I guess what annoys me most about Scott Brown is that I feel as though I know people just like him -- in the neighborhood, in the family, etc. These are the kind of folks who seem interested in public affairs, and feel like they're supposed to have opinions on important developments, but never quite get around to paying attention to the news or learning anything substantive about the subjects they claim to care about.In my heart of hearts, I don't think Brown is lying. I rather doubt he appeared on that radio show yesterday, hoping to deliberately deceive listeners about the sanctions on Iran the president was just signing into law.
The problem is that Brown doesn't seem to keep up on current events, but likes to pretend he does. That's not a crime; a lot of people do this. But a lot of people aren't U.S. senators.
As a result, this guy ends up saying demonstrably ridiculous things about the stimulus, financial regulatory reform, health care reform, economic policy, and energy policy, among other things.
Who would have guessed that his guy might not be a serious person?
In fairness, highly attractive people are often stereotyped by their looks and it's as unjust as stereotyping anyone else. There are lots of highly accomplished, intelligent lookers in this world and they often have to fight harder to be taken seriously.
And anyway just because a Senator doesn't know about current events or understand the basic outlines of legislation he's working on doesn't mean he's shallow and dim about everything:
“The pinkish color drained from [Brown’s] face when I asked him about it during a conversation in his campaign office just before we took off in the truck. He clarified that the shorts weren’t something that he went out and purchased — it wasn’t like that at all. ‘I did the couture shows, and instead of paying in cash, they paid in clothes,’ he said. ‘And one of the things I had to wear were leather shorts. And these happened to be pink.’”
As he told the story, he seemed, almost in spite of himself, to get into it. ‘If I wore these now,’ he said, ‘I’d get shot. But it was the ’80s. Pastels were in. It was all pastel-y.’ The shorts went with his tan at the time and a pair of white shoes that he owned, so he gave them a whirl. ‘Gail comes out and she’s like, “Those are pink shorts.” I said: “Yeah, you like them? They’re great. Comfortable. Feel this leather.”’ With this last phrase, he slowly stroked the side of one of his thighs, apparently miming the gesture he made in front of her.”
He emphasized: ‘This isn’t cheap leather. This is, like, $750 shorts back then.’ He shook his head at the memory. ‘Crazy stuff.’”
Brown undoubtedly isn't truly dumb. But he's gotten through life without having seriously challenged himself or being forced to deliver something other than his pulchritudinous self. It's not surprising that he isn't inclined to spend a lot of time reading the paper when his bread and butter is his fab abs.
What this says about the GOP is far more interesting. Their two biggest stars are a gibberish spouting beauty queen and a bumbling centerfold and I wonder if this might be the natural outgrowth of the Roger Ailes strategy of hiring gorgeous spokesmodels to take the edge off the GOPs hate and fear agenda. perhaps it's just been taken to its natural conclusion.
I think Palin actually showed the way for Brown here. Stay in politics as short a period of time as possible and then get out and make zillions as a "political celebrity." It's a much better job and you never, ever have to read anything that isn't on (or in) the palm of your hand.
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