Carper…You’re Next.
Tom Carper has outlived his DLC-Delaware Way usefulness. He was a competent Governor and Congressman, but since he was elevated to the Senate, he has drifted evermore right wing. He still supports the War and he still supports Joe Lieberman, to this very day.
His reaction to the primary last night?
“It’s a primary that should never have happened,” said U.S. Sen. Tom Carper, who tried to broker a deal that would have had Markell run for lieutenant governor. “But they both ran campaigns that Delaware can be proud of.”
Still harping on the horribleness of a primary, as if it is always disasterous to let the people have a choice. That quote is a perfect reflection of his Washington and “Delaware Way” mindset: “We know best, the people will get what we give them.”
Progressives, we must begin the job of recruiting a primary challenger to Tom Carper now. The urge to primary Carper in 2006 occurred too late. Indeed, even if we had found a candidate in 2006, he would be without money or a campaign organization and no time to introduce himself or herself to the people.
We have four years starting right now.
Despite what Tom Carper thinks, primaries are a wonderful thing. They keep a politician honest to his principles he ran on in the first place. Let’s say we do find a good candidate in the next year, and he or she begins running against Carper in earnest then. In order to win the primary, Carper will have to adjust. He would have to campaign. And he may have to change his positions and enact some progressive legislation. Those are all good results of a primary, even if we do not win the primary.
So, Tom, primaries are a good thing, and you are about to find out how good they are.
Willett Kempton for Senate!!!
Senator Scott. Its got everything including alliteration.
Just write a check for $750,000 to yourself, and you too can be a winner.
Or you could steal $500,000 of other people’s money, and you too can be a loser.
Sour grapes, George?
It’s not stealing.
And if you think a man of less means than Jack Markell could have won the race, you’re an idiot or a liar.
He was going against the machine, however people choose to define that, and it wasn’t Jack’s ideas that ultimately won – it was his money.
I’m not trying to disparage Markell’s victory, I’m just trying to provide some honest context and analysis. Just relax – you won.
Your sure as hell sound like you’re disparaging Jack’s victory. Does your last name start with “M”?
The money argument is pretty silly — especially since Carney could raid the Delaware Dems treasury for his race (how can we find out how much money they have for the General?) AND Carney did get the support of many unions, some of which did get some remuneration for whatever they did yesterday.
Carney had plenty of money — he had the Delaware Way money and Jack raised his funds on a more grassroots basis.
God. For the record, I’m happy for Delaware that Jack won. Frankly, I think either candidate would have been great and are light-years ahead of any person the GOP could put up against them.
I was simply trying to point out that if DelawareDem wants to mount a progressive insurgency candidate against Carper or any other “entrenched” candidate – they’re going to have to spend some serious mula.
Jack would not have been able to win had he not outspent Carney. Obviously. This is not rocket science. And had Jack not been able to write himself checks, he probably would not have been able to spend at the rate he did.
Jack was an exceptionally unique candidate for lots of reasons outside of his money (intelligence, experience, etc.) – but still, seriously people, TV ads don’t buy themselves.
I was simply trying to point out that if DelawareDem wants to mount a progressive insurgency candidate against Carper or any other “entrenched” candidate – they’re going to have to spend some serious mula.
I agree. $1 million minimum. Any wealthy liberals in this joint please take one step forward.
Or anybody who can get 115,600 people to donate $8.65 online, that would work as well.
I am in the Can Carper Camp too. What irkes the hell out of me is his mindless support of the war machine while he whines (Sussex Co. Jamboree) about taking his (draft age) son to $chool at William and Mary.
On that basis alone you can see what kind of morals he has; he all ready to send you or your child to fight a war but not his progeny. Another case of the Emporer has no clothes (sheild the childrens’ eyes) it’s not a pretty sight.
Between that and having his lips perpetually pursed to the buttocks of Lieberman, banks, big business, et al he has never represented Delawareans.
If your house goes into foreclosure and you are in bankrupcy don’t forget to call on Carper for help. Oh, wait, on second thought he’s already effed us on those issues….just be certain to round up all family and friends and work your hearts out against him winning again.
Two ‘draft age’ sons, count ’em…Two big strapping young men going off to college; protected from war.
New Rule: If these Electeds are so favorable to war there should be a law that their kids go first.
“New Rule: If these Electeds are so favorable to war there should be a law that their kids go first.”
Absolutely not – The U.S. military is full of volunteers. You sign up, you understand that you could be called into service.
Mikie W: Why aren’t you in Iraq?
This is interesting. Jack Markell is, by any objective standard viewing his entire record, more from the mold of Tom Carper than John Carney.
While it is true Carper probably wanted the “Delaware Way” in trying to promote his former Sec of Finance by attempting to broker the deal of Carney – GOV/Markell – Lt. GOV, Markell is a DLC golden star – like Carper. They both are business-oriented, fiscally conservative, socially moderate-to-progressive Clinton-era Democrats.
No doubt Markell took a bit more progressive stance in this primary campaign. However, I bet he’s about to start sounding a bit more moderate, or at least will be so in governing. I say that for two reasons. First, it is his personal base, though always with an innovative flair, which, too, could be attributable to his buisness background. Second, like I said in a previous comment on another post, to get his agenda passed, he’s going to have to go through a more conservative General Assembly.
If your progressive is pro-life I will (and my friends and family too) switch registration to vote for him/her.
If your your progressive wants to make women’s ovaries the property of the state, control her health choices, and force her to have babies so we can send them off to be killed in our wars for fun, then maybe I’ll switch, too.