Posted on 10/15/2012 10:13:36 PM PDT by Hildy
When I heard about Arlen Specter's death yesterday, I felt nothing. And that's ok. I considered him a turncoat, a poster child of everything wrong with American politics.
On the radio today, I was listening to a parade of pundits and politicos speaking of the greatness which was Arlen Specter. The term that really annoyed me was the repeated mention of his "30 years of public service." To me, someone who works in a soup kitchen, or volunteers their time to help another human being is performing a public service. There are hundreds of jobs that I would consider a great public service. A Senator? Not so much. Arlen Specter was very well compensated for his "service," as is every other Congressman and Senator.
But the thing that I must say is that, in my opinion, Arlen Specter's public life was a complete failure. 30 years of presiding over the demise of this Country. Unless we stop idolozing these people who beg to get into office, and then ignore us when they are there, nothing will ever change.
Arlen Specter did a few good things, but that's what he was elected AS A REPUBLICAN to do. So, why the big fanfare?
That's when I thought about an article I read over 15 years ago in REASON MAGAZINE. This article was published in 1996, but it's as relevant today as it was then. You know a great article when you remember it 15 years after it was published. It always stuck in my head... the question .... who we, as a Society, choose to honor. I searched it out and it's as relevant today as it was then. I am posting it and I would like to hear your thoughts.
16 years later and nothing’s changed. We still worship politicians (those on our side, naturally, depending on which “our side” is), still reward them with life tenures. Why do you think Jesse Jackson, Jr wanted the Senate seat so bad? It’s a gravy train from which you never have to get off. “public service”? What a joke! But who besides us ever questions this term which has become like an assumed truth from up above in a church theology?
The ignominious way in which Arlen Specter began his career in federal politics is what I shall remember him by, his defense of the hippie guru murder, Ira Einhorn. Evidently, Einhorn was quite a favorite with the rich and powerful in Philadelphia, people that Specter needed to help finance his campaign, so defending Einhorn, seemed like a good way to cultivate their favor.
The only good thing that Specter ever did was to thoroughly cross examine Anita Hill during the Clarence Thomas confirmation hearings, coming close to accusing her of perjury.
My reaction is very specific regarding Muskie. In his autobiography, Robert Novak made out Muskie to be an absolute bore and a lazy dullard.
Is it any wonder we didn’t know enough about Packard? The noble services of countless republicans go unknown by the public because of what the media have been for many decades. Could there be any greater disservice than the way a great man like Eisenhower is forgotten? Ike not only won WWII in Europe, as president he successfully ended the Korean conflict which drove Truman out of office. Yet Truman was made into a folk hero and Eisenhower was labeled a too “boring” (read successful) president.
Actually, Specter did say that Anita Hill committed perjury.
I didn’t realize that. Well, then he really did do one honorable thing in his life.
Spectre failed to convict Slick Willie during his Impeachment grounds on the basis of ‘Scottish Law.’ He remained a horses ass till the day he died.
Without Specter its very unlikely there would a Justice Thomas sitting on the SC today which in my view goes along way to make up for Specter’s many faults..
Dead parasite said something right once? Like maybe that the sun rises in the east, and that blueberry pancakes are delicious?
Specter did okay questioning Randy Weaver (Ruby Ridge), too.
That makes two things.
He is pretty much responsible for Thomas’ confirmation.
“Actually, Specter did say that Anita Hill committed perjury.”
...big deal.
AMEN.
Your mention of Packard and HP immediately brought to mind Carly Fiorina, a destroyer and wannabe public servant, also a Republican. I use the term "destroyer" in its naval sense since she left the hulks of HP and Lucent in her wake.
“Your mention” should have been “The mention”
That’s an excellent post, and thanks for posting the article. Good points, well written.
Specter was also front-and-center in killing Hillarycare.
Which is ironic given his later switch to the rat party and support for the equally hideous Ubamacare.
It shows what a desperate sleazebag Specter became.
Thank you for this article. It is a good point, we obsess way too much on politicians and movie stars, and way too little on the people who build up the culture. I heard an interview with the author of a new book, “Freedom’s Forge” which is about Henry Kaiser and WWII build up.You might find it is along these same lines in a way.
This is an excellent piece on many levels. I worked with HP as a consultant during the 1980s and 1990s. It was a very good organization and it’s culture was distinctive. Interestingly though, that culture needed the likes of a Dave P or Bill H to sustain it. When I started working with HP, the HP Way culture was already under attack from the top in the form of John Young. Great organizations and institutions need great leadership: Weak or ego-centric leadership - like that of Obama - is corrosive.
False Diagnosis (And the Passing of Arlen Specter)
The relief is refreshing!
Very good comment from you and nice 1996 article. In my father’s factory (1960s-1970s) we had an industrial oven to bake enamel onto steel. It had a Hewlett-Packard control. These controls were a large part of HPs business. These days anyone in China can manufacture such controls but back then...... You sat in Asia or Latin America and wanted an industrial control. You bought from HP. This HP item was 100% made in USA so kept factories humming, people employed, plus helped our USA run trade surpluses
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