Thursday, September 29, 2005

Sleeping Bears Lie

Sleeping Bears Lie

At the risk of violating some Democratic Party Loyalty Oath, not that I would ever do THAT cough BLOUIN cough: Oh, I hope I hope I hope:

The statewide rumor mill is buzzing with reports that Lowell Weicker is considering an independent run for his old U.S. Senate seat next year against Democratic (sic) incumbent Joe Lieberman...

The rumors have been building since last week, when Weicker appeared at a public forum with radio talk-show host and Hartford Courant columnist Colin McEnroe. Weicker, a former liberal Republican who turned independent in 1990 when he left the Senate to run successfully for governor, dropped notice at the Sept. 20 forum that he'd consider another political run.

Weicker claimed he's "99 percent" uninterested in running. But then he went on, and on, about how he wouldn't sit by if "somebody pisses me off enough." And he went on and on about how pissed off he is about the direction of the country.


I trust that in the post-Jeffords, pre-Senator Bernie Sanders era, it's officially OK for Democrats to love leftish-leaning independents from New England. Those of us with long memories recall that Liebrman won in 1988 by running to the RIGHT of Lowell Weicker.

Speaking of independents, there's that rumor again about McCain... Don't be fooled: his actual record is solidly conservative. But like Weicker and his colorful quotes above, it's persona that matters with McCain. John McCain doesn't act or talk like a blow-dried, focus grouped politician. His persona crackles with attitude: "I spent seven years in Charlie's tiger cage, and after that nothing you throw at me can even leave a scratch." That attitude is the entire basis of his appeal.

Of course, look how far Nam Vet got John Kerry.

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