Wednesday, October 30, 2024
Miles from the Mainstream
D. R. ZUKERMAN, proprietor
On the Permanence of
Professional Political Pursuit

JANUARY 29, 2007 --

Okay, perhaps Senator Clinton announced on January 20 that she would explore running for president in 2008 so that on Inauguration Day 2009 she could tell America and the world: "Two years ago today, I declared …"

But it is TWENTY-ONE months until the next presidential election. What is going on?

Perhaps office-holders have concluded: It is better to run for office than to serve. Certainly more fun than … constituent
service.

At the conclusion of The Candidate, Robert Redford, in the title role, and having won the gubernatorial election,
asked his campaign manager, played by the late Peter Boyle, what do they do now? LPR suggests the conclusion be edited, to indicate that, the Redford
character will soon announce for the presidency.

Perhaps Rush Limbaugh will say (if he hasn't already) better that Democrats campaign than legislate -- this way they can't do us harm.

LPR wonders if early formation of presidential exploratory committees (PEC) is prompted by the fund-raising aspect. And this would help candidates
announce the formation, also, of PECPACs. (The money-grubbing -- sorry, money-raising arm of PECs.)

Once, children were told that in America anyone can be president. As it seems that, for our time, anyone who is part of the Bush or Clinton families can be
president, children should be told, anyone in America can form a PEC, and then PECPAC and raise millions to soften the loss to a Bush or Clinton.

A letter-writer in The New York Times, January 23, cautioned it might not be good for our democracy that the White House has been held by a Bush or Clinton for more than ten years and may continue to be held by a Clinton after 2008.

Well, LPR has previously suggested a constitutional amendment to deal with sort of thing -- applying the 24 year gap between the end of the term of John Adams (March 1801) and the start of the term of his son, John Quincy Adams (March 1825) as guide.

Perhaps it will take a Senator Clinton win to get this underway.

Meanwhile, LPR, this year, will little note the spectacle of people already in public office spending 2007 campaigning for 2008 saying, essentially," I want your money so I can run for president." This message can, of course, be summed up in three words:" Dough, hooRAY, MEEE."