It's not often that you'd want to sing a song in praise of a politician, but Jacqui Ledgerwood is no ordinary politician. To begin with, she's a 69 year old grandmother in Oklahoma. Jacqui had her first stab at high office this year when she entered the primary race to obtain the Democratic party's nomination for the senate. Much to everyone's surprise, Jacqui topped the poll, and she now goes into the run off as odds on favourite to win her party's nomination. What makes this achievement all the more remarkable is that, well, Jacqui is, er, how do I put this? - er, dead! Yes, she died after putting in her nomination, but under U.S. law, her name had to remain on the ballot paper. Which kind of got me thinking, why would anybody want to vote for a dead person. They'd have to be crazy ... or would they?
Jacqui Ledgerwood by Peter Hicks and Geoff Francis My name is Jacqui Ledgerwood, will you please give me your ear, I'm running for the senate around November time this year, My opponent thinks he's got me licked, but he'll get a shock instead, 'Cos there's one thing I've got going - that is, he's still alive - I'm dead. A dead woman for the senate? Now at first that might sound odd, But do you know anyone else in there who's doing a better job? These questions that I'll put to you, will you answer truthfully? 'Cos if you do I think you'll find that you'll have to vote for me. There's one simple promise guaranteed that I can make to you, I'll never speak a single word that isn't wise and true, So of all the politicians I'll have most integrity, So if you value honesty, you'll have to vote for me. I'll give this undertaking now, and I'll give it you with pride, I'll be the only one in Washington who'll never take a bribe, I never will be tempted by the lure of wealth and greed, So if incorruptibility counts, you'll have to vote for me. The standards that I set myself with pass the highest test, The President can come on all he likes - but I never will say, "Yes". Old-fashioned you might call it, but promiscuous I won't be, So if moral standards matter to you, you'll have to vote for me. I'll not rort my expenses, or take more than my share, And I'll never vote for cuts to schools, or jobs, or medicare, Nor tax cuts for the wealthy, so it's very plain to see, That if you want social justice, then you'll have to vote for me. And when the military want another war in Iraq, or 'gainst Sudan, And they say, "All those in favour," well, I'll never raise my hand, With their missiles, bombs and weapons, no, I never will agree, So if it's peaceful times you want, you'll just have to vote for me. A dead woman for the senate? Now at first that might sound odd, But do you know anyone else in there who's doing a better job? These questions that I've put to you, did you answer truthfully? 'Cos if you did I think you'll find that you'll have to vote for me.
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