Dissecting Romney's Report Card

Intellectual jack-of-all-trades, Norman Cousins, once noted that "history is a vast early warning system."  Though clearly an app for geopolitical purposes, its routine use on individuals is highly effective as well. Consider our use of sports stats to determine not only overall team rankings but each player's value as well. Candidates for public office are no different in this regard.

Their prior votes, long held views, planned or ill-prepared statements, and even personal histories are analyzed in hopes of trying to get a glimpse of how they may be based on how they were. No stone seems to go unturned in our collective attempts to find the sum of a person based on the whole of the parts.

             In that vein, let me tell you everything you needed to know about a potential Romney Presidency can be learned by simply interpreting the grades of his high school, freshman year, first quarter report card (http://www.mediaite.com/online/mitt-romneys-high-school-freshman-report-card-released/).

            B in English:  Ineffective communicator; lacks ability to connect with people. As the teacher's comment implies, he gets his message across but folks aren't feeling it.

            B in Elementary Algebra:  Doesn't really understand economics.  Note he tends not to study enough which means he probably cannot even make sense of his own fiscal policies.

            B in Biology:  Anti-woman, homophobic, creationist.  His difficulty with genetics is indicative of someone who has difficulty understanding when life begins and that homosexuals are born that way.  "Originality” and “imagination” suggest a fantastical obsession with Intelligent Design mythology.

            C in French: Unapologetic American Exceptionalist with an ineffective foreign policy agenda.  Early high scores - Olympics is international, right? - lulled him into assuming he was ready to lecture an ally; cede the religious center of the world completely to Judaism alone; and act like he had anything to do with Polish independence won 20 years before he took the stage. (Note the oddly conciliatory closing comment on his admirable and potentially successful efforts by someone with the initials HRC. Was a perennial Democratic favorite hedging her bets even then?)

            B - in Art:  Republican In Name Only.Despite attempts at being a slacker in an elective, he can't hide his true leanings. A real conservative would never take a course that leads to a lifetime of taxpayer subsidization let alone show any sign of being proficient in one of its profitless mediums.

Mitt Romney also had what appears to be an unexcused absence that quarter which could lead to calls for him to release his full medical records since birth.  The additional comment that he was “a more responsible citizen” that year begs the question, what was he before that? Some intentionally unnamed sources have it on good, albeit unanimous, authority that prior to 1961, Mitt was neither responsible nor a citizen.

(Based on this single transcript alone, one can conclude unequivocally who the better man is in this election.  And while President Obama has yet to release any of his transcripts we should take him at everyone else’s word that he is a genius; that 4 years of 8+ unemployment rates spurred on by billions in special interest stimulus is recovery; and that total annual deficit spending under his economy policies - more than that of all of his predecessors combined - coupled with increasing taxes and fees on all Americans is the only way to prosperity.)

Gay for Chik-Fil-A? NJ Won't Be Lovin' Ya Back

As an openly heterosexual male I have long found that Chik-Fil-A is a fantastic facility in which to aggressively make out with my wife.  For years now we have locked lips and slobbered over each other at the counter, across the tables, in the booths, bathrooms and even the indoor playground.   My car’s fender is all scratched up from trying to go at it while maneuvering the drive-thru lane.  We are not unlike the hundreds of thousands of other heterosexual couples who frequent Chik-Fil-A with the sole purpose of getting it on in there like teenagers in their parents’ basement.   Sometimes we don’t even order any food that is how conducive the environment is for inappropriate displays of public affection.  That is unless, of course, you are a homosexual. 

Same sex couples are not allowed to kiss each other in a Chik-Fil-A.  They aren’t allowed in the restaurant and even turned away at the drive-thru.  And we know this because?  Well, because of the big signs on the doors that say, “No Gays Allowed;” because of the voice at the drive-thru that prompts gays to immediately drive away while it offers to assist all others; and because of  the gaydar  at the counter that will sound when a covert homosexual tries to order value meal.  (The kids' meals come with a state issued Certificate of Marriage and Chik-Fil-A does not conduct same-sex marriage ceremonies in their stores.  It is written in their corporate rules as is the no-gays served policy.) 

Bearing ample evidence illustrating wholesale discrimination in each and every franchise across the nation, some in the LGBT community have said enough is enough and declared today National Same Sex Kiss Day at Chik-Fil-A.   Because nothing says we deserve equality better than inappropriately making out at a fast food restaurant, right?
 
Yeah.  Steve Goldstein, Chairman of New Jersey’s Garden State Equality advocacy group feels the same way about the effectiveness of this kiss-in campaign.   He rightly points out same sex relationships, just like straight couples, involve so much more than sloppy and awkward P.D.A.s.  They are deeper and more committed than that. While he doesn’t say this called for action makes a mockery of the basic human right he and countless others are fighting for, it is pretty clear he sat this one out.  The group didn’t offer up ringing endorsements to act like juveniles in heat at area restaurants.  Securing the fundemental right of loving partners to legally marry themselves and their property to each other is not won with sideshow antics that only reinforce belittling stereotypes.

Goldstein notes that GSE will recommend an alternative, more long-term action against the company to get its message out there.  He understands the first amendment and respects personal opinions and the right of private citizens to spend their money as they so choose.  He hopes enough folks will choose not to spend theirs at Chik-Fil-A.    No calls for pickets and protests of local franchises employing your neighbors but rather just the simple nonverbal expression of your first amendment right by driving right by it even if you are hungry and those nuggets are pretty damn good.

Some have already done so.   Local entities that have worked with Chik-Fil-A in the past are rethinking that relationship.  Others might not see any connection between the personal statements of a mostly nameless faceless CEO far, far away and the local chains serving up decent, reasonably priced meals in an extremely courteous environment.  How often do any of us really think about the political side of the profits we contribute to daily?  Folks like Steve Goldstein  are hoping now is the time you start, and not just by kissing it up at Chik-Fil-A.

http://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20120803/NEWS01/308030018/No-kiss-menu-N-J-gay-groups

Frankly, He Was a Great Guy

I was 27 when I met Republican Leader, Assemblyman Alex DeCroce.   Just a kiddo, in his vernacular.  He chaired my first legislative committee assignment in the General Assembly.  I cut my political teeth in Assemblyman DeCroce’s Committee.  I learned a lot about the process under his leadership but more importantly I learned a lot about the quality of the man and the value of his word under his friendship.

As with any effective legislator, he was  savvy, disciplined, conscientious and efficient.  He expected as much from everyone he dealt with, staff included.  As a politician, Assemblyman DeCroce knew the game well.  He understood the necessity at times for partisanship but beyond that as a public servant he instinctively sought solutions.  He knew the value of compromise and encouraged discussion from both sides of the aisle.  No bill was released from his committee half-done for the sake of a press release.  He wasn’t signing off on anything that wasn’t the best working product and had the consensus of all involved.  Substance was always more important than style and he never clamored for the credit or headlines. He just sought what was best for the state.

It was that manner in which he conducted business that revealed the dedication and humility of Alex and showed me that he was politician only when necessary but a gentleman always. 

Almost immediately I felt familiarity with the Assemblyman.  Both of us were born and raised in Morris County albeit the Morris County I grew up in was largely built by him. Both of us shared Italian heritage and working class roots. But what really struck me about Alex DeCroce was how strongly his personality matched that of my father.  It was the era in which they came of age that gave them both a quiet sense of duty and commitment, a respect for the rules and civility, and an appreciation for loyalty, and a great sense of humor.   

Generosity is another shared quality of the two men.  My father is always generous with his time and when able his resources.  Alex always had a moment to share with anyone who sought it.  From a staffer’s perspective, he was tremendously generous with his own personal resources to make sure those loyal to him always felt welcome (and well fed),  were treated with respect, and recognized for their efforts.  He strived  not only to maintain a staff that worked well together but to foster an almost familial congeniality among us.  His paternal influence in the office motivated all of us to excel  not merely to advance a political position but  because we knew it pleased him to see us do so. 

I found working with the Assemblyman to be a hardly working at all.  So much so that I always felt at home in his office, free to speak informally, free to offer honest assessments.  I understood his thought process and I knew where he would come down on an issue with little need for discussion.  I also recognized that Alex had heartfelt conviction which at times would need some pause if it were to be understood properly as insight and not mere opinion. 

Like anyone’s father, Alex spoke with sincerity and compassion shrouded in frankness.  At times he offered a necessary but bitter pill of constructive criticism.  Nothing was ever sugar coated and occasionally what first came to mind is what came out of his mouth but it was always delivered with the best of intentions.  He was never spiteful or mean-spirited.  There was no maliciousness in his message.

Alex was not an elequent orator (although there was often  eloquence to be found in the simplicity of his wisdom). He communicated with the plainspoken language of a bygone era where words were not artificially defined with political implications and turns-of-phrase weren’t entangled with potential liabilities.  What Alex lacked in finesse he more than made up for in honesty and forthrightness. He spoke from the heart not from well-tested talking points and speaking from the heart at times leaves you open to criticism, justified or not.  He spoke just like your father and family speak around the dinner table.

Staff tried often to have him work off of prepared remarks and Alex tried as best he could to read from his script.  But you always knew when Alex was off script.  When he went off script is when you heard passion in his voice and conviction in his tone.  When Alex was off script, there was a lesson to learn, a point to be made, and wisdom to be imparted.  He spoke from experience on the issues and not from knowledge - the latter being gleaned from pages of research prepared for you but lacking the dirt under the nails authenticity only experience can bring.

Those who took the time to listen recognized all of this in Assemblyman DeCroce and respected him for that. Those who didn't listen lost out on the wisdom of Alex DeCroce.  Then again, as the saying goes, you cannot impart wisdom as it is always taken as foolishness.  It is much like your father's comments in the midst of a daunting task.  If only you take pause you will respect and appreciate the advice of your father; realizing he knows what he is talking about not because he read the instructions but because long ago he rolled his sleeves up, got his hands dirty and did it already.