Last weekend, the TODAY show interviewed some 18-year old who has
just been elected mayor of Spoonlick, Wisconsin, or some other
similarly-named burg. Jenna Wolfe interviewed him, and I had a bet
going on with Peggy that at any moment the kid was going to answer her
question with "Hyuk-hyuk!" or something else Stoogeworthy. For 18, he
acted about 14, and a touch of sophistication is becoming to an elected
official, for my money. Even for a little town out in middle of flyover
country, you have to figure there is something important for the mayor
to do, if it's only showing up at barn fires to hand out donuts to
firefighters.
Do you remember the episode of Barney Miller in which Det. Harris went on vacation and brought Barney one of those corny bolo 
ties from Wyoming? And then Wojo 
is hypnotized to help him remember details of a case and starts going
on about how "Harris brought one of those corny bolo ties and gave it to
Barney as a joke! But Barney didn't know it was a joke, so he started wearin' it!"
I
think it's much the same here. Not so long ago in Minnesota, a group
of people thought they would send a significant message of their disdain
with politics by voting for blockhead wrestler Jesse "The Body" 
Ventura to be governor of their state. Had just a couple of thousand
people from the Great State of Minnesota voted for the burly grappler,
perhaps everyone would have said, "Oh ha ha, that's funny; people voted
for a wrestler for governor!" But no one organized the protest, and far
too many people got in on the joke, and the entire state had to suffer
through a term of his dunderheaded hamfisted rule until they wised up.
Toward the end of his four-year reign, Ventura considered resignation so
that his lieutenant governor, one Mae Schunk, could serve for a while,
showing just how seriously the onetime member of the Mongols motorcycle
club took his position. Next election, there were no gag candidates to
be seen on the ballot, and order was restored.
Ventura to be governor of their state. Had just a couple of thousand
people from the Great State of Minnesota voted for the burly grappler,
perhaps everyone would have said, "Oh ha ha, that's funny; people voted
for a wrestler for governor!" But no one organized the protest, and far
too many people got in on the joke, and the entire state had to suffer
through a term of his dunderheaded hamfisted rule until they wised up.
Toward the end of his four-year reign, Ventura considered resignation so
that his lieutenant governor, one Mae Schunk, could serve for a while,
showing just how seriously the onetime member of the Mongols motorcycle
club took his position. Next election, there were no gag candidates to
be seen on the ballot, and order was restored.
I hope
the good citizens of Earthworm WI are satisfied with a mayor who isn't
old enough to drink with Jesse Ventura or join the police force, even if
he does wear a bolo tie. Elections are serious business. Don't throw
your vote away on some goofball, and be sure to call your doctor in case
of an election lasting over four hours.
2 comments:
So I can't vote for Nader this time?
Only if you drive to the polling place in a Corvair.
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