Thought for the Day
There's some talk that Dems weren't fired up and turning out yesterday. I've read the extrapolation a number of places that this means doom (doom, I say) for 2010.
Well, let me speculate that perhaps ginning up a national Dem fervor for two mid size state gubernatorial races wasn't a top priority for the White House right now. 2010 may look very different when the Obama folks try to use their bully pulpit for political purposes (and to raise money.)
Well, let me speculate that perhaps ginning up a national Dem fervor for two mid size state gubernatorial races wasn't a top priority for the White House right now. 2010 may look very different when the Obama folks try to use their bully pulpit for political purposes (and to raise money.)
posted by mikevotes at
10:20 AM
6 Comments:
Both Republicans -- if I'm not mistaken -- were running away from the far right... indeed eschewing some of the more conservative skeletons in their past. They won.
Corzine has more baggage than United. 'Nuff said. He lost.
Deeds was running to the right. The bluest of Blue Dogs... Shockingly, the Dem base was wholly unimpressed. He lost.
The candidate representing the all-the-rage, teabaggin', Beck-Palin wing of Republicanism.... Well...
Lesson: Run to the right and lose. I hope the Beck-Palin wing takes over the GOP. It'll be a wonderful thing in 2010.
By
-epm, at 11:16 AM
I didn't follow it all too closely, but it was my impression they ran on Republican finance/economics, but ran away from the social issues.
And, Deeds' campaign strategy until the last few weeks was to try to beat McDonnell in the very Republican southern regions. Idiot.
And, The Beck Palin folks won't diminish at all. Their power derives from their crazy positions, and the way the primary system works, the organized folks, churches, online crazies, carry much more weight. I don't think Palin's gonna run, but she will be a huge presence, and they'll all bendover crazy to get her endorsement.
By
mikevotes, at 11:24 AM
I'm wondering what power the Beck/Palin folks really have. I agree with what you've outlined, but to they have the power to actually do anything beyond being shrill goons from crazy-land?
Eventually traditional corporate media will find their schtick tiresome, and will frame them as "fringe" rather than "grassroots." Then they'll start turning on each other. Cause, you know... you gotta keep up the purity.
By
-epm, at 11:50 AM
They have power so long as they're perceived to have power. Glenn Beck got credit for that tea party Washington protest. Palin is credited by the media with injecting energy into the McCain campaign. So long as they're seen to be able to drive people, they'll have power and receive tretment from the media.
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mikevotes, at 12:32 PM
Well there two "they're" there... One is Beck and Palin themselves, the celebrity leaders. The second is the angry, poor, white masses who are the actual goon squads.
I'm wondering if these mobs actually have any power to affect elections, or if they're just boisterous novelties (all be it scary at times). Right now the Republican party (both officially and nominally) seems to be split. But it's a split between the selfish, greedy and bigoted wing and the insanely selfish, greedy and bigoted wing. (The Libmaughs vs the Becks?)
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-epm, at 12:53 PM
Whether they have the numbers to numerically affect elections, I don't know, I think not. Whether they have the power to influence elections, yeah, at least on the Republican primary side where everyone walks around them on eggshells, and less attention getting primaries mean organized voting blocs and volunteers mean so much more, then, yeah.
Numerically, I don't think they're that big, but they can affect Republican figures and offer lopsided passionate organization to one side.
On the other hand, in general elections, all that passion may well be a minus. You don't want your on the ground, door to door spokespeople to be nuts.
By
mikevotes, at 6:01 PM
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