Sorry to be less than gentle, but WHY is Levin making our introductions?

[jsmirman]

Is there an obvious reason that it had to be him that I'm not aware of?

I'm all for respect for our elders, but the man sounds like he's about to die and has all the pizazz of a turnip.

On the oft chance that the American people are actually watching the blather portion of the proceedings, this just does not seem like an effective way to frame our case.

Maybe I'm missing an obvious reason.

[SharonRB]

1. I take exception to that

Sandy is my rep and he's as good as they come. Hardworking and always looking out for the little guy. He's the emobidment of what a rep should be. So what if he's on the other side of 70?

Someone is always selected to do this, and it's probably a sign of respect as he is now chair of Ways & Means and a senior rep.

[firedupdem]

2. +1 yes he is. I lived in Michigan for over 20 yrs and he has always

been an excellent Rep. Love him.

[senseandsensibility]

4. delete

sorry

[Skinner]

3. Probably because he's the acting chair of the House Ways and Means Committee.

And, he's one of the good ones.

(I was his press secretary many years ago, for about nine months. I like him a lot. He's very smart and reliably liberal. But he's always had a sort-of absent-minded professor thing going on.)

[jsmirman]

5. All of these seem like GREAT reasons, BUT

it doesn't change that politics is a show and that this is one show that there's a chance that a significant number of Americans may be watching.

It may be shallow, but presentation is so important, and this seems like THE portion of debate that counts, and it's important to seem like the party with vitality, at least in my opinion.

[Skinner]

6. I can promise you that the only people watching this thing...

...are political junkies. They know what side they're on already.

[jsmirman]

10. This is what I thought might be the case

I was sort of hoping this was the case, not because I don't want the public to be informed, but because this seems more interesting as an exercise in politics, but less useful as a conveyance of information.

Thank you, that makes me less concerned about this.

Of all things, as I'm typing this, there was just a thoroughly informative speech.

[babylonsister]

13. So this 'show' should be 'cast' with the best people to represent

the people instead of the people who are there, on a Sunday, doing their jobs? :crazy:

I don't think so.

[nickinSTL]

25. eh, most people who haven't made up their minds

are watching whatever drivel is on network TV

[Inuca]

11. Yes, he heads of the committees involved

with the bill each get their turn. That's why Waxman was in charge earlier.

[jsmirman]

15. That makes sense

that's what I was looking for.

[SharonRB]

18. I had forgotten all about that

Now I remember you telling me you worked for him the first time I met you. Don't let that absent-minded professor thing fool you. He knows what he's doing. (I know you know that, Skinner. That's more directed to others who don't know him.)

[dmr]

19. I volunteered twice when he ran for governor

Way .... way .... way ... back when! He is very kind and fair.

[KingFlorez]

7. Vanity shouldn't apply here

I think this is petty. He's a veteran member of the House and respected, that's why he's controlling the time.

[jsmirman]

9. Yeah, this really isn't vanity.

It's presentation, which I've learned about from my time in the media, from my time in politics, and currently from my time as a law student.

Making a speaker like that as the wizened, knowledgeable, pathos-filled cap - as in, perhaps the concluding speaker - is one thing, it just doesn't seem effective to have him emceeing the event.

[KingFlorez]

14. As long as the person knows their stuff, it doesn't matter how they look?

Perhaps the Democrats should have bent the rules of the House so they could get Ryan Seacrest or Oprah or somebody to "emcee" the event. THAT would have been so much better!

[jsmirman]

16. Please, you can't be that naive

yes, politics is all about it not mattering how someone looks or presents. So it has certainly been throughout my lifetime.

:sarcasm:

Why would you bother even saying something like this? It seems hard to imagine that you could believe that.

And the question was not concerned with how he looked, it was with how he presented the Democratic message.

[Dappleganger]

8. He's awesome...

I love that understated voice...makes me want to lean in and listen more. He's earned the right to be there, that's for sure.

[SharonRB]

20. Absolutely!

He's the best. I'll be sorry when he retires.

[NWHarkness]

12. Maybe because he's been fighting for health care since before you were born?

[jsmirman]

17. Right, and we should have run Teddy Kennedy for President

it doesn't mean I have any less respect for or gratitude towards those who have a lifetime of useful public service. It just means that some people may be more fit for certain tasks, some people for other tasks.

It seems as if this was de riguer, as all Committee heads get to direct a portion. That was the answer I was looking for.

I'm sorry if you don't like that it's a little distressing to me to hear something that I consider fairly exciting framed with the inflections of someone ordering at a diner. I know he's been a great member of the party - he just seems befuddled and less than enthused, even though I'm sure he cares greatly.

[NWHarkness]

28. I guess your entertainment was not a priority

[jsmirman]

29. Yes, that's exactly what I was concerned about

please.

[golfguru]

21. which Levin?

[KingFlorez]

22. Sander

[Doremus]

23. I think it has to do with the committee he's on.

At least that's what they've been doing all afternoon....?

[jsmirman]

24. This has seemed to be

the explanation.

I care a lot about political outcomes, but I am not a political junkie like many around here. I don't know the names of a lot of the reps. And truthfully, while I certainly know who *Carl* Levin is, I don't know his older brother.

And when you're in law school you can miss full weeks of happenings, so I had no idea that he'd been elevated to chair the ways and means committee when Rangel stepped down.

[JNelson6563]

26. Sorry our great Senator isn't flashy enough for you.

I heard him speak many times and had some delightful conversations with him. He's wicked smart and can be a rousing as he wants to be. I've seen him have an entire convention hall standing on their chairs screaming.

But he's sensible and gets said what must be when necessary. Maybe you should tune into WWF or something more loud, flashy and, well less intellectual.

Julie--big Carl Levin fan

[jsmirman]

27. Yeah, um

that's not your Senator.

Thanks for the insults, though.

[JNelson6563]

30. Sandy Levin?

Get off him too. They don't speak in bumper sticker slogans.