This past Tuesday’s Democratic victories may be sweet but my personal joy has been damped by a Republican victory here in Kentucky’s 4th District, a victory I suspected was bound to happen.
With obscene amounts of Republican cash, ginned-up pretend issues, a young and energetic candidate and little to no scruples the Davis/Rove campaign capitalized on the Democrat’s age and his Kentucky gentleman’s insistence on decency and integrity.
Had Mr. Lucas challenged the unfair avalanche of “Erpenbeck letter” commercials with a personal televised renunciation and had his campaign taken advantage of Davis’ KIA gaffe at the NKU debate with another television commercial, I feel certain the 4th District would have joined the blue wave that inundated Washington, DC and the neo conservative dream of empire.
Certainly, Mr. Davis’ touted inclusion in out-of-fashion congressional Republican power circles will not behoove the sophomore congressman to the newly Democratic Capitol Hill.
Mr. Lucas, a socially conservative old Blue Dog, would have gifted our region with congressional seniority and a close working friendship with the new national powers.
Mr. Davis, in stark contrast to the millions of dollars poured into his campaign, must now bide his time in a white-walled basement office while planning the baby steps of compromise that could, amusingly, label him a "Pink Dog".
A second term in a Democratic Congress will not give Mr. Davis the feared “lock” on his current office.
As Mr. Yarmouth in Kentucky’s 3rd District and other races showed this past Tuesday, the tide of populist and non-career politicians is rising.
An effective Democratic challenge to the newly re-elected Mr. Davis in 2008 must begin soon.
Are there any well-spoken soldier/farmers out there?

Image: Kardwell.com
- posted by Sean @ 10:30 AM 0 comments

 
No 'Grand Slam' for Jim...


As a steady morning vote was progressing across the damp late autumn hills of northern Kentucky, the Commonwealth’s 75 year-old junior Senator Jim Bunning was focused on a hearty “55 plus” breakfast at a crowded Perkin’s restaurant in bustling morning rush Highland Heights.
The senator, according to various elderly grade school and high school classmates scattered throughout the dining area, “was his usual grumpy self” and “kept his head down” through his meal.
That the legendary Bunning temper was apparently awake and smoldering this election morning, I’m told, caused much amusement and comment among people who can still fondly and acidly recall the Senator’s 6 year-old playground squabbles.
The general knee-slapping consensus was that if old Jim’s crabby now just you wait until this evening!

Modified Image: BaseballHallofFame.org, PerkinsRestaurants.com
- posted by Sean @ 10:27 AM 0 comments