For me this is a sad day in politics. Former Rep. Charlie Wilson (D-TX) died today from sudden cardiac arrest, he was 76.  You probably heard of him from the movie “Charlie Wilson’s War” starring Tom Hanks. 

Charlie was a booze drinking womanizing politician and proud of it.  He was once quoted replying to the question of why he only hired beautiful women in his Congressional office.  Charlie said, “you can teach ‘em to type, but you can’t teach ‘em to grow tits.”

I liked Charlie’s passion.  He didn’t like seeing the Soviets invade Afghanistan so he helped the CIA channel billions of dollars to that war torn country in the 1980s. 

I liked Charlie because they don’t make ‘em like Charlie anymore.  Politicians today wake up to a Gallop poll to tell them which side of the bed they should get out of.  Charlie didn’t.  Allbeit, he would probably have to climb over a woman to get out of bed while being careful not to knock over a half empty bottle of Scotch.

Charlie had passion.  He saw people in need and did what he could to help.  He saw a third world country in chaos and moved Heaven and Earth to help them survive a Soviet invasion.

One can only wonder what a “Charlie Wilson” could or would do for ratepayers in eastern North Carolina.  A real politician, one that didn’t weigh every vote with an “electability factor”.   A real politician that saw real people struggling on fixed incomes, high medical bills, unemployment—in an area that’s losing more jobs per month than the population of some small towns.

I wonder what Charlie would say to Graham Edwards, CEO of Electricities.  Or Bev Perdue, for that matter. 

Maybe Charlie wouldn’t say anything to them.  I bet he’d use some cute phrase that related to “drinking out of the same trough”. 

No. I can imagine ol’ Charlie would work the same formula he used back in the 1980s. The formula that helped the Afghans run the Soviets back to the USSR.  Charlie would probably go right straight to the NC Utilities Commission with some good lawyers.  He’d coral some key State Legislators and tell them how fast that  “trough” can go dry with a third of eastern North Carolina pissed off.

Then Charlie would take them to the Governor to  “do the right thing” for the ratepayers of these 32 towns, but do it in such a way that Bev could call it her own idea.  So, as Charlie would say, “she could waltz her happy ass into four more years in the Governor’s mansion.”

Yea, that’s what Charlie Wilson would do. 

So, here’s to you Charlie!  Cause they don’t make ‘em like you anymore.