Skip to main content

US and Them #2

Is it the majority of politicians who are corrupt? Or are there just a few who give the rest a bad name? I seem to ask myself this question with increasing frequency, each time the latest “sleazeball’s” questionable activities get splashed across the interwebs. (Perhaps I just answered my own question.)

Look at these two guys: Prince Charming with not a hair out of place and Lex Luthor with not a hair.





How could two such dissimilar douches be so alike? They’re politicians!

South of the border a recent case involving scuzzy activity concerned “Blago”. That’s the name used by the media to describe former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. What was he charged with ? Oh nothing much, just: conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and solicitation of bribery. That’s the formal Justice Department complaint that alleges that the governor conspired to commit several "pay-to-play” schemes, including attempting to sell Barack Obama’s vacated Senate seat to the highest bidder.

We’re not immune to similar shenanigans north of the border. In court this week is Larry O’Brien, the mayor of Ottawa, Canada’s capital city. The local media, intent on showing respect, call him “Larry the Mayor Guy”. And what’s he charged with? Kind of a “pay-to-not-play” , if you will. He’s charged with influence peddling in his alleged attempt to buy off an opponent in his electoral bid with cash and a federal appointment.

These two cases, while in separate countries point to the seamy, sleazy similarities that a sizeable chunk of the electorate, I’m afraid, perceives exist in the wonderful world of politics. And both these guys, while faced with criminal charges and public opinion in favour of them stepping down, clung to office instead of doing the noble thing. Blago was finally impeached and now awaits his reality show break, confident he won’t do prison time. Larry the Mayor Guy only took a leave of absence to appear in court this week, confident he’ll soon be back wearing the chain of office again as opposed to breaking his back working on the chain gang.

Ah politics, the more America (and Canada) wants change, the more things remain the same.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Ah, well said! Sad, but true.
nonamedufus said…
Quirky: Every week there's another story. It's amazing.

Popular posts from this blog

Sunday Funnies

The Polka Dot Door

A long time ago, when I was 22, my first child was born.  That kid grew up on a little Canadian kid's show called Polka Dot Door, produced by the TV Ontario network.  And Dad, more often than not, sat through those shows with his little one. Nine or so years later when a brother, and a year after that when a sister came along number one son was moving on to Knight Rider and The Dukes of Hazzard.  But there was a nice overlap where his siblings picked up where he had left off with Polka Dot Door.  And Dad was right there to welcome them. So you're looking at a Polka Dot Door veteran.  The show began in 1971 and ran to 1993.  I didn't watch the full run but I did get in my fair share.  The formula was pretty simple.  A young male and female host, which seemed to change every week, sang songs, told stories, made crafts and generally did their best stimulate little brains.  The show opened as follows... Imagination Day!  Oh boy!  You know what happens on Imagination D

SuperBowl Ads

Well, the game didn't go my way, but some of the American Super Bowl Ads (found at: http://www.myspace.com/superbowlads ) turned my crank... Diet Pepsi Max Super Bowl Ad: Wake Up People Ginseng & Caffeine Bud Light Wine & Cheese Party Super Bowl Commercial Bridgestone Tire Super Bowl Commercial: Squirrel vs Car Garmin Nuvi Super Bowl Commercial: Napolean Finds His Way w/ GPS Bud Light Super Bowl Ad: Immigrants with Carlos Mencia Planters Nuts Super Bowl Commercial: Woman Attracts Men w/ Nuts Pepsi Stuff Super Bowl Commercial: Justin Timberlake Bud Light Super Bowl Commercial: Cave Man Invents Wheel Coca Cola Super BOwl Commercial: Parade Balloon Victoria's Secret Super Bowl Commercial with Adriana Lima Book: Clapton - The Autobiography by Eric Clapton Music: New Seasons by The Sadies