Comments on: Is Politics for Putzes?

by: msteele

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 14:51:47 +0000

Gov. Huntsman’s agreement with the ES oversight bill was odd, since he previously seemed to favor tighter controls.

However, Mary, I don’t think there was as much of a change on the school vouchers. He ran as a pro-voucher/school choice candidate, so I don’t see the shift here. Anyone who voted for him accepted or ignored his stance on this issue.

by: Mary

Sun, 04 Mar 2007 02:30:49 +0000

I love the movie Mr. Smith goes to Washington! I wonder how Jimmy Stewart would have fared in “Mr. Smith goes to Salt Lake City”?

I suspect the governor wants to keep the approval rating of his own party. After watching the viciousness of the threats, bullying, and arm-twisting over the school voucher bill, I suspect Gov. Huntsman didn’t want to subject himself to that. Utah Republicans eat their own if they’re crossed. If, as the previous comment said, he has higher political aspirations, it would be deadly to cross the powerful fat cats. They have long memories and hold grudges forever. It was really disappointing to see Gov. Huntsman “cave” like he did, but politics can be a soul-killing deadly disease. I guess he wasn’t immune.

by: Debi

Sun, 04 Mar 2007 00:00:42 +0000

Each year to celebrate the end of our eighth-grade study of the Constitution, I treat my classes to Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (a classic beloved even by today’s jaded adolescents). As Mr. Smith takes his place in the Senate a page offers to get him whatever he needs and Mr. Smith responds that he’s just going to sit and keep his mouth shut. “That’s how to get re-elected,” quips the boy.

I suspect the governor has higher political aspirations.

by: brucew

Sat, 03 Mar 2007 21:45:22 +0000

I had to smile at this. I have worked on many campaigns and often wondered why candidates put up with it all. Then one day to my surprise, the Democratic Party phoned and wanted to know if I would be willing to run for the State Legislature. I was frankly floored. I strongly suspect it was an act of desperation but it did make me think. Ultimately I concluded that while I had the work ethic and knowledge to run, I really didn’t possess the judgement to govern.

As Edmund Burke once said, “A representative owes his constintuants not only his industry but his judgement, and he does them a disservice when he sacrifices it to their opinion.”

In a world where pandering to popular prejudice has become a science, I concluded that perhaps I would make a better contribution by encouraging people with good judgement to run and then working on their campaigns.

by: chardonnay

Sat, 03 Mar 2007 18:56:37 +0000

I remember Dennis from living in N.Ohio 1978/79. The youthful mayor of Cleveland..populist, filled with idealism and what a change from Carl Stokes ! (especially after the Cuyahoga river caught fire). The system really dragged Kuccinch down…too bad.

I think Al Gore would do well for the dems. He would be prez now but for Bill/Monica & that shithead Nader. Centrifugal forces of the race will get to Hillary in time. Maybe Gore`s best course is to wait a few months….

by: larryomiller

Sat, 03 Mar 2007 18:12:37 +0000

You know yourself well Holly and I agree with you about the machinations of politics (is that redundant?). I am in the last two years of elected office here in California and am counting the days until I do not have to deal with the underhandedness, duplicitous, back stabbing, deal swapping and general bovine feces of it all. Fortunately, over the years I have identified and know a few local politicians that I can trust and talk to, so that has made it easier.

Be careful what you say about my pal Dennis Kuccinich by the way. I think you’ll find that back to 2001 he had it all correct about the war, etc.