Sen. Lisa Murkowski, recent loser of the Alaskan GOP senate primary has decided to break her promise to respect the will of Republican primary voters, win or lose. The daughter of a prominent Alaskan political family, Murkowski is now running as a write-in candidate, albeit one with alot of money on hand.
The logic behind Murkowski's decision may be based on the results of Alaska's GOP and Democratic senatorial primaries. Murkowski lost to "tea party" candidate Joe Miller by just 2,006 votes. The final tally was a razor thin 55,878 - 53,872. On the Democratic side, Scott McAdams beat out two other candidates for the honor of losing to either Murkowski or Miller. Cumulatively, the Democratic primary drew 30,000 voters. Murkowski's ticket to victory in the general election will obviously be to woo a fraction of Alaskan Democrats who, in the face of certain defeat, may opt to vote for the more moderate and known Murkowski.
As a moderate myself, I have no problems with Murkowski. Yet this extremely selfish act shows where Murkowski's allegiance really lies, not in the party she was a lifelong member of, nor the wishes of the very people she once claimed to represent. In this aspect she is no different than Charlie Crist of Florida, another former Republican turned independent. It is indeed sobering to note that Charlie Crist has announced he will caucus with the Democrats if elected. It is any one's guess at this point what Murkowski will do if she manages to beat Miller in November. Perhaps she will become a Republican Joe Lieberman. Who knows. Both Murkowski and Crist may satisfy their base political ambitions but in the process they will also live up to the dangerous, cynical perception some tea party activists hold of mainstream Republicans, that in the end they are politicians devoid of principle.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Castle(s) and coasters
I must admit feeling a bit of dissapointment at the news of Congressman Mike Castle's defeat at the hands of insurgent "tea party" candidate Christine O'Donnell. Since first hearing about him around the time Beau Biden decided not to run for his father's former Senate seat, I developed a respect for a man who had won election after election in a state whose Democratic bonafides include twice voting against Abraham Lincoln. Twice!. I admire Republicans like Castle, who prosper, and even thrive, in political environments they have no business succeeding in. Candidates like Castle, in my opinion, can teach valuable lessons on how to effectively reach voters of all stripes. Better yet, Castle was about as close to a political sure thing as you can get, with a 10 point lead over Democratic senatorial candidate Chris Coons. Candidate Castle would have been alot like a free spot in an electoral bingo card. With O'Donnell, the GOP now fields a candidate that can be at best described as a wild card.
Yet the wishes of Delaware GOP primary voters cannot be denied, and the actions of the Republican Senatorial Committee immediately following O'Donnell's upset win were in extremely bad taste. Threats of withholding even cursory support for O'Donnel is at best unhelpful to the GOP's own cause. Mainstream Republicans must make efforts to create an inclusive environment for the Tea Party phenomenon, as this will help avoid the GOP's worst fears, a fracturing of the right of center voting bloc. O'Donnell won her contest fair and square, and as such, she deserves all the support the GOP establishment can muster. By the morning after Castle's defeat, the GOP establishment had changed it's tune: O'Donnell's campaign was pledged the maximum monetary amount the RSC is allowed to give.
The dynamics of the Delaware senate race have changed. O'Donnell is presently running 11 points behind Coons. As a result, the GOP will be greatly disinclined to invest much more time or money on O'Donnell. There are simply too many other races with better prospects for GOP victories, and it is only prudent to spend precious campaign dollars accordingly. Should O'Donnell find a way to narrow the gap, establishment support should increase. Initially though, O'Donnell will have to lean heavily on additional Tea Party support, monetary and otherwise. Right leaning voters all along the spectrum must appreciate the gravity of the November elections. It must be remembered that Rudy Giuliani and Sarah Palin are both Republicans, and the party will require the efforts of the likes of both to achieve the results all right leaning voters are hoping for. At this time, Christine O'Donnell awaits Mike Castle's endorsement. Initial reports are that he intends to remain neutral in the upcoming campaign. That would be, given Castle's stature among Delaware Republicans, simply unacceptable. His neutrality could be the difference between 9 new Republican senators and 10. I hope he doesn't make O'Donnell, and the rest of us, wait too much longer.
Yet the wishes of Delaware GOP primary voters cannot be denied, and the actions of the Republican Senatorial Committee immediately following O'Donnell's upset win were in extremely bad taste. Threats of withholding even cursory support for O'Donnel is at best unhelpful to the GOP's own cause. Mainstream Republicans must make efforts to create an inclusive environment for the Tea Party phenomenon, as this will help avoid the GOP's worst fears, a fracturing of the right of center voting bloc. O'Donnell won her contest fair and square, and as such, she deserves all the support the GOP establishment can muster. By the morning after Castle's defeat, the GOP establishment had changed it's tune: O'Donnell's campaign was pledged the maximum monetary amount the RSC is allowed to give.
The dynamics of the Delaware senate race have changed. O'Donnell is presently running 11 points behind Coons. As a result, the GOP will be greatly disinclined to invest much more time or money on O'Donnell. There are simply too many other races with better prospects for GOP victories, and it is only prudent to spend precious campaign dollars accordingly. Should O'Donnell find a way to narrow the gap, establishment support should increase. Initially though, O'Donnell will have to lean heavily on additional Tea Party support, monetary and otherwise. Right leaning voters all along the spectrum must appreciate the gravity of the November elections. It must be remembered that Rudy Giuliani and Sarah Palin are both Republicans, and the party will require the efforts of the likes of both to achieve the results all right leaning voters are hoping for. At this time, Christine O'Donnell awaits Mike Castle's endorsement. Initial reports are that he intends to remain neutral in the upcoming campaign. That would be, given Castle's stature among Delaware Republicans, simply unacceptable. His neutrality could be the difference between 9 new Republican senators and 10. I hope he doesn't make O'Donnell, and the rest of us, wait too much longer.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Brewer The Icon ?
The latest Rasmussen poll on the Brewer/Goddard gubernatorial race has, at least on a preliminary basis, proven my previous post wrong. The governor's 'Jan Brewer' moment didn't cost her in the poll. Rather, she has actually gained 2 points during the week following the debate. Why is this the case?
Rasmussen's opinion is that Arizonans may have had a dim view of Brewer's debate performance, but that locals also resent the negative attention the governor received from out of state pundits and critics. The old circle the wagon effect ? Interesting, but I wonder if Brewer is also benefiting from a phenomena that, in my opinion, helped President Obama on the trail in '08: icon status. Icon status affords a candidate the ability to transcend their glaring deficiencies as candidates, because voters do not pay much attention to the actual candidates themselves, but rather the idea(l) that the candidate has come to embody. President Obama was Hope and Change, while Gov. Brewer has become a figurehead for the resistance against the Federal overreach. I must admit I was tickled by the image of Jan the Riveter. I didn't think GOP'ers were capable of such slick iconography. Perhaps it is just a natural response to how political marketing will be carried out in the Age of Obama.
Rasmussen's opinion is that Arizonans may have had a dim view of Brewer's debate performance, but that locals also resent the negative attention the governor received from out of state pundits and critics. The old circle the wagon effect ? Interesting, but I wonder if Brewer is also benefiting from a phenomena that, in my opinion, helped President Obama on the trail in '08: icon status. Icon status affords a candidate the ability to transcend their glaring deficiencies as candidates, because voters do not pay much attention to the actual candidates themselves, but rather the idea(l) that the candidate has come to embody. President Obama was Hope and Change, while Gov. Brewer has become a figurehead for the resistance against the Federal overreach. I must admit I was tickled by the image of Jan the Riveter. I didn't think GOP'ers were capable of such slick iconography. Perhaps it is just a natural response to how political marketing will be carried out in the Age of Obama.
I realize it may be considered controversial by some to dare compare Gov. Brewer and President Obama. Understand, my comparison is based solely on how icon status applied to thier respective campaigns, not political or oratorical skill. That being said, Brewer, given the local political environment, has generally run the kind of campaign that will lead to her reelection. Fate has also awarded her a notoriety that most state governors simply don't enjoy. Who can name the governors of Utah or Maine ?. Exactly.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Meet Councilman Phil Davison (R) of Minerva Village, Ohio
If Pictures speak a thousand words, this video speaks....EPIC WIN!
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Debating Candidate Brewer
Does one debate define a political candidate? Probably not. Will Jan Brewer lose in November?. Again, the answer is: probably not. Then again, Governor Brewer is not the prototypical gubernatorial candidate. Brewer, a Republican, inherited the governorship while serving as Secretary of State because Democratic Governor Janet Napolitano went on to bigger and better things. This was a duly constitutional ascension to power, but while constitutional legitimacy is one thing, kitchen table legitimacy is another.
Signing AZ SB 1070 into law gave Gov. Brewer instantanious notoriety and acclaim among Republicans here and nationwide. Brewer has been basking in the glow of sometimes sympathetic and frequent national media attention. She as handled the spotlight well, acquitting her case for 1070 and her candidacy ably until ... the vague desert beheading statement she made and, especially, her recent horrid debate performance. All signs say that the Governor will not face AG Goddard in another debate. In my opinion this is a mistake.
Gov. Brewer should not allow the debate to become a millstone. Goddard, 20 points behind on the Rasmussen polling of the race, now has an effective angle to attack the Governor with. Brewer need not wipe the floor with Goddard in a second debate. Indeed, Goddard's debate performance was just passable, but was made to appear better than it was by Brewer's brain cramp. But she must face him again, and simply deliver a clean performance, one I am certain she is capable of delivering.
SB 1070 gave the Governor national standing that may prove valuable to her in the future. Perhaps, like Napolitano, she could become a cabinet secretary for a future President. However, her debate debacle, coupled with her retraction and clarification of her claim that headless bodies were found in the Arizona desert have cast new doubts on her candidacy, and, dare I say, her faculty, while simultaneously giving Terry Goddard what any politician down 20 points could hope for, a seam of opportunity. If Brewer follows conventional political wisdom and avoids the possible risks of another debate, her 20 point lead may very well become a 10 point lead, or worse. While Gov. Brewer may be able to ride this year's Republican wave to ultimate victory, should she fail to debate Goddard again, the lasting image of her candidacy will be the one she most earnestly wants us all to forget.
Signing AZ SB 1070 into law gave Gov. Brewer instantanious notoriety and acclaim among Republicans here and nationwide. Brewer has been basking in the glow of sometimes sympathetic and frequent national media attention. She as handled the spotlight well, acquitting her case for 1070 and her candidacy ably until ... the vague desert beheading statement she made and, especially, her recent horrid debate performance. All signs say that the Governor will not face AG Goddard in another debate. In my opinion this is a mistake.
Gov. Brewer should not allow the debate to become a millstone. Goddard, 20 points behind on the Rasmussen polling of the race, now has an effective angle to attack the Governor with. Brewer need not wipe the floor with Goddard in a second debate. Indeed, Goddard's debate performance was just passable, but was made to appear better than it was by Brewer's brain cramp. But she must face him again, and simply deliver a clean performance, one I am certain she is capable of delivering.
SB 1070 gave the Governor national standing that may prove valuable to her in the future. Perhaps, like Napolitano, she could become a cabinet secretary for a future President. However, her debate debacle, coupled with her retraction and clarification of her claim that headless bodies were found in the Arizona desert have cast new doubts on her candidacy, and, dare I say, her faculty, while simultaneously giving Terry Goddard what any politician down 20 points could hope for, a seam of opportunity. If Brewer follows conventional political wisdom and avoids the possible risks of another debate, her 20 point lead may very well become a 10 point lead, or worse. While Gov. Brewer may be able to ride this year's Republican wave to ultimate victory, should she fail to debate Goddard again, the lasting image of her candidacy will be the one she most earnestly wants us all to forget.
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