OH: Hackett's In Against DeWine

From Basie!, who picked up news that I think broke first yesterday: Paul Hackett, Iraq II veteran and failed Congressional candidate in a heavily Bush district, has upped his chips and declared for US Senate against Mike DeWine. This is news a lot of folks outside Ohio have been hoping for, and in my view OH now appears to represent a 2nd seat with a very strong chance of pickup. Santorum of PA is crashing like an origami bicycle and faces a strong candidate, and DeWine is bleeding like he's been to the kosher butcher. Yesterday, Zogby tossed out a re-elect number for him at less than 36%. Thirty-six for a Republican incumbent! In Ohio!

I was able to see a couple of short interviews with Hackett, and read most of his positions. He's what I'd call a Schweitzer Democrat, or Democrats for Men. That's an entirely gender-obsessed way of viewing character, but Hackett is not a word parser, not a monied effete. He's direct and unashamed of his positions when he has them, and seems free so far to say when he doesn't really have one.

There is some kind of irony at play here, during a period where the conservative movement is convulsing like a sorority girl over the john after 3 beer bongs. The one thing that Hackett is in extremely short supply of is legislative experience. Does the left (and roughly 40% minimum of Ohioans, it appears) simply overlook that if they like the guy? The main complaint on Miers from Democrats--if there is one at all, which is a little shameful considering the ridiculous cronyism at play--is that she's in over her head based on a lack of any kind of useful experience for the job.  Heck, you can say Paul Hackett's last job was bringing freedom to Iraq--how's that gone for him?*

Anyhow, I think Hackett's a solid choice here, and given the polling advantage he had even before the race plus a money bung being hammered into the DNC keg as we speak, he's got a damn good shot. This is the reality that must be focused on as the GOP continues to implode and then bicker about the implosion: made effectively, the point that George Bush and his closest friends have done nothing but fuck up the fundamentals of American society is one that could resonate for 8-12 years in the opposite political direction. Cultivating the seeds of that shift is a major priority for progressives and like-thinking Americans over the next 14 months.

--TJ

*OK, that's a joke.

Comments

[David]

Bad joke.

[torridjoe]

Hey, I'm equal-opportunity tasteless!