Carper Tries a Campaign Combover…Er, Makeover
The Red Phone must’ve rung in the stately Carper manse, meaning that Ed Freel was likely on the line. The conversation could well have gone like this:
Freel: “Boss, we’re not going to be able to get away with this feel good moderation we’ve been peddling for over two decades now. People have figured out that we’re both bought and paid for by the banking and insurance industries, and every other generous benefactor that has us living in the lap of luxury, including the University of Delaware, thankyouverymuch.
Carper: “@#$%^&!!”
Freel: “Relax, boss. I’ll check to see if Harry Themal’s still alive and, if so, you can sell him on the story that you have been personally and professionally wounded by the solons of the Senate who you can say no longer have the comity of the institution at heart and have betrayed your profound sense of fair play.”
Carper: “But how do I answer the question about why I’ve played this moderate card for the better part of two decades when, in fact, we’ve had this wonderful partnership with my corporate friends and/or Mike Castle?”
Freel: “Boss, it’s Harry Themal we’re talking here. He combines the best of both David Broder and Larry King. You’ll be just fine. Maybe you can even throw in a movie reference.”
Carper: “Well, all-righty, then.”
The result: This column in today’s News-Journal.
And, with that, Carper’s campaign for reelection has begun.
must resist…
Can’t wait for who declares to run on the GOP side in 2012. I’m certain I will be shocked. (*whistles a soft tune and walks away slowly*)
If this is the beginning of the re-election campaign, I’d say that neither Carper or Freel get it. This “moderate” business — at least as practiced by Carper — is a complete fraud. You can’t trace many of his positions or proposals to any compromise that isn’t utterly in the service of his funders. And I think that this is the Carper hat trick — making a “moderate position” look exactly like the ones his funders want. Because there is damn little about his moderate compromises that do a damn thing for the people who he has convinced to vote for him.
Here is the thing. I don’t really mind that the Republican Senators are sticking together as an ideological block. If you truly believe in the conservative orthodoxy, then by all means, vote no. So 41 Republicans sticking together is not the problem. The problem is two fold: 1) Senate rules that allow 41 Senators to control what is voted on for the other 59, and 2) weak kneed (nee “moderate”) Democrats like Carper who have allowed those 41 Senators to be more important than their own supposed party.
If Carper is turning over a new leaf, or has truly has had a revelation, then in order to get my vote in 2012, he will vote in January 2011 to reform the Senate rules: Eliminate the cloture rule on all legislation and executive appointees, end the anonymous hold procedure, and reform the cloture rule on judicial nominations (45 instead of 40).
I’m with you DD. The Senate rules are ridiculous and un-Democratic. They must be reformed.
Unfortunately, Carper doesn’t NEED your votes. He can coast to re-election on name recognition alone. He’s like Castle, but without the tea partiers and Crazy Eileens.
Oh, rumbles of a primary challenge? C’mon. No Delaware Democrat is going to primary the winningest elected official in the state’s history because he’s not “progressive” enough.
The GOP will put up someone like Tim Smith, who’ll win the Republican primary race against Christine Protack. And Carper will win – again – with like 62 percent.
Carper is not a democrat, he is a neo con! Just like Mike Castle. You can bet Ed Freel might have some moderate comments (where has he been while Carper has been trashed by his own party). But Kevin Freel the sane political one, would object to the carpetbagger, blue dog, corporate democrat Carper. Carpers votes have always been right of center, never moderate and forget progressive. Trouble with Ed and Carper is they dont seem to grasp the meaning of “corporate democrats are in as much trouble as the republicans are”.
We need an upstanding real progressive to run against Carper in 2012. I have always said John Flagherty has the name recognition, has a proven “with the people track record”, we need to draft him and back him with our bucks.
Didn’t the dems years ago praise the senate rules when the repubs held it? I specifically remember hillary saying that the senate rules as they were, are key to our democratic process.
Most likely there will be no Delaware GOP by 2012. Tim Smith? No way, he lost at the convention in 2008, talked about GOP vice chair in 2009 and backed down. He is nowhere.
The 2012 nominee will depend on who replaces Ross and Rakestraw. If the GOP can get some real talent in those spots then maybe but if they stay, then don;t waste your time.
IAAC: Would you PLEASE learn to spell John Flaherty’s name? You push this insane notion under every new name you use. His name recognition is close to zero — hell, you’re his biggest fan and you can’t even spell it correctly; you keep adding a G to it. Totally gives you away.
CYSD: Speaking of “every new name you use,” the only Republican who rides the “I hate Rakestraw and Ross” hobby horse this hard spends a lot of time at an altitude where the oxygen is scarce. If you catch my drift.
I get Phil’s point, and believe that we have to be careful here. I’ve NEVER gotten the anonymous hold courtesy, and think that should be eliminated.
But, we must tread softly otherwise, IMHO. Wasn’t that long ago that Dubya was prez and the Rethugs had the majority. Of course, at that time, with ‘sensible’ D’s like Carper and Lieberman, Rethugs got virtually everything they wanted anyway, including two unfit justices on the Supreme Court.
This could be one of those ‘Be Careful What You Wish For’ moments.
* applauds Geezer for the Flaherty comment *
Don’ get me wrong. John’s a really good, upstanding, nice guy. But his name recognition is only in Leg Hall and among journalists. A statewide campaign does not that make.
What’s Yoda doing here?
‘Bulo – watch the filibuster reform panel from Netroots Nation. The filibuster has seldom, if ever, benefitted progressive legislation. It’s better if it’s gone but there are some reforms that can keep the filibuster intact while making the Senate more Democratic.
Thanks, UI. Will do.