Last Thoughts On the Ohio Senate Primary

Committing to a candidate like Hackett means committing to changing business as usual -- and despite their mounting losses, the Democratic establishment seems to have an unholy commitment to the status quo.
-- Tim Dickinson, Rolling Stone




Reform?

Not so
much.






I didn't jump on the "Hackett is in/out" rumors yesterday, because what the hell do I know? But in the light of day, with all the official releases dispatched, this stinks. I will give the ODP and the powers that be the benefit of the doubt. I have to assume they are trying to act decisively to win an election. But given our party's recent history, how optimistic should I be about Brown's chances?

I never supported Hackett because he was pro-gun, or centrist, or a vet. Hackett's appeal was that he called a spade a spade. After years of watching Dems brings knives to gun fights, it felt like Hackett was going to even the odds. That might sound a bit blood thirsty, but after decades of being down*, it's where I am.

The Republicans know how to feed their base, generally through all kinds of bigoted and hurtful legislation. Then they smile and bullshit and win over the middle. Democrats can't even fire up the base. We're stuck voting for equivocating cowards while everyone else is drawn to the loudmouths. Nuance is great for governance, but we better get more strident on the campaign trail.

My first impressions of Brown? He was out before he was in. He literally hasn't paid his dues. At the Ohio Candidate Forum, when everyone else had one fact sheet, he had three. He emailed Republican operatives with smears against Hackett. His personal politics are admirable, but I haven't seen anything that convinces me he can take out Mike DeWine. We are now totally dependant on the insular ODP and their history of getting stomped in elections.

Jeebus help us.



* Bill Clinton, god bless him, was the last good president we had. While he was only the second Democratic leader of my lifetime, that doesn't change the fact that he wasn't any further to the left than Helmut Kohl. We need something more, especially after the miserable failure.