T-Day is Really E-Day.
On Election Day regardless of whom you stand up for or against; or choose not to vote at all, in our opinion America's T-Day is celebrated on E-Day, Election Day.
According to a serious, new and very humorously-titled book, in the author's opinion our floundering fathers were as excellent at smear tactics and skullduggery as they are today! And they did so without political consultants, voter research or ad agency war rooms.
The book is titled, "A Magnificent Catastrophe: The Tumultuous Election of 1800, America's First Presidential Campaign". (Free Press; $27). It's a great gift that goes as well with chocolates as it does with hearty port!
According to New Yorker Magazine book reviewer, Jill Lepore, the book's author, Edward J. Larson makes a convincing case that "Partisans were worried that the young republic's first election would be its last." Imagine that. The sky's now been falling now for over 200 years.
The more things change, the more they stay the same!
Apparently Mud-slinging was in vogue then as it is now. That's "strangely comforting" to the Madison Avenue Journal's staff. Things are no better or worse. We like it that way. In our opinion that stands for something.
We know everyone's got their own opinion on that as well as all sorts of other things. Most will be tempted to stand up and share theirs over Turkey dinner. Some will actually give in to this temptation!
Will it make for a more interesting meal, or add to the heartburn? In our opinion it'll depend on who's sitting down at the table :--)
