Posted: Wednesday, May 21, 2008 12:00 am
Who could blame the victorious candidates who are giddy with success today? Their hard work has earned them a little time to relax and bask in the glow of voter approval; a chance to celebrate the moment after weeks or months of hard work. But a word from those who preside over contentious political views on a daily basis: Celebrate by extending a hand, not by pumping a fist.
We congratulate Sen. Barack Obama and Ward 7 councilor Jeanne Raymond, whose leads over their opponents at press time seemed to assure victory.
Dangerous times lie ahead for them, and the other victors. Celebration can be an occasion for a serious free-fall from grace.
Several memorable victories of recent years stand out as examples of how swiftly a person can go from chosen one to that person at a party whom everyone backs away from slowly, smiling and nodding nervously.
For victory can be as intoxicating as liquor, and a winner who is unable to discern when he or she has taken a giant leap away from dignity and common sense inspires little confidence.
Consider:
On May 1, 2003, George W. Bush stood on the deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln under a huge banner that read "Mission Accomplished" and proclaimed "Major combat operations in Iraq have ended. In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed."
It's a statement that has haunted him for five years, each time the anniversary of the speech rolls around, or the U.S. military's death toll (now well past 4,000) mounts, with no end to the war in sight.
And we'd bet that Democratic leader Howard Dean still wakes up in a cold sweat sometimes, his squeal from his January 2004 triumphant, post-Iowa-caucus speech still ringing in his ears. In the day following that fist-pumping, fevered call to victory in the remaining primary states, his approval rating among stunned Democrats plummeted.
We could also mention Sally Field's 1985 Oscar speech when, accepting for best actress, she gushed "I can't deny the fact that you like me, right now, you like me!" because politics is so much like a Hollywood production these days.
And a far more battle-tested World War II hero, Gen. George S. Patton, noted, "All victory is fleeting."
There's really nothing quite as reassuring as a victor who promises to be a winner for the long haul; one who clearly can handle the thrill of victory with dignity, presence - and with an olive branch extended to the vanquished.