laugh or cry?
1968.
The Vietnam War, race riots, political assassinations, student strikes, conflict in the Middle East, Soviet tanks in Czechoslovakia.
There was so much trouble.
And all of it would land in the lap of the man chosen to be the next president in the November election.
And hardly anyone could confess to loving either Richard Nixon, the Republican candidate, or Democrat Hubert Humphrey.
But then came Pat Paulsen, a bad guitar player and deadpan comedian who was a regular on The Smothers Brothers television variety show.
As the election season got underway in 1968, the show’s writers devised a satirical Paulson for President campaign.
He’d run as the nominee of the STAG Party [the Straight Talkin' American Government Party].
And this campaign farce was a thing of beauty.
Silly lies and double-talk.
Tongue-in-cheek attacks on the major candidates.
So, why should people vote for Pat Paulsen?
Paulsen would say ‘he was just a common, ordinary, simple savior of America's destiny.’
Plus, “I don’t need adult supervision.”
Besides, he’d add, ‘[if either] the Left Wing or the Right Wing gained control of the country, it would probably fly around in circles.’
Paulsen explained his platform this way:
"Will I solve our economic problems?
“Will I ease the causes of racial tension?
“Will I bring a peaceful end to Vietnam?
“Sure, why not?”
After all, “If elected, I’ll win.”
When Paulsen was asked about complex issues, he’d spout a giant word salad:
"To get to the meat of the matter, I will come right to the point, and take note of the fact that the heart of the issue in the final analysis escapes me."
But what about tax hikes?
‘No taxes,’ he’d say. ‘Let's just tip the government 15% if they do a good job.’
And Paulsen’s standard retort to criticism:
“Picky, picky, picky.”
Paulsen’s humor summed things up for a lot of voters and some even gave him a write-in vote.
It must have been his campaign slogan:
"We’ve upped our standards, now up yours."
******************************
I’ll see you tomorrow.
— Brenda
Photo of the Day