The most recent 20 comments posted to Electrolite by Tony Hursh:

Avram: Relevant to discussing (or arguing about) politics. Relevant to deciding who to vote for.

A fair test would be: Would I really care one way or another if this were the kid of Joe Schmoe across town, rather than the kid of someone whose politics I dislike? If the answer is no (or perhaps something sympathetic, along the lines of "poor kid, poor family") then I don't consider it relevant. It's just a cheap shot.

Now if Jeb turns out to be pulling strings to keep her out of trouble (as Patrick seems to be suggesting in a later post), that's extremely relevant. Put his ass in the dock.

Of course, sometimes being prominent means that you don't get away with it when you otherwise would have. Does anyone really think that Michael Skakel would've been convicted at this late date if he (and his victim) hadn't been the offspring of wealthy and politically connected families? If Moxley and Skakel had lived in a trailer park, that case would've ranked somewhat lower in priority than solving the disappearance of Judge Crater.

Don't get me wrong. I think he did it, and I'm glad he was convicted.

Acually, "reflect on it" might not have been the best way of phrasing it.

I don't think the fact that family members of politicians sometimes have drug and alcohol problems is relevant. I do think that people making a big deal out of it is relevant. Those aren't quite the same things, and the latter irritates the crap out of me.

It's no news that politicians and their families sometimes get away with things for which you or I would be thrown in the pokey, but come on... the Bush daughters? Every day the college paper here prints a list of kids busted for underage drinking. They pay a small fine and that's the end of it. It's been going on, well, for ever. The difference is that Joe Fratboy's kegger doesn't make the national news. It's on the same level as the press making a big deal out of Chelsea Clinton spending the night with her boyfriend. Yeah, some people (not me) think there's something morally wrong with that. So what? It's none of their business.


The DUI for which Bush himself was busted (mumble) years ago IS relevant, though I don't think particularly so, any more than Clinton and Gore's youthful marijuana use bothers me. Now if Bush were mainlining heroin in the Oval Office, or Clinton had been smoking crack right before negotiating an important treaty, yeah, that's important.

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