Ladies and gents, running for political office in a competitive race is a little like a science fiction movie, no matter how great the special effects the movie still needs a good story. Not necessarily a great story, but a GOOD story. Republicans don't seem to get that because their story sucks.
This go round we've got some real competitive races going on and we've got a real opportunity to hang a monster defeat on the Democrats, and it appears we're blowing it. Hagan in North Carolina, Mark Pryor in Arkansas and Mary Landrieu in Louisiana should all be behind by double digits by now. But they are not, quite the contrary. Why is that friends? All are from states that Mitt Romney carried in 2012! Every advantage (apart from money) falls to the Republicans. So why?
Well I can't speak to what's going on in other states but let me say this, the first time I've ever heard Hagan's opponent Thom Tillis speak was in the debate the other night and I still haven't the foggiest idea what the man stands for. As far as I can tell he has no message other than attack Hagan for being Hagan. My first impression is that Tillis is not ready for prime time. He looked tentative and scared. He didn't even attempt to set the record straight on some of these boiler-plate Democrat charges being run in ads funded by Soros & Company (along with a little Chinese, Russian and Middle-East money I hear). I'm a little surprised Hagan didn't accuse him of pulling her hair from behind (who would do such a thing!?). Tillis just stayed on message, his boring God damn, NRSC political consultant approved message. The man couldn't sell half-price hooch at an AA meeting!
I suspect the same thing is going on in Arkansas and Louisiana. When oh Lord will the Republicans learn? Ok I get it, the Republicans nominated a few yahoos lately, but the answer isn't go boring or play-it-safe. Some guy who looks the part but has a lousy, uninspiring middle-of-the-road message is the road to defeat. It's like Steven Jobs said, people often times don't know what they want until you show it to them. Consultants can poll and focus group to their hearts content but if their candidate can't or isn't allowed to sell a clear conservative message (a VERY good story) then they will lose. I expect Hagan to pull out a squeaker.
I've been reading America by Dinest D'Souza and Blood Feud by Edward Klein, both excellent reads. But for the life of me I still can't decide whether Obama's destruction of the middle-class and consequently America (the middle-class IS America) is by design or default. I guess it's a chicken or the egg thing. Is our destruction just a consequence of Obama's insane policies or is Obama destroying us with his insane policies? In other word is it ineptitude or deliberate? D'Souza suggests willful destruction, however Klein makes the case for incompetence citing a variety of reasons and examples of Obama's unsuitability for the job. I guess they're both right, sometimes it's a particle, sometimes a wave. In the end it doesn't really matter, destruction is destruction.
I was sad to see the passing of Joan Rivers. She was one of the great old comics like Rodney Dangerfield, Don Rickles and George Carlin. She had a quick wit and at times was very funny. Sgt. Major liked to watch here on, gosh what was it(?) Runway Police or something (on one of those chick channels). Anyway it was a show where a bunch of snarky bitches critique celebrity fashion at the Oscars and Emmys and stuff. They show a clip of some dweeb asking Scarlett Johansson about her dress and shoes who made it etc. I always thought that was a little junior high, as in "you gotta have the right shoes or you're just an idiot" kinda way. Anyway then Joan and Ozzie Osborne's daughter (and usually a homo so over-the-top-gay Elton John's pool boy would kick his ass for being so queer!) would say how great they looked or take shots at them. I watched for the fashion of course, had nothing at all to do with Ms. Johansson's tits being front and center. I recall Joan commenting on some woman's red dress, something along the lines of "Does she look in the mirror before she leaves home? My God she looks like a blood clot".
Anyway, RIP Joan, I for one will miss you.
Friday, September 5, 2014
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3 comments:
There are, from my perspective, three major reasons the NRSC and RNC have a near perfect track record of losing the most winnable of face offs over the last 4 years:
1. They detest the message we Conservative voters gave them when we also made them the House Majority.
2. They think that to win the 'undecideds' they need to look like 'undecideds'
3. They, when you get right down to it, aren't really all that different than their across the aisle colleagues in their sense of superiority over their constituents.
The concept of citizens taking time out of their personal lives to serve a term or two in the Service of their fellow citizens is a rare commodity these days. In the days of old, you didn't get wealthier by such Service and may well have lost some earning power while in your intentionally temporary tenure. Now, the norm is to become a career politician. I appreciate that governing the world's once greatest nation requires some unique experience and skills that can only be gleaned by actually performing governance, but I find myself doing an about face from my prior stance, now wanting to experiment with term limits. I liked the oft-provided guidance to prospective Commanding Officers--"treat command as if it will be your last job in the Navy.". Unstated was "; not as if it is a critical step on the ladder to Admiral." Since the oath of office each elected official takes appears not to guide his or her behavior in office, I doubt such advice would make much difference either. No matter what, it is ultimately up to WtP to send people to Washington who will behave as we wish. And that truly is where the root of the problem lies--we the people.
Given time the Republican party will figure it out.
I'm sure the Republican party can figure it out
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