Many politicians render words that are the rhetorical equivalent of boiled okra. They re very slick and even if one chews on them, they slip by offering little in flavor or ideas. Savvy pols always insert lawyerly escape clauses and qualifiers. Others deny their previous words or claim a misunderstanding. I contend that we want to hear only what our government can do for us, not what government must confiscate or borrow to provide it.
Numerous contradictions illustrate our self-delusion.
We yearn for truthfulness in our politicians yet we tend to shoot the messenger when the message isn t rosy. We want welfare reform and two chickens in every pot. We want tax relief and Medicare benefit growth at three times inflation. We want deficits eliminated and stronger defense. But realities thwart Utopian desires.