A salute to Rick Santorum, as sung by the von Trapp family singers in The Sound of Music, to the tune of "So Long, Farewell":
There's a sad sort of sighing from the far, far right
From the left it's a kind of glee
For this guy who's been taking us to new extremes
Now at last has said a quick goodbye.
Repeatedly he told us
That God alone will save us
But--oops--Rick
couldn't win PA.
So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, good night,
Our time with you has been a trying plight.
Dumb diddee dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb
Dumb diddee dumb dumb dumb.
So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, adieu,
You are sincere but oh so narrow, too.
Dumb diddee dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb
Dumb diddee dumb dumb dumb.
We're glad you'll go, we cannot tell a lie
You dissed John K and no one could tell why.
(Slower now) Dumb diddee dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb--
It's Mitt who's now the GOP's main guy,
So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen goodbye.
Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye.
Showing posts with label Rick Santorum. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rick Santorum. Show all posts
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Monday, March 12, 2012
Experts Part 1
One day last week on "All Things Considered," the host invited listeners to call in with our opinions about a containment policy towards Iran. Since I didn't really know what containment meant, I wasn't about to pick up the phone and express my thoughts. Fortunately, not too many other people did either.
Every day in America talk radio is filled with opinions from ordinary people like me. I wonder about the merits of giving all of us a voice. When we're all experts on everything, are we less likely to hear the opinions of those who might actually know something that we don't?
Such thinking--that all opinions are equal--serves only to reinforce the strain of anti-intellectualism that runs through our culture. The suspicion of those who are educated has always run deep, but Paul Krugman writes in a recent New York Times column that the Republican presidential candidates have sharpened the attack in new ways. The resulting disrespect for knowledge gives all of us permission to ignore expertise.
Therefore, we can ignore the wisdom of scientists who explain climate change; we can ignore the wisdom of economists who explain deficit spending; and we can ignore the wisdom of historians who explain Afghanistan.
I like to give my opinions, too. But when I don't know what I'm talking about, I hope I defer to those who do.
Every day in America talk radio is filled with opinions from ordinary people like me. I wonder about the merits of giving all of us a voice. When we're all experts on everything, are we less likely to hear the opinions of those who might actually know something that we don't?
Such thinking--that all opinions are equal--serves only to reinforce the strain of anti-intellectualism that runs through our culture. The suspicion of those who are educated has always run deep, but Paul Krugman writes in a recent New York Times column that the Republican presidential candidates have sharpened the attack in new ways. The resulting disrespect for knowledge gives all of us permission to ignore expertise.
Therefore, we can ignore the wisdom of scientists who explain climate change; we can ignore the wisdom of economists who explain deficit spending; and we can ignore the wisdom of historians who explain Afghanistan.
I like to give my opinions, too. But when I don't know what I'm talking about, I hope I defer to those who do.
Monday, March 5, 2012
Sartorial Spectacle
Is there anyone more uncomfortable-looking than Mitt Romney in jeans? Similarly, can any of us ever buy a sweater vest for the men in our lives after watching Rick Santorum model one after another? It's refreshing, in a way, to see male politicians suffer fashion scrutiny previously reserved for women. After all, about this time 4 years ago, we were commenting on Hillary Clinton's traveling pants, and we'd soon be treated to the debut of Sarah Palin.
Mitt Romney took the sartorial discussion to a new level, though, when he derided NASCAR enthusiasts for wearing plastic rain ponchos. Somehow, I don't want a president who comments on our clothes--especially when they're cheap and the best we can do. He tried to right himself on Fox News later in the week by telling Bill O'Reilly--"Look, I have worn a garbage bag for rain gear myself"--but I think we can agree that he dug himself in deeper.
Still, I credit Mr. Romney with helping me this weekend make a wise fashion choice. Before heading out on a rainy Saturday morning to a school meeting held, uncharacteristically, at one of Durham's most exclusive country clubs, I paused to consider my options. Garbage bag? No. Cheap plastic poncho? No. Slightly less cheap vinyl slicker? No.
With Mitt as my guide, I carried a simple umbrella. And I didn't wear jeans or a sweater vest. He would have been proud.
Mitt Romney took the sartorial discussion to a new level, though, when he derided NASCAR enthusiasts for wearing plastic rain ponchos. Somehow, I don't want a president who comments on our clothes--especially when they're cheap and the best we can do. He tried to right himself on Fox News later in the week by telling Bill O'Reilly--"Look, I have worn a garbage bag for rain gear myself"--but I think we can agree that he dug himself in deeper.
Still, I credit Mr. Romney with helping me this weekend make a wise fashion choice. Before heading out on a rainy Saturday morning to a school meeting held, uncharacteristically, at one of Durham's most exclusive country clubs, I paused to consider my options. Garbage bag? No. Cheap plastic poncho? No. Slightly less cheap vinyl slicker? No.
With Mitt as my guide, I carried a simple umbrella. And I didn't wear jeans or a sweater vest. He would have been proud.
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