THIS FALL, PREPARE TO BE MANIPULATED

It had to happen. We know art imitates life. But it seems the artistry we see on our plasma screens is increasingly being presented through a distorted lens by the intentional manipulation of the Hollywood producer.

In the fall line-up is "Commander in Chief", in which Geena Davis portrays the first woman vice president who becomes president upon the incapacitation of the man elected. Of course this is merely planting seeds of thought into the soil of the synaptically challenged. Surely, at the end of each program there is a small note to remind us that this is paid for by a PAC for the "Hillary for President" campaign, which is still somewhat underground, but as active as a supercharged volcano.

I will tell you I am biased. Not necessarily against a woman as Commander in Chief, but against one particular woman ascending to that position, and her name happens to be Hillary Clinton. My bias is not based on the fact of who she is, but of what our government is meant to be. And our government is not meant to be one of dynasticism and inbred family rule. We already have had enough of that at all levels and in all branches of government.

As far as I am concerned the Bill Clinton presidency was a ventriloquist act. When Mr. Clinton opened his mouth, Hillary was back behind a curtain throwing her voice. And if we look at the damage that came from eight years of an echo, I can only imagine what will happen when Mrs. Hillary Clinton grasps the microphone firmly in her own two hands. I hope for it to not come to pass.

But beyond the personal distaste I have for Mrs. Clinton and what I perceive as her too prominent of a role in the presidency of her spouse, is the uneasiness which I retain regarding the whole issue of family dynasty in government. The finger pointing goes both ways, as both Republican and Democratic parties have had their dynastic holy ones. Coming readily to mind are Sununu, Dole, Kennedy, Scalia and Rockefeller. I imagine there are others!

As it stands now, we will have had twenty years of Bush/Clinton/Bush presidential leadership in our nation when the next election rolls around. Do we want this thing to domino again into twenty-four years? Do we want the same people with the same family-issued ideas coming into office? These who surround themselves with the same set of advisors and friends? Check into some of the Senators and Congressman inside the Beltway and see how many years they have served! See how many have children, wives and the branches of the family tree in positions of influence. Should government office become the "family business"? Or is it time to stop this trend and get a fresh blood tranfusion into the Oval Office? What about a fresh blood transfusion for Capitol Hill? What do you think? Is the concern legitimate? Are the risks of seeking out new voices to govern our nation too great? Can we trust the uninitiated to govern? Our forefathers managed it! In the end, is being comfortable with the status quo a greater danger? Think about it. And after you do, post a comment!

Tammy

tammyswofford@yahoo.com