Saturday, May 23, 2009

Joey's Take -- Choosy Voters

My mom and dad are very choosy when it comes to buying my food. They read all the ingredients, and don't let me have anything my sensitive stomach can't take. And Dad does a pretty good job of rotating from herring to venison to chicken just so my tastebuds don't get bored with just one kind of food.

They were just as picky when it came to choosing me. They knew they wanted a rescue pup, but they needed one who would become part of the family and who wouldn't set Dad's allergies off. That's where I came in -- with my big endearing eyes, my constantly wagging tail and my unquestionable loyalty.

Since coming to live with Mom and Dad, I've watched my share of political debates and listened to more pundits than I thought possible. What has always amazed me is that Americans, who are so choosy about everything else, are so willing to vote for whomever the cat dragged home -- as long as it's the "right" breed.

They're often taken in by the pedigree or the grooming. So dazzled by a pup's "cuteness" factor, they may forget that a show dog probably won't do much work down at the ranch. And those who are suckers for the strays convince themselves that the mangy pitbull will never bite them.

Rather than restricting their choices to the dogs with the rich bloodlines and fancy grooming or settling for whatever dog wanders into their yard, political parties need to be more proactive in recruiting hard-working, grass-roots candidates -- the kind who can get along at the dog park but are tough enough to protect the house.

(I've got a few ideas I'd be happy to share. I can be reached at JoeyPortie@gmail.com.)

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