The Emperor's New Clothes.

The Emperor's New Clothes.

Mark Twain once said, "Beware all enterprises requiring new clothes."

So, those of you starting college, new life situations, first time runs for political office: When you do buy your 'new clothes', don't forget your basic political values.

You bring lots to the table when you run for office and serve your community:

Professional experience. Personal story. Your thoughts on policy.

Professional experience: Whether you are a doctor, nurse, teacher, clerk, lawyer, stay-at-home parent, retiree, plumber, business owner ----you bring THAT experience and problem solving common sense to the Council or Township Committee.

Personal story: Who are you and where you grew up gives you your personal values. This is EXTREMELY important in the ever changing world of local politics. Don't ever forget where you came from, and your core alues.

Your policy and politics: Centrists. moderates, middle of the road thinkers, poll watchers have never moved this country forward one bit. Those who have a passion for an issue, and a willingness to share that POV in a democratic society are the true movers and skakers.

A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both. President Dwight D. Eisenhower

A quote from perhaps the last really good Republican president. The general who won WWII [along with Private First Class Bernie Novick, of course] said some really smart things about the military industrial complex, and about “values”.

And ‘core values’ is what the national Republican Party is so bereft of these days. Here’s an example:

I ran in to Henry Kuhl, Hunterdon County Republican Chairman tonight at a local event on Main Street in Flemington. I asked him who he thought would win the Republican nomination for president. “Giuliani. Rudy Giuliani will be the next president of the United States. And Fred Thompson will be the Vice president.”

Interesting, I thought.

“Do you really think the Christian Conservatives in the South will vote for a pro-choice, pro-gay liberal Italian Catholic from New York? Someone who has been divorced and dressed in drag kissing Donald Trump?” I inquired. “Those southern primaries will be tough for him in your Party.”

“Well, you don’t understand something. The Republicans want to win.”
Thanks for the news flash, Henry.

“So, the Christian right-wing Republicans in the south want to win so badly, that they are willing to give up their core values and support Giuliani ---someone who shares so little with them politically?” Of course, this is assuming that someone like Giuliani, who also supports President Bush on the Iraqi War can win, period.

A resident who was standing with us then asked him about the Harcar-Karrow incident. Henry looked flummoxed at both questions, but continued. “I need to get to a meeting. And I am not going to say anything bad about anyone. I am a positive person who says positive things.”

Huh? Sounds pretty valueless to me.

I still think that any Democrat in this race can take on any Republican and win. Those are my values, and I am sticking to them.