Cry Me a River
Washington's Springer-style circus atmosphere came before the cameras late last week when House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bill Thomas made a tearful apology regarding the fracas over the pension bill. I have no problem with crying in public. I am a big fan of current Kansas City Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil, who guided the St. Louis Rams (my favorite football team) to a Super Bowl XXXIV victory. But as with all things in politics and theater, crying has to be done at the right moment. Otherwise, one looks like a weakling, or as Pete Stark would say, a "fuckin' pussy."
Political crying is acceptable in the following instances: making a retirement speech, reminiscing about prior military conflicts one actually fought in, talking about the prospective hardships faced by our troops in the field, and remembering hardships faced by loved ones. Former Kansas Senator Bob Dole, whose rhetorical skills made the first George Bush look positively eloquent, always managed to bring forth a genuine wet eye at moments like these. Louisiana Representative Bob Livingston cried as he resigned from the House before becoming Speaker; his bowing out gracefully amidst personal scandal (infidelity) was one of the truest acts of political courage and leadership in the Beltway during the Clinton era. And as the House deliberated the war in Iraq, the only congressmen who cried were those who had served in the military --- for they knew the real costs of warfare.
Whatever the details surrounding the pension-bill fracas, the aftermath was a humbling defeat for Chairman Thomas. Would the House have risen to their feet and cheered if the Ways and Means Chair had been a woman? I think the sexist consensus would probably be that "she's lost it," so House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi had better plug the tear ducts. One could only speculate what Thomas' predecessor, current House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, would have done. I doubt, however, that he would have been twisted by the Speaker into even apologizing. It is admirable to "take one for the team," but Thomas's display of emotion brought Ed Muskie's New Hampshire meltdown to mind. The Chairmanship of the House Ways and Means Committee is too important of a post show any sort of weakness. When Ranking Minority Member Charles Rangel glows, the dollars shall flow (even more profusely than they have already). Thomas has done some good work, chiefly the Medicare Commission that he co-chaired with Louisiana Senator John Breaux, but he ought to hand over the reigns. And preferably to someone with charisma, conviction, and backbone. My choice would be Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, a supply-sider who would be the best fiscal chair in Washington since John Kasich. Unfortunately, Republicans don't seem to care much about limiting government spending anymore.
Political crying is acceptable in the following instances: making a retirement speech, reminiscing about prior military conflicts one actually fought in, talking about the prospective hardships faced by our troops in the field, and remembering hardships faced by loved ones. Former Kansas Senator Bob Dole, whose rhetorical skills made the first George Bush look positively eloquent, always managed to bring forth a genuine wet eye at moments like these. Louisiana Representative Bob Livingston cried as he resigned from the House before becoming Speaker; his bowing out gracefully amidst personal scandal (infidelity) was one of the truest acts of political courage and leadership in the Beltway during the Clinton era. And as the House deliberated the war in Iraq, the only congressmen who cried were those who had served in the military --- for they knew the real costs of warfare.
Whatever the details surrounding the pension-bill fracas, the aftermath was a humbling defeat for Chairman Thomas. Would the House have risen to their feet and cheered if the Ways and Means Chair had been a woman? I think the sexist consensus would probably be that "she's lost it," so House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi had better plug the tear ducts. One could only speculate what Thomas' predecessor, current House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, would have done. I doubt, however, that he would have been twisted by the Speaker into even apologizing. It is admirable to "take one for the team," but Thomas's display of emotion brought Ed Muskie's New Hampshire meltdown to mind. The Chairmanship of the House Ways and Means Committee is too important of a post show any sort of weakness. When Ranking Minority Member Charles Rangel glows, the dollars shall flow (even more profusely than they have already). Thomas has done some good work, chiefly the Medicare Commission that he co-chaired with Louisiana Senator John Breaux, but he ought to hand over the reigns. And preferably to someone with charisma, conviction, and backbone. My choice would be Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, a supply-sider who would be the best fiscal chair in Washington since John Kasich. Unfortunately, Republicans don't seem to care much about limiting government spending anymore.
posted by Nikos A. Leverenz @ 1:12 AM
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