esrosedotblog

I am not a Republican.

I was once back when we first moved to Lower Bucks County Pennsylvania.

It was the only way to be even a minor player in local politics. I joined the local GOoPers in controlling the town and the lower County and got on the inside of it all where all the fun of politics is.

I have never gotten over it. I have always yearned to be a player. One way or another I kept my hand in and as I have mentioned ad-nauseum I still play the game with the local condo association.

My Dad got bitten by the bug and I caught it from him. I went with him on his forays into the Township trolling for votes. I stood with him on election day watching him work. He found himself through politics and so have I.

I have only run for office a few times. I have had a number of appointive positions. But always, always, always, I have been in the pool with all the other fish. Not a shark but maybe a pilot fish.

I had decided that this election cycle would be a bust. My last one and look at the layout. Almost pre-ordained nominees, stupid issues, a set of foregone conclusions.

But look now. Fun. From out of nowhere. And from the old fogies. The stuck in the mud GOP comes alive.

Potential G.O.P. Convention Fight Puts Older Hands in Sudden Demand

Stewart Spencer for fucks sake. A neighbor in Palm Desert. Charley Black.

Suddenly a contested convention means that all the old style politics of hands on, face to face, trading horses, courting favors are into play. The life blood of the old style democracy in action. Blood, sweat and tears.

It makes me so happy.

I am not a doom sayer so I will not say that this is my "last" election. My Dad did that for years. "Well, I think this will be my last car" or whatever. None of that.

But the fact is that this is probably my last one, the one that I am most likely to enjoy.

It is almost worth turning back to a Republican for it. A life time pivot.

But maybe the bleachers are a better bet.

I am sure not likely to get very excited about Ms. Clinton. I will be dutiful and pull the lever. But there is no juice in it.

Labels: politics, public life

I didn't either.

We are in the rainy doldrums here and everything is all wet.

I forget that we once lived under these conditions on a regular basis.

Marcus is even more unused to it than we. But he forges on, wet fur and all. Of course we are the ones who towel him off which he does like.

I know.

Even the best of us in the best of places are going to go on bitching about the weather.

In the same vein, life has been rather, well, normal. Nothing much of note.

I have been finishing out Season 3 of The Big Bangers.

I can only write so much about television.

Today, I am catching up on my gay film queue. There is a compilation of shorts Global Warming 2. The first collection was pretty good for this kind of thing and I am looking forward to seeing it but probably will not write about it.

Tomorrow I have the annual meeting of the condo association. I will be on stage throughout. It is held at the senior center auditorium. Yes. Palm Springs does have enough seniors to have a center and for the center to have an auditorium. Enough said.

I like this kind of thing and while it will steal my entire day, I am happy to hand it over. Entertainment at a high level and the sense of accomplishment of a public service.

Did I mention the rain?

Labels: life, public life, weather

The rapid collapse of Bill Cosby's reputation seems unprecedented to me.

Cosby was one of the first black actors to achieve some degree of national success independent of his race. Or, in spite of his race.

I don't know. It was played very well so that he came out all heroic.

I liked him as a comedian. Then I liked I Spy where he had an almost magical partnership with Robert Culp. Then it goes on from there and I sort of lost him.

Not because I knew anything of course. I just sort of got bored with him as a "character". That happens with television. And then I got tired of television. Still am.

Scandal is always juicy with lots of hindsight coming into play. The real jury is still out on how this will work for Costby but he already has had cancellations.

The other thing about it is the race card. It has been taken off the table so to speak.

This is, of course, unfair but somewhere someone is saying that he abused the well deserved reputation he had gained as a spokesman for, well what? Not his race certainly.

He was/is an entertainer. The black thing is there and part of the picture. Can't deny that.

But in the basic scheme of things this is what he will be remembered for.

Calling Out Bill Cosby’s Media Enablers, Including Myself

I love David Carr's candor.

I always have.

The fact is that Cosby has thrown himself to the wolves. He has done it singlehandedly. What a terrible way to end a career and to spend one's "golden years".

Labels: public life