9/23/2011

Dad's Maxims

1) Heat Rises
2) Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.
3) Ninety percent of life is just showing up.
4) He who controls the language controls the debate.

I woke up this morning thinking about these little sayings that my dad has always repeated as absolute principles of his universe. Perhaps I am reminded of these because I suffered through some of the latest Republican debate last night. All of them seemed to apply directly.

#4 - He who controls the language controls the debate.

Since the democrats have adopted the language of the far right, I really have no hope in any outcomes that I would desire since the battle seems to already be lost. ("Entitlement Programs" like Social Security, unemployment insurance and medicare should be defined as "earned benefits" from a lifetime of work. "Obamacare" is used by the right and left as a term for the very weak and misguided attempts to put a band aid on one of the major crises in this country.)

#3 - Ninety Percent of Life is Just Showing Up.

With apologies to Woody Allen, to whom my dad never gave any credit, the Republicans last night showed up. (Look how much this did for Dennis Kucinich four years ago. It did, however, give him more prominence to make him a lightning rod for the Dems and a tempting target for GOP gerrymandering. I still love Dennis. Sigh.)

#2 - Power Corrupts, Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely

Newt Gingrich - Do we remember what was he doing with regard to his own dying wife and his new girlfriend while he was impeaching Clinton for a blow job? How much exactly is his line of credit at Tiffany's? At what exotic locations was he vacationing while his campaign staff was left holding the bag and looking for funds without his assistance?

Michele Bachmann - How much money has your husband's clinic with questionable social aims received from the government? How is this consistent with your professed ideology?

Ron Paul - He actually seems pretty consistent, but he never seems to have had any power, so I guess this doesn't apply here.

Gov. Romney - He has run away from every position that made him a fair to middling Govenor as opposed to atrocious, so perhaps his is more of a desire for power corrupting.

Gov. Perry - He calls himself a Christian but is proud of executing other human beings?

#1 - Heat Rises

Gov. Perry seems to be topping the polls these days.