Fit To Print

A Sweeping Tide of Same

November 4th, 2006

While the results of many races this year remain in doubt, a couple fitting outcomes are almost assured. The two people most responsible for Bush’s election and reelection are going down in flames. Congresswoman Katherine Harris is way behind Bill Nelson in the Florida Senate race. Harris, you’ll remember, is the ugly hooker who refused to accept recount tallies in 2000. Here’s the kicker, she wrote a book about it, with the subtitle, “Practicing Principled Leadership in Times of Crisis”. With 17 Congressmen under indictment, it takes someone truly special to stay on the cutting edge of corruption and hypocrisy. Katherine, we salute you.

What Katherine Harris was to Florida in 2000, Ken Blackwell was to Ohio in 2004. Quite literally - he was also Sec of State, and a big fan of voter suppression. Sadly, while Mr. Blackwell has been a trailblazing Yes Man in the African American community, his gubernatorial aspirations are crumbling like the oreo cookie he is. Polls consistently show his opponent with a double digit lead.

Boris and Natasha don’t seem to be the only ones the karma gods are after. Corrupt Congressmen everywhere are having to fight unusually hard for their political lives. Negative ads have saturated the airwaves and are just now petering out into the mandatory feel-good finish campaigns always aim for. Democrats are pointing to record numbers of early voters in battleground states and saying that a tide of change is coming. To some (and by some I mean me), this sounds awfully similar to 2004. So I wouldn’t bet the bank that scandal and modest outrage will win against disillusionment and apathy in the 80 or so districts that haven’t been gerrymandered beyond any hope of competition.

Later this weekend I will be posting my predictions, along with some reflections on the campaign that I’m sure will be wonderful and illuminating and the missing piece to your day.

Entry Filed under: Politics