Joe the Plumber By Bob Sanders

In what could easily be described as Theater of the Absurd, we soon will be able to reassure ourselves that at least part of our latest national nightmare will be over. The reference, of course, is in regard to the present White House occupant and his Presidency of remarkable   ineptitude or worse as historians are likely to write. In a prior episode of White House scariness, it was 38th President Gerald Ford who in 1974 told us that Richard Nixon’s odd approach to the job had been rectified by way of his leaving office in disgrace.

Part of the current nightmare remains. Wall Street, done in by its own greed and government failure to oversee what became a Ponzi game within the financial world’s casino, totters while people regarded as “experts” tinker under the monetary engine’s hood bringing on memories of Ross Perot who told us he had all the answers.

Under a broad and scary umbrella of confusion exists a bizarre Presidential competition in which the McCain campaign has introduced weapons of greatest distraction--a pair of third  bananas who gained momentary resonation with the easily-sold Republican Party base. 

First, there was McCain’s astonishing selection of Sarah Palin as his running mate.  This was as preposterous as the manager of the Philadelphia Phillies, having reached the World Series, choosing to dip into his team’s farm system for a first game starting pitcher. Beyond her adoring fans, Palin comes across as an updated version of Lucille Ball Lucy Riccardo. I guess that casts First Dude Todd as Ricky with a snowmobile team replacing a Cuban band. Babalu aye!

The latest development came during the last Obama-McCain debate and at first blush looked like a Karl Rovian set up. Rove, as you will recall, is best known as Bush’s Brain and the guy who took Ronald Reagan’s success with evangelicals to new heights. The debate night’s insanity was right out of the Rove playbook and involved Joe the Plumber, a self-described conservative, who earlier had challenged Obama in front of a TV camera. Joe the Plumber, initially identified as Joe Wurzelbacher of Toledo, Ohio, got his 15 minutes of instant stardom when McCain decided to adopt him as a trickle down poster boy for small business taxation. The Senator from Arizona used Joe’s name something like 20 times during the debate and it was determined by McCain himself that the night belonged to Joe the Plumber. 

Joe’s success was short-lived. Everything about his story was false. His real name is Samuel J. Wurzelbacher, he doesn’t have the $250,000 to buy a plumbing business, he’s behind on his taxes and, most disappointing in the search for truth, doesn’t even have a plumber’s license. Call him Joe the Poor.

The Joe the Plumber incident, perhaps more than anything, reflects the desperation of the McCain camp. The facts during recent weeks suggest delusional approaches to problem solving made more difficult by Obama’s surge in the polls. McCain’s anger on camera, irrational campaign decisions plus a dramatic departure from the true maverick persona he achieved in the 2000 campaign have contributed to unravel his quest for the Presidency and bring on the most significant question of all: Who is John McCain?

Seizing upon Joe the Plumber as a campaign boost was strange even if Joe had possessed plumbing bono fides. Joe the Cop or Joe the Fireman work much better. Plumbers, in the general scheme of things, are not the kind of people you want to help further your political ambitions. Even journalists or lawyers would be better choices.

I’ll give you a for instance about plumbers. Living on San Juan Island some 15 years ago, I discovered water had collected under my home. I called a plumber, aware of their disinclination to appear as promised, and was told help would soon be on its way. It didn’t, the  water remained , nothing of a catastrophic nature occurred and life proceeded on its isolated island way. Some three months after the phone call, a young man presented himself at the door indicating he had arrived to take care of the plumbing problem. By then, my wife and I had written the experience off to life styles that embrace the obvious: Island Time.

The young man, quite slim, was a perfect fit to wriggle into close quarters underneath the home, and I left him to his diligence. In about 30 minutes, he reappeared and asked: “What’s this address?” I told him 2931 Isle of View Lane and he seemed a bit embarrassed.  ‘I’ve got the wrong place,” he announced, “but I did some good things for you.”

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Comments

[Ted]

OBAMA + DEM CONG = USA RIP

[Bob Sanders]

Ted,
Thanks for your comment although your message is far too brief.
I think I got the essence of your brevity--certainly it is in line with the very limited leadership communications that have characterized the last eight years this country (and the world) have had to endure.
The White House criminality foisted upon this country will soon end.
Bob

[John Watts]

Good points all.

Have you heard of Joe the Brother?
McCain's brother Joe actually called 911 to complain of a traffic problem in the DG area recently.
When advised by the 011 operator that 911 was not for that purpose, Brother Joe told the operator to go [bleep] himself!
A follow up call from 911 to Brother Joe advised him that such abuse of 911 was a federal offense.
Seems Brother Joe has stated before that this part of VA/DC is 'communist country'!
Think this says anything about Brother Joe's Brother John?

[Collins W. Andrews]

I just found this website and think it's great, how wonderful to find someone with clear thinking and cut to the chase opinions.

Rob is Brian still in radio I'd love to hear from him.