Archive for Rod Young
03.05.12
Posted in Rod Young at 11:36 PM by Tanna K
(This article ran on the editorial pages of tinytowngazette.com) – hard copy and web)
by Rod Young
Although the syntax of the phrase “conflict of interest” is clear, this political No-No has been so narrowly defined over recent years as to be nearly meaningless. If a public servant or pol is not directly advantaged financially by his action or actions, then legally he or she is not in conflict.
For example, a pol whose property is located in the controversial “Cat Damn” wetland in Cohasset must “recuse” himself or herself from participation in any related issue, because property values can be affected.
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01.23.12
Posted in Rod Young at 11:42 AM by Tanna K
by Rod Young
Must be love, for it’s certainly not politics as usual, nursed by ‘mother’s milk ….’
It’s non generic Newt – older, wiser, and perhaps even quicker. Better than a laugh a minute.
Each of nearly 20 presidential debates has proven entertaining to record setting audiences, entirely because of the rhetorical brilliance of the former Speaker. Viewers only have been impatient that debate moderators put their questions to him rather than to Governor Rick Perry, former governor John Huntsman, Rep. Michele Bachman, or businessman Herman Cain, all now 2012 also-rans.
Romney’s fans appear inveterate Obama detractors, persuaded that only a liberal former Massachusetts governor will attract enough independents in the general election to defeat the President.
Septuagenarian Ron Paul delivers a populist libertarian philosophy – and stand-up often on a par with Gingrich – but along with quixotic gibberish about isolationism.
Few laugh lines attend ‘solid family man’ Rick Santorum’s sermons. Incredibly he preaches that he occupies the tepid middle – “just right” – between Mitt’s cold and Newt’s hot.
In a war of words, never would the poetic Speaker allude to temperature of porridge.
Following his blowout victory Saturday evening, Gingrich pooh-poohed left-handed compliments. Gingrich credited his prowess on the stump to staunch and uncompromising – and therefore eloquent – support of the beliefs and ideals of true Americans.
Can Newt’s 41% to Romney’s 28% and Santorum’s 13% in the South Carolina primary be a fluke? Pundits credit the SC contest as the infallible predictor of the Republican nominee for the past three decades.
Since punditry has proven remarkably off the mark regarding Gingrich’s prospects over three months, there must be new (old?) political maltose a flowin,’ other than $$Mom’s this go-around. It seems Obama might be as vulnerable to a clever laugh line by Newt – ridiculing presidential ‘unsuccesses’ – as to the predictable condemnations of businessman Romney or Cain.
Gingrich might well be up to the grandiloquence, the soaring rhetoric – or “grandiosity,” as Santorum opined – of a Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, FDR, or JFK, the most eloquent of all U.S. presidents to date. Strangely the lot of these (not excluding Lincoln) were abashed womanizers – glib then not for nothing. The Speaker appears akin.
Political themes stated ad nauseam become insufferable. John Edward’s “Two America’s” comes to mind. Gingrich is spontaneous – never telepromptered – and therefore perceived by a swelling constituency as authentic. His warts are becoming beauty marks.
A pedagogue who inspires is more a treat to the liberal establishment overall – that is, to costly Great Society fiefdoms – as to a sitting Democrat president. There can be little doubt from here on that the Democrat focus on Romney as the probable Republican nominee is but a ploy to dispel the advent of a more concerning philosopher phenom (king?).
Given that Gingrich prevailed among voters in all South Carolinian demographics – even moderates – his momentum can only intensify in Florida and beyond.
No advisor need instruct this man,
‘Be yourself.’
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11.28.11
Posted in Rod Young at 11:26 AM by Tanna K
by Rod Young
When candidates and/or their staff attend a really worthy electioneering course the novices find difficulty in believing that voter apathy is the most important reality. Issues are not king. Form generally prevails over substance. (Will Obama Prevail?)
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09.06.11
Posted in Rod Young at 6:04 PM by Tanna K
by Rod Young
It may be only a statistical quirk hitting precisely net-zero job growth in a given month – the first such omen since 1945. However, the Obama administration chronicled the feat in August 2011.
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07.26.11
Posted in Rod Young at 12:17 PM by Tanna K
by Rod Young
Has the reality of the fiscal impasse on the Hill become painfully obvious?
Most want to believe that a well meaning right (Republicans) are contesting a well meaning left (Democrats)? Therefore, a compromise is in the offing, lest the “full faith and credit of the United States” be compromised.
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06.14.11
Posted in Rod Young at 11:53 AM by Tanna K
by Rod Young
It seems the American brand of charismatic leadership and statesmanship has waned over our nearly three centuries. Where’s the Jefferson, Washington, Adams, or Henry? Even technocrat Hamilton was flamboyant while very impolite.
The Roman Republic likewise started with towering likes of Caesar and Augustus and their huge followings, then dwindled over five centuries to a point when hapless Romulus Augustus squandered the last Denarii.
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02.27.11
Posted in Rod Young at 4:12 PM by Tanna K
The impressive show by tens of thousands of public-school teachers out to “Kill the Bill” in front of Wisconsin’s capitol might have gone unnoticed prior to the ‘Great Recession.’ Probably it would not have happened.
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