Steven P. BarrettJESSE'S SENECTITUDE AND IRRELEVANCY SHOWS ... REALLY SHOWS
July 11th 2008 21:17
Steven Barrett
One of the saddest things an older politician or statesman can do to his reputation is to hang around like a wandering soul looking for some way to maintain relevancy when there's none to be gained.
Politicians aren't the only ones afflicted with this form of slow career and legacy killing diseases. Babe Ruth lingered in baseball long after his greatest home-rung hitting years were past. He became a sorry parody of his former power and danger at the plate. Strike outs followed more strikeouts, boos followed more boos.
Take the case of Jesse Jackson. He hasn't gotten it into either his head or heart that his best days are history. In one way I can empathize with Jackson, as any man in his fifties and sixties, as they face the fact that maybe they've seen and tasted the best success they'll ever get. Call it a case of career calendar-itis. But it's not correct. Just look at Reagan or McCain.
And if Obama should win the next two elections, what's he going to do for an encore when he's not even sixty and done as much as any man can do insofar as hitting pinnacles of success in public service? Secretary General of the UN? Hell, after taming lions and tigers for eight years from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue why the hell would anyone take on the UN when they could just as easily (and deservedly) get out of Dodge on the Potomac and head off to Margaritaville for a year or two.
Rest assured the Obamas aren't going to plot any campaign march like the one Bill and Hillary planned and counted on leading them right to the promised land. Having played the role of "spoiler," Barak Obama knows he and Michelle can have a more enjoyable retirement and prove once like Harry Truman did when he retired -- there's life outside of politics.
So being too young can have its drawbacks, too; but not nearly as bad as looking like the old guy who always stays towards the end of the party, if for no other reason than to just make sure he can ask for a ride home. After all, nobody'd want to leave an old man left alone to himself. Besides the perils of age, subjecting people to the indignity of not-so-benign negligence isn't the way to treat anyone, nor think about him.
Still, Jesse's getting a little edgy and rough around the sleeves when he starts using code words for genital deconstruction of another politician in ways that smack of complete envy. And who can blame Jackson? After all, didn't Jesse and his sidekick, Al Sharpton, pave the way for the Barak Obamas? Yes and no.
Jackson proved in 1988 that an African-American candidate with even fewer credentials than Obama's could win some primaries and momentarily make life hell for white Democratic pols and the eventual Democratic nominee, Mike Dukakis. Did Jackson sit it out?
Yet it was the Republican Colin Powell back in '96 who proved by his own extensive resume, professional judgment, eloquence and calm demeanor that an African-American could scare the living hell out of a sitting white Democratic president. Lately there's been even talk of John McCain offering the VP shot to Secretary of State Condolezza Rice, who never ran for any office before in her entire life.
Al Sharpton, let's just say he's ... an interesting footnote.
Poor Jesse, though ... with apologies to the late Ann Richards who delivered that memorable barn-burner keynote address of the 1988 Democratic Convention in Atlanta -- he can't help being afflicted with a bad case of political senectitude and a hot mic in his mouth. It's the price of thinking he's still THAT relevant enough for the rest of us to really care what he thinks anymore: including his own party.
One of the saddest things an older politician or statesman can do to his reputation is to hang around like a wandering soul looking for some way to maintain relevancy when there's none to be gained.
Politicians aren't the only ones afflicted with this form of slow career and legacy killing diseases. Babe Ruth lingered in baseball long after his greatest home-rung hitting years were past. He became a sorry parody of his former power and danger at the plate. Strike outs followed more strikeouts, boos followed more boos.
Take the case of Jesse Jackson. He hasn't gotten it into either his head or heart that his best days are history. In one way I can empathize with Jackson, as any man in his fifties and sixties, as they face the fact that maybe they've seen and tasted the best success they'll ever get. Call it a case of career calendar-itis. But it's not correct. Just look at Reagan or McCain.
And if Obama should win the next two elections, what's he going to do for an encore when he's not even sixty and done as much as any man can do insofar as hitting pinnacles of success in public service? Secretary General of the UN? Hell, after taming lions and tigers for eight years from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue why the hell would anyone take on the UN when they could just as easily (and deservedly) get out of Dodge on the Potomac and head off to Margaritaville for a year or two.
Rest assured the Obamas aren't going to plot any campaign march like the one Bill and Hillary planned and counted on leading them right to the promised land. Having played the role of "spoiler," Barak Obama knows he and Michelle can have a more enjoyable retirement and prove once like Harry Truman did when he retired -- there's life outside of politics.
So being too young can have its drawbacks, too; but not nearly as bad as looking like the old guy who always stays towards the end of the party, if for no other reason than to just make sure he can ask for a ride home. After all, nobody'd want to leave an old man left alone to himself. Besides the perils of age, subjecting people to the indignity of not-so-benign negligence isn't the way to treat anyone, nor think about him.
Still, Jesse's getting a little edgy and rough around the sleeves when he starts using code words for genital deconstruction of another politician in ways that smack of complete envy. And who can blame Jackson? After all, didn't Jesse and his sidekick, Al Sharpton, pave the way for the Barak Obamas? Yes and no.
Jackson proved in 1988 that an African-American candidate with even fewer credentials than Obama's could win some primaries and momentarily make life hell for white Democratic pols and the eventual Democratic nominee, Mike Dukakis. Did Jackson sit it out?
Yet it was the Republican Colin Powell back in '96 who proved by his own extensive resume, professional judgment, eloquence and calm demeanor that an African-American could scare the living hell out of a sitting white Democratic president. Lately there's been even talk of John McCain offering the VP shot to Secretary of State Condolezza Rice, who never ran for any office before in her entire life.
Al Sharpton, let's just say he's ... an interesting footnote.
Poor Jesse, though ... with apologies to the late Ann Richards who delivered that memorable barn-burner keynote address of the 1988 Democratic Convention in Atlanta -- he can't help being afflicted with a bad case of political senectitude and a hot mic in his mouth. It's the price of thinking he's still THAT relevant enough for the rest of us to really care what he thinks anymore: including his own party.
| 55 |
| Vote |
Comment by S.L.
The Political Brief
Another great one for foundering for a legacy is Jimmy Carter. Habitat for Humanity would have been a nice legacy for him, but he has turned into an annoyance for everyone by butting in where he doesn't belong and messing things up. His anti-Semitism is showing much more than it did when he was president and his failed policies are a little too attractive to Barack Obama. It's a sad state of affairs, Steven, when people don't know the "party's over" and it's time to say "good night."
Comment by Anonymous
It's kinda funny that you mention the "party's over" line since WIllie Nelson was the one who wrote it long before Dandy Dan sang it and even Jimmy was a state senator.
But you know something, Willie can still stay around and not look like a joke because he still produces what people want and it's still quality C & W music.
Contrast that to the lack of quality we're getting from some of "elders" in the Democratic party.
Even Obama's steering a wiiiiiiiide swath from this bunch. Sad to say about Carter since in my more liberal days I campaigned for him. But he really went off track and what would have been a terrific ex-presidency has become a slow-moving trainwreck.
Comment by Anonymous
In fairness to Al Sharpton, he has taken a different stand on the same issue as Jesse Jackson and came out in support of Obama's comments about fatherhood.
I saw this in the Washington Post today.
"It was a courageous, necessary statement," Sharpton said. "I think people misunderstand. I disagree that he's talking down to black people. The civil rights movement of the 21st century must be government accountability and personal responsibility."
It's one thing to disagree with a guy from time to time, but if he's saying what I believe is truthful and helpful, I won't hesitate to bring that to light.
Truth never belongs on the "cutting room floor."
Really Long Link
Jackson Incident Revives Some Blacks' Concerns About Obama
By Perry Bacon Jr.Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, July 11, 2008; Page A04
Comment by S.L.
The Political Brief
I am a big believer in giving credit where credit is due, so Rev. Al gets a thumbs up from me for speaking up. I didn't hear him say it, but I'll take your word for it, Steven. Maybe Rev. Al has decided that he doesn't want to go the way of Rev. Jesse, bumbling along into obscurity with old, failed ideas.
We conservatives have been big on personal responsibility for a long time, it's good to see some of the liberals coming around!