In the Windy City, some used to happily tell an old tale, which had the first Mayor Richard Daley (Richard the First) commanding voters to "vote early, and vote often." And when the big day arrived at the polling places, some said you could find Daley precinct captains canvassing for the vote just about everywhere – especially at the local graveyard.
In this neck of the proverbial woods, we don’t run into machine politics as much, but you will find those running for office taking time out to pay attention to their constituents, especially over congressional holiday breaks like the one we just recently encountered.
The Personal Touch
Case in point? An unannounced visit I received from Congressman John Boozman a bit before Christmas.
As I sat at my desk trying to make sense of the local Associated Press newswire, the receptionist paged me to let me know I had a visitor. "A John Boozman is here to see you," she said. A familiar name, "The Congressman?" I replied. I immediately wondered what I’d done to miff our local man who walks the halls of power in D.C. and who often swings the gavel in place of Speaker Denny "The Wrestling Coach" Hastert of Batavia, Illinois.
When I went to meet Mr. Boozman, I found him by himself, signing a visitor’s book at the reception desk, sans staff members, which I found a touch unusual.
The last time I changed upon local boy Asa Hutchinson, he had five friends with him, all carrying concealed weapons. When Sen. Trent Lott paid a visit, he had an even larger crowd with him. Even Sen. Mark Pryor travels with one or two staffers.
This really had me worried; I would have to make sure I left the blinds open in the conference room so there would be witnesses in case it came to blows.
When we sat down to talk, it became apparent he wanted to talk about a newspaper column I’d written about rising insurance premiums, and how those premiums have essentially removed any benefit the President’s tax cuts have worked in (at least on my paycheck).
I had also criticized both Mr. Boozman and Sen. Blanche Lincoln for having voted in favor of the Medicare reform bill, which eventually became law, regardless of disapproval from many Members of Congress (even the aforementioned Mr. Lott took a later swipe at it, wondering if the plan would cost the projected $400 billion over ten years, or something more like several trillion dollars).
The Congressman had simply come to say he’d read the article, and that he shared some of my concerns about health insurance. We had a good talk about that issue, and about the Medicare bill.
Before long, I took the opportunity to impinge on his friendly visit by leading him into the lion’s den we call a newsroom. He good-naturedly shook hands and answered questions from reporters. Not a bad way to keep in touch, and lest you wonder, yes, reporters do appreciate the occasional massage-job from local politicos.
The visit also took me by surprise, because I’ve never experienced the "personal touch" before. I may not agree with the Congressman’s stand on the issues (any of them) but I do appreciate his bedside manner, and the visit and chance to talk with him.
It beats watching him pound the gavel on C-SPAN, and is a great way to get his face out in public for the ever important "I’m serving you, the voter, and don’t stay solely in D.C." maneuver, which smart politicians never fail to execute on a regular basis.
If Blanche Lincoln reads this: Senator, I’ve got the coffee brewing, so come by anytime and we’ll talk about free trade with Cuba and steel tariffs.
The New Year, The "Big" Year
We haven’t just arrived at 2004, we’ve arrived at the Main Event. Think Super Bowl, World Series, and the lottery all rolled into one. The main event, the whole enchilada, the race for the White House really gets moving now.
In a few weeks, we’ll start getting a better look at which Democratic candidate will run against the president in November as the early primary states start holding caucuses and elections. Get ready for Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.
But all the drama won’t be isolated to the national stage. We’ll have state races for the Senate and for Congress. As of now, we’ll see Rep. Boozman face off against at least State Rep. Jan Judy, and we’ll also see Sen. Lincoln face off against at least State Sen. Jim Holt.
And, even more fun will come during the primaries when we see who else plans to get into the fray.
In addition to Judy, Boozman also has a Fort Smith-based opponent (an Independent) on the far-right fringe side. But I guess I’d better be careful with that because this particular person took a real dislike to similar words [describing his candidacy] in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette last month, and even threatened to take the paper to court for libel, which would never fly with a judge.
The Republican primary for the U.S. Senate could be interesting if Mr. Holt does indeed face off against former Benton County Sheriff Andy Lee for their party’s nomination. By the way, has anyone seen Lee lately?
We Hereby Resolve
Now, some New Year’s resolutions…
I truly detest this particular New Year’s tradition. It has never worked for me. I tend to make them throughout the year, and break them just the same. Most of the time, I end up vowing to lose that spare tire around my mid-section, much to the joy, and eventual disappointment, of my spouse.
This year, I’ll try something different, something with a political twist. Instead, I’ll make resolutions for those I cover in the world of politics. Shall we?
The New Year’s List
We’ll start at the top, and work our way down. A quick disclaimer: This is in the spirit of what some call "the gridiron dinner" or the "correspondent’s dinner" – a bit of a poke, tongue-in-cheek.
President Bush: We’ll resolve that you will catch Osama Bin Laden this year (you caught Saddam, but a 50 percent average won’t work). We’ll also resolve that you wisely play to the center during the campaign, and that you will seek this writer out at the St. Louis presidential debate this year (and not hide behind the secret service like you did last time). It’s a tall order, but remember, Mr. President, some say these resolutions are made only to be broken.
Howard Dean: No more references to confederate flags, please.
Wesley Clark: Resolve to feel comfortable as Dean’s running mate (I know that’s a long shot, and Clark fans won’t like it, but again, make ‘em and break ‘em applies to resolutions.)
Governor Huckabee: Resolve to buy some new clothing, such as shirts and suits that fit your new slim and trim way of life. The old things look like Dad had a few things sitting in the closet and passed them down.
Win Rockefeller: Resolve not to get too cocky about the governor’s mansion. Jimmie Lou is gone, but may not have forgotten the last election.
John Boozman: Resolve to maintain the "keep in touch" attitude and pleasant demeanor, but also vow to take a couple of classes on how to be louder and more aggressive when swinging the speaker’s gavel.
Blanche Lincoln: Resolve to give Sen. Pryor a little more support; after all, he is a fellow Democrat. Also, resolve to visit Northwest Arkansas a little more often, and try very hard to appear on local television newscasts a little more to explain what in tarnation is happening in D.C.
Mark Pryor: Never, ever again read out of a book on the floor of the Senate, that is, if that book gives a boring, minutiae-filled description of the physical surroundings of the place where you actually stand. Perhaps take the same self-assertion course Boozman will take so you can look as fierce as Teddy Kennedy during televised committee meetings.
There, have I managed to annoy every elected representative of the Natural State?
Ah, yes. So, now I have my own resolution to follow: I resolve to lighten up a bit, and cut these folks a little break because they do work very hard, and the pressure they face is extraordinary.
But again, remember, all New Year’s resolutions do come with that good ‘ole fine-print rider… Make ‘Em, Then Break ‘Em.
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