No More Politics as Usual?
When Sarah Palin made her lame historic resignation speech last week, she mentioned ‘no more politics as usual’. What does ‘as usual’ mean when describing politics?
Let me put a little disclaimer in here before I begin: I have always disliked talking about politics. When I was in school I paid far more attention in English class than I did in History. Yes, George Washington was the first President and Nixon was impeached. (I stand corrected….he got out while the gettin’ was good.) I know something…but not a lot. So don’t look for really accurate details here….I’m just writing my opinion. It is amusing to read about all of these supposedly brilliant people who run our country and watch them screw up every step of the way. That is something I didn’t have to learn about in school.
Now, back to ‘no more politics as usual’. Nothing is ‘usual’ when it comes to politics. From what I can gather, it’s just like one big reality television series. A fine example of that? Former DC Mayor Marion Barry.
Politics as usual for these dudes. One smokes a crack pipe, one smokes a cigar.
Who needs Rock of Love when we have Marion Barry starring in Stalk Your Lover ? He was charged with “misdemeanor stalking” on July 4th. Misdemeanor stalking? You mean there are different LEVELS of stalking? If he really worked a little harder on his stalking skills he may have moved up to “low-level felony stalking”. Why do things half-assed?
Former Mayor Barry is now a Councilman. He got that job after he finished his stint on Dr. Drew’s Celebrity We Can’t Rehab You. That’s right, he was arrested for smoking crack cocaine in his hotel room in 1990. Then in 2002 he told police that someone planted the traces of marijuana and cocaine found in his car. Hey, Councilman, who plants ‘traces’ of drugs in a car? If someone wanted you to get nailed they would have planted more than a trace. The rest went up your nose or in a pipe. And they call me blonde?
No more politics as usual would be a welcome change for this country. At least Sarah Palin said one phrase that I can work with.
How can you get arrested for smoking crack cocaine and become a councilman? Then you stalk someone and yep…you’re still a councilman. I realize he’s not a mayor, but he’s still representing people. Some people obiviously don’t mind if their councilman stalks women and…oh, wait…..he’s also been on probation since 2005 for not paying his taxes. Just an all around honest guy.
This is our leadership? Next thing you know it will be perfectly fine for the President of the United States to have a bong on his office desk. Here in Rhode Island it would be legal if he got a prescription for it.
I don’t think there will ever be “no more politics as usual”. Historically, it has never been a position you take if you’re squeaky clean.
Just because perky Palin is leaving office doesn’t mean all is going to be right with the world. I didn’t even need Cliff’s Notes to learn that.
Read more of my opinionated self: Providence Social Media Examiner
Back in the mid 90′s, I was a marketing consultant for the Providence Journal (they could never explain to me why, since the Journal owned the Biltmore Hotel across the street – where I was “forced” to stay – what the hotel gave free copies of USA Today every morning instead of the Providence Journal, yet I digress,,,)
An old boss of mine was running Channel 10 at the time and we used to have dinner at the Capital City when I was in town, and through my friend, met Buddy Cianci.
It became part of my Providence routine to have dinner with my friend and then listen to Mayor Buddy “extemporize” – or something like that – for hours.
I miss Providence – and especially the restaurants on Federal Hill!
Personally I think Buddy Cianci rocks. He did a lot for the city of Providence and was a hell of a lot more understated in whatever bad boy dealings he did than Barry.
Now, I’m going to try to keep politics off of my blog for a bit. It’s just too much fun to pick on them, though
Marion Barry used to be referred to as “Mayor For Life.” Were it not for his having to leave office because of his conviction he would still be mayor. You thought Buddy Cianci had a hold on Providence voters…ha…Mayor Hairpiece had nothing on Marion.
Who is worse however, the fools in office or the fools who put them there?
Susan—no way. Politicians take an oath and it may not cover smoking crack or stalking women but it’s a public office. They represent the general public and their behavior is supposed to be that of a role model. You can’t compare a politician to a doctor. A doctor treats each patient one-by-one…a politician represents a state, a community or a country. Sleeping with a nurse doesn’t make the doctor a hero but it’s not a fair comparison. Celebrities aren’t making legal changes. No go on that comparison.
Now I remember why I have always hated discussing politics. I’m not making a federal case here….but why on EARTH would you say you like this guy? What would compel you to think he’s worthy of office? YES! People screw up, make mistakes, cheat, lie, steal….but this guy is just plain creepy and shouldn’t be able to make decisions for the PUBLIC when he can’t make good ones for himself.
You’re off base, sister.
I must be the only one I love Marion! I certainly think his actions reflect the behavior of many – has not anyone recognized that this is indictive of the current world, country, state, city we live in? What happens now, is no different than in the days of the good old Thomas Jefferson, the president who bedded and had many illigetimate offspring….What we have is MEDIA – so everything is public. Is Marion or Bill Clinton any different from you or me? Not really oh they hold a public office but why are chastising them? What about the surgeon that deals, or beds the nurse next to him – he still operates; or the airline pilot that gets it on with the steward or stewardess ( what ever his fancy) but gets us landed safely. Why aren’t they hung out to dry? Why are we so hard on our political officials? Because they have power? They are just like me or you or anyone of our friends or relatives….well maybe not like you or me maybe we ( meaning all of us) are too smart to get caught. But once maybe once when you had some power did you try to push it, bend it or sneak behind it? (Think about it the next time you call in to work “sick”, or adjust your tax return or take a toke for your ‘glacoma’).
Good blog !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
See, Ken…I was honest when I said I didn’t know much about politics. That’s right…Nixon did resign….and I forgot Clinton was impeached. Funny how he’s the most popular impeached prez around. Popular with the ladies, too. lol
Let’s lay odds that if Marion Barry dies, it will be a top trending Twitter topic for days and people will act like they loved him. Why does this happen? People are so dammed phony. Remind me when that happens to make a point of reminding people that this guy is a dirtbag.
Hey, there! Uhhh. Not to put too fine a point on it but Nixon actually resigned before he could be impeached (he was on the way, though) and Clinton (pictured with Marion Barry) wasimpeached and tried in the Senate for essentially doing what, it seems like, every male politician in the place is doing and confessing ad nauseum.
Being from the MD Suburbs of DC, I’ve been following Marion for awhile. It always amazes me that no matter how much trouble he gets into or how much bad behavior he exhibits the voters in his Ward still elect him. I think he just handed out a lot of favors and jobs and money back in the day when he was “Mayor-for-Life”. The crack charge finally got him out of the Mayor’s office but he came back as a councilman. Go figure.
In addition to the crack and the stalking, he’s been successfully prosecuted and is on probation for tax evasion. The man is the pure definition of Teflon. Our only comfort is that he’s an old guy and his health isn’t that great so it probably won’t be that much longer.
I wouldn’t be surprised, though, if his funeral, Memorial Service, etc. will be a local version of the Michael Jackson Show. No matter how egregious the crime and the behavior, he’ll be hailed as a civil rights hero, hanging out with Martin Luther King, Jr back in the day and the whole nine yards.
It’s amazing.
.-= Ken Montville – The MD Suburbs of DC´s last blog ..A Wonderful “Starter” Home in Upper Marlboro, MD =-.