Posted on 08/12/2002 3:28:41 AM PDT by 2Trievers
"This is not a party. Maybe it is a party in the sense of wearing hats and blowing whistles, but it is not a political party that means anything. . . ." "The party, to put it bluntly, is hypocritical . . . It does not criticize the Republicans who are pro-choice. So why criticize Bill Clinton? . . . " "It is true in both parties that the party platform is not worth the paper it is written on. That is why I am an Independent. That is why I am going to stay an Independent, whatever happens in the future. I am still the same formula. I am still Classic Coke." — U.S. Sen. Bob Smith, in his 1999 "Decision of Conscience" speech in which he quit the Republican Party. We don't fault Bob Smith for leaving the Republican Party. Nor do we fault him for returning. People are entitled to change their minds. But Bob Smith didn't just change his mind. He changed his "formula." The Mr. Outsider whom New Hampshire conservatives elected to make change in Washington nearly 20 years ago has himself become a classic Mr. Insider. The man who called Republicans hypocrites for not criticizing pro-choice members has now warmly welcomed the reelection endorsements of big-name, liberal pro-choicers. The man who denounced expensive federal budgets now boasts that he can bring home the most bacon. The man who claims to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with President Bush voted against Bush's energy-independence policy and is misrepresenting the environmental record of fellow Republican John E. Sununu. The man who saw benefit in staying independent of the party, "whatever happens," changed his mind precisely when another Republican senator's death opened up the chairmanship of a powerful committee. The man who once boasted of daring to back Ronald Reagan's primary challenge of an incumbent President now complains bitterly that a primary challenge to him endangers "his" party. Bob Smith was right in much of what he said about party politics and hypocrisy. We wish he had meant it.
Most of them are weak narcissists to begin with.
But when they get there with plans to cut the government, they turn on the phones, open the mail, and for two or six years hear nothing but a sustained scream, GIMME! GIMME! GIMME!
We have met the problem, and he is us.
The simple truth is that all politicians tend to "go native," as it were. The disease of "Potomac Fever" is not new. Jay, Hamilton and Madison recognized in the Federalist more than two centuries ago, the tendency of elected officials to "transfer their allegiances" from the interests of the people back home, to the interests of the people and powers in the capitol. That is the very definition of Potomac Fever.
Politicians who do not occasionally go home and stay, do not occasionally "swim in the common sea," as John Adams wrote, become unfit to remain in office. In the case of this particular Mr. Smith from New Hampshire, the voters have got his number. John Sununu is going to beat him like a rented mule in the primary, and deservedly so.
Congressman Billybob
Nor was Hayek the first to notice: Listen to the words of Leo Tolstoy:
In order to obtain and hold power, a man must love it. Thus the effort to get it is not likely to be coupled with goodness, but with the opposite qualities of pride, cunning, and cruelty.
The last person to be trusted with power is the man who actively seeks it. Rather give the scepter to the man who has to be dragged into office kicking and screaming, and clamors his whole tenure long to be released from it.
Freedom, Wealth, and Peace,
Francis W. Porretto
Visit The Palace Of Reason: http://palaceofreason.com
Power, Sex, Money and Fame explains a LOT of life's problems. &;-)
The inherent stupidity of that statement needs no comment. But here is one anyway--control of the Senate means conservative judicial nominees get confirmed.
That's our Bob Smith for ya!
He recreated scenes from the movie the day he left the "party of party hats" and not much else, and quoted him in his speech like he quoted actual human beings and not figments of Frank Capra's imagination. When you add this to the fact that he thought he was a credible presidential candidate, voters truly wonder how firm a grasp he has on reality.
I read it in the paper! ;*) ....the real, actual newsprint paper. McQuaid infrequently will do a front page, signed editorial. The editorial page editorials are unsigned now.
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