[LINK] Stealing the election

[Stewart Fist]

Huey Long was an amazing contradiction, though.  One of the most fascinating
men in American politics.

Despite all the corruption, he was also important in attacking the old
Republican and Blue-Dog Democrat power-structure that had locked up the
South and the North.  He was a very important politician, and there were
good reasons for his incredible popularity.

I see some parallels with, say, the Kennedy clan -- who were equally
popularist, and yet who depended on a totally corrupt source of power and
finance (via the old man).  The Kennedy brothers managed to make radical
changes to politics in America despite the mafia connections and the rigged
votes that got JFK into power.

Also Lyndon Johnson, who was also substantially corrupt in his politics and
business dealings (mainly via his wife "Ladybird"), yet made remarkable
changes to the condition of the blacks in his New Society stuff.  I hated
Johnson's guts for about twenty years over the Vietnam Way, but now see him
as an important president -- while my favourable attitude to both of the
Kennedy's has declined.

I'm even beginning to like Malcolm Fraser.

I suspect that the most effective politicians are Machievellian to some
substantial degree.  Either that, or they have very effective manipulative
machines behind them, using them as puppets.  Some of them rise above the
morass of politics when they get into power, and some don't.

 
-- 
Stewart Fist, writer, journalist, film-maker
70 Middle Harbour Road, LINDFIELD, 2070, NSW, Australia
Ph +61 (2) 9416 7458