Kuhl putts along
One of the delights of having Google Alerts sent to your e-mail is the strange stuff you find out. Case in point, from Buffalo Business First (note the irony in the publication’s title):
A Western New York congressman, Randy Kuhl, is among the 100 best golfers in Washington, according to new rankings from Golf Digest.
Kuhl’s handicap of 15 puts him in 74th place among the senators, congressmen, appointed officials, lobbyists and power brokers rated by the magazine.
I don’t know what to make of this. Should we be proud? Should we wonder how our leaders have time to work on their golf game? Maybe he just has natural ability. It’s just the line about lobbyists and power brokers that struck me. It’s all very clubby (pardon the pun).
Kuhl is the only New York representative to make the top 100.
Why does this bug me so much? I don’t know, maybe because there’s a war going on, 47 million Americans don’t have health insurance—many of them children—and there’s the rising unemployment rate and blatant discrimination against domestic partners. Somehow golf doesn’t fit in my To Do list, so how does it fit in Randy’s?
Remember how we heard that John Kerry liked sushi and liked to windsurf (or something similar) and that made him elitist and out of touch with the common man? Remember how it was implied that this made Kerry unfit for office?
Okay, the same applies to our friend John R. Kuhl. This implies that he is elitist and out of touch with the common man.
Good for the goose, good for the gander.
I understand your point, but it is poorly timed after we just found out how Elliot Spitzer spends his free time.
Besides - every one of us needs to do something relaxing occasionally.
I understand your point, but it is poorly timed after we just found out how Elliot Spitzer spends his free time.
Funny. But with green’s fees going up all the time….
Fifteen’s not that good a handicap, btw.
Back to being serious - I know there is a ton of things in the country and state that need to be fixed, but everyone needs something to take their mind off the more serious things or they will go nuts
I can’t get too upset over Randy playing golf.
Guys, I have no problem with golf (I play golf on occasion), it’s who he’s golfing with. “Lobbyists and power brokers.” And, to have this story in “Buffalo Business First” is funny.
I’m just happy to see that Kuhl has a set of his own balls. I was beginning to think bad things…being such a yes man to Bush and all…
Randy, Randy, Randy…Brazil and Balls - what a legacy!
Speaking of having a set of balls….oh never mind you make it too easy
I don’t understand the point at all. He plays golf and apparently isn’t too bad at it. So what? As has already been pointed out, he could be doing far fewer things with his “free time”.
Anyone who doesn’t make at least a little time to relax with a hobby of some sort is going to be stressed to the point of a stroke or heart attack. The problems aren’t going anywhere while you’re gone for an hour or two and you’ll likely be more focused on them afterwards.
Now, before someone decides to reply with some witty sarcasm, think about this: Mother Theresa devoted her entire life to the worst of the worse in Calcutta. The world certainly is a better place because of her efforts but the problem didn’t go away after she died and from what I’ve read of her life, she didn’t take breaks at all. (and no, I’m not comparing him to her.)
I understand your point but again, it’s who he’s playing golf with. I’m so sick of lobbyists and special interests and the sort. Recreation is great and golf is good, especially if you walk the course instead of riding the cart, but the man seems to be surrounded by undue influence a lot of the time.
Grievous - Is it always bad? It happens with members on both sides of the aisle - I even remember Tom Daschle’s wife was a lobbyist when he was Senate Majority Leader. Also, causes you believe in have lobbyists in Washington - teachers’ unions, other unions, gay rights activists, etc.
so true. people use the term lobbyist to equal bad (their cause) and advocate to equal good (our cause). english can always be used for spin.
Yes, English can always be used for spin, as can imagery (think Minarik’s mailers). You mean like “FAIR” plan or “pre-emptive counter-strike”? Or maybe “illegals” instead of “immigrants” or “family values” instead of “we don’t support the gay lifestyle”?
I agree, the term “lobbyist” applies to a broad range of advocates. I just found the imagery (spin?) of Kuhl at tee time when 8 soldiers were killed this week a bit off, especially combined with the Brazil trip.
Similarly when Bush was tap dancing on the White House steps moments before McCain showed up for his annointment by his former nemesis the other day. Yes, let’s cut a rug while our men and women in uniform are getting killed in a war far away from The Rose Garden. His detachment leaves me cold.
The only thing that went away was her faith.
Comparing Mother Theresa and Randy Kuhl??? I feel nippy all of a sudden.
Nippy?
http://img702.mytextgraphics.com/photolava/2008/03/13/mothertheresakuhl-49tec0szk.jpeg
Isn’t that ‘nappy’?
I just did a quick count of the Republicans on the list vs. the Democrats on the list of best golfers and it seems many more Republicans have time to perfect their golf game than Democrats. I got 43 Reps vs. 32 Dems in the Top 200 but I did it quickly, so I’ll have to go back in later to see if I was off one or two. I know the Reps. is right. I also didn’t count all the “formers” (such as Rick Santorum, former Rep. Senator).
Golf is totally Republican. Totally.
Grievous,
See, the problem is that you DO have a problem with him playing golf. You said it yourself… golf doesn’t fit on your to-do list. So he’s automatically lazy for having a hobby? And meanwhile, you’re so insanely busy so as not to have any free time?
That’s not good for you. I have a friend who plays 50 times a year (and only in Rochester where it snows!) and he’s got to be about the busiest person I know. He plays super early or late in the day. I try to catch a round with him some summer mornings at 5:45 in the morning.
Seriously, there’s a lot to be unhappy with with khul, but this is not one of them. And to be honest, it sounds kind of lame to hear people whining about it.
But if you want to get upset that he plays with lobbyists, fine. It’s just that you get to pick which lobbyists are “bad.”
Jeremy,
You make a valid point. It is okay to have a hobby, and I did not call him lazy, I just suppose right now I’m overly concerned about the big picture things in life (you know, war, health insurance, equality). The lobbyists and power types give the appearance of impropriety, don’t you agree?
But let’s not be naive. If it was just a hobby for Kuhl, why the need for all the lobbyists? My hobbies do not involve any lobbyists, do yours?
And for the record, I don’t like any lobbyists. I think it is a bad setup all around.
but republicans tend to come from wealthier backgrounds with more exposure to golf and its lifestyle. so that is not surprising and i don’t think overly worrisome. let us also not forget that congressional types and power brokers also tend to be from wealthier backgrounds, exposed to golf. so, as much as i hate to say it, i am not sure this is anything to be overly worried about. if a kuhl is going to be cozy with lobbyists he is going to be cozy at a restaurant, a back alley, a golf course, wherever. at least this way he is getting a little exercise to keep him healthier and less expensive to the gov’t.
Check this out - top 50 wealthiest congressmen - I didn’t go through the whole list, but the top 4 are Democrats
http://kasusa.squarespace.com/interest/2006/9/11/the-50-richest-members-of-congress-roll-call.html
Attaboy Elmer. Equate power to wealth. I suppose now you’re voting Democrat?
Wealth buys power in our country - I think it is a shame but it is true. As long as I’m kicking Spitzer around, read this story:
“His campaign was financed largely in part by a controversial multi-million dollar loan from his father.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eliot_Spitzer
Elliot used his dad’s wealth to get where he got to. So didn’t the Kennedys and Bush and on and on …
Didn’t come out of my pocket! He was always too arrogant for my personal liking. Glad to see he did the right thing by resigning. Most of Albany on BOTH sides of the aisle were unhappy with him.
At least now with Paterson, there is hope! And how much more progressive can you get by making history on Monday, just by taking the oath of office. I see great things ahead for David Paterson!
That’s “Democratically”
I did go through the entire list and it looks as if the list is more Republican than Democrat, didn’t tally exact numbers. This is to be expected, given the parties’ different platforms/values.
…a back alley
That’s where I envision Randy does his “best” work. Elmer - man up - lemme have it!
Naw - it is too easy
Oh come, come now Elmer - man up!