Guilt by Association

Negative political commercials for some time have attempted (often successfully) to link an opposing candidate with some other unpopular, perhaps unsavory person. For example in this year's Illinois gubernatorial race each candidate (the incumbent Democrat, Pat Quinn and the opposing Republican State Senator, Bill Brady) have spent millions trying to tarnish their respective opponents with the bad aroma emitted by the last 2 governors, jailed Republican George Ryan and soon to be jailed Democrat Rod Blagojevich. Never mind what each current candidate stands for, might (??) accomplish for the citizens, etc. all that apparently counts is guilt by association. While it is true that they each had an association with the respective disgraced ex-governors, isn't this sort of irrelevant? Neither was remotely suspected of being complicit in their crimes.

Full disclosure: about 12 years ago when he was an Illinois congressman, Rod Blagojevich invited a group of visiting Illinois CPA's to his Washington office and TNB actually shook his hand. This of course makes your intrepid blogger guilty (of something) by association. This one incident ruined a promising political career for TNB--imagine the ads ! Sounds ludicrous, right? Read on.

What really has TNB wondering about the intelligence of the American people (OK--no real doubt that most are gullible and yes stupid) are the ads "linking" candidates with someone say of their own party who may be despised or detested for unknown reasons--sort of guilt by almost association. In the Illinois 10th Congressional district, being vacated by Republican Mark Kirk, who is running for the Senate, his would-be Democratic successor, Dan Seals, has been the object of vicious commercials trumpeting his "association" with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, who apparently because she's a (gasp) liberal has been anointed this year's bogeywoman. There is no evidence that Seals, who has never served in Congress, even knows Pelosi. But since they're both Democrats they must be associated to obviously nefarious ends.

This makes as much sense as if the Democrats ran attack ads linking Kirk with all elements of his party--for starters why not Delaware Senatorial candidate Christine "I am not a witch" O'Donnell (not so sure about that!) or New York gubernatorial candidate Carl "I'll take you out" Paladino or other GOP luminaries. Kirk's not really associated with them? Who's to know or care? It's a simple premise--guilt by association.

A Mixed Bag

For a change here's a mixed bag of random thoughts. The next post will return to profound, mind stretching information.

• With 4 weeks to go before midterm elections, TNB is still waiting for the first non-negative (i.e., positive) commercial for a candidate. Is it conceivable that everybody's opponent is untrustworthy, irresponsible, immoral and in general a total sleaze? (OMG, maybe it's so). No wonder voters have such a low opinion of politicians.
• Why do certain "friends" constantly bombard you with forwarded E-Mails hammering home the same old, tired views, sort of "preaching to the choir"? The ability to easily forward crap of all kinds is one of the great abuses of modern technology. Don't you sometimes wish you could send a little computer virus (nothing too serious--like the common cold, say) to these folks?
• BTW, while on the subject of E-Mails, why can't everybody forwarding E-Mails (obnoxious or otherwise) just simply delete the string of previous E-mail addresses so that everyone receiving the missive isn't privy to unnecessary information which could be used for spam, etc.? It's so easy to do (and good etiquette) that even TNB, no computer whiz, has mastered it (see the distribution of this blog, for example).
• Make sure you see the brilliant new film The Social Network. Although there are some (such as this blogger) who haven't been seduced by Facebook and its ilk, it's extremely informative to learn how this phenomenom has occurred. The writing, directing, acting, photography--all Oscar worthy. Of course, being of a (very) certain age, TNB does worry that someday, there will no longer be much live person-to -person contact. But if you think about it, the same fears were probably expressed when telephone, radio, television, computers and every other development became popular. People will likely never return to smoke signals for communication.
• Are you as disgusted as TNB (a life long intense sports fan) at the "behavior" exhibited by many overpaid athletes? If it's not DUI (they can afford to hire drivers) it's sexual harrassment (come to think of it, they can afford to hire hookers!) or drugs or beating up wives/girlfriends. What great role models for the young. These jerks should be rated lower than politicians.

The Worship of Celebrity

A recurrent theme in this blog over the past two years has been the inexplicable chasm between the values placed by much of Society on celebrity vs. the amount of esteem lavished on everyday heroes such as emergency medical personnel, firefighters, police officers, teachers, etc. No matter how frequently the failings of many celebrity politicians, athletes and entertainers are reported, there's always another one being doted on by some people who perhaps are vicariously living the celebrity life by merely worshiping the quite imperfect individuals represented by the rich and famous.

No better example could be cited than one of the all time sleaziest celebrities--Rod ("I'll eat bugs if I have to") Blagojevich. At his recent Federal corruption trial in Chicago (now facing a do-over in January thanks to one lamebrained juror), we were treated to the daily spectacle of people outside the Federal building clamoring to shake his hand and get his autograph! A few days after the trial ended mostly inconclusively, but with Helmet Hair now a convicted felon, he was mobbed by customers at a Comic Convention who paid good money to get in and meet the Great One. To all these people TNB says--you are pathetic and need to get a life!!

What about all the athletes who are practically the deity to many of their fans --that is, until many of their warts become viral, at which time a new "religion" (read- different celebs to worship) is adopted. Take New Orleans Saints star Reggie Bush who was one of the biggest all-time USC football stars (just after O.J. Simpson, who still has some admirers) until some newly exposed flagrant recruiting violations have totally disgraced the university, causing severe penalties and forcing Bush to return the ultimate college football award--the Heisman Trophy. At least among Trojan students and alumni, the adoration formerly heaped on Bush is no longer a practicing doctrine.

And who knows who will be the next celebrity to fall from grace--for all anyone can predict, it could be an entertainer such as Lady Gaga (not actually a member of the nobility), a politician such as Sarah Palin ( there are many signs that she actually is not a person of great substance) or maybe another athlete who seems like Mr. Clean (say Tiger Woods--oh wait that did happen).

In any event, someone new will burst upon the scene and will inspire slavish devotion until?

Me-Ness

For some time now there have been wails and moans about today's younger generation ("Millennials") being unusually self absorbed--you know "the me generation". But let's light up on these people (our kids and grandkids). TNB has observed that every generation (even the "elderly"--see last month's post Age Old Story) has to some degree succumbed to the it's all about me syndrome which might be, to coin a term, called Me-Ness. Examples abound of such unflattering, inconsiderate and downright rude behavior now in vogue.

• Recently, the Chicago Cubs announced that one bleacher section at one game was going to be peanut free to accommodate many peanut allergic fans. The uproar was shocking--if you or your child has such allergies, tough but don't inconvenience me ever so slightly. Me-Ness at its finest!
• While many if not most politicians exhibit a high level of Me-Ness (several steps past self-esteem!) no one has come close in recent memory to Rod Blagojevich, a now convicted felon who of course is hoping to find another moronic juror at his retrial who can be persuaded that his Me-Ness is a victim of the big bad Feds who dared to take him away from his family, threaten his home and in what has to be the most outrageous statement in a long time deprived (!) the people of Illinois of their Governor. TNB has never felt so desperate.
• When it comes to Me-Ness, even politicians, who after all still need to elected, aren't close to professional athletes. To cite just one currently in the news--overpaid, over-the-hill, steroid abuser Manny Ramirez who was dumped by the L.A. Dodgers with the Chicago White Sox giving nothing in return, except for picking up the $4.4 million (yes million) owed to Manny for possibly one month of his "services". As his final act with the Dodgers, when sent up to pinch hit in a crucial situation, he managed to get himself (deliberately?) ejected after one pitch. Then when he belatedly joined the White Sox in Cleveland (too exhausted by the 5 hour flight, in first class, to play that night) he gave his first interview almost entirely in Spanish, with a coach as interpreter. Manny grew up in New York City's Washington Heights and speaks perfect English, so what was this--Me-Ness at the ultimate?

When are we going to see a little You-Ness?

Age Old Story

It's no secret to most of you that TNB is fast approaching his 75th birthday and while he does have a few creaks to say the least, arguably his mind is still functioning. Fortunately, he's not alone. Recently a number of TNB's high school classmates (76 people including spouses, etc.), almost all born in 1935, threw a very nice birthday party for themselves and while of course some have ongoing ailments as a whole they have been extremely lucky (TNB included) to reach this milestone.

Sadly, most of the rest of our society does not recognize that lots of people of this age and much older are viable and energetic. While planning the party, a search for candies and other favors marked with the number 75 turned up empty. The highest number apparently produced was 70, thus implying what--anybody older than that can't or shouldn't be attending parties? The media labels anyone over 60 as ancient ("elderly woman hit by car" sometimes means a 62 year old).

Then of course there are the marketing and advertising geniuses who don't believe that many seniors have enough disposable income (colleges and weddings are usually behind them) to be able to and desire to purchase anything besides prescription drugs and maybe cruises. So marketing for most products is targeted towards younger people, many of whom are drowning in debt, rather than recognizing that we "elderly" are willing to buy autos, clothes (if we could find some that fit), electronics and a ton of other things that we are actually able to operate!

Speaking of prescription drugs aimed primarily at those on Medicare, don't you just love the actors or models used in TV commercials who generally are a little younger than they're supposed to be and after ingesting the prescribed remedy always wind up hiking, sailing or participating in some strenuous activity (once their bladders are controlled)? Or they may be sitting naked in adjoining outdoor bathtubs waiting for the next 4 hour opportunity before the ED drug wears off. BTW, ads for the latter contain only one example of the absurd admonition to "call your doctor" if some horrendous side effect occurs. Likely, you'll get voice mail. Worse yet what if the side effect is "thoughts of suicide"? Imagine being put on hold.

Who's Sorry Now

Is there anything sorrier and less meaningful than the seemingly rote apologies that are forthcoming almost hourly from public figures, mostly prompted by their PR people or "image consultants"?

Often of course we're talking about a politician, entertainer or athlete who's sorry over some sexual or financial indiscretion (actually sorry about being caught). But there are other types of apologies being made, such as the following recent examples:

• Bill O'Reilly-- Sorry about his role in the Shirley Sherrod USDA firing scandal (not to mention Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, sorry for his role in same scandal ). Hasn't President Obama also expressed his regret (he should!).
• Glenn Beck-- Truth be told, he should apologize for just existing. His latest "I'm sorry" resulted from his calling Chicago Bears star Brian Urlacher a "neo-Nazi" based on a shaved head picture of the linebacker Beck saw in something called "The Blackest White People" (honestly). Beck admits to knowing nothing about sports, but stopped short of admitting he's a 100% idiot.
• Mark Kirk--The Illinois senatorial candidate (and 5 term GOP Congressman from TNB's home district) has spent the Summer constantly apologizing for frequent revelations of how, over the years, he has significantly embellished his resume, particularly but not only as it pertains to his military service. Actually, business recruiters, among others, are all too painfully aware of just how how insidious the practice of "resume padding" has become.

Americans, sad to say, are extremely forgiving (and gullible) and too many insincere "I'm sorry" declarations are readily accepted instead of being treated for what most really are--self-serving, glib "let's get this over with" pronouncements, deserving of sneers, not cheers.

Bum of the Month

It's only halfway through July and TNB is feeling overwhelmed by an extraordinary number of candidates to be considered for Bum of the Month. If you're wondering, this a highly sought honor, because not just any garden variety sleaze can qualify. How about this (partial) list:

• Mel Gibson No big surprise that the anti-Semitic drunken ravings of a few years ago (he's the son of a famous Holocaust denier) have been updated to include apparent physical and mental abuse of his ex-girlfriend/ mother of his 8th child, not to mention more racial rants. Please don't tell TNB that there's still a place in the movie industry for this POS (a term that Cubs manager Lou Piniella used about a year ago on another Bum--Milton Bradley)?
• Rush Limbaugh Actually, Rush could be a viable candidate just about any month. Remember when he asked a black caller on the air if she had a bone in her nose? But the old pill-popper has outdone himself with his "eulogy" for George Steinbrenner (no saint himself) wherein he called him a "cracker" who made many African-Americans multimillionares (it's OK of course for "good ole boys" like Rush to make obscene amounts for poisoning so many gullible minds).
• LeBron James/ Dan Gilbert/Jesse Jackson It was bad enough that the supremely narcissistic James conned ESPN (which got great ratings despite or perhaps because of the bad publicity) into an hour-long love fest wherein he finally made the breathless announcement of where "he's taking his talents to" next season. Then Cavs owner Dan Gilbert, acting rather petulant and childish, blasted James for deserting the ship. But leaving no PR opportunity unturned, there was Jesse Jackson, complaining that Gilbert acted like his prized "runaway slave" had gone. Considering the dollars involved and that James' contribution to the well-being of most Americans is next to nil, TNB is feeling a huge disconnect with what's really important.
• Rod Blagojevich Another perpetual candidate who might be off the charts soon, although (you read it here first) he could escape conviction since the evidence presented at his trial by the prosecution has not shown blatant criminality--only the character defects of ignorance, arrogance, vanity, greed, etc. that should have been painfully obvious from the start. We get the leaders we deserve, it is said. But hey, what did we do wrong to get him (along with dozens of others that could be named)?

If anyone has another candidate for Bum of the Month that could equal this group, let TNB know before July ends and we have to start all over.