American’s enjoy a good show. Hollywood or politics notwithstanding. Great rhetoric and pontifical flourishes carry great currency in the American political mind. But once in office Americians take a very different view of their politicians. A very practical, even cynical view. Most politicians don’t get that and are so shocked or dismayed at the reality of living in the very rough arena of active American politics that they freeze up and never accomplish much. These politicians shrink while in office. George Bush, Mitt Rommney or James Buchanan are good examples. Others like Teddy Roosevelt, Andrew Jackson, Michael Dukakis and FDR seem to flouish in the grand power, majesty and confusion of American realpolitic. These Presidents grow while in office.
When Deval Patrick yesterday finally stood up to and simultaneously slammed the insurance companies and his estwhile opponent Charlie Baker ( aka “Charlie Broker”; “Charlie Brokus” )he finally began to look like the greater rather than the lesser of the above noted American politicians.
Americans want their Governor’s and Presidents to use their position of power to fight for the little guy…its as simple as that. President Truman once stated that at the end of the day no one in Washington looks out for the average citizen, who has no bank of lobbyists pushing her interests. That role falls only on the President and Truman took it up with relish.
I am not sure Deval Patrick really relishes the tough and nasty fight against the big business interests that corrupt so much of our public life and erode so much of the American promise but yesterday he showed a startling glimpse of what he can do when he gets his dander up and decides to do what is right for the little folks no matter who he offends or who he takes on. FDR seemed to enjoy the process of bouncing around sacrosanct business and other institutions like other politicians and public figures bounce around rheorical flouishes and ideas. Andrew Jackson seemed to have perceived his office time as a seamless continuation of the Battle of New Orleans…taking on and essentially destroying the entire American banking industry on behalf of the lttle guy, and that was just for starters. These Presidents made a difference and we regard them highly even today for good reason.
But I stray…my main point here is to exhort Deval Patrick and all those that support him and want to really make a difference that will help the beseiged little folks of Massachusetts to seize the moment and wield the power we have temporarily granted you to concretely act and fight for the little folks against the insurance companies, the banks, the payday loansharks etc etc that sap the spirit and wallets of the average citizen and rob our children of their future.
Therein lies not only a landslide re-election vistory but more importantly the gratitude and respect from your fellow citizens for a tough job well done.
