MY FAVORITE REPUBLICAN'S BEST DAY

I think most of you who come here know I am a liberal Democrat but not a person really interested in arguing politics. I pretty much ignore the rabid nonsense that consumes the nightly news. I am quite content to let them all slug it out and will wait for the national election to let myself be heard. I have no voice in what is happening now anyway.

I try never to debate politics nor religion. The only winner in those discussions are the makers of high blood pressure and acid reflux medicines. Some of my best friends have opposite views to mine and we get along just fine as long as we ignore the danger zones. Just wish they wouldn't flood my in box with all those hate emails.

Today, as the hubbub swirls, I kind of long for Dave--- my very favorite Republican. What a joy this political season would be if there were more Daves.

Dave was my boss years ago and was a lonely Republican in a state that was at that time, largely Democrat. He so good naturedly accepted his role as a minority voter that he was loved by all us knee jerk  liberals.  He use to single me out and say he might not get to vote for the winner but he could at least cancel my vote.

Being Republican was not the only windmill he tilted. Dave was also a staunch Green Bay Packer fan when it wasn't easy being one. At that time, the Pack was definitely not back. He mourned the losses but was jubilant with the rare wins.

His last windmill was the gold mine stock from Canada he was holding. He bought it at $45.00 a share and had plunged to 38 cents by the time he came to work for us. Did he sell?? Nope. The beauty of Dave was his patient loyalty. Pretty sure he still holds that paper, absolutely certain that someday-----.

Dave took a lot of good natured ribbing about his windmills with grace and a big grin. He lived on hope and had no doubt that someday his vote would count, the Packers would have a winning season and there would be a massive gold vein found in his Canadian mine.

The president of the bank, Bob, was always exchanging practical jokes with Dave. One time however, I thought he perhaps went too far. While in New York for a conference, Bob as a joke, paid for a years subscription to The Daily Worker—a Communist newspaper, in Dave's name.

Bob was thoughtful enough to disguise Dave's name. The subscription was in the fake name of David Runcyclovitch. Runcyclovitch was a Russianing of Dave's Anglo name.

This was during the cold war and knowing Dave was the quintessential flag waving patriot, it should have really angered him. But it didn't. In fact he was quite pleased to more or less go undercover into the communist party by reading their newspaper. Know thy enemy sort of thing.

You really couldn't ruffle this fellow.  Dave loved a good practical joke and he gave Bob credit of having pulled off a beauty.  Months later, Bob's prank backfired.

One day Dave came running into the bank waving a sheet of paper. He was positively glowing. At that time, the Democrats were trying to select a candidate for president. Those primaries weren’t much prettier than what is going on today. I was a bit undecided between the two leading candidates.

Dave all but stood on a desk to read the letter he had received. He was holding a coffin nail for one of the candidates that was written on official stationary.

The letter was from one of the front runners, requesting money and support. Not unusual, even I got those, except this letter had been addressed to David Runcyclovitch. That candidate was obviously soliciting money from a listing of The  Daily Worker's subscription list.

There was no other spin we could come up with here. He was seeking Communist money which at that time was not a good thing. Tisk tisk and during a cold war yet. Dave had caught our guy's greedy ambition in print.

That day I learned that some politicians will do, say, curry, solicit, or kiss any one's behind in order to win.  I lost my political innocence and gained a sour taste for most of the men who want to lead nations. 

I had always suspected they weren't quite right to want the job, then I learned they would do what ever it took to get it.  That year I voted for the guy that did not send Dave a letter. 

Today I think of Dave and smile. While I don't think his gold mine ever came in, the Packers are back and his state now has a really healthy Republican population. Too bad we are no longer in the same state. Then I could enjoy my vote canceling out his.