Politicians are unique individuals. They are entirely different people than you and I. Some wouldn't call them people at all, but perhaps they see us the same way. They wear suits and ties and are followed by body guards, packing the heat for any who dare attempt an assault on the most embodied symbol of freedom itself, a politician. They graduate from Ivy League law schools, and use complicated words to say simple things (President Bush to no avail). All of these aspects become clear during the race for presidency. Personally, I cannot relate to a single candidate on an average, day to day basis. I find it hard to imagine how difficult and frustrating their careers must be, but when I enter a voting booth and begin my own part of the democratic process, I will search for the bubble next to the name that best represents who I am, and give up when there is no candidate by the name of "none of the above."
This term's remaining candidates are all US senators. The title "Senator" is an incredibly prestigious one. There are only one hundred individuals who can presently claim the title as their own, lest there be an identity theft in the senate chamber. Many of these senators come from a wealthy background, with inherited family values in education, political networking, and owning shares in large corporate brewing companies. While the pay is good, $169,300.00 a year, they have come a long way from their 1815 counterparts who were paid only $1,500, but that's before gas was over $3/gallon. For Clinton, Obama, and McCain, this job is really just a temporary thing until they get to their real job, President of the United States, but only one candidate will be elected, leaving the other two trapped beneath the glass ceiling of their advancing career paths to the top. Although with the average American changing jobs every 2.5 years, US senator and presidential candidate will look pretty good on a resume, but who's hiring these days anyways?
Right up there with undercover CIA or FBI agent, is US Senator. Senators lead truly exciting lives. In the movies senators always have a posse of pistol bearing brutes to do their dirty work. They get to push and shove the other members of society around, for the good of the country. Using Hollywood's interpretations of government, I also imagine that this country is run mostly by the decisions of seemingly helpless political hostages, making last minute phone calls to release foreign prisoners or signing contracts with terrorist groups promising them diplomatic immunity. In the end they use their rogue agent contacts to eliminate their problems - our country's problems.
Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow chose not to call in the hit man when her husband was caught in a prostitution sting by Troy police in late February. She hasn't pulled the trigger on her husband yet because that would be too obvious, but her jealousy will get the best of her. Unlike the prostitute, Stabenow had to get a real job. Although it's probably too late, someone should warn the prostitute. She should know to avoid convoys of large black, bullet-proof Cadillacs. We'll see it in the news as drug deal gone bad, when in reality it was Stabenow, and the only thing she deals is revenge - swift and cold.
Senators gain their vast influence and power mainly through money. Senator John McCain reported his income from this past year, an amount nearing $500,000.00. His full time job as a senator only accounts for a fraction of that amount. McCain collects thousands in book royalties from books such as Faith of My Fathers and Hard Call (he donates most of it to charity). McCain has published nearly a book every year since his top selling autobiography in 1999. He should be writing "How To" books in becoming rich and powerful. At age 72 he also collects social security. All but $50,000 of his $40.4 million net worth is in his wife Cindy's name. She must wear the pants in their relationship, a brand new pair of designer pants for every day of the week. But John seems content with his proportionately small allowance. Outside of the presidential race he doesn't leave the house much.
Barack Obama with his wife Michelle had a decent year themselves. Like McCain, Obama has published top selling books such as Dreams from My Father and The Audacity of Hope which earned him over $4 million last year. The Obama couple's combined salary income is over $360,000. They donated over $250,000 to charity last year alone. Bill and Hillary reported earnings over $20 million last year.
