I didn’t expect at age 39 to already be writing about my political career in past tense.
I grew up with a love of politics, and tended to worship political heroes over, say, sports or movie stars. My earliest political memory is of Jimmy Carter’s 1980 defeat to Ronald Reagan. I didn’t understand how such a good, decent and honest man could possibly lose, and wrote him a letter conveying my anguish. The President and Mrs. Carter responded with a nice letter and a booklet about his presidency.
My first volunteer experience came with Adlai Stevenson III’s run for Governor in 1982. The Stevenson’s were from my hometown of Bloomington, IL—the same town where Abe Lincoln often practiced law just down the road from his hometown of Springfield. His father was so honest that he didn’t intervene when the local paper, which his family owned, actually endorsed Eisenhower when he challenged him for president.
The 1982 Governor’s race was a nail biter, with Stevenson losing by the narrowest of margin. The contest was rife with accusations of vote fraud committed by his incumbent opponent. For the second time in two years, my man lost. I certainly experience a lot of political disappointment by age 11!
My knight in shiny armor came in the likeness of a man who donned thick horned-rimmed glasses, big ears and a bowtie. Paul Simon was kind of a paradoxical figure, his nerdy likeness met by a commanding baritone voice; a leading thinker in the Senate who was also a college drop out. I read several books he authored, and probably attended a half dozen of his frequent town meetings conducted throughout the state. Senator Simon showed me that the “good guys” can prevail in the end. Moreover, he was a liberal Democrat who won a good deal of Republican votes, indicating to me that folks are capable of voting for someone they disagree with if they trust his integrity and motives.
By Stephanie Doctrow, RP Staff, on Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 1:30 PM ET
Bill Clinton was a once-disgraced former president… and now his life’s so good, they’re making an opera about it! [Time]
Looking for relaxation? Find your inner calm in Sedona, AZ. [CNN]
Rahm Emanuel officially runs Chicago. Now, all he needs to do is rebuild his image… and the city’s economy. [GQ]
What is war like for foreign workers on U.S. bases in Afghanistan and Iraq? In short, it’s not pretty. [The New Yorker]
When it comes to Facebook, celebrities are just like the rest of us. Here’s how Roger Ebert’s page caused recent controversy, and was subsequently removed. [The Atlantic]
By Stephanie Doctrow, RP Staff, on Wed Jun 15, 2011 at 10:00 AM ET
Here’s some literal recovery. New York magazine goes inside the operating room for eight life-changing surgeries. Warning: these photographs are stunning, but they’re not for the squeamish. [NY Magazine]
89-year-old evangelist and rapture predictor Harold Camping is recovering after a stroke. He couldn’t have predicted that one (Time Magazine’s words, not mine). [Time]
After too many snafus to count, the infamous “Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark” musical is off the stage. Bono and the Edge attempt to explain what they were thinking when they brought Spider-Man to Broadway. [NY Times]
Hoping for a commencement speech that will remind you the recession is almost over and there’s more opportunities out there than ever? If Conan O’Brien is your commencement speaker, think again. [The Atlantic]
Need a laugh? Pep up your day with the latest viral video, the Heavy Metal Rooster. [YouTube]
By Jonathan Miller, on Thu Jun 9, 2011 at 8:30 AM ET
This week, The Recovering Politician published three pieces in which contributing RPs Jeff Smith, Artur Davis, and I weighed in on the John Edwards investigation and trial. If you missed them, here they are:
These articles certainly touched a nerve. I received several dozen emails from our readers, each giving their own take on the controversy.
Below I run a sample of the readers’ letters. Since I did not ask explicitly for permission, I am not using the authors’ names. However, if I used your email, and you would like to be identified, please let me know.
And of course, as always, we encourage you to comment below.
Is what John Edwards's campaign did against the law? That's the
question, right? It's not about the character of John Edwards, or at
least shound't be. And as for the poor first-time candidate worried
about taking it on the chin because he copped a few free haircuts or
some used clothes, wouldn't he want to know one way or the other
whether it's okay before he takes a gift? The commentary I have seen,
like that cited on your blog, doesn't say one way or the other whether
what happened here is or isn't (or should or shouldn't be) against the
law, but rather (i) leave the poor guy alone and (ii) what's the big
deal? History is full of powerful people who left the stage in shame
and then still had to suffer being investigated, sued, and/or
prosecuted. It's a risk that goes with being a public person with
something to hide. In Edwards' case, these were large donations (not
free haircuts), and if whether they should have been disclosed because
they served a political purpose is an open question, then let's get
the answer. Doing so would hopefully shed some light on what is
obviously a murky area, and may help deter some future shenanigans.
Someone will always be ready to push the envelope. If the edge is not
well defined, or worse, the signal is sent that we won't pursue cases
of apparent wrongdoing that are near the edge, we open the door to
even worse behaviour in the future.
John Edwards’ approval ratings are between 2 % and 3%. I hope he will never be considered for public office again. I think he is lower than dirt for his arrogant, narcissistic, dishonest acts against his dead wife and his children. His character is too low for him to be considered for any responsible government job. If he has broken laws in his covering up his out-of-wedlock child and lover, I would not shed a tear if he went to jail or was forced to do public service for indigent wives whose husbands have left them for the healthy, years younger model. I sent money to this man’s campaign, and it was NOT sent to support a mistress and baby outside of marriage! Poverty for John Edwards seems to me the best punishment.
Numerically, the Republicans seem to be cranking out more reprobates, liars, adulterers, thieves, and liars, but Democrats had better police their own if they want to count themselves as those taking the “high ground.”
Read the rest of… The Edwards Affair — Our Readers Weigh In
By Stephanie Doctrow, RP Staff, on Wed Jun 8, 2011 at 1:30 PM ET
In Key Largo, Florida, three pilot whales may be stranded on the shore but they’re not alone. [NY Times]
The economy may be on its way back up, but couponing lives on as a not only practical, but also a hip option for consumers. [Time]
Remember Elizabeth Smart? She took her life back, and is now serving as a missionary and children’s advocate. [Newsweek]
Here’s a little something to pep up your day. Even though The Script has been on the music scene for awhile, this song never fails to make your day better. [YouTube]
By Jonathan Miller, on Mon Jun 6, 2011 at 2:15 PM ET
John Edwards’ indictment last week is an issue that will occupy the blogosphere and the political chattering class for months.
And it’s one to which we will be devoting considerable attention here at The Recovering Politician.
For the Edwards affair touches on a significant number of issues that are of primary concern and interest to our contributors and our readership: the privacy rights of public figures; the criminalization of politics; the special responsibilities of our state and national leaders.
My take on the issue is fairly simple. While I have never been much of a fan or supporter of Edwards, and while I find the cover-up scheme for which he was charged to be reckless, irresponsible, and farcical; I oppose his prosecution, and I am hoping that he will escape criminal punishment.
I published an essay on my views in today’s Huffington Post. Here is an excerpt:
I really wanted to like John Edwards. I just couldn’t help myself.
From the time of his first presidential bid, Edwards’ focus on poverty reduction and his sublimely poetic identification of “two Americas” perfectly captured my own communitarian vision of politics and public service.
But I couldn’t support him. There was just something about him.
I wish I could say it was because I suspected the arrogance and recklessness that led him to risk the Democratic Party’s fortunes – indeed, the fate of the country — on an implausible scheme to cover-up the paternity of his child. But I wasn’t that insightful.
Only recently, upon reflecting on my own political career, did I understand what it was.
Earlier today, former Governor and U.S. Senator Evan Bayh joined our team of contributing recovering politicians.
We thought it was appropriate then to share the video of his moving speech in which he announced that he would not seek a third term in the U.S. Senate. The themes he strikes — a lack of civility in politics, the hyper-partisanship of Washington — are many of the same messages that animated the creation of The Recovering Politician.
So sit back and enjoy our RPTV Friday Video Flashback:
Our newest contributing recovering politician was a Secretary of State, two-term Governor, two-term Senator, and on the short-list of potential Vice Presidential nominees three times. So Evan Bayh needs little introduction. Suffice it to say that the centrist Democrat is one of the most well-known and well-respected recovering politicians in the country.
In this week’s edition of RPTV’s Fifteen Minutes of Fame, Bayh shares his thoughts about political retirement, the virtue of public service, and the fiscal course our nation faces. Enjoy this interview as the RP welcomes Bayh to The Recovering Politician:
By Stephanie Doctrow, RP Staff, on Wed Jun 1, 2011 at 10:30 AM ET
A brave 20-year-old University of Alabama student is putting her life together after surviving storms in both Tuscaloosa and her hometown of Joplin, Missouri. [CNN]
Monkeys need hugs as much as we do. New research from the Yale School of Medicine shows that rhesus monkeys are capable of feeling regret over their decisions too. [Time]
Hip-hop singer Sean Kingston was injured in a jet ski crash earlier this week, and was just moved to the intensive care unit. Celebs and fans have been tweeting Kingston prayers and wishes for a quick recovery since the crash. [Yahoo News]
These are the faces of recovery. Check out this beautiful photo gallery of Iran’s young optimists. [Newsweek]
A little laughter to end your day: check out 50 state stereotypes in two minutes. [Huffington Post]
By Stephanie Doctrow, RP Staff, on Wed May 25, 2011 at 1:30 PM ET
NPR’s news blog posts a horrifying first-person account of being in Joplin, Missouri during the deadly tornado. As of Monday night, 116 people were killed in the storm. [NPR]
The New York Times profiles GLBT teens as they come out to their friends and family. [NY Times]
Even though the United States is on its way out of the economic recession, Americans still aren’t taking vacations. According to CNN, relaxing is just not in our DNA. [CNN]
In other economic news, small businesses still aren’t hiring full-time staffs as rapidly as they were before the recession. [Newsweek]
Luckily for us, we weren’t wiped off the face of the planet on Saturday. In celebration of surviving The Rapture, check out this photo gallery of Hollywood depictions of the apocalypse. [Time]
I didn’t expect at age 39 to already be writing about my political career in past tense.
. The contest was rife with accusations of vote fraud committed by his incumbent opponent. For the second time in two years, my man lost. I certainly experience a lot of political disappointment by age 11!
