I have to admit that I was more than surprised that Washington cronyism did not do a better job of insulating Tom Daschle in his bid to become the next Secretary of Health and Human Services. I really expected him to sail through to confirmation without a glitch. Hmmm. Was it just a minor mistake that he failed to pay $128,000 in overdue taxes or was there something more behind it all?
I am inclined to think it is something much more egregious than we are to believe. His many years as a “consultant” to healthcare and other clients since leaving his senate job have been a real boon to his net income. Why hasn’t there been greater exposure in the news media of this rather cozy relationship? I see an inherent conflict of interest in his consultancies and his ascension to the Secretary of Health and Human Services. It would have been an interesting balancing act to witness.
As if all that wasn’t enough, his wife is, or was, a very prominent lobbyist in the corridors of power in Washington. No doubt, she benefited a great deal from her husband’s long-standing tenure in the U.S. Senate and the reputation he gleaned from those years of public service. It almost seems sordid to the point of being incestuous.
Have you ever noticed the fat cats living within the Beltway only commit mistakes, simply forget or overlook questionable behavior? On the other hand, some poor bastard who breaks the law is presumed to be a criminal, outright, no matter the severity of his mistake, forgetfulness or oversight which, at that level on the food chain, we refer to as ‘crimes.’ Kind of smarts of a double standard to me.
Daschle’s conduct must have really been something, compared to the newly confirmed Secretary of the Treasury and the newly appointed Undersecretary of Defense, all of whom have compromised the standards of conduct we should expect of our public servants, and what I thought President Obama was going to require. I guess, rather than dealing in absolutes, what he meant was analogous to the notion that “it’s OK to be just a little bit pregnant.”
When it comes to certain human attributes, I tend to believe in absolutes. Either you are or you are not, and there is nothing in between. Unfortunately, we live with and accept a double standard when it comes to what we expect of family, friends and associates vs. what we will tolerate from our elected officials, the rich and the famous. That just doesn’t fly with me. Do phrases like “All men are created equal,” “No one is above the law,” “Justice is blind,” etc., only have transitory meaning when uttered within the context of lofty speeches and admonitions on ceremonial occasions? Were that the case, the whole concept of equality would ring hollow in the ears of us all. Therefore, why do we tolerate it, much less condone it?
Is that why, when someone kills numbers of people, he/she is a serial killer or mass murderer, destined for life without parole or death by lethal injection? On the other hand, when the President, Vice-President, Secretary of Defense, their associates and minions consign thousands to an early death, or enable their cronies to engage in profiteering, torture, etc., they get a free pass. Are not their crimes just as abhorrent, or more so, than are those of petty criminals? Does justice not shout out for them to be held publicly accountable for their acts before the nation and, indeed, the world? However, our newly elected president has said he prefers to look to the future and not dwell on the past. Sounds like a free pass for some of the worst criminals in our national history. There is nothing fair, right or just about that position at all.
I was really pumped up during Barack Obama’s long journey to the White House. I really believed he was different from those who live within the bubble of our nation’s capitol. I truly believed he marched to a different drummer, and held himself to a higher standard than the run-of-the-mill politicians. It has taken just two short weeks for me to begin cooling on what I believed vs. what I am seeing. As far as I am concerned, the times call for strong and decisive leadership, consummate statesmanship, and an ironclad respect for and commitment to the rule of law. What I see in the President is more akin to the group facilitator in organizational development striving for consensus. That is not what we need and I am somewhat uncomfortable that isn’t what we are getting.
Another thing that sticks in my craw is, whenever there is a scandal or criminal conduct by one of our nation’s leaders, the excuse we are given for letting them off Scot-free or with a slap on the wrist, is that the nation cannot be put through the agony it would cause. That is nothing more than an unmitigated pile of crap. It is an insult to the savvy, moral stamina and inherent decency of the American people. We want justice and fairness for everyone, not just a select few. We don’t buy into the notion of privileged characters. We have the fortitude to bear adversity and carry burdens far greater than our elected elites give us credit for.
The time has come for those we put in office to stop blowing smoke up our asses, give us the respect we deserve and hold every damned one of us to the same standards of conduct and to the rule of law. You owe us more and we deserve no less.
Time to get real!
Cowboy Bob
February 3, 2009
I am inclined to think it is something much more egregious than we are to believe. His many years as a “consultant” to healthcare and other clients since leaving his senate job have been a real boon to his net income. Why hasn’t there been greater exposure in the news media of this rather cozy relationship? I see an inherent conflict of interest in his consultancies and his ascension to the Secretary of Health and Human Services. It would have been an interesting balancing act to witness.
As if all that wasn’t enough, his wife is, or was, a very prominent lobbyist in the corridors of power in Washington. No doubt, she benefited a great deal from her husband’s long-standing tenure in the U.S. Senate and the reputation he gleaned from those years of public service. It almost seems sordid to the point of being incestuous.
Have you ever noticed the fat cats living within the Beltway only commit mistakes, simply forget or overlook questionable behavior? On the other hand, some poor bastard who breaks the law is presumed to be a criminal, outright, no matter the severity of his mistake, forgetfulness or oversight which, at that level on the food chain, we refer to as ‘crimes.’ Kind of smarts of a double standard to me.
Daschle’s conduct must have really been something, compared to the newly confirmed Secretary of the Treasury and the newly appointed Undersecretary of Defense, all of whom have compromised the standards of conduct we should expect of our public servants, and what I thought President Obama was going to require. I guess, rather than dealing in absolutes, what he meant was analogous to the notion that “it’s OK to be just a little bit pregnant.”
When it comes to certain human attributes, I tend to believe in absolutes. Either you are or you are not, and there is nothing in between. Unfortunately, we live with and accept a double standard when it comes to what we expect of family, friends and associates vs. what we will tolerate from our elected officials, the rich and the famous. That just doesn’t fly with me. Do phrases like “All men are created equal,” “No one is above the law,” “Justice is blind,” etc., only have transitory meaning when uttered within the context of lofty speeches and admonitions on ceremonial occasions? Were that the case, the whole concept of equality would ring hollow in the ears of us all. Therefore, why do we tolerate it, much less condone it?
Is that why, when someone kills numbers of people, he/she is a serial killer or mass murderer, destined for life without parole or death by lethal injection? On the other hand, when the President, Vice-President, Secretary of Defense, their associates and minions consign thousands to an early death, or enable their cronies to engage in profiteering, torture, etc., they get a free pass. Are not their crimes just as abhorrent, or more so, than are those of petty criminals? Does justice not shout out for them to be held publicly accountable for their acts before the nation and, indeed, the world? However, our newly elected president has said he prefers to look to the future and not dwell on the past. Sounds like a free pass for some of the worst criminals in our national history. There is nothing fair, right or just about that position at all.
I was really pumped up during Barack Obama’s long journey to the White House. I really believed he was different from those who live within the bubble of our nation’s capitol. I truly believed he marched to a different drummer, and held himself to a higher standard than the run-of-the-mill politicians. It has taken just two short weeks for me to begin cooling on what I believed vs. what I am seeing. As far as I am concerned, the times call for strong and decisive leadership, consummate statesmanship, and an ironclad respect for and commitment to the rule of law. What I see in the President is more akin to the group facilitator in organizational development striving for consensus. That is not what we need and I am somewhat uncomfortable that isn’t what we are getting.
Another thing that sticks in my craw is, whenever there is a scandal or criminal conduct by one of our nation’s leaders, the excuse we are given for letting them off Scot-free or with a slap on the wrist, is that the nation cannot be put through the agony it would cause. That is nothing more than an unmitigated pile of crap. It is an insult to the savvy, moral stamina and inherent decency of the American people. We want justice and fairness for everyone, not just a select few. We don’t buy into the notion of privileged characters. We have the fortitude to bear adversity and carry burdens far greater than our elected elites give us credit for.
The time has come for those we put in office to stop blowing smoke up our asses, give us the respect we deserve and hold every damned one of us to the same standards of conduct and to the rule of law. You owe us more and we deserve no less.
Time to get real!
Cowboy Bob
February 3, 2009
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