So I have a chance to hear James Carville and Mary Matalin speak next week. Before the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, no less.
When the opportunity presented itself, I was curious and enthusiastic about going. How often do you get the chance to see wise live Villagers who have done so much to make life so much better for all of us? As a writer I feel compelled to take a cold hard look at a lot of nasty things.
Then I heard Matalin is behind this week's smear on Obama. Specifically, she "edited" Jerome Corsi's swift-boating "book." Listening to the story on NPR (Aug. 13) made me sick to my stomach.
Today, then, I don't like either of my choices:
- Go and let my stomach suffer? I know Nazi analogies are overused, but it's a little like dinner with that witty, delightful Goebbels couple. You may not like what they've done, but they are insiders and therefore worthy of being listened to. You can learn a lot just by basking in their aura.
- Or, should I stay away and miss an opportunity to at least ask a pointed question? And maybe spur at least a little thought among maybe one Republican in the audience?
My bias is towards action, so I'm leaning towards going. Assuming there is a Q&A session, and assuming I can manage to get called on, there'll be only one shot at this.
Skeptical though I am of "the wisdom of crowds," there must be Kossacks who know more than I do (to put it mildly). So I'm open to suggestions.
What the hell should I ask these people?
Naturally, I have a few ideas. Here's one I might ask Matalin:
Given the disaster of the Iraq war, and Katrina, and the economy, and the trashing of the Bill of Rights, and the destruction of America's reputation, and about a hundred other things I could mention: Do you feel happy about the role you played in making all these things possible?
Or:
Considering how most Republicans supported the Bush administration in lockstep and without question, and that McCain shares responsibility for this war as much as anybody after Bush and Cheney, is there any reason anybody should vote for McCain and a third term of Bush -- or in fact, ever vote for any Republican ever again, for the rest of our lifetimes?
I could use some help here. I doubt I will be able to out-clever them (to put it even more mildly). They are professionals, and have a lot of practice at verbal jujitsu. But if I can ask one good clear hard question, and make one Republican squirm for just a moment, then attending this clambake will be worth the gastric distress.
So let me know what you think, and I will surely let you know how it goes.
Thanks!