The World’s Greatest Deliberative Body
The US Senate claims to be “The World’s Greatest Deliberative Body”. There are only 100 senators chosen out of 330 million Americans so the Senate is more exclusive than most country clubs. In fact, the Senate looks a lot like most country clubs, full of old white guys with bad haircuts.
There are all of 24 woman senators today which seems disproportionate since half of all Americans are women. Exactly two of those female senators are Republicans. GOP ladies don’t dirty their manicured hands with politics.
There are all of three Black senators also somewhat disproportionate to the Black population. Ironically, two Blacks are vying for the same Senate seat this year. Raphael Warnock is currently the junior senator from Georgia. Before becoming a senator, he succeeded Martin Luther King as pastor at his Atlanta church. He was elected last year despite Donald Trump’s claims of election rigging in Georgia. Election rigging is OK if Donnie does it (“Can you find me 11,000 votes?”), but evil if done by others.
Donnie’s revenge was swift and terrible. He recruited Herschel Walker to run against Raphael. Herschel led the University of Georgia to a national collegiate football title, won the Heisman Trophy, and played in the NFL. Herschel never graduated from college and had no political or governmental experience, but that’s OK. Between college and the NFL, Herschel appeared on national TV as often as a certain host of “The Apprentice”. It all worked out for that guy.
Herschel stumbled a bit on the way to the GOP nomination. He was proven to have committed domestic violence. He refused to participate in any debates. When he did speak, he mystified audiences. When asked about the Theory of Evolution (still a hot topic in Georgia Republican circles), Herschel remarked, “If evolution is true, why are there still apes? Think about it.”
Now that’s the caliber of mind that we need in “The World’s Greatest Deliberative Body”.
Of course, Herschel had one big thing in his favor that likely got him Donnie’s support. Herschel’s campaign spent $200 K on an event at Mar-a-Lago.
I can envision the Want Ad now. “Wanted — US Senator. No educational background or previous experience required. Ability to debunk proven science preferred. Must have enormous name recognition. Apply at Mar-a-Lago cash in hand.”
The World’s Greatest Deliberative Body, indeed.
By Ed Dufton
