On the Campaign Trail in the Heart of Darkness

There is nothing so mind numbing and desultory as the current spate of television reality shows. Facing questionable judges, one contestant or another survives the ordeal and goes on to grace the covers of the tabloid press. 'American Idol' irritates me the most, yet it also holds up a mirror to how shallow and base the American public has become.

In some wild and unbelievable competition held before addled judges who seem either fawning or abusive, the winner goes on to a recording contract and immediate stardom with appearances on all the late-night talk shows and the booking of concerts around the country. There is no art or experience to it, no creation of a body of work or building of a fan base gained over the years, it is ‘Instant Celebrity’ in its most vile form, of and for itself, propelled onward by a dim-witted and manipulated populace.

Can anyone imagine the Rolling Stones, U2, or Bruce Springsteen existing without the aura and glamour that each has accumulated during the many years that they have spent touring? Let alone the stories and history, and sometimes the tragedy, that go hand in hand with their dedication to the craft and sacrifice of all things personal on the altar of public fame.

Now this ‘Instant Celebrity’ has invaded the world of politics on a national level, here in the 2008 presidential election. Unseen and unknown manipulators have appointed the invisible judges that have selected and thrust Sarah Palin on to the national political stage as a running mate for John McCain. With nothing going for her but a ‘perky’ attitude and the ability to fit within the narrow cookie-cutter template required by the religious right, she has garnered a following of supporters as base and mindless as herself, fawning and servile followers more enamored with form than with substance.

The piece de resistance of this tawdry tale is the fact that Elizabeth Hasselbeck is traveling with Palin on the campaign trail, where she both introduces and speaks in support of the Alaskan governor for the vice presidency. Hasselbeck gained her celebrity status by appearing as a contestant on the CBS reality show ‘Survivor’. After parading out her shapely, sweaty, and scantily clad assets before the educated masses in support of the ‘Survivor’ franchise, she auditioned for a spot on the ABC daily talk show 'The View', and was selected. She has since become become somewhat of a media darling, and has been called “a rising conservative pundit.”

Rising conservative pundit?

These are frightening and dangerous times, indeed. Oh, the horror.

The Manchurian Candidate

Special to Swift-Boat-Veterans-for-untruth-and-lies-who-can-utter-any-falsehood-they-want-because-they-use-the-words-veterans-and-truth-in-their-name:

Watch the new 'Manchurian Candidate' starring John McCain as Sgt Raymond Shaw and Sarah Palin as the vile VP candidate John Iselin. Watch as McCain slowly loses his mind as he toys with the queen of diamonds and the evil VP candidate tears at the democratic ideals of the country under the guise of being pro-American.

There is a certain undeniable truth to this parody. McCain seems to be slowly losing control of himself as the election nears; for someone who says 'Country First' and lauds his own heroic service he certainly seems ready to despoil and vilify anything and anybody who gets in his way. And what contempt he has shown the American people with his choice of running mate. What happened to respect and consensus, and caring about what the majority of the country feels?

Rather than 'Country First', the Republican Party motto should be 'Hate and Ambition', for that is how they act out their drama. Their message is "Hate as much as me" and "Revile institutions and individuals as much as me and we can be mutual partners in destroying what is good and decent in government and people."

He is the Manchurian Candidate, and in a way that is far more subterranean and nefarious than the characters envisioned by Richard Condon in his 1959 novel.

Hollow-cheeked Harlot

"But what is Hope? Nothing but the paint on the face of Existence; the least touch of truth rubs it off, and then we see what a hollow-cheeked harlot we have got hold of." –Lord Byron, poet (1788-1824)

At the current time, for some reason, this quote makes me think of John McCain. He looks old and hollow to me, and terribly made up. He seems stiff when walking, and stands as if he were propped up. And the way he clutches a microphone.......

I laud his service, and salute his honor and patriotism. But I am tired of aged politicians, especially Republicans, when their only spiel is about victory and their main worry involves appeasing religious conservatives.

It's time for McCain to call it a day, before the hollow-cheeked old man inside has his make-up rubbed off.

Laudizen