Making Political Hay out of Cocktails and Lechery

I can't resist...honestly I can't.

It seems that authorizing war in Iraq, wholesale disregard of the constitution (i.e. overlooking torture, renditions, domestic wiretaps and military tribunals), a slavishness to the will of the Executive Branch, and countless other public travesties will not undo the Congress. Instead, electoral upheaval is about to come from a bevy of emails and instant messages sent between a lecherous Florida Congressman and some young adults who must have found it cool to get the old fart horned up.

I'm not going to excuse any of the parties involved in this whole affair. Nor will I blame them. I couldn't care less where responsibility lies. Perhaps it's with the Congressional leadership. Perhaps it's with the media. Perhaps it's even with the current youth culture, innocently trusting electronic media to be a safe forum for all manner of discussion with all manner of people. None of it concerns me.

Congress has always harbored lecherous, alcoholic hypocrites. While in the capital, few of them make an effort to hide their egregious behavior. Separated from the moderating influence of neighbors and acquaintances, politicians are free to indulge themselves in the spoils of power. Their worldview is skewed by an endless train of supplicants, sycophants and influence-peddlers. Their notion of what's "acceptable" blurs into their notion of what's "re-electable."

I accept that. Besides, who really cares...they're only human, right. If being a Congressman in DC were less fun than being an exterminator in North Texas, who would run for office?

This opinion will--no doubt--lay me open to charges of "citizenycism", but it's true that power and its proximity cause people to behave differently. Watch the way employees flatter the boss, complimenting an ugly tie or laughing at a stupid joke. How long does it take before the boss begins to think himself not only a snappy dresser but a budding comedian too?

I understand how power makes Congresspeople do stupid things, but I don't understand why the electorate is so stupid. Who voted for this guy? And why should the whole mid-term election be about this anyway? Vote the bastards out for the things they've done against the republic, not for their private indiscretions.

Yes, it's the irony that gets me.

This entry was posted by Brian Gaither on Wednesday, October 4. 2006 at 13:34. and is filed under Politics. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own blog. All new comments are subject to moderation before being displayed.

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  1. Jeff says:
    #1 2006-10-04 16:38 (Reply)

    I am not sure if I could agree with you more. This is the "gay marriage" issue in reverse. The Republicans distracted the electorate in 2004 with that non-issue to divert attention from the "war on terror" and the erosion of freedoms. Now, it's come back to bite them with a similarly petty problem. Only this time, it's in their house. Am I principled enough to not relish the prospect that the Republican leadership might lose the house over this when they should be booted out for bigger reasons? Almost. Why are we so unable to engage in a real public discourse about complex issues that have meaningful impact on our future?

  2. Brian Gaither says:
    #1.1 2006-10-04 18:49 (Reply)

    It takes too much effort to think hard about anything substantive. You have to research and study the facts. Then you need to explore the consequences of all the possible policy alternatives. Next you have to decide how you feel about these facts and consequences. Only after you know where you stand, can you evaluate your Congressional representative's position on the same issue. It's much easier to be outraged by a dirty old Congressman cyber-sexing a hormonal teenage lacrosse player.

  3. Zoë says:
    #2 2006-10-06 05:32 (Reply)

    Here are some letters in respnse to an NYT editrial on the Foley controversy. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/06/opinion/l06foley.html


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