All the News That's Fit to be Tied

I have an axe to grind, but unlike the New York Times, I freely admit it.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Politics Ain't Standup

Yesterday I twittered that Carl Paladino should not let Andrew Cuomo drag him into the gutter and focus on his failure, as part of the current administration, to do anything to help the state in the current fiscal dilemma. And further to tie him to the sub-prime mortgage debacle and the related financial crisis, which was in part a direct result of policies he supported as Director of HUD. Instead the New York Governor's debate turned into an audition for a comedy club. If offered a variety of tasteless and morbid jokes unfit for people who are serious about running for office. It reminds us that governing is serious business and while most of us appreciate a smart sense of humor it is not a replacement for a solid election strategy or coherent government policy. This was as aptly demonstrated a few weeks ago when Rep. Zoe Lofregn (D-Calif.) invited comedian Stephen Colbert to speak on immigration reform. It demonstrated clearly that picking vegetables for day doesn't make you an expert on immigration. It also demonstrated that too many politicians don't take our problems seriously enough. It's time to forget the one-liners and clever aphorisms and get to work. Politics ain't beanbag either.