August 28,
2009
MEMBER
EDITORIAL
Kennedy
advice revealed much
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Among California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's
recent recollections of Sen. Edward Kennedy is the latter's counsel to Schwarzenegger
when he was a candidate for California governor in 2003.
Kennedy's pearls of wisdom included advice to "Just don't ever go into details," and "Just always stay 30,000 feet above and talk about your overall vision."
One of the essential failings of our political system and, unfortunately, the majority of those who run for public office, is the unwillingness to take responsibility for the details.
Doing so might negatively impact their elect-ability.
But that's what it's all about, isn't it? For the rest of us who elect and employ these lackluster numbskulls, it's the details that matter the most.
Details affect daily lives and the lives of generations to come.
Just think how foolish it was for Kennedy to have given that advice in the first place, and how naive it was for Schwarzenegger to repeat it in an interview.
During that interview, Gov. Schwarzenegger also recalled that "Teddy taught us all that public service isn't a hobby or even an occupation, but a way of life."
That is the strongest statement I have ever heard in support of term limits.
Being a politician should never become a way of life.
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