[img_assist|nid=65328|title=Seussical|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=130|height=180]While protesters shouted "shame" and "recall" outside the building Friday, Gov. Scott Walker read a Dr. Seuss book to a group of elementary pupils at Milwaukee Messmer Preparatory Catholic School. It was a perfect example of a politician who thinks he knows what's going on and what he's doing, but who really has no clue.
In the Seuss book, "Oh, the Places You'll Go!", a young boy explores geometrical and abstract landscapes, winding up in "The Waiting Place", described as a realm where everyone is always waiting for something to happen. It is implied that time does not pass in the Waiting Place.
While the protesters are waiting and working for Walker to go away sooner than later, the initially right-wing activist Walker himself now seems to be waiting for Godot, as a vast political chasm presents itself to him. That will be a long wait, so maybe Walker should pray the protesters mercifully will have their way, instead.
Beyond all that, the huge irony here is that Dr. Seuss is pretty far to the left of Walker in his stories and themes, according to Michael Kazin, professor of history at Georgetown University, who calls the late Theodore Geisel, who wrote as Seuss, one of his favorite American leftists. From Salon.com:
I have been made fun of recently for saying this, but I think Dr. Seuss has been greatly overlooked as a leftist. He wasn't a propagandist, but many of his best-selling books -- like "Yertle the Turtle," "The Lorax" and "The Butter Battle Book" -- show that he had a leftist political message. Most successful political messages come from people who aren't very closely associated with a particular left-wing group.
Maybe Walker will tip to this, if he reads stuff besides children's books whose underlying themes he cannot divine. If not, thanks for the help, guv!