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President Willie? It's not so crazy

Submitted by davidswanson on Sat, 2006-07-01 22:44.

By Ed Kociela
http://www.thespectrum.com

Even though mid-term elections are still five months away and the run for the White House is two years after that, I've already got my candidate.

Let me introduce my nomination for President of the United States: From the great state of Texas, Mr. Willie Nelson.

Hear me out on this one, OK?

Willie has written a new book called, "The Tao of Willie: A Guide to the Happiness in Your Heart."
In it, America's troubadour talks at great length about the principles that guide him.

It's really quite simple. As far as Willie is concerned, it all begins and ends with the Golden Rule, which makes for a pretty good foundation for a campaign platform.

Willie is concerned about the environment. He put his money where his mouth is by manufacturing a grade of bio-diesel fuel that he sells at a Texas service station and burns in the Honeysuckle Rose - his legendary tour bus, which could serve as a pretty cool campaign vehicle.

He worries about social issues like health care for the elderly, the young and the working poor.

As co-founder of Farm Aid, he has worked tirelessly to help America's family farmers who are getting stomped to death by the big corporate outfits trying to put them out of business.

He wants to save America's sagging reputation by putting an end to foolish wars.

So, you can have your Democrats and Republicans. I prefer a truth-seeking independent thinker who is not in the pocket of any special interest group.

This one-time cotton-picker from Abbott, Texas is a book-learned, self-made intellectual whose wisdom extends beyond a scruffy image and whose search has led him to quote such spiritual leaders as Kahlil Gibran and Ram Dass and borrow from the "Tao Te Ching" in his newest book.

I'm not going to give away all of his lessons. Spend $20 like I did. Willie wrote the book, he deserves the money. However, one of my favorite lines is: "Life is not about how fast you run or how high you climb, but how well you bounce."

Our paths crossed once, only briefly. But I think it's safe to say that I found him a warm and gracious man; a compassionate man; a man who knows how to laugh and cry; an honest man.

I'll probably end up the only guitar player in the world who will never get the chance to sit and pick a couple of songs with Willie. But, even so, I feel like I've spent time with him on his bus, listening to stories about gigs at Armadillo World Headquarters, hanging out with Waylon, Cash and Kristofferson and making music with his friends.

Willie for president?

It may be crazy, but in this political world of pretenders, defenders and offenders, I can't think of a better choice.

Call City Editor Ed Kociela at 674-6237 or e-mail ekociela@thespectrum.com

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