During the political season we in New York are bombarded by radio and television political ads not only for our own local races but also for races in our neighboring state of New Jersey. So, now, a couple of days after Election Day, I feel as though I know way more about the candidates for governor of New Jersey than I do about some members of my own family.
Well, Harlan Coben, mystery writer extraordinaire and former president of the Mystery Writers of America ,wrote an op-ed piece in the New York Times about his life-long friend, Chris Christie, the governor-elect of New Jersey. In this terrific essay, Coben reminds us that politicians, are, after all the shouting and the hoopla, just folks. Folks with whom we may disagree, but folks none the less.
As a fervent idealist who still thinks we can change the world if we stick together and do the right thing, I sometimes need to be reminded so that I don’t expect miracles to occur five minutes after I cast my vote. Thanks, Harlan.
Terrie
Thursday, November 5, 2009
A Different View
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5 comments:
Thank you, Terrie for the reminder. I share the idealism, and I remember the 60's, and there are leaders I've assumed have godlike qualities.
I remember the 60's, too. (vaguely - I was 12 when they ended.....)
So is your political season over now, or just starting?
Lois,
It is very easy to think that politicians with whom we disagree are agents of the devil, while those we agree with are beyond wonderful.
df Bag Lady,
The November elections signify the end of the election season. The Federal political season never ends.
Our entire House of Representatives (435 members, I think) and approximately 1/3 of our 100 Senators will be up for re-election next November, with primaries starting in the spring, so every little nuance the Feds do is being watched by someone with political ambitions.
What with the economy, the health care debate, and the environmental issues on the domestic side, and the two wars and other foreign policy issues, politics is with us night and day.
Terrie
The super-local advertising is a rather peculiar thing, isn't it? You watch ads for things in which you have no interest, for pols you couldn't vote for, plumbers you couldn't hire...it's a strange phenomenon!
Laura,
I guess the advertisers are willing to pay to bore us to death in order to reach the audience they desire.
Seems like such a waste!
Terrie
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