dispatches from the new world of work

Partisan Politics!

I cannot pretend to be neutral about the Ohio senate race. Back in 1985, I'd guess, a bright, energetic, determined, idealistic young state legislator from Ohio came on "scholarship" (as I recall) to one of our first 5-day "SkunkCamps," at Pajaro Dunes, near Santa Cruz California. By next Wednesday he stands a good chance of being Senator-elect Sherrod Brown of Ohio.

I wish him the best of luck next week. If he does win, Grandpa Tom plans, when the dust settles, to send him a short note: "Congratulations, Sherrod (Senator!). Current political madness notwithstanding, I believe the United States Senate is and remains the world's most extraordinary legislative body. As you take on your enormous responsibility, I pray that you will be an American first, an Ohioan second, and only third a Democrat. That is, a true national legislator. I would like to dream-believe that you will become one of those cranky lions of the Senate such as, in my generation, the late and great and independent-minded Daniel Patrick Moynihan."

Tom Peters posted this on 11/03/06.

Comments

" ...enormous responsibility, I pray that you will be an American first, an Ohioan second, and only third a Democrat ..."

YES! - esp. given radical liberalism of "leadership": Pelosi, Clinton, Kerry, Dean, Gore - FREE World Freedoms - must pay le piper.

Posted by sean_independent at November 3, 2006 12:15 PM

Sean, how did I fathom that you'd be First Responder?! Your pal, tom

Posted by tom peters at November 3, 2006 1:11 PM

...despite Moynihan's unstinting devotion to federal power and his "lock step" liberal voting record, he certainly added some flavor to the U.S. Senate, and in the end, worked to make the way better for those he could help. Not sure I would count in Brown just yet..DeWine appears to coming on VERY strong!

Posted by J D Duncan at November 3, 2006 1:53 PM

" ...the United States Senate is and remains the world's most extraordinary legislative body ..."

YES! Esp. when compared with Trevor's House of "Lords" ... and their band of football hooligan mentality to "take all from the front-liners [commoners] & let them eat cake" :>]

Posted by sean_eating_cake at November 3, 2006 2:04 PM

Election results are results.
Quarterly Results are Results.

Both are NOT Mission Statements. Period!

http://ideaburger.blogspot.com

Jay, from Bangalore

Posted by Jayakumar Hariharan at November 4, 2006 9:02 AM

Hi Sean - I am not a fan of our House of Lords. It is an unelected body that we cannot get rid of. They are not accountable to anyone. My hero, 81 year old former Labour MP Tony Benn (who turned down a family peerage on principle in the early 1960's) says - 'The best way to dispel the myth that the House of Lords is in any way useful or effective, is to visit them in action'

As regards front liners â€“ give them all the money â€“ yes all the money. IF managers have a job at all in 2006 it is ONLY to make the job of front line staff easier.

Posted by Trevor Gay at November 4, 2006 10:44 AM

Trevour - well said - and I'm especially pleased that I got the "yes all the money" line from you once again [except le Trevour Swiss bank account] :>]

Posted by sean_TP_pal at November 5, 2006 6:19 PM

Nice sentiment... but not very realistic. First, I'm on the other side of Mr. Brown. So I wish him well personally... but not professionally in this case. These guys and gals are first and foremost beholden to the political machines that get them in office. Everything else is window dressing. In 06, no one seems to even CARE about the individual candidates. It's all about R or D behind their names, with the press definitely rooting for the D's. When will this country ever get serious about TERM LIMITS? It's the only hope. As it is, we end up with the worse of both sides sitting in safe seats, establishing seniority, and making these bodies more dysfunctional each election cycle. Ugh!

Posted by Dave at November 6, 2006 9:56 AM

Dave--thank God these bodies are dysfinctional! You don't want efficient gov't. I'm personally hoping for the return of gridlock!

Posted by Mike at November 6, 2006 10:04 AM

Return of gridlock? Uhhhh... that's what we've had for all these years with "Republican" control. No, the Dems have figured out that hissy fits and the breaking of decades-old traditions of how legislation gets passed can stop a minor majority. We'll see if the Republicans can be as ruthless. And while "gridlock" may be good for the economy, it's KILLING us on national security (borders, spying on terrorists, real airline security... anyone? Anyone?) And I guess the Social Security and Medicare trainwreck is just going to go away. No, we have very real issues to deal with and all these guys can do is fight over who gets to hold the stinking gavel.
Sorry Mike, gridlock isn't coming back. It never left.

Posted by Dave at November 6, 2006 10:42 AM

Dave--Those issues will be solved as always--by the private sector, not the gov't.

Posted by Mike at November 6, 2006 3:35 PM

Private sector? Government would have to get out of the way or willingly engage private sector on each of those huge issues. Call me skeptical.

Posted by Dave at November 7, 2006 4:50 PM

Kudos! Kudos! Kudos!

Posted by Troy Worman at November 10, 2006 11:57 AM