The old Twelfth Night line about some having greatness thrust upon them. I was reflecting on this, after this from Ellee Seymour: "proven ... leadership qualities and global contacts"
We were discussing Mutleythedogsdayout and his amazing rating in the other poll going on at the moment and I replied:
"Mutley is the Henry V type. A naughty boy now but give him some responsibility and he'd be one of the best."
Now that got me thinking. If we were, let us say, rudely thrust into the political limelight, what role would suit us best? In other words, which role would we take to, like a duck to water?
In my situation, there isn't any role in the British system. In temperament - the Chancellor but I'm no economist and don't wish to be PM. I have no ambitions in that direction. :) The U.S. system though - ah, there's a role tailor-made for me:
Secretary of State
Consider the qualifications required:
1] No discernible talent nor achievements of any note;
2] A mongrel attitude and as ugly as sin;
3] Divided loyalties, suspect contacts and the ability to play all sides;
4] Substantial world contacts;
5] A murky past and some very shady deals;
6] Some organizational talent;
7] Hard-driving and strong-willed;
8] Temperamentally preferring the role of "power behind the throne", rather than the throne itself;
9] Insufferable ego which, strangely, does not translate into ambition;
10] Pretends he's a saint.
Yep, I'm a snip for this role. Now, if we could do a double-package constitutional change to allow non-U.S. born candidates to assume office, we could have something going here. I'm just going off to write Arnie now. Although I think he has the Prez in mind, between you and me.
The other role I think I'm cut out for is The Envoy. As Warren Zevon sang:
He's got diplomatic immunity
He's got a lethal weapon that nobody sees
Looks like another threat to world peace
For the envoy
Send the envoy
Whenever there's a crisis
The President sends his envoy in
Looks like another threat to world peace
For the envoy
Send the envoy . . .
Send for me!
And what about you? What's your ideal role?