Just when you think the world of politics and all that revolves around an election cycle could get now worse, suddenly it does. There was a time when you knew who was behind various political ads. It was really easy because either at the beginning of, or at the end of each ad there was the phrase - “This ad has been approved by…insert name of candidate” - But, these days, you just never know who’s really behind the ads. Sure, there are still the ads with those ever popular words, but more and more organizations such as moveon.org or the GOP’s for Congress, or whatever other splinter group might rise up, start pumping thousands, if not millions of dollars into the wonderful world of advertising. In most cases, the ads sponsored by other groups are full of more defamation of character tirads than those approved by individual candidates. Now ads sponsored by various candidates certainly aren’t innocent either. As a matter of fact, some of those ads are downright mean and nasty. Whatever happened to addressing the issues of the day, instead of pondering how much plastic surgery the other candidate had.

If those in politics don’t soon discover what people really want to hear, they may discover voter apathy becoming even more of a concern. I’m beginning to wonder if voter apathy has more to do with a disgust of those running for office, than it does with those who don’t care about politics. Political pundits abound declaring voter apathy is high because people don’t care about politics. I beg to differ. If that were truly the case, radio talk show hosts would have no one to talk with about politics of the day. Reality is this, many people are talking about politics, but few turn out at the polls. Again, this phenomenon makes me wonder if the apathy is because those voting are tired of the screaming matches and the defamation of character.

The other day I heard an interview with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger from California. The talk show host conducting the interview seemed very surprised that he’d searched and searched the Governor’s re-election advertising campaign and he could find no mean spirited references to his challenger. As a matter of fact, the host was surprised that he could find little to no mention of the opponents name, let alone any kind of bad mouthing against his opponent. What is this world coming to when people are surprised at integrity? Personally I was amazed at the talk show host for thinking this was such a big issue. It was almost like the host was saying how can you not through mud at your opponent.

After listening to his amazed host for a few moments, Governor Schwarzenegger said something all political candidates should take heed of. The Governor said, “Why would I say bad things about my opponent. After all, he’s my opponent, not my enemy.”

There it is in a nutshell and it took The Terminator from another country to remind us all, our opponents are just that, opponents, not enemies.

Keep encouraged!
Dr. Rus

I awoke this morning to the news of yet another political scandal involving yet another Republican Congressman. This time around it’s Congressman Curt Weldon who’s the subject of some kind of investigation. However, the amazing thing is, once again, it seems the Democrats are behind the accusations. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying Congressman Weldon is innocent or guilty. As a matter of fact, I don’t even really know what the allegations are all about. But I will say this, it appears the Democrats are turning into what could be called “The Party of Litigation.”

Lets recap here over the past few years. Every single time the Democrats try to go after power, they seem to go after it via the court system. A lost Presidential race — take it to the courts. Down in the polls — take it to the courts. Minority group in Congress — take it to the courts. Trying to get power away from Republicans — take it to the courts. I was even amazed when one of their own lost her primary, Mrs. McKinney, and what does she do — she takes it to the courts.

What’s going on here? Is that what politics has come to for the Democrats? Is the party so out of touch with what’s really going on in the world that the only thing they have time do is litigate everyone around them? But then again, we do live in an age of litigation when everyone seems “sue” happy. But come on…does politics have to sink to the same level?

A new movie starring Robin Williams called Man of the Year just opened this weekend. In the movie Williams plays the part of a late night talk show host who decides to run for President. Through a computer glitch error, he actually wins the election! Of course from there begins an amazing, and amusing, ride to the Oval Office. But, in the end, when he decides to step down, the character Williams is playing says, “This was a computer glitch, not a conspiracy. There will be no law suit.”

Could it be that the filmmakers of Man of the Year are touching some of the very issues, ridiculous issues, we find in politics today? I think that’s exactly what’s happening. The director/screenwriter said of the movie, it’s not about Democrats, it’s not about Republicans. It’s not about the right, or the left. It’s about the simple fact that politics is really messed up these days.

I agree. Leaders are supposed to set the tone for those around them. Unfortunately, many leaders today spend too much time focusing on non-issues, trying to wrestle power from others, with little or no concern about what’s really going on around them, or what kind of message they’re sending to those around.

Maybe it’s time we let all of our political leaders know we’re tired of litigation, lets get on with addressing, and solving problems.

Keep encouraged!
Dr. Rus