When Losing is Winning
Last Tuesday's primary elections generated more than usual interest for contests that historically stimulate so little enthusiasm among voters that participation in the twenty to twenty-five percent range is not unusual. In Arkansas the Democrat primary for the U.S. Senate was actually a run-off between incumbent senator Blanche Lincoln and Arkansas Lt. Governor Bill Halter. Lincoln was the target of organized labor and unions poured ten million dollars into an anti-Lincoln advertising campaign plus supplying hundreds of union members as "organizers". Lincoln, a career Democrat from a conservative state was judged to be "not liberal enough" by union leaders who preferred Halter.
The ten million dollars were not enough. Lincoln won. But "progressive" spokesmen in a remarkable example of "alternate universe" thinking are claiming they "won" because they "almost won". This of course sends a "powerful message" to other too moderate, "not liberal enough", Democrat candidates ; If you don't change your ways, progressive candidates will "almost defeat" you too. An official of the Obama Administration, which supported Lincoln, as did former President Bill Clinton, said the unions "flushed ten million dollars down the toilet." Presumably progressives will be happy if the occasionally moderate Obama "almost loses" in 2012.
It's Simple
Well, after sixty-two years of Arab/Israeli conflict, eighty-nine year old curmudgeon and White House Correspondent Helen Thomas, who has made a career out of insulting conservative presidents and haranguing press secretaries, has the answer: "Tell them (the Israelis) to get the hell out of Palestine." OK, that settles it. It's simple. But where do you move seven million people? Her interviewer, a rabbi wanted to know also. Thomas' answer, equally as thoughtful as her suggestion: "Go home." "Where's home", he asked? "Poland, Germany, and America. And everywhere else." she replied. Setting aside the senility inspired question of' how could "everywhere else" be "home", history tells us that Poland and Germany aren't such great destinations for Jews. Besides, aren't the Israelis already "home"? What about that whole Red Sea thing with Charlton Heston? That was a really long time ago, like thousands of years, so doesn't that qualify as home? Apparently not to Thomas, who actually has a few supporters who recite her long term, and irrelevant, credentials as a female reporter and fall back on "free speech" nostrums. But the criticizer-in-chief, President Obama, called her remarks "Out of line." and "offensive". And, "She made the right decision to resign." A spokesman for the Board of White House Correspondents said Thomas's comments were "indefensible". Thomas, whose parents were immigrants from Lebanon, cited her "Arab" background for her perspicacity on all things Middle East, however when the heat was on she issued a non;-apology, apology: "I deeply regret my comments. They do not reflect my heartfelt belief that peace will come to the Middle East only when all parties recognize the need for mutual respect and tolerance. May that day come soon." Of course she regrets her comments. They sent her into retirement and none too soon.
Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow
Important political issues are filling the headlines: Obama Administration is taking heat for it's response and readiness with respect to the worst oil spill in history. The UN Security Council has struggled to finally pass weak sanctions against Iran for pursuing nuclear weapons. The New York Times has declared that California Republican Senatorial candidate Carly Fiorina's Biden-like open mike comment about her Democrat opponent, Barbara Boxer's hair is now a "big issue". Uh . . .what's that again? Yes, "...they presented her with a political problem that could haunt her throughout the campaign." "They both inform and confirm the image from her days as chief executive at Hewlett-Packard that she was tart and unpleasant." A "tart and unpleasant" CEO who wants to be a "tart and unpleasant" politician? Shocking! Here is the election defeating comment identified by the ever watchful NY Times: “Laura saw Barbara Boxer briefly on television this morning and said what everyone says, ‘God, what is that hair?’ Soooooooo yesterday,” Ms. Fiorina said.
After spending millions of hers and other people's dollars on the Republican primary, it must be devastating to hear that the NY Times now has picked the winner of the general election. Of course, expert political opinion can't be denied and the Times is relying on one of California's best.
“If you are dissing their hair, you are dissing their personality and their lifestyle,” said Billy Lowe, a celebrity stylist who owns a hair salon in Los Angeles. “It is probably the one thing a woman spends most of her time on every day. It’s always on their minds. Your hair is your personality.”
Stand by for Barbara Boxer's new hairdo; a new personality would be a bonus.
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