"FROM RHETORIC TO REALITY": ONE WEEK TO GO Since the start of the 20th century, there have been huge transitions in the way America elects Presidents. In 1941, daily front page headlines and nightly news radio were all we had to announce a 2nd World War!

The post-war 50's through the 70's brought the arrival of the world of on site television coverage, and, of all things, political conventions.

Finally, in the last two decades of the 20th century and eight years into the 21st, the internet and instant wireless communication have us endlessly bombarded with up to the minute election coverage.

Amidst the technology, a new demon has arisen: a quantum increase in campaign length, candidate spending, and petty attack ads devoid of content. In short, rhetoric has begun to surpass reality.

In Maryland's 4th Congressional district, a shining example of the wasteful advertising is producing no content: Andy Harris vs. Frank Kratovil. Knowing Harris as a respected physician and credible advocate for protecting doctors in Maryland from law suit abuse, there has been no reference to this important policy issue. Campaign advertisements for candidate Kratovil have told us virtually nothing.

It is time for Americans to demand an election process that is issue driven and no longer run by handlers and paid media. The cost has become unreasonably high. The separation between election rhetoric and the reality of governing has become too wide to tolerate!

REALITY in the "Final Turn" of Campaign 2008

In Maryland, rhetoric takes priority over reality in the ongoing attacks on slots as a source of income by the spendthrift Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot. In a thoughtful analysis, respected political columnist Barry Rascovar notes that "Franchot, the loudest anti-slots voice, has tried to demean slots backers and demonize the one-armed bandits. Yet he has never laid out a comprehensive economic plan for surviving the recession without Maryland's share of income from slots".

Maryland is not a two party state; therefore, the source of rhetoric over reality is entrenched political power of longtime legislators and officeholders. One example is Senate President Mike Miller. Maryland Governors come and go, but the Miller goes on! The Miller rhetoric of "everything's fine; I'm handling it" goes on as a prime example of rhetoric over reality.

What MUST be done? Organizing a Government

Just last week, I had the opportunity for an intellectual "reunion" with Stephen Hess, Fellow Emeritus at the Brookings Institution, and a friend whom I first met through Dr. Milton Eisenhower, Johns Hopkins President and advisor to eight U.S. Presidents. Steve has also served as an advisor to every Presidential transition since his first job as an assistant to U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower. Steve's most recent book, "What Do We Do Now?" is described as a "workbook for the President-Elect". In a short snapshot introduction, "Getting Started", Steve describes reality setting in, over the endless campaign rhetoric of the past two years. In his words, that reality is "The President needs help!"

We Must Reform a Broken Election Process

The American election "system" is no longer working. It has become a tool of the political "handlers" ad agencies and media cash registers. To make the case for reform, look at how the $1.2 + BILLION thrown at advertising rhetoric might otherwise be used. Let's be specific. What if a Presidential candidate were to commit 2/3 of his contribution to nonprofit community projects that help people?

Her are three example projects with which I am familiar or have given volunteer help:

Boots for Baltimore raises $50,000 annually to distribute 2,000 pairs of boots to homeless people through 30 help agencies. All work is done by volunteers, my wife Suzanne among them. She and five others started "Boots" more than 20 years ago.

Jericho is a prisoner rehabilitation program that trains recently released people from jails, to receive counseling, learn to seek and secure employment. Funded and working for the past three years under a Dept. of Labor grant and private contributions totaling over $700,000.

The ARK is a daily care and education program for pre-school children who are either homeless or live in broken family situations.

The American political system can reform itself, conform to 1st Amendment purpose, and end the system of future politicians being tied to rhetoric and money as the way Americans elect their leaders. The time has come and it is NOW!  7:58 PM •  0 Comments •

2008: A CROSS ROADS ELECTION - AN ECONOMIC CRISIS The REAL new year has begun in October 2008 with a calendar twist. This is October 7, not December 7! But the United States seams to be facing a potential "financial Pearl Harbor". The endless election campaign seems less and less relevant as the politicians spend time and rhetoric on issues like Obama's friendship with a war protestor and McCain's connection with a lobbyist for the savings and loan industry. Although not constructive, these past events are more of the endless two year election campaign's "attack ads" syndrome.

This week the financial world of Wall Street has seen a drop between 300 and 800 in one day, bringing the Dow Jones level to below 10,000 for the first time in nearly a decade. This roller coaster activity is proof that economic results will take time, and that sweeping government legislation is not the complete solution.

Congress passed the controversial legislation that will require American taxpayers to bail out Wall Street for $780 billion; and we witnessed the hearing of Richard Fuld, embattled CEO of the Lehman financial giant, whose bonuses and salary combinations have totaled $480 million in that same decade. As we are forced to stomach a "bailout" legislation carrying baggage of Congressional "earmarks", (a new name for good ol’ fashioned "political pork" and bridges to nowhere), and we witness two more Presidential debates, the need to go beyond platitudes grows more necessary than ever.

To give some necessary perspective to the excesses of 2008 election rhetoric and the politics of Congress, let us first apply some historical perspective to elections past, some of which took place during uncertain economic times.


What is Past? Is it "Prologue"?

Every fourth year, during a Presidential election, the change is often hidden as summer fades and autumn begins. To a large degree, it is the final turn in what has become known as an endless campaign: two years of television and internet advertisements with more rhetoric than substance, consultants, political handlers, and money poured into a system that subsidizes both the media and those who "manage" the candidates.

As we approach the final turn of a national "Presidential Preakness" race, is the substance of issues and the candidates' capacity to actually govern as President becoming less important? Attack ads are not new. Here are just a few historical examples of what former politicians said before the media onslaught began to take over:

1860 "My opponent is a big-eared baboon".

Edwin Stanton referring to a Springfield lawyer, Abraham Lincoln. Stanton became Secretary of War during four of the most traumatic years in American history. As described in Doris Kearns Goodwin's revealing perspective, "Team of Rivals", Lincoln created a true coalition cabinet to shepherd the nation through a civil war.

1912 "He has the personality of an apothecary clerk".

Theodore Roosevelt speaking about Woodrow Wilson in the 1912 three man race where split votes between "Rough Rider" and heavyweight (literally) Teddy made a little known college professor a future World War I President.

1920 "I know he is not intelligent; but he looks like a President".

Henry Cabot Lodge, Senator and old school Boston aristocrat, in a Chicago hotel smoke-filled room session suggested that the Republican convention could best select appearance as the criterion for a campaign that was to call for a "return to normalcy". Result?: Warren Harding, a truly “lesser light" in the White House .

1932 "...an amiable country squire with no noticeable qualifications to be President".

Walter Lippman, the intellectual "wise man" of American journalistic opinion, commenting on Hudson River Valley aristocrat Franklin Roosevelt's campaign for President after just four years as New York Governor, in the midst of the worst economic crisis ever faced by the United States.

At the 1980 Presidential debate after a long-winded observation by President Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan smiled and sighed, "There he goes again." In this case, the humor was a preview of a candidate who, like FDR, had a unique way of connecting with the average voter and it worked in enabling him to reach far beyond the perception of an actor who could do little else. Ronald Reagan shifted the national gears toward "creative conservatism". Both Truman and Reagan were underestimated in the heat of the campaign process.

And, in 1968, Maryland's temporarily notorious entry into national politics was the nomination of its relatively unknown Governor, Spiro Agnew, for Vice-President. When asked why he was selected, Republican nominee Richard Nixon replied: "No one knows anything bad about him". Less than five years later, Agnew became the first Vice President to select resignation over court indictment and (likely) conviction for corruption.

Is What’s Past...Prologue?

Were these campaign observations predictions of anything to come? The answer is clear: No! With the exceptions of Harding and Agnew, all of those candidates belittled by opponents and commentators turned out as leaders under the pressures and demands of governance. What history says is that past campaigns have been silly, superficial and carried the potential of "surprise" in producing leaders who did lead. Lincoln and the two Roosevelts became surprise symbols of strength. Is that the benchmark of what lies ahead after a new President is inaugurated on January 20, 2009?

Did the debates separate reality from rhetoric? Will this seemingly endless campaign result in relief for American taxpayers and business owners?

Stay tuned for the conclusion of "2008: A CROSSROADS ELECTION -AN ECONOMIC CRISIS", to appear before the November 4th vote……….  10:50 AM •  0 Comments •