Or is obese sometimes better?

Speaking of reversing weight trends, Garrison Keillor argues in this column why we should think about electing the first fat president since William Howard Taft (see photo):
“It is human to put butter on mashed potatoes and to choose the cheese plate instead of the lo-fat gelatin and to linger over the port wine and chocolates. The man who denies himself might satisfy his hungers elsewhere, promulgating reckless policies, such as a war against a nation that poses no threat to us and torturing those whom he deems enemies and detaining them at his pleasure and marching his troops into a quagmire. A fat man, someone who must heave himself to his feet in the morning and behold a great pile of flesh in the bathroom mirror, the matronly pectorals and the enormous haunches and spare tire, might be more circumspect. He already looks like an emperor, so he would try harder not to act like one.”
Posted by Melissa Cooley

14 Comments

  1. damoon
    Posted January 17, 2006 at 9:12 am | Permalink

    Wasn’t it Taft that got stuck in a bathtub in the house on 2nd and Rutan?I’m surprised he lived to the ripe old age of 73……must have had good genes.

  2. A guy from up north
    Posted January 17, 2006 at 12:08 pm | Permalink

    Melissa, being fat could mean they have been greedy in the past. What makes you think they will not continue being greedy while in office.

  3. A guy from up north
    Posted January 17, 2006 at 12:10 pm | Permalink

    Melissa, being fat could mean they have been greedy in the past. What makes you think they will not continue being greedy while in office.

  4. mrcontroversy
    Posted January 17, 2006 at 12:55 pm | Permalink

    Damoon, gotta disagree with you on this one.I’m 300 pounds, walk over a mile every day, and after nearly 49 years on this planet, I have come to realize that meals are like landings…any one you walk away from is a good one.Keep the food police, PETA and the folks from the Center for Whining In Their Own Self-Interest away from me. I will resist arrest.

  5. mrcontroversy
    Posted January 17, 2006 at 12:56 pm | Permalink

    Okay, so it was a different post:)

  6. damoon
    Posted January 17, 2006 at 1:59 pm | Permalink

    Mr C, I agree it’s your life and you have the right to do as you want. But,if you want to enjoy life and live as long as possible, you should change your diet and lose weight. Exercise alone won’t give you longevity.

  7. Julie
    Posted January 17, 2006 at 2:52 pm | Permalink

    Damoon,How tall is Mrcontroversy? He could be 6′5″. My husband is over 350 lbs, he also stands over 7′3″ tall.

  8. mrcontroversy
    Posted January 17, 2006 at 4:28 pm | Permalink

    Okay, so I’m short for my weight:)

  9. XXX
    Posted January 17, 2006 at 5:30 pm | Permalink

    Mrc, I guess we’re both gonna die. But don’t you get tired of hearing all the complaining about being overweight?

    It’s a comfort to know we’re part of the majority.

  10. J M Walker
    Posted January 17, 2006 at 5:38 pm | Permalink

    I am gravitationally challanged.

  11. J M Walker
    Posted January 17, 2006 at 5:40 pm | Permalink

    A guy up north,When you double-blog, does it come with nuts and whipped cream?

  12. damoon
    Posted January 17, 2006 at 7:24 pm | Permalink

    Wow, Julie!!! You got you a big one! I guess you’re right about weight being proportionate to height. From Mr C’s post I got the impression he likes to overeat. Don’t we all? It’s gonna be the end of us, I swear!!!

  13. Rage
    Posted January 18, 2006 at 3:39 pm | Permalink

    Keep an eye on your blood pressure, MrC.

  14. guy from up north
    Posted January 19, 2006 at 10:30 pm | Permalink

    JMIt comes from not knowing what I’M doing