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Bill Moyers for PresidentJuly 27, 2006 Excuse the long silence: I spent the last five days writing a review of Julie Phillips's excellent James Tiptree, Jr.: The Double Life of Alice B. Sheldon, and taking time off in the middle to write a 900-word mini-essay "Why I Do Write About the Vineyard." The latter appears in today's Martha's Vineyard Times. The review of the Tiptree/Sheldon book is now in the editor's hands; in some form it can likely be read in the September/October issue of the Women's Review of Books. I intend to blog something about the book, but not right this minute. Right this minute I'm going to confess that I may be on the verge of being born again in the electoral religion, in which I was raised but from which I have lapsed. Day before yesterday, Molly Ivins posted to AlterNet a column headed Bill Moyers for President. It began:
I stared. Then I laughed. Then I said, "This is perfect!" Then I lost my marbles. I swore (in public) that if Moyers ran, I would register to vote so I could vote for him. I have since sworn that if Moyers runs, I will put his bumper sticker on my truck. Uhura Mazda has never worn a bumper sticker. Tesah Toyota died with "STUDDS" just above the bed and under the rear window. Gerry Studds, who represented the 10th Massachusetts congressional district for more than two decades, had retired by then. I vowed at the time that I would not affix another political bumper sticker to any vehicle of mine unless I was genuinely for the candidate, as opposed to against his or her opponent. Putting a Moyers sticker on Uhura's bumper would be a big deal -- worthy of a champagne toast, or at least a couple of beers. Uhura would need a bath first. Uhura needs a bath now. Mr. Moyers, are you listening? No, Bill Moyers won't win, but winning is not the only reason to run for public office. One reason I'm in a non-voting phase of my life is that (holding my nose) I voted for a mediocrity -- twice -- and the mediocrity won, also twice. What did the country get? A mediocre president. Sure, in the light of what's happened since Clinton looks a good deal better than he did while in office, but a case could be made that his mediocrity, not to mention his out-of-control personal behavior, helped pave the way for the Dubya administration. On my optimistic days, I think the country has finally bottomed out and that we're ready to get serious about recovery. On my pessimistic days I think there is no bottom and we're getting there fast. A political campaign is an incredibly powerful organizing tool. (I was so impressed with Howard Dean's that I was going to register for him, but I procrastinated too long.) As Miss Molly noted, it can "move the entire spectrum of political discussion in this country." It can also raise our expectations, which are in desperate need of raising. Seriously: Can you imagine a candidate for high public office who speaks truth to power and truth to the citizenry? as opposed to tailoring every statement to yesterday's polls? I can't either. This is another reason I don't vote. The last time I got excited about a presidential candidate was in 1976. The candidate was Oklahoma senator Fred Harris. He didn't win either, but he got people thinking about issues that no one else was addressing. A campaign brings all kinds of people together and teaches them how to get things done. It can teach them how to communicate with each other as well as with the wider world. When the campaign is over, win or lose, they can take their new, or newly sharpened, skills out into that wider world and At the end of her column Molly Ivins wrote: "To let Moyers know what you think of this idea, write him at P.O. Box 309, Bernardsville, NJ 07924." I am about to send him a postcard. First I thought it would be the one of Audre Lorde saying "When I dare to be powerful -- to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid." Then I found Helen Keller: "Life is a daring adventure or nothing." That one. Bill Moyers for president. Pass the word. As soon as I've rounded up my marbles, I'll come out and help.
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