#704 Advocation

I normally don’t delve into politics in these columns. There’s enough arrogant pundits out there as it is and I don’t want to be one. Pundits are so sure they’re always right. It’s great for the media, but in ordinary life, people like that make miserable company.
So I was reading through the voters’ primary pamphlet and giving each candidate a fair look. Since voters’ pamphlets supposedly contain a candidate’s position in his or her own words, and since the size constraints of the pamphlet keep those words few, I figured it was worth the time.
One of the interesting things in the “bio” part of each candidate’s resume and position statement was the space for occupation. Not surprisingly, a number of them listed their government office¾Governor, Senator, US Congressman.
A couple of them offered other things. John Edwards said he was a former US Senator, former Director and former trial attorney. So essentially, he’s unemployed.
Good, at least he’s available to be president right away.
Or at least as soon as he passes the drug test.
Mike Gravel said his occupation was Presidential Candidate. Well that’s refreshing. We all know it’s a fulltime job campaigning, but no one’s ever just come right out and said they’re living directly off campaign contributions before.
I wonder if the Presidential Candidate job has good benefits. Like dental.
No one seems to offer dental anymore.
And candidates above all need a good smile.
Mike Huckabee ignored the line altogether, skipping right to the other categories on the list. How nice to have a candidate who just refuses to pay attention to a form like everyone else.
Look out constitution.
Fred Thompson lists as his occupations Lawyer and Actor. His agent insisted on the actor part—just in case.
And Mitt Romney’s resume says simply this, Occupation: Business. Huh? A rather broad category. No specific job, mind you, just business as a whole.
It’s good to think you’re capable of anything, I guess. Don’t want to narrow your scope any and get caught in a specific position you might not want to stay in. It can be so confining.
Especially if it’s not getting you enough votes....
America, ya gotta love it.