Maybe we’ll be served well by a bruising Democratic primary. Maybe all the money of the potential principals and their allies will be lined up and thrown against each opponent with the intent to grievously wound. You know, we may well be served by the millions spent in pursuit of a bully pulpit with a veto pen.
Perhaps, as our brawlers approach the fight, Rhode Islands will find assistance in the camps who hurl barbs and provocations; each one doing their be impression of Muhammad Ali. And when they finally go up against one another in the ring; and the victor emerges; bloody, battered, and bereaved; perhaps no Republican will rub their hands in glee.
Maybe voters will forget, between mid-September and early November, the worst of the primary campaign. Perhaps, in that brief October and a half, those of us with nothing more than a vote and an opinion will ignore the accusations, insinuations, and outright lies. Because regardless of who wins, at their hearts and on the ballot they’re still the same shade of blue; and whether it’s one or the other, their money is just as green.
And perhaps it will not come to pass, that talking heads, radio braggarts, and vain bloggers such as I will not cry out “Civil War!” as we are prone to do. Perhaps in will not happen that in 2018, the pundits will not say, “Rhode Island has not elected a Democratic governor in 24 years,” and they will not nod their heads so sagely.
Or… Or maybe reason and sense will come to our would-be leaders. And instead of behaving like two Cold War commanders; locked in Mutually Assured Destruction, each attempting to win with a devastating first strike; they’ll have a moment of sanity, as they so often have appealed to us to find within ourselves.
Then they might set aside whatever distaste for one another they might have, and meet, and take a People’s Pledge. And they could tell us that unaccountable money has no place in the Rhode Island of today, and should that vile spending find its way into our small state the benefactor will donate a sum to charity. And so those who would assist one candidate by tearing the opponent down will find that their sword cuts both ways.
Perhaps our two popular leaders, will set aside the instruments of pain and division which we know have been gathered. And instead of a campaign waged with slings, barbs, and arrows, maybe we’ll be served with one of ideas and vision. And instead of arguing about a Rhode Island which we refuse to let rest in its grave; our once and future leaders will of one yet to be born, built by the heroes we can be, and fit those Rhode Islanders yet to come.
For the past is already done, and the present’s about to be. But the future’s yet unwritten, and that’s all the truth I see.