Doonesbury by Garry Trudeau for October 31, 2010
October 30, 2010
November 01, 2010
Transcript:
Zonker: Sure could go for a few rays... ah, what's the harm? Boopsie: Zonker, I saw a poll recently that might interest you... Only 8% of Ohio voters have a favorable opinion of John Boehner's tan. Isn't that amazing? Why would a potential Speaker of the House invite such ridicule? Even Obama calls him a "person of color." Zonker: Yeah, Boehner should probably stay in his own lane, race wise... but I'm guessing he's a problem tannist. Once you've perfected that caramel coating, it's wicked hard to stop. I mean, I used to tan professionaly, and I still got hooked. I'll be a recovering tannist for the rest of my life! Boopsie: Hey, why don't you reach out to him, Zonk? Sam: Yeah! You must be like a god to him! Zonker: Well, I'd take his call, but he has to want to change!
jrholden1943 - YES! The function of a politician (even one with lofty goals for the office) is Job#1- to get elected.
Once in the job (first day, I’m told) they get introduced to the hamster wheel of fund raising, since Job#2 is -you guessed it- to get REelected.
I heard an interview last weekend with a Brit who mentioned, almost in passing, that they have NO campaign financing, and the campaign can only last six weeks. Sounds like Nirvana from here, drowning in those slick cards (and I stay far away from the TV). Any TV coverage is as news (remember news?)
Wow. If we were to try such a thing, and let all interested participants (almost said parties, but sure, them too) join in lively debate about issues (remember issues? Not mud, the issues that the rest of us care about?) what couldn’t we do?