Comments on: With a name like Sam Adams… http://www.megolomaniac.com/2009/01/26/with-a-name-like-sam-adams/ a flair for the dramatic Thu, 29 Jul 2010 23:08:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Blythe http://www.megolomaniac.com/2009/01/26/with-a-name-like-sam-adams/comment-page-1/#comment-210 Blythe Tue, 27 Jan 2009 18:10:47 +0000 http://megolomaniac.wordpress.com/?p=584#comment-210 There is so much to think/say about this topic, and you've said it very well. I don't know a great deal about Sam Adams, but I've always thought he was a charismatic leader who could do good things for Portland. And I still think that. But why is it so common for charismatic, interesting people with power to make questionable choices like this? He may not have broken the law, but he couldn't have walked a narrower line, and he's smart enough to realize the risk he was taking. Why risk everything like this? (Bill Clinton, I'm talking to you too.) I've been thinking about something you said: "Liars never get away with it. The public always finds out." Do we? I really hate that this kind of incident makes my mind go in this direction, but here it goes. If public figures feel confident in repeatedly lying about these kinds of things, doesn't it make you wonder if they've seen others get away (or if they, themselves, have gotten away) with similar lies? Ick. Oh, and to reply to miamired, I'm not sure if you're from Portland? We've had a history of mayors who have been powerful and progressive forces in politics, making our city a national example of everything from urban planning to public art, and who have gone on to statewide and national positions. You're right that, in many cities and cultures, the mayor's role is more ceremonial, but here we're used to being inspired and strongly guided by our mayors. Which is why this whole thing is such a big deal and why it makes me sad. I don't want Sam to go away, but I really really wish I didn't have to worry that my favorite leaders will one day break my heart. They're only human like me, I guess. There is so much to think/say about this topic, and you’ve said it very well. I don’t know a great deal about Sam Adams, but I’ve always thought he was a charismatic leader who could do good things for Portland. And I still think that. But why is it so common for charismatic, interesting people with power to make questionable choices like this? He may not have broken the law, but he couldn’t have walked a narrower line, and he’s smart enough to realize the risk he was taking. Why risk everything like this? (Bill Clinton, I’m talking to you too.)

I’ve been thinking about something you said:
“Liars never get away with it. The public always finds out.”
Do we? I really hate that this kind of incident makes my mind go in this direction, but here it goes. If public figures feel confident in repeatedly lying about these kinds of things, doesn’t it make you wonder if they’ve seen others get away (or if they, themselves, have gotten away) with similar lies? Ick.

Oh, and to reply to miamired, I’m not sure if you’re from Portland? We’ve had a history of mayors who have been powerful and progressive forces in politics, making our city a national example of everything from urban planning to public art, and who have gone on to statewide and national positions. You’re right that, in many cities and cultures, the mayor’s role is more ceremonial, but here we’re used to being inspired and strongly guided by our mayors. Which is why this whole thing is such a big deal and why it makes me sad.

I don’t want Sam to go away, but I really really wish I didn’t have to worry that my favorite leaders will one day break my heart. They’re only human like me, I guess.

]]> By: miamired http://www.megolomaniac.com/2009/01/26/with-a-name-like-sam-adams/comment-page-1/#comment-209 miamired Tue, 27 Jan 2009 06:24:13 +0000 http://megolomaniac.wordpress.com/?p=584#comment-209 Good post, Meg. Responding to the whole diversity in government thing, the mayor of the city where I lived in Spain was a) female b) a lesbian (not officially out, but she'd attend events with her partner, so...) and c).....a Communist! It made me proud to be a citizen, if only for a little while. At the local level, do any of these things really matter as much as the person being fairly level headed and willing to cut lots of ribbons and attend lots of boring meetings and events? Good post, Meg.

Responding to the whole diversity in government thing, the mayor of the city where I lived in Spain was a) female b) a lesbian (not officially out, but she’d attend events with her partner, so…) and c)…..a Communist! It made me proud to be a citizen, if only for a little while. At the local level, do any of these things really matter as much as the person being fairly level headed and willing to cut lots of ribbons and attend lots of boring meetings and events?

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