Putting the "Party" Back in Political Party

Greetings and welcome back to the Un-Zone, a site that puts the "un" back into "unusual" and into other words beginning with this prefix, but not words that denote lameness like "uncool." Then again, I don't have much of a reputation for being popular, despite what the Korean name translates to. The previous sentence I wrote, most likely, violates a rule of grammar involving ending sentences with prepositions. Anyways...
Yes, I have a "Korean name" and when it is loosely translated, it means "popular." I bet you didn't know that. I mean, I bet you didn't know I had a Korean name. I use the word "name" loosely. Enough with quibbling over the usage of words.

I read today's New York Times. It had an interesting article about politics in Quebec. To get the full picture, read the following hypothetical. Consider the following. Imagine a polititian. He's openly homosexual. While serving in an important political office, he used cocaine and got drunk. Weekends were so wild, you don't remember where you left your car. Flash forward ten years. He now wants to run for the head of a national party. Not a good picture, right? There's no way he's going to get that position...at least in America.

Well, if you're Andre Boisclair, you have a very good chance of becoming head of the Parti Québécois (PQ). In Quebec, the voters are very tolerant. Political leaders who haven't smoked pot are lacking something, like a joy for life. In fact, a premier in the 1970's ran over a homeless man and killed him. He got re-elected. His support climbed from 53% to 64% after he disclosed his wild past. Apparently, those living in Quebec like those who have problems, the off-color image. They want politicians who are like normal people who mess up in life. The rebel hero who might be a former alcoholic, a little fraudulent, a little unsure. After all, this makes them (politicians, heroes, etc.) more human. This view of Mr. Boisclair might change if the PQ moves forward with the Quebec independence vote. The government in Ottawa might play hardball and use this past against him. People might hesitate in actually voiting him head of the party.

Given the sordid and less-than-clean past of some government officials in the United States, they would fit in perfectly well in the Quebec politics realm. If you're ever wanting to get involved in politics and government, Quebec might be the right place for you. All you have to do is manage to be become a Canadian citizen, find a place to live in Quebec, and some other stuff. Once you declare yourself as a candidate, expose your troubled past.
Don't think it will work? Consider the following. A cartoon advised his main rival to shoot something up her arm to bounce up in the polls. According to the article, his main competitor admitted she smoked pot, but didn't like the experience. Her ratings went up slightly.

Ah...nothing like politics in Quebec. That's all for now.