Ask Not What I Can Do for Frank Rich

Readers of today's New York Times are invited to post comments on Frank Rich's column "Ask Not What J.F.K. Can Do for Obama." Here is what I posted.

You put too much gloss on JFK after when he was in office. Obama does not appear to be a philanderer, as JFK was before and during his presidency. J. Edgar Hoover (one of my least favorite people) got him to stop seeing a mistress he was sharing with a Mafia Don. And don't forget "fiddle" and "faddle" and other White House Interns, some of whom, if you believe Nora Ephron, didn't even have desks! True, Kennedy was very smooth about all this and didn't sully the oval office and environs, as Bill Clinton did.

And what about the "fairy tale" that has endured about the Cuban Missle Crisis, where Kennedy "machismo" almost got us into a nuclear war? And then there is the stuff that Dr. "Feelgood" injected to help Kennedy deal with his back problems. This may have affected his judgment and demeanor at crucial moments.

Also, Obama doen't have a daddy who could "buy" him a primary victory, as Papa Joe allegedly did in West Virginia, where Kennedy defeated Hubert Humphrey. For sure JFK was charismatic and inspirational, and witty, and for sure he had great writers. (One of whom, Ted Sorenson, is today part of the Obama campaign.) I'm sure he was sincere in his vision and about "the torch being passed."

To me, Obama is more genuine, and he doesn't seem to be ruthless, as the Kennedy brothers were at times. I hope he can carry through on his hopes and promises if elected. I fear this may be difficult, since he doesn't seem to have much of a "machine" to go with him.

Oh, and not to be a nitpicker, but Eisenhower "the most popular president since FDR"? Only Harry Truman was in between.

Your loyal fan,

Greg Bachelis

I have previously pontificated on the JFK presidency.

As for the above post, based on past experience it will never see the light of day. Rich usually goes through the comments and only posts those that he responds to. I once made the "mistake" of responding to two columns at once, and that got nowhere. At least I am following the rules this time.

In my continuing yet so far unsuccessful efforts to break out of the pack of 30 million bloggers, I have submitted some of my posts to an online publisher, Associated Content . I have modified them to conform to AC's rules. I may submit some original material as well. I also have a new webpage, http://www.mathpol.com/, which serves as a directory to all my blogs on blogspot.

UPDATE: I made it! Comment #225 out of 510. Frank Rich has not responded to any of them, at least not yet.