The San Diego Union Tribune argues that the deciding factor might be the independent candidacy of the ultra-conservative William Griffith, endorsed by the American Independent Party. Oddly enough, this far-rightist is willing to consider an idea or two that might see some guarded approval in far-left circles:
He believes every war since World II, including Iraq, has been illegal, the immoral result of Congress's abdication of its constitutional responsibility to declare war.Why don't more conservatives say stuff like that?
Griffith's main beef against Bilbray: BB isn't conservative enough. Too soft on guns and gays. All of which led me to ask myself: If I were an advisor to Francine Busby -- her Karl Rove, as it were, operating in full Machiavelli mode -- what counsel would she receive?
I would tell her to pick an issue, one issue, where she can stand to the right of Busby and echo the arguments of William Griffith. Which issue? Hmmm. It can't be gays. It can't be abortion. It probably can't be immigration. And it probably can't be the only-Congress-can-declare-war thing, although I sure as hell wish.
Guns.
The small number of people in that district who advocate a greater degree of gun control are not going to vote against Busby if she does not endorse that position. But the people who advocate fewer restrictions on gun ownership might be persuaded to tear themselves away from the Republican, especially if Busby simultaneously emphasizes the theme of lobbyist corruption.
Can she utilize such a tactic at this late stage? Probably not; all politicians pander, but they can't make it too obvious. Might such a strategy have worked if initiated earlier? Perhaps.
Of course, she could always make a full gallop down Rove Road and "discover" bugging equipment in her office...
2 comments:
Why don't more conservatives say stuff like that?
I think you mean to say "Why don't more Republicans say stuff like that?" And the answer is that they're not really conservatives. They stand for wars, corporations, huge deficits, borrow-and-spend, and faux religion.
Every Dem running this year should adopt that strategy. Advocate enforcement of the gun control laws that are already on the books. But declare that citizens have the Constitutional right to keep and bear arms. Dem's do not seem to understand that this issue is killing them in the heartland, and gaining them nothing.
If Gore had done this in 2000, we would be living in a better world.
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