Chris Bell's Concession in Texas

I was inspired to write today byChris Bell's concession speech. I saw it on the local news, which is, sadly, where I got most of my information regarding the election. I couldn't vote, as a citizen but non-resident, so I didn't follow the election as closely as I probably should have. I console myself with the idea that I'm busy looking for general political and economic trends. Well maybe I am and maybe that's just hogwash, but if I'd voted in Texas I'm afraid it wouldn't have been for either of the independents.

I'm all about voting for the independents especially with how partisan everything is now, but these independents...well. The "One Tough Gramma" campaign made my inner-economist quiver in terror. Really? Does paying for an additional two years of education for every student in Texas sound like a good idea? It'll be grade 13(Ontario) all over again...what an expensive and useless debacle that is. And Kinky Freeman, well I'd link to him, but since he thinks the internet is a tool of the Devil, I'm sure he'll appreciate me avoiding that. For his soul of course....

But I might have voted for Bell. I was a little frightened by the new Governor's (Perry) political commercials showing Bell as a very large and scary person leaning on the whitehouse. That was effective. I wouldn't want to elect a hideously large governor who would accidentally push the whitehouse over...But his concession speech was really excellent. I mean, I'm pretty critical, but he stepped down with grace and dignity. So much so that I began to suspect that he may live to race another day....

But enough of my evil suspicious mind. It's just interesting that the information I received was really all slander from all sides. I essentially picked the candidate who's slander I approved of most. And then tried to judge the character of the man as he stepped down. But I suppose this is where politics gets so dangerous. I mean, assuming that Governor Perry is correct and Bell is secretly an enormous whitehouse toppling giant, he has won my sympathy and my respect today. But I know that he was trained to act that way. His handlers probably taught him how to smile at the camera just so and convince me that he was losing with nobleness of spirit. So I wonder if even the concession speeches can be trusted?

The only time I've ever trusted a politicians sincerity was when the republicans swept the house and senate. I was watching cross-fire and the democrat that always makes up phony statistics actually looked like he was going to cry. Before then, I'd thought he was a miserable little toad. (I get very offended by people who make up statistics.) But I guess what I'm saying is at least he loss with dignity...maybe.....