons we do. Maybe more so than the average person, but then that is the cross I chose to bear by learning the trade of telling stories.
I haven’t always liked our choices and I’ve never been a straight party line Democrat. I think I’m a leftist but one of my best friends says I’m a Republican and don’t even know it. This coming from a guy who was a “Democrat until 9-11 changed everything”, so that assessment is taken with a huge block of salt in my house.
I’ve always held our leaders to very high ideals, higher than mine, because that’s the way it should be shouldn’t it? I want the smartest mother fucker in the room. Period. Full Stop.
I wasn’t hugely happy with our choice of Bill Clinton in ‘92 but of course anything was better than Poppy Bush; if memory serves I think I supported Tsongas originally. Needless to say William Jefferson Clinton eventually won me over and to deny he was an inspiring leader is to deny the sun rises in the east. He was great for this country, but not good enough, because he was weak and he lied. I supported Bill Clinton’s impeachment and I thought he should resign. When you are about the people’s business you should be about business and you damn well better not lie to us.
I could care if Clinton was getting his Willie slicked by Monica but he went to court and the trial of public opinion and he lied to us. This was simply unacceptable for the highest office in the land, in my opinion, no matter the reason for the lie.
In 2000 I actually liked John McCain and had considered voting for a Republican candidate for the first time. I was sufficiently astounded when they chose the dunce from Texas who I knew instinctively from day one would at least finish daddy’s war for him with probably disastrous results. Al Gore didn’t impress me but that is more my fault than anything. I had fallen into a time of political apathy, possibly due to the fact I was having a lot of mind altering fun at the time. The events of the 2000 election shook me back awake though and my eyes have been horrifyingly wide open since. Many times have I wished I could close them again.
So why do we choose our leaders? Why do I anyway? I don’t think I really figured it out until I was watching the convention coverage last night. The speeches by Teddy Kennedy and Michelle Obama made it very clear to me. I want people to lead me who are stronger than I am. If I was Teddy Kennedy, my post-op ass would be in a bed somewhere sipping a scotch or at least on that amazing sailboat. I’ve given enough.
Ted Kennedy is a stronger man than I’ll ever hope to be and that’s why he’s a great Senator. Michelle Obama and Barack Obama had no more opportunities than I did growing up and quite a few less probably simply because of the color of their skin and I couldn’t make of myself what they did because I’m not that strong. Joe Biden suffered tragedy on a level most of us will thankfully never know. It would have crippled me or sent me to the grave myself by my own hand. For Joe Biden that option didn’t exist because he had to be strong for his sons.
These are who we want for our leaders ladies and gentlemen. I don’t think I’m a wimp and like most I’ve had my share of triumphs as well as defeats. I’ve shown strength for family and friends when the need arose but never once did I think “Hey, maybe I should share this strength with my country too”
Barack Obama, Ted Kennedy, Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton and many of our fine leaders would have been great Americans even if they never chose public service just by the merit of them being good people who stood where others would have fallen. What makes them remarkable and what makes them worthy of our fealty is that they made that choice.
I know I’m not smart enough, motivated enough, or charismatic enough to be a leader of men and women. I want the person who has proven they’re strong enough themselves to pass that ability to others by the inspiration of their stories and the courage they have shown throughout their lives, not just on the campaign podium.
I want someone who is smarter than me but doesn’t think so. I want someone with courage that seems not summoned but perpetual. I want someone who has consistently shown integrity throughout their lives or at least had the strength to fight to improve it.
No leader we choose will be a perfect man or woman. No leader we choose will be on their game one hundred percent of the time, but it has never been more important to find a leader who will try with all their might. I don’t want Superman because he doesn’t exist, just someone stronger than me.
S
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