“This is some fellow
Who, having been prais’d for bluntness, doth affect
A saucy roughness, and constrains the garb
Quite from his nature. He cannot flatter, he!
An honest mind and plain–he must speak truth!
An they will take it, so; if not, he’s plain.
These kind of knaves I know which in this plainness
Harbour more craft and more corrupter ends
Than twenty silly-ducking observants
That stretch their duties nicely.”
(King Lear, Act II Scene II)
Hey Vern – I’ve tried to figure this passage of the Bard’s out.
Didn’t work – I blew up my brain.
Could you translate this into “plain” English for me?
junior
Allright Junior. This little passage of King Lear always stuck in my head for some reason. I never met anyone that it really fit (until I started paying attention to McCain.) Even the guy who says those lines in the play (Cornwall) is a horrible villain, and the words he says really don’t fit the character (Kent) at all.
Basically it’s a description of a person who is very clever and crafty, but has an undeserved reputation for honesty because he likes to be outspoken and rude. That’s kind of what I see with McCain. The press gives him a pass for being a “straight-talking maverick.” And he does enjoy saying things in undiplomatic ways. But that’s not the same as being honest. Being honest requires not only bluntness but a questioning of oneself, as to how true what you’re about to say really is. And how true can the candidate’s statements really be when he’s always contradicting himself and flipflopping?
I can give lots of examples, but I’d like to wait and see if others jump in…. working on a much bigger rohrabacher/mccain post…
Thanks Vern, my brain is beginning to heal. However, it sounds as if the passage is more apt to fit Obama.
Junior,
Please unboggle MY noggin! What do you find in McCain that is preferable to Barack? I just DON’T SEE IT! Help me!
Vern,
I was thinking of breaking out some Laura Elizabeth Richards to counter your Bard …
I lost all respect for McLame when W curbed him like a dog. Everybody in McSame’s party goose-steps lockstep if they want that precious party money – and they control all the money on that side of the aisle, dont kid yourself.
For another Shakespearean analogue, see “George W as Henry V”:
http://www.poppolitics.com/archives/2003/05/George-W-as-Henry-V