Washington may be one of the world’s most powerful cities, but no one is immune to its beauty, the magnificence of its most stunning monuments ever created, world-class museums, ornate bridges, and lush verdant parks.
Its broad shaded boulevard, radiant like spokes from the heart of the city as well as breathtaking sculptures and marble edifices punctuated by steely plazas.
A gallery pass could entitle one to marvel at the histrionics of long winded senators railroading a pork barrel project through Congress, or the fire or brimstone politicians debating topics that incite the constant tension arising from the polarity of powerful people and ideas. It used to be to do something, its now to be someone. The public thrives at night, as a light burns or the Capital’s dome, if Congress is in session.
The presidential campaign combat: so what else is new?
In front of a watching nation, for better or for worse, it is undeniable gravity makes the tremendous, compelling political repertoire. At the rate Pandora’s boxes are opened in a panoply of overblown multiple plots, minute by minute drama that you can’t deride to a side show. For the camera savvy players (television is such an unstable beast), it means what used to be a genial and civilized scene has gradually vanished into a world of obscene, big money and bad manners. As the election campaign takes on a survival of the fittest and decidedly a personal tone from mean, dishonest and often hard to trace character assassination.
As a lifelong spectator in an extremely politicized country before I defected to Hollywood, nothing much has changed. The surge of the interest in the personalities of the presidential candidate had migrated into the very air we breathe. All these are full of tired insinuations and blatant, unapologetic approbation, bilious charges and counter charges as they head for bigger hurdles and sharper comparisons become inevitable; the grand quest for the US presidency send aspirants dancing on pin heads. Politics, it is said, is rarely a gentleman’s game.
Running for president is like running for your own life. Almost any help is welcome, once they find themselves in the midst of a campaign, it is guaranteed to bring out the worst in men and nobody was ever in control of events. But campaigning was a sweating every candidate had to go through to get to the noble business of governing.
It is a show, and a good one at that. What a tasty political flap we have to munch on. I’d recommend it for everyone, who enjoys vintage American politics, regardless of political persuasion.
That the entire show is carefully orchestrated for television is just one of the facts of contemporary life. The television ads are bad enough; good Lord, have mercy on the poor old truth.
Character is the issue, character, one supposes, comprises both principle and integrity.
I have no fearless forecast but some people keep asking me what is the mood of Fil-Am voters?
There is a different behavior for incumbents than there is for challengers.
But to a pinched, stressed, war weary nation, the aspirant who offers the clearest program, might probably win in the end.
