Al Franken is, I believe, the very type of person the Founding Fathers had in mind as the ideal public servant when they initiated this bold experiment in democratic self-government two-hundred and thirty-three years ago this Saturday: a concerned citizen who would put aside his plowshares (or in Al's case, his Stuart Smalley costume) and head off to the nation's capital to legislate for the people. The thing that has always struck me when reading his books (and I've read them all) is his almost schoolboy-like attachment to - and belief in - all that is good in this country and its potential to do better.
At the conclusion of his 2005 book, The Truth (with jokes), Al wrote a letter dated October 2, 2015 to his three, yet-to-be-born grandchildren:
"Both my parents worked hard and had to overcome adversity in their lives. Like almost everyone does. My Mom developed rheumatoid arthritis at an early age and was in constant pain most of her life. She was married on crutches. Still, she told us, "It's a great life if you don't weaken." And she didn't. After my brother and I were old enough, she became a real estate agent. At dinner, she made sure we had meat and always - ALWAYS - a fresh vegetable. At the table she would tell us about business and things like "redlining." Banks wouldn't lend money to black people who wanted to buy houses in certain neighborhoods. She told us this was wrong. And that's why your Granddad works so hard [in the Senate] to make sure that banks continue lending money to the poor, to minorities and to women, not just to buy homes, but to start businesses."
Now that's what I call real moral values. That's the kind of person I wouldn't mind representing me in the Senate (Nothing personal, Chuck). By the way, in that same letter he predicted, not only his own career in politics, but also the two-term presidency of Barack Obama. This was a year-and-a-half before Obama even announced his candidacy. How's that for prescience? Not bad, Al! Not bad!
"The two parties have combined against us to nullify our power by a ‘gentleman's agreement' of non-recognition, no matter how we vote ... May God write us down as asses if ever again we are found putting our trust in either the Republican or the Democratic Parties." -- W.E.B. DuBois (1922)
The Crazies - Starring Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin, Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, The Tea Partiers, and the ill informed (clueless) American voter. The summary of the actual movie doesn't seem too far off the mark. Irrationality and plain lunacy have taken over American politics and is creeping into mainstream culture. Soon American voters will return the same people to power (The Republicans) who presided over the worst economic collapse since the Great Depression. In addition to having very short memories, Americans apparently don't have much in terms of brains or reasoning ability. What happened to common sense? I have absolutely no faith in the American voter. None. The crazies have definitely taken over. The ill-informed voter is the most dangerous voter of all. And now (thanks to the American education system) these folks exist in great numbers and will be making decisions for the rest of us through the ballot box. This essentially means that gridlock will become the norm. The U.S. is going to be paralyzed and held hostage by the nuts on the right for the foreseeable future. Meanwhile, when the Country needs bold political leadership and action the most...when the Country will need to do big bold things as it did under Lincoln, FDR, Eisenhower, & Kennedy, this time it won't be able to respond to the great challenges that it faces. Other Countries will take the lead role instead.... while the U.S. falls behind.
The Republican Media Page
A page focusing on the Republican Right Wing media and its war against President Barack Obama and any kind of Progressive policies to move the Country forward. Yes, the Republican Party IS led by Rush Limbaugh & Co. And yes, Rush Limbaugh & Co. DOES speak for Republicans...and they have been the spokesmen & the foot soldiers for the Republican Party for years. See why their hate speech & divisive politics are so dangerous to the Country and understand their current propaganda campaign aimed at undermining President Obama and weakening his government and the Country. Hoping that Obama fails in these uncertain times = hoping that the Country fails (in the minds of these bigoted Republicans...it's all about their own political gain).
Mayer Hawthorne - How Do You Do Mayer Hawthorne - A Strange Arrangement
Stevie Wonder - Songs In The Key of Life
Black Keys - Brother
Fontella Bass- Free
Omar - There's Nothing Like This
Truth Teller In Spotlight
Robert Reich
Liar In the Spotlight - Our Worst Person List
Willard Romney When is he not lying about something? He lies, misleads and flipflops whenever it's convenient. I haven't noticed anything genuine about him yet. His comment about not being concerned about the very poor was revealing (one of the few moments when he slipped up and allowed himself to be honest about something). That statement took the cake. (The idea that he could become POTUS scares the Hell out of me)
2 comments:
Al Franken is, I believe, the very type of person the Founding Fathers had in mind as the ideal public servant when they initiated this bold experiment in democratic self-government two-hundred and thirty-three years ago this Saturday: a concerned citizen who would put aside his plowshares (or in Al's case, his Stuart Smalley costume) and head off to the nation's capital to legislate for the people. The thing that has always struck me when reading his books (and I've read them all) is his almost schoolboy-like attachment to - and belief in - all that is good in this country and its potential to do better.
At the conclusion of his 2005 book, The Truth (with jokes), Al wrote a letter dated October 2, 2015 to his three, yet-to-be-born grandchildren:
"Both my parents worked hard and had to overcome adversity in their lives. Like almost everyone does. My Mom developed rheumatoid arthritis at an early age and was in constant pain most of her life. She was married on crutches. Still, she told us, "It's a great life if you don't weaken." And she didn't. After my brother and I were old enough, she became a real estate agent. At dinner, she made sure we had meat and always - ALWAYS - a fresh vegetable. At the table she would tell us about business and things like "redlining." Banks wouldn't lend money to black people who wanted to buy houses in certain neighborhoods. She told us this was wrong. And that's why your Granddad works so hard [in the Senate] to make sure that banks continue lending money to the poor, to minorities and to women, not just to buy homes, but to start businesses."
Now that's what I call real moral values. That's the kind of person I wouldn't mind representing me in the Senate (Nothing personal, Chuck). By the way, in that same letter he predicted, not only his own career in politics, but also the two-term presidency of Barack Obama. This was a year-and-a-half before Obama even announced his candidacy. How's that for prescience? Not bad, Al! Not bad!
http://www.tomdegan.blogspot.com
Tom Degan
Tom,
I agree on Franken being the right kind of Senator, particularly considering how so many members of Congress are owned by corporate interests.
I don't know about the prediction of two-terms for Obama. My doubts and skepticism have returned since the election.
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