Politics as Usual?

I don’t know much about New York politics, but as some of you may have heard, last night was the first, and possibly only, gubernatorial debate between each candidate running. This morning, there has been a ton of media coverage about what happened. Why? Because the five third-party candidates took the show away from the Democrat Andrew Cuomo and Republican Carl Paladino.

It was hilariously embarrassing at first watching these other candidates complain about rent being too damn high, the need to legalize prostitution, heroin, and marijuana, and the plan to tax the shit out of the rich.

But with a somewhat corrupt Cuomo and an angry homophobic Tea and Cracker grandpa Paladino, the third-party candidates were entertaining and at times refreshing.

Who won the debate? Without a doubt, and even admitted by Cuomo, the leader of the Rent is Too Damn High Party Jimmy McMillan. He has no shot at winning, nor does the former Madam, or the other third-party candidates, or, for that matter, Paladino, but I guess it kind of says something about American democracy.

My man Jimmy had three tours in Vietnam, was a door gunner on the Huey in the first cavalry, and has three Bronze stars. He has some great rhetoric and inspiring voice inflection. He has an awesome beard and rocks black gloves.

He is a bit of a crazy person.

He has been in the studio recording some songs about his political beliefs and ideas. His music is a mix between Barry White and Gil Scott Heron topped off with some good old fashion Agent Orange, PTSD, and past drug use, just like ma use to make.

What does this all mean? Despite people being annoyed at a two party system, in New York democracy is alive and well. What I saw on that stage was not just seven people with their own ideas (some insane, some obvious) but also that we all can have a voice. I’m not going to sit here and tell you that anyone can be governor of New York. You can’t. You need more Facebook friends than Lady Gaga, more money than Jay-Z, and be undoubtedly diagnosed with PP (Pathological Personality). But, despite the fact that you will never be a politician, it is possible to at least get some shit off your chest in a public forum. Just take a page out of Jimmy’s book. He’s been running for Mayor, Senate, and Governor plenty of times. He goes to marches, turns his back on the people in power, and keeps his soap box strong.

He is a crazy person, but I think he’s the kind that knows it. So few of us today realize how crazy we actually are. And he is probably really annoying to the people out there that don’t worry about rent money or food, and again, he’s not going to win. But he’s a man with a message, and now you’ve heard it.


So, what do you think?

For more on Jimmy McMillan and the debate from last night, check out some of these links:

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20020030-503544.html

http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/10/19/new-york-governor-debate-the-circus-is-in-town-and-the-rent-i/?icid=main%7Caim%7Cdl1%7Csec1_lnk3%7C178639

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_upshot/20101019/el_yblog_upshot/jimmy-mcmillan-stands-out-in-n-y-gov-debate

http://www.jimmymcmillan.org/

http://rentistoodamnhigh.org/

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-complete-jimmy-mcmillan/id383993222?i=88289613

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/10-19-10-free-clip-day-jimmy/id359553582?i=88302180