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Photograph by Boss Tweed on Flickr
After Ed Koch said he was supporting Barack Obama for president because Sarah Palin scares him, Koch has been hearing from some of the folks who subscribe to his commentary via e-mail. The former mayor shared some of the missives he received--plus replies he's sending--with the NY Times(which incidentally is one of Koch's most trusted news sources!).
While most of the 400-some e-mails were positive, but the ones who disagreed with Koch's position were really...intense. Koch explained, "I was surprised primarily by those who criticized me with the invective they used, but I know those who praised me, had I come out the other way, would have used the same invective.” Per the Times, here are some excerpts of e-mails and, in italics, Koch's replies.
“Though I could not disagree with you more on your backing of George W. Bush, I congratulate you on your choice this time around.”Here is Koch's explanation of why he's supporting Obama-Biden.“Isn’t it possible that both my choices were and are correct? History will make that judgment.”
“No one believes you are really endorsing Obama out of a sincere belief that he is the better candidate after you endorsed Bush in ’04.”
“How foolish of you. ... The fact that I exercised independence of my party then is surely relevant and establishes that I vote my conscience.”
“If you feel Obama is the right man, with zero experience, anti-American stands, I no longer wish to receive your insights.”“Removed from e-mail with pleasure and alacrity.”
“You are kinder to Sarah Palin than I would be — I’ve never thought that disemboweling a moose was a strong qualification for a would-be president.”“I have no problem with Palin being an expert on skinning a moose and turning it into stew. I have a problem with her breaking tie votes in the Senate.”
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Too bad Koch doesn't know when to leave the stage.
What a schmuck.
“Isn’t it possible that both my choices were and are correct? History will make that judgment.”
I think history already has. Bush was a disaster for this country, pure and simple. There's no way Gore or Kerry could have done anywhere near as much damage to the economy or our standing in the world.
Isn't it possible for you to just admit you were wrong about Bush, Ed? There's no shame in being wrong, just in refusing to admit it and "staying the course."
Any one person can believe and vote contradictory things. So he thinks he was right to vote Bush, and this time he thinks he is right not to vote McCain/Palin. What he thinks is what he thinks. He doesn't have to have the same reasons as anyone else. This is America, remember? And frankly, I don't know many people that look to Koch for advice on who to vote for.
If old folks take him seriously enough to consider not voting McCain/Palin, then all the better. Why complain? Jeez. Do you want a crazy harpie one heart attack away from declaring war on whoever she wants and deciding which babies you or your partner will bear?
DON'T HEAR THIS
The sound of subway wheels that screech to a halt
Has been described as an auditory assault
As has the noise of a dumpster filled with doo
Collapsing onto a nudist sunning crew.
But even worse is the mode that comes by stealth:
The Palin twang can be dangerous to your health.
"The fact that I exercised independence of my party then is surely relevant and establishes that I vote my conscience."
I really don't buy this argument. It doesn't fly with me when Lieberman says it, nor with McCain. I think more than anything "crossing party lines" occurs out of vain self-interest and spite (as evidenced by Palin's claims of bucking the GOP) or out of utter ignorance and even fear (as shown by Koch's picks - Bush because terrorists scare him, Obama because women with guns scare him).
Of course I don't expect anyone to blindly follow their party. Policies differ from person to person. But so many will pat themselves on the back and point to examples of them breaking with their affiliations to reach across the aisle as proof that they vote their conscience - even when what they were fighting for was actually terrible. But hey, he voted his conscience on it!
Yeah, why can't Koch just admit he goofed badly by promoting George Bush? A lot of other people who voted for him have already done so. Unfortunately, along comes Sarah Palin and here they go again...
"I have no problem with Palin being an expert on skinning a moose and turning it into stew. I have a problem with her breaking tie votes in the Senate."
Well said, Mr. Mayor.