Chronicle Denver Broncos Peyton Manning for President
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Published September 13, 2012 Peyton for Prez By Mark Frost Chronicle Editor The only thing that unifies this country now is football. It doesn’t matter your race, your politics, your gender, your geography — America loves the NFL, which is why TV networks pay billions of dollars to broad- cast it and why everybody from TV retail- ers and satellite providers to restaurants to car manufacturers to breweries to chari- ties looks to hitch their wagon to it. Let’s face it. Politically, the country is completely polarized — to such a degree that there’s a serious question whether Humpty Dumpty can be put together again. If Barack Obama ever was serious about seeking consen- sus, his scorched earth campaigning has extinguished the possibility. One- percenter Mitt Romney, with his underwhelming persona and ab- sence of compel- ling vision, is mis- trusted by all. Post-election neither will be able to bridge the divide. Four more years of hatred and gridlock. But Peyton Manning? Peyton Manning we agree on. Terrific guy. Phenomenal quarterback. Smart, articulate, admira- ble, media-savvy, always saying exactly the right thing. Can he identify with Joe Grabasand- wich — the ordinary guy struggling in this unyielding recession? Well, how’s this for mutual experience: Last year Peyton got fired by the team he served loyally for 14 years and led to greatness, including a Super Bowl title. Yes, Peyton Manning is a four-time Most Valu- able Player, but he knows what it is to get knocked down and pick himself back up. And just as certain- ly he comprehends the high stakes of the health care crisis. Peyton had four serious neck surgeries that sat him out a year and jeopardized his very career. Nobody has more appreciation for the importance of access to excellent health care than Peyton Manning. Can Peyton communicate with people from different walks of life? His team- mates idolize him, and Peyton’s been the state hero in his native Louisiana; in Ten- nessee, where he starred in college; in In- diana, where he won it all with the NFL’s Colts; and now he’s on his way to lassoing the hearts of Denver Bronco fans in that crucial swing state Colorado. In his debut Sunday night in front of a sold-out stadium and nationwide TV audience, he propelled the hometown Broncs to resounding vic- tory over the perennial powerhouse Pitts- burgh Steelers. Everywhere Peyton goes people love him. He’s even able to make fun of him- self. The episode of Saturday Night Live that he hosted several years ago featured a fabulous, unforgettable bit that lampooned Peyton’s squeaky clean persona. There he was on a playground coaching and playing football with some ex- cited kids. But where you expected Peyton to be a positive, uplift- ing role model, he portrayed himself as a surly jerk instead — berating one boy who dropped a pass, calling another a loser, angrily hitting an- other from close-range with a hard pass to his chest. Wouldn’t it be great to have a President who doesn’t take himself too seriously? Obviously Peyton is the ideal candidate for President, and just as obviously he would win. Probably he’d get the nomina- tion of both the Democrats and the Repub- licans. Oh, I hear what you’re asking: But who would Peyton’s vice-president be? That an- swer is just as easy: Earvin “Magic” John- son — the Hall of Fame “Showtime” bas- ketball star with the contagious smile. In retirement he’s a hugely successful, always community-minded entrepreneur. Many, many times I’ve told my two boys to pay attention when Magic Johnson speaks be- cause I agree with everything he says. Seri- ously. And if Peyton, the white guy from the Deep South, can transcend race and ge- ography, so too does Magic, the black guy from gritty Michigan who nows embodies the best of L.A. Frankly, I don’t care if the ticket is Magic and Peyton or Peyton and Magic. Just set- tle on it now as the ticket in 2016. Finally the United States of America will be united again. Albert Pujols for Secretary of State, anyone? © Copyright 2012 The Chronicle Lone Oak Publishing Co., Inc. P.O. Box 153, Glens Falls, NY 12801 [email protected] 518-792-1126 The man who can reunite America
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Glens Falls Chronicle Bridal Issue feature on the "Peyton for Prez!" Copyright © 2012 The Glens Falls Chronicle. Column by Editor/Publisher Mark Frost.
Transcript of Chronicle Denver Broncos Peyton Manning for President
Published September 13, 2012
Peyton for PrezBy Mark FrostChronicle Editor The only thing that unifies this country now is football. It doesn’t matter your race, your politics, your gender, your geography — America loves the NFL, which is why TV networks pay billions of dollars to broad-cast it and why everybody from TV retail-ers and satellite providers to restaurants to car manufacturers to breweries to chari-ties looks to hitch their wagon to it. Let’s face it. Politically, the country is completely polarized — to such a degree that there’s a serious question whether Humpty Dumpty can be put together again. If Barack O b a m a ever was s e r i o u s a b o u t s e e k i n g c o n s e n -sus, his
scorched earth campaigning has extinguished the possibility. One-percenter Mitt Romney, with his u nder whelm i ng persona and ab-sence of compel-ling vision, is mis-trusted by all. P o s t - e l e c t i o n neither will be able to bridge the divide. Four more years of hatred and gridlock. But Peyton Manning? Peyton Manning we agree on. Terrific guy. Phenomenal quarterback. Smart, articulate, admira-ble, media-savvy, always saying exactly the right thing. Can he identify with Joe Grabasand-wich — the ordinary guy struggling in this unyielding recession? Well, how’s this for mutual experience: Last year Peyton got fired by the team he served loyally for 14 years and led to greatness, including a Super Bowl title. Yes, Peyton Manning is a four-time Most Valu-able Player, but he knows what it is to get knocked down and pick himself back up. And just as certain-ly he comprehends the high stakes of the
health care crisis. Peyton had four serious neck surgeries that sat him out a year and jeopardized his very career. Nobody has more appreciation for the importance of access to excellent health care than Peyton Manning. Can Peyton communicate with people from different walks of life? His team-mates idolize him, and Peyton’s been the state hero in his native Louisiana; in Ten-nessee, where he starred in college; in In-diana, where he won it all with the NFL’s Colts; and now he’s on his way to lassoing the hearts of Denver Bronco fans in that crucial swing state Colorado. In his debut Sunday night in front of a sold-out stadium and nationwide TV audience, he propelled the hometown Broncs to resounding vic-tory over the perennial powerhouse Pitts-burgh Steelers. Everywhere Peyton goes people love him. He’s even able to make fun of him-self. The episode of Saturday Night Live that he hosted several years ago featured a fabulous, unforgettable bit that lampooned Peyton’s squeaky clean persona. There he
was on a playground coaching and playing football with some ex-cited kids. But where you expected Peyton to be a positive, uplift-ing role model, he
portrayed himself as a surly jerk instead — berating one boy who dropped a pass, calling another a loser, angrily hitting an-other from close-range with a hard pass to his chest. Wouldn’t it be great to have a President who doesn’t take himself too seriously? Obviously Peyton is the ideal candidate for President, and just as obviously he would win. Probably he’d get the nomina-tion of both the Democrats and the Repub-licans. Oh, I hear what you’re asking: But who would Peyton’s vice-president be? That an-swer is just as easy: Earvin “Magic” John-son — the Hall of Fame “Showtime” bas-ketball star with the contagious smile. In retirement he’s a hugely successful, always community-minded entrepreneur. Many, many times I’ve told my two boys to pay attention when Magic Johnson speaks be-cause I agree with everything he says. Seri-ously. And if Peyton, the white guy from the Deep South, can transcend race and ge-ography, so too does Magic, the black guy from gritty Michigan who nows embodies the best of L.A. Frankly, I don’t care if the ticket is Magic and Peyton or Peyton and Magic. Just set-tle on it now as the ticket in 2016. Finally the United States of America will be united again. Albert Pujols for Secretary of State, anyone?
© Copyright 2012 The ChronicleLone Oak Publishing Co., Inc.
P.O. Box 153, Glens Falls, NY [email protected]
518-792-1126
The man who can reunite America
