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Quote of the Day: Politics
“Politics is show business for ugly people.” – Sen. Fred Thompson
If anyone should know, it is the late Fred Thompson, who was both during his lifetime. And we saw it illustrated this week in Washington. The impeachment is less a trial than a bunch of Hollywood wannabes behaving as if they were in some movie about a trial. They are less concerned about the facts and the law than they are about putting on virtuoso performances. (It is easy to give a virtuoso performance if you are unmoored by the truth.) The acting has been over the top and, except for the credulous few, unconvincing.
And all the overacting seems to have achieved is to alienate Republican senators inclined to listen to the Democrats’ arguments. (When you lose Lisa Murkowski, you really demonstrate ineptness.) But the clown show will go on because no one on either side has enough nerve to put it to the merciful death it deserves.
Published in Politics
I voted for Fred in the ’08 Florida primaries. His campaign baseball cap sits next to Ben Carson’s in my closet. These choices say something about me as a voter, but I’m not sure what.
if I recall correctly, Fred served as a lawyer during the Watergate impeachment proceedings, then became an actor, and then went back to politics
Tom Shillue’s impersonation of Adam Schiff on Fox does show that if Schiff wants to make a second try at hitting it big in Hollywood, he’s got a chance. Except instead of trying to do it as a writer, he needs to work as a character actor specializing in roles involving crazed psychotics. Those eyes would just sell the lunatic personality so well.
Was both what?
Exactly. And the news has taken on the role of movie reviewers. “Two thumbs up for Adam Schiff!” I’m surprised they aren’t dressing in gowns and tuxes for their red carpet interviews.
Your endorsement is the death knell of a candidacy?
Actor and Washington politician.
Don’t give them ideas.
Seawriter will sea what I meant write away: Friends don’t let [writer] friends write sleepy ;-). Poets can get away with it.
I knew what you meant, Mark. You’re as transparent as a dirty window.
I was hoping that you did not, since I had difficulty interpreting the reply, which would then be sarcasm, as good-natured fun.
(I tend to have a Pollyann-ish delusion that everyone has the same liking and respect for me that I have for them. Most of the time, my inner reality is much more pleasant as a result, but when reality intrudes…it can be a little awkward!)
Oh, no, don’t think that. I merely replied because someone else might stumble over that wording, too, and I thought it best to clarify.
Whew!! Thanks for putting my over-sensitive mind at rest, Arahant.
So *that’s* what happened to Ted Cruz!
Me, too, friend.
I always question “weak Republicans” such as Murkowski and Collins. Are they really Democrats within, but sucker enough”moderates” and RINOS to win their states? Or are just interested in potential payola by being fence sitters?
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I liked Fred a lot, too. I was on the NRO 2008 cruise with him and his family. He had a young wife and I think she wanted him to get back into serious politics. They had two little kids on the cruise. What a shame as he was a great guy. Toomey, who was also on the cruise, is a jerk. Romney, of course, was being sweet.
Murkowski is as crooked as her father, who Sarah Palin beat for Governor. Collins is from a state that has probably 75% of adults on Medicaid. She is OK but has a largely blue state.
Good sense.
Fred was so laid back he was the first to attempt a Presidential mosey.
I voted for Fred Thompson twice in his Tennessee Senate runs. I met him in DC and discovered he was quite tall. I’m 6′ and he towered over me. He ran for Senate promising to stay only for two terms and stuck to the promise. If he had chosen to run a third time he would have won handily, but he remained true to his campaign promise. Lamar Alexander could learn thing or two from Fred Thompson about self-term limits.
I loved Fred Thompson! I was sad when he died. I liked who he was.