Whatever d' ye suppose they were talking about over in Belmont last night? How to get the million-bucks per delegate cost down to something sensible or were they willing at long last to face facts?
Who can say?
If Mitt bails today or tomorrow or next week, he'll exit the race pretty much the way he came in, an overprogrammed, uncharismatic, cold and aloof man who desperately needed the help of numberless consultants & political biff squads to achieve anything in public life.
Far from being a sort of cliche'd enigma in public life, Romney was always too obvious, too amateurish and ultimately too maladroit to play on the A-List. Observers were wont to give him far more credit than he deserved as a politician, the reality is, by running for President Mitt simply rose past the level of his incompetence.
It isn't that he was faced with such rough competition either, Huckabee is a giddy sky-grifter, proud of his ignorance and McCain is himself a champion flip-flopper even a bit of a groveler quite frankly.
The difference is though, McCain is a professional, he knows how to finesse the issues so that his position changes don't resonate negatively, Romney however is an amateur he thinks the game is easy, a mere matter of mouthing the right poll tested rubbish and spending lavishly.
There was little he did right from the day he announced, he was the first to run negative ads and probably the first to complain when his rivals retaliated. Romney denounced the field in almost every case for holding views he himself once upheld with the utmost vigor.
The good news is, with Mitt Romney, American Politics has finally hit bottom. A shameless groveling hack has finally found ill-favor with the electorate in general and the GOP in particular, down the line this bodes well for U.S. politics.
The career died, but democracy prospered.
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Hillary wins Massachusetts...
Joanie Vennochi jumps for joy, jams on her witch's hat and does what she does best, which is gloat and gloat like crazy.
Joanie just loves to write bad news about democrats, she has been starved lately so we should forgive her if she over-indulges.
Otherwise, it seems to me that Obama's voters are the rising force in the party, win or lose I still think it was smart of Kerry and Kennedy get this cohort on their side goin' forward.
As for Senator Clinton, again congrats to her on some significant victories, I don't mind when she wins even if I didn't vote for her yesterday, as long as she keeps proving Time, Newsweek, Tim Russert, Wolf Blitzer and Chris Matthews' WRONG!
Joanie just loves to write bad news about democrats, she has been starved lately so we should forgive her if she over-indulges.
Otherwise, it seems to me that Obama's voters are the rising force in the party, win or lose I still think it was smart of Kerry and Kennedy get this cohort on their side goin' forward.
As for Senator Clinton, again congrats to her on some significant victories, I don't mind when she wins even if I didn't vote for her yesterday, as long as she keeps proving Time, Newsweek, Tim Russert, Wolf Blitzer and Chris Matthews' WRONG!
Thielman defeated...
In a close race last night, Sean Garballey, democratic candidate for state rep in the 23rd Middlesex special election prevailed by a four hundred and twenty five vote margin against Jeff Thielman.
Alas and alack, this is a setback for liberals and progressives in Arlington, Jeff would've made a superb state representative.
But the voters of Arlington have nominated otherwise and there is naught Humble Elias can do about it now.
A number of factors contributed to Thielman's heartwrenching defeat.
First time candidate Andrew O'Brien a man who STILL remains an enigma to the town, garnered some twelve hundred votes district-wide and ran reasonably well in the West Medford precincts. Given the fact that all anyone knew about him was his die-hard anti-casino bona-fides and his Irish name, one must conclude there is still electoral power in the olde sod connection.
The shortness of the special election season for this office was a potent hurdle for the Thielman campaign, it prevented sober reflection as to whether or not sending a twenty two year old man to the state legislature was really a good idea.
Moreover, the Garballey campaign was driven by a weird sort of emotionalism, a " Townies-rule" mood mated to an odd but fervent belief that Sean was some kind of young Galahad. Garballey also made appeals to something he called "The Real Arlington" which he never quite explained in any detail, but one suspects it is a sort of townie-paradise wherein no one from Cambridge ever moves into Mom's old house and renovates.
Hard to beat feelings like that.
There were also some significant defections from the liberal ranks, certain notable Marzilli supporters either sat on their hands or else were out banging the pots hard for Sean. Their reasoning is a little obscure, certainly so far as I know not much has been offered in return, Then again thet may believe that differences with the town hall gang must need conciliating given Marzilli's ascension to the state senate.
Lastly, Diane Mahon and the aforementioned Town Hall machine just did a better job and hustling their target precincts, they lost this fall against Marzilli and indeed lost many many challenges to Jim in past primaries, but what the hell this time they won.
Meanwhile back in the hall there were mutterings of people voting for the republican candidate, John Worden next month, which was to be expected. I can't see much coming of that, Worden is past sixty five years of age and while he has friends all around town he might have to explain just why he got into the state rep's race having dropped moderatorship of Town Meeting allegedly for reasons of "health".
For all that, I wish Sean well. He is a nice kid, nevertheless I can't say I think he will be much of a success as a state representative; the legistature is a real snake pit, the leadership knows fresh meat when they smell it and windy appeals to "The Real Arlington" won't go very far I assure you.
But ya never know...people can still surprise you.
Alas and alack, this is a setback for liberals and progressives in Arlington, Jeff would've made a superb state representative.
But the voters of Arlington have nominated otherwise and there is naught Humble Elias can do about it now.
A number of factors contributed to Thielman's heartwrenching defeat.
First time candidate Andrew O'Brien a man who STILL remains an enigma to the town, garnered some twelve hundred votes district-wide and ran reasonably well in the West Medford precincts. Given the fact that all anyone knew about him was his die-hard anti-casino bona-fides and his Irish name, one must conclude there is still electoral power in the olde sod connection.
The shortness of the special election season for this office was a potent hurdle for the Thielman campaign, it prevented sober reflection as to whether or not sending a twenty two year old man to the state legislature was really a good idea.
Moreover, the Garballey campaign was driven by a weird sort of emotionalism, a " Townies-rule" mood mated to an odd but fervent belief that Sean was some kind of young Galahad. Garballey also made appeals to something he called "The Real Arlington" which he never quite explained in any detail, but one suspects it is a sort of townie-paradise wherein no one from Cambridge ever moves into Mom's old house and renovates.
Hard to beat feelings like that.
There were also some significant defections from the liberal ranks, certain notable Marzilli supporters either sat on their hands or else were out banging the pots hard for Sean. Their reasoning is a little obscure, certainly so far as I know not much has been offered in return, Then again thet may believe that differences with the town hall gang must need conciliating given Marzilli's ascension to the state senate.
Lastly, Diane Mahon and the aforementioned Town Hall machine just did a better job and hustling their target precincts, they lost this fall against Marzilli and indeed lost many many challenges to Jim in past primaries, but what the hell this time they won.
Meanwhile back in the hall there were mutterings of people voting for the republican candidate, John Worden next month, which was to be expected. I can't see much coming of that, Worden is past sixty five years of age and while he has friends all around town he might have to explain just why he got into the state rep's race having dropped moderatorship of Town Meeting allegedly for reasons of "health".
For all that, I wish Sean well. He is a nice kid, nevertheless I can't say I think he will be much of a success as a state representative; the legistature is a real snake pit, the leadership knows fresh meat when they smell it and windy appeals to "The Real Arlington" won't go very far I assure you.
But ya never know...people can still surprise you.
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Thielman for State Rep, Obama for President...
thats how I voted this morning and I'm feeling pretty good about the both of them thank yew very much.
If Barack Obama represented nothing else except a break with America's current drift towards dynastic politics he'd be a good enough choice, but he comes armed with different experiences, a better agenda and what seems to be a cool judgement with respect to the potentialities and limitations of US Politics.
Health to his cause sez Humble Elias.
As for Jeff Thielman he is locked in a tight democratic primary race in the 23rd Middlesex special election to succeed Jim Marzilli in the Great and General Court. A lot of intangibles could affect this race, the weather, name recognition, turnout among democrats hungry for a nominee who will stick it to the GOP this fall...nothing is certain. The town hall crowd is backing Sean Garballey to the hilt and beyond, they've been tucked way back this fall with Marzilli's ascension to the state senate and are now looking to recover lost ground.
The problem these guys ahve had from day one is, their best and most experienced potential candidates don't live in the district, it is important to remember that even as much is made of Garballey's pleasing winning ways that he is something of a long shot at age twenty three and a not exactly the gang's first choice.
No matter who wins the nomination there may be some party unity issues going into next month's general election.
If Sean loses tonight, some of his backers could defect to GOP nominee John Worden on that notion that at age sixty nine or so, to some, Worden would be a good placeholder for Garballey giving him time to age into a more realistic candidate for state rep come 2010 or 2012.
This made easier in that Worden is the moderator of town meeting and has moderate views compared to the obnoxious twits the town GOP usually nominates for state rep.
Well anyway it is all speculation, a bare five hundred vote margin is being whispered about on the street in Arlington, it'll be interesting to see what happens. Now you know why the state democratic party is hosting a Unity Dinner this saturday morning...All politics is local, but a lot of local politics is personal.
If Barack Obama represented nothing else except a break with America's current drift towards dynastic politics he'd be a good enough choice, but he comes armed with different experiences, a better agenda and what seems to be a cool judgement with respect to the potentialities and limitations of US Politics.
Health to his cause sez Humble Elias.
As for Jeff Thielman he is locked in a tight democratic primary race in the 23rd Middlesex special election to succeed Jim Marzilli in the Great and General Court. A lot of intangibles could affect this race, the weather, name recognition, turnout among democrats hungry for a nominee who will stick it to the GOP this fall...nothing is certain. The town hall crowd is backing Sean Garballey to the hilt and beyond, they've been tucked way back this fall with Marzilli's ascension to the state senate and are now looking to recover lost ground.
The problem these guys ahve had from day one is, their best and most experienced potential candidates don't live in the district, it is important to remember that even as much is made of Garballey's pleasing winning ways that he is something of a long shot at age twenty three and a not exactly the gang's first choice.
No matter who wins the nomination there may be some party unity issues going into next month's general election.
If Sean loses tonight, some of his backers could defect to GOP nominee John Worden on that notion that at age sixty nine or so, to some, Worden would be a good placeholder for Garballey giving him time to age into a more realistic candidate for state rep come 2010 or 2012.
This made easier in that Worden is the moderator of town meeting and has moderate views compared to the obnoxious twits the town GOP usually nominates for state rep.
Well anyway it is all speculation, a bare five hundred vote margin is being whispered about on the street in Arlington, it'll be interesting to see what happens. Now you know why the state democratic party is hosting a Unity Dinner this saturday morning...All politics is local, but a lot of local politics is personal.
Monday, February 04, 2008
Trust Mitt Romney to find a
campaign surrogate even crazier and more dictatorial than John McCain. But then again it is just great to see former Pennsylvania senator "High Pitched Rick" Santorum out on the hustings, screaming and throwing tantrums like nothing ever happened.
Santorum claims that McCain's nasty temper is a serious bar to higher office, and indeed it is, but then again, Rick spent his entire political career trying to turn the USA into a tyrannical theocracy so who the hell is this little pissant to talk anyway?
Losers always know their own, hence Santorum has been drawn in to the Romney crusade like flies on a cow pie.
It is either that or some overpaid consultant in the Romney camp has decided "we lack a vital shrill-ness factor".
Moreoever, you have to wonder, no one can out sky-grift Mike Huckabee, what makes Romney think he can beat McCain by out "theocrating" the Arkansas Governor?
Why else would you drag in a beady eyed virtue pimp like Santorum into the primary? The little jerk just burned down Pennsylvania in '06, can he really do any business there for Romney?
Santorum claims that McCain's nasty temper is a serious bar to higher office, and indeed it is, but then again, Rick spent his entire political career trying to turn the USA into a tyrannical theocracy so who the hell is this little pissant to talk anyway?
Losers always know their own, hence Santorum has been drawn in to the Romney crusade like flies on a cow pie.
It is either that or some overpaid consultant in the Romney camp has decided "we lack a vital shrill-ness factor".
Moreoever, you have to wonder, no one can out sky-grift Mike Huckabee, what makes Romney think he can beat McCain by out "theocrating" the Arkansas Governor?
Why else would you drag in a beady eyed virtue pimp like Santorum into the primary? The little jerk just burned down Pennsylvania in '06, can he really do any business there for Romney?
Sunday, February 03, 2008
The Twilight of Conservatism...
is best evidenced by today's Jeff Jacoby column in the Boston Sunday Globe. Therein, he makes an at best desultory case for John McCain's mainstream conservative credentials.
The fact that Jeff has to do this at all and on behalf of a candidate with an 80 to 90% rating from all the usual GOP watchdogs only points to the intellectual rigor mortis that grips movement conservatism.
Well in truth, what can Jeff do?
Someone has to carry the frayed banner of reaction this fall, Huckabee is a giddy sky grifter, Romney is so fake has has "Made in Taiwan" stamped on his ass, so that leaves the aging and tempermental John McCain as the last man standing.
Thus Jacoby sighs and announces "On the whole his record has been that of a robust committed conservative".
THAT would be the same "committed conservative" who allegedly negotiated with Tom Daschle to switch parties in the spring of 2001, the same guy who voted against the Bush tax cuts insisting that they did nothing for the poor or the middle class and the man who might have been John Kerry's running mate.
If you look at McCain that way, he comes off as simply a better more supple opportunistic hack than that plastic bumbler Mitt Romney.
This is the man with whom Jacoby must make his peace, I wish them the joy of one another.
The fact that Jeff has to do this at all and on behalf of a candidate with an 80 to 90% rating from all the usual GOP watchdogs only points to the intellectual rigor mortis that grips movement conservatism.
Well in truth, what can Jeff do?
Someone has to carry the frayed banner of reaction this fall, Huckabee is a giddy sky grifter, Romney is so fake has has "Made in Taiwan" stamped on his ass, so that leaves the aging and tempermental John McCain as the last man standing.
Thus Jacoby sighs and announces "On the whole his record has been that of a robust committed conservative".
THAT would be the same "committed conservative" who allegedly negotiated with Tom Daschle to switch parties in the spring of 2001, the same guy who voted against the Bush tax cuts insisting that they did nothing for the poor or the middle class and the man who might have been John Kerry's running mate.
If you look at McCain that way, he comes off as simply a better more supple opportunistic hack than that plastic bumbler Mitt Romney.
This is the man with whom Jacoby must make his peace, I wish them the joy of one another.
Friday, February 01, 2008
Apropos of nothing...
But where Humble Elias actually works, there is nothing but sentiment for Hillary. One woman has registered and is voting for the first time in years explicitly to send a woman to the White House...all I'm hearing across the board is "She is strong woman, she'll show those bums how it works".
This is hardly a white collar cohort either...
I know that Rusmussen sez Obama has closed within six points of Clinton...on the other hand the "Nugator Effect" might be at play here in the Commonwealth in that there are plenty of women who wanna give their loud talking Sean Hannity listenin' boyfriends and husbands a swift kick in the pants.
We
Will
See
This is hardly a white collar cohort either...
I know that Rusmussen sez Obama has closed within six points of Clinton...on the other hand the "Nugator Effect" might be at play here in the Commonwealth in that there are plenty of women who wanna give their loud talking Sean Hannity listenin' boyfriends and husbands a swift kick in the pants.
We
Will
See
Subscribe to:
Posts
(
Atom
)