Friday, October 22, 2010

Qualifications for Office

It's not bad enough that we have so many problems in this country and so few people running for office who care more about solving them than about mouthing partisan slogans. One of questions I like to ask candidates for office is quite simple: why should I vote for you?

It's a deceptively simple question that usually results in a flood of talking points about what a useless bozo the other guy is, but very little about what the candidate on the spot has to say about him/herself. In the 11th Congressional district race here in Northern Virginia, challenger Keith Fimian says he's the better candidate because he's a "businessman, not a politician."

Hmmm...

As I recall, the last time we elected a businessman we got George W. Bush and his MBA, and look how that turned out.

So, what should we look for in a good candidate? Business experience? Political savvy? Good looks? Reinforced platoons of anonymous financial backers?

How about actual, hands-on experience in helping people get screwed?

Running for governor of New York is Kristin Davis, the madam who provided the prostitute who ended up being the downfall of former governor Eliot Spitzer. If you think all politicians are whores, here's your ideal candidate. Her platform has three planks: legalize marijuana, legalize prostitution, and legalize gay marriage. Not much, in my humble opinion, but if you look at her videos you can certainly agree that she makes her points clearly, ha, ha. But seriously, if you're the sort of person whose political viewpoints are defined by a single issue to the exclusion of everything else, you could do worse.

By the way, Ms Davis is opposed by another candidate whose entire campaign is based on the endless rant that "the rent is too damn high." I wonder what his position is on the breathtakingly amoral rush by banks to foreclose on millions of mortgages, using information that is incomplete or, in many cases, outright false?

We're already electing the clowns to run the circus, so perhaps these two individuals have a chance.

Good luck making your decision on November 2nd. You already know who's getting my vote:

Have a good day. Cartoon Saturday will be here soon to help you slog through the mess.

More thoughts then.

Bilbo

5 comments:

Amanda said...

I was wondering why that name was familiar to me even though I know nothing of your election candidates. Its Charlotte from Sex in the City!

Not that that would make any difference to your election....

Bandit said...

There were 2 eleven year old girls that got into an argument. They each accused the other of what they did or didn't do or say. They both had the backing of others who also argued with the other side. This is how the political ad was invented.

Mike said...

"look how that turned out."

That manure pile is still turning over and stinking things up.

Jean-Luc Picard said...

Some people in government arer nobodies!

The Mistress of the Dark said...

I'm at a point where I'm just asking for 2 brain cells to rub together. I think any candidate or official without 2 brain cells should be automatically disqualified from running or kicked out of office.

That said..there would be no one holding office right now.