They say that politics is
the power of the possible
the art of compromise and even
a mighty pendulum
swinging back and forth
across some invisible point of balance
Spend less, take in more
Fund this, don’t fund that
Make the opposition sweat
Please the base and their checkbooks
Raise the curtain and smile big
for the ones who bought our ticket
But those familiar with the drama
know it more as a game of chess
with the opening move, and counter,
the sacrifice of the dispensable
for better position on the board
and driven dreams of checkmate
The goal of politics, today, is not
longing for the common good,
but vanquishing the steely eyed opponent
across that broad expanse of squares,
the last thing standing between a victory
seldom had and enjoyed by few
Tim Carson, July 2011
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