Crankcase

Two bags of jelly beans, a ten-year old and a Tilt-A-Whirl.

Since I'm from Jersey, I feel almost obligated to comment on McGreevey. First off, a quick note to the major news networks: it's not about him being gay any more than the brutal murders in Florida had anything to do with a XBox. I've always had a strong feeling that, if you are a public figure, one's personal life should not be on display and under scrutiny except for the most grevious reasons. Personally, if you keep my taxes in check and try to good for the state and not for the well-funded lobbyists, the governor can be caught eating out of dumpsters while dressed in leotards and I won't do so much as shrug.

Think of it in political terms. You're hiding a very powerful secret from your staff, your constituents and even your family. Someone else knows this secret and is going to try to extort money from you or broadcast what you know to the world. Do you:

a) Put on a brave face for the next year while trying to dodge reporters and rumor mills?

b) Go on the offensive and try to get the blackmailer jailed, while avoiding the obvious questions it will generate?

c) Admit to having an affair with a man, thus turning a potential headline grabbing story into a page two side bar?

Pick "a" and there will always be lingering questions about you, even if the rumors prove totally unfounded. Answer "b" would likely end up with the guv at the business end of a pistol and a hastily written note explaining what went wrong. Love him or hate him, you have to give McGreevey credit for having the courage to pick answer "c." I know a lot of politicians would either try to pay the guy off or put up with the rumors and leave office quietly at the end of their term.

It is curious that physical courage should be so common in the world and moral courage so rare.  ~Mark Twain

posted by: Jiggsy at 08/13/04 10:51 | link | comments |

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