Stars

Definitely cozy. The fire has the house at a little over 70 degrees this morning and the furnace remains off. But, in the back of my mind I am feeling guilty of fouling the atmosphere. The ashes will be put into the soil and that’s a good thing, but it still seems like I’m running a carbon deficit here.

I’ve moved along in the book, Commander in Chief, by Geoffrey Perret and I’m now up to reading of Nixon’s role in the Vietnam debacle. And as I read the statements and written thoughts of these presidents and those who surrounded them, I’m struck by how terribly ordinary these men were. ‘Common’ is a good word to use when describing them. (As in ‘common thief’) You keep hoping to see some brilliance in their planning and wisdom in their motives, but it’s all the same…common. This made them some of the most dangerous men in the world. Truth be told; you wouldn’t want to invite these men into your house to share a meal or a conversation.

It shouldn’t be a surprise of course. Look at how we elect them to office. The one that spends the most wins. Except when the one who lies the most wins. And since they all do their best to do both equally, it’s usually a dead heat. Shouldn’t they have to take a test first? You can’t drive a car without taking a test… or get a hunting license.

The author does get a laugh when he notes that politics is like movie stardom for the ugly.