Meet & Flee

I had lunch today at Nashville's best meat&3, 'Arnold's' on 8th. Sawing away at some roast beef I became aware and then annoyed at a presence in my peripheral. A short, gray man in a L.L. Bean-ish sweater was drooling over my crazy-delicious turnip greens and saying as much. Just as I looked over to ask the gentleman to kindly 'step off' he stuck his hand between me and my chow declaring, "Hi. I'm Bob Corker. I'd like to ask you to consider voting for me". I shook his hand and agreed to consider it, with emphasis on the word 'consider'. He then greeted the random fellow I was sitting with who before lunch was a stranger to me. Random Guy informed Corker that his support was already with him but then, in the form of a two minute plus rant, told the candidate that he was 'pissed off' about the now infamous TV ad bashing opponent Harold Ford. Corker responded by claiming that the ad was placed without his consent. He added that supporters can spend their money as they choose and added, in an effort to scrape some sympathy from the controversy, that those behind the sophomoric spot have put his campaign in jeopardy. With that Corker swerved post-haste across the room to shake hands with a guy in a John Deer cap. He drifted hummingbird-like from handshake to handshake for a few minutes and then, after having gawked at my greens, left without eating. With cornbread I moped my plate of the remaining gravy while listening to the diners around me talk about Mr. Corker. They weren't discussing his platform. They were describing their disgust of the ad-in-question. Once again the Tactics of the Desperate distract from Issues of Significance. Oh, and one more thing: Hey Corker! Back up off a man’s greens why don’t ya!

Moral Capital?

The Republicans exploitation of faith for political gain is beginning to back-fire. A party whose political strategy is built on the "moral high ground” has at last found a serious problem in the Foley scandal. It appears its reach goes beyond one man and has become increasingly difficult to sweep under the rug. As a result some are finally predicting that the Republican's reign is in its twilight. Why, after 6 years of bi-weekly scandals, does it take salacious text messages for the media to proclaim this rug has been pulled from under the elephant? The answer lies in the Republican’s ability to justify their agenda by connecting it with the religious right. I mean not to dilute the significance of Foley's transgression but there are other issues with the Republicans that effect millions of other people domestically and abroad. Among them are the war in Iraq and the Katrina debacle. Moral issues have been the Republicans' stratigical bread and butter during the last 2 elections. If the same voters who have been swayed by this tactic are still paying attention then the Republicans chances of retaining 'both high ground' and capital hill are going stale.

The GOP's growing rash of desperation, further irritated by the unfolding Foley scandal, has been exposed by their emphasise on 'moral issues'. Included on the ballot this November in Tennessee will be a vote to amend the state’s constitution to make same-sex marraige illegal. There is already a law forbidding it. The Defense of Marriage Act was passed 10 years ago. Why, then, put it on the ballot? ‘Tis the season. Election season. Simply the mention of this issue is enough to strip a conservative of their American Apathy and get them off their couch and into a voting booth. Someone who isn’t gay and wouldn’t otherwise vote would be less likely to go out of there way to do so. Conversely, someone who supports making gay marriage unconstitutional would be more likely to go to the poll with this only in mind. In other words; churches will now fill their buses to the polls. Repugnance is a greater motivator than empathy. Any guesses as to which side of the fence these car-poolers will vote once the curtain is drawn? You know. And so do they. The tactics of the desperate destract while significant issues remain neglected...

A Double Whammy

Saturdays at 1:03 PM means a panic-juiced jab at pre-set number 3 on the car stereo. This is where 1430 am lives. This week's 'This American Life' was titled 'Not What I signed Up For' and was in part about Marion Fontana who’s husband was killed in the World Trade Center on September 11th. She is the president of the 9-11 Widows' and Victims' Families Association and, as a result, she has met the president four times. The final time was at a White House dinner commemorating the second anniversary of the attacks. Ms. Fontana was surprised to find herself seated next to Donald Rumsefield. Conversation eventually turned to the war in Iraq. Rumesfield asked Mrs. Fontana what she thought about it. "You needlessly invaded a country and used my husband’s death as the excuse", was basically her response. Later in the evening she was introduced to George Bush as a widow of 9/11 who’s husband, adding more dark significance to the tragedy, had perished on their wedding anniversary. Bush’s response upon learning of her plight was to declare it, “A double whammy”. No need to refresh this page. You read that right. A double whammy. That is what is our president said to this recently widowed mother. Ms. Fonatana then describes how the secret service followed her around the halls of the White House as she wept.

How can George Bush pretend to be concerned with the quality of life of the unwilling people of Iraq when he has no regard for the American standing in front of him? The Aministration owes the people of this country a guileless explanation that's longer than what will fit on a bumper sticker or serve as a headline and, if ever they do, they should give it first to the widows of this war.

'‘This American Life'’ is, unfortunately, not a free download but is well worth the price this and every week I’ve heard it. Marian Fonatana’s story can also been found in her book 'Widow’s Walk: A Memor of 9/11''.