I take back the sideways smirk I wrote this post with. This is easily the classiest endorsement I’ve seen from a losing candidate in a long, long time. I hope Ravenel runs for something else. Congress, perhaps? Or is he lining up for a gubernatorial race.
But if you spend enough, it can buy some votes.
In yesterday’s South Carolina Republican primary for the United States Senate, Jim DeMint made it into the runoff in a squeaker past real estate developer (and political rookie) Thomas Ravenel. Rookie might be an overstatement, his father is a long time South Carolina politician.
DeMint only beat Ravenel by about 500 5,000 votes. Whew.
Ravenel spent about $3 million of his own money to get about 77,000 votes. $38 per vote. Pricey, I’d say.
From Daily Kos, probably the most trafficked liberal weblog site:
- Can’t Say I’m Sad, and Won’t (3.07 / 13)
It is about love of country and priciples, none of which Reagan stood for. Also, it is good that it happened now, so Bush can’t use it for the election.
by Zarate on Sat Jun 5th, 2004 at 17:15:40 EDT
- MY PEOPLE DIED (2.58 / 17)
BECAUSE OF THIS VILE MAN! I’M NOT GOING TO BE A GOOD LITTLE QUEER AND SHUT UP ABOUT IT!
by joeesha on Sat Jun 5th, 2004 at 17:25:44 EDT
- What exacltly is the problem? (3.33 / 6)
Can’t we just express a little bit what we think without being condemned for lacking political-correctness?
Reagan after all was a mass-murderer. Don’t be afraid to say the truth. The Republicans won’t be afraid to say the contrary.
by FrenchSocialist on Sat Jun 5th, 2004 at 17:48:38 EDT
- Its Finally Bedtime for Bonzo (1.73 / 15)
by Dave the pro on Sat Jun 5th, 2004 at 17:22:17 EDT
- And he was a criminal, too (none / 0)
And he was also guilty of high crimes and misdemeanors, and presided over an administration full of criminals, many later convicted. Criminals. Not just people with different political views. People who violated federal law, lied to and defied Congress, destroyed records, embezzled funds, illegally and secretly coddled dictators. Criminals. Unbelievable how people suddenly forget that.
by galiel on Sat Jun 5th, 2004 at 17:53:28 EDT
- Grandpa Caligula is dead (1.27 / 18)
To paraphrase a certain obituary to Nixon:
“If the right people will be involved in Reagan’s funeral, his casket will be launched into one of those open-sewage canals that empty into the ocean just south of Los Angeles. He was a swine of a man, and a jabbering dupe of a president. Reagan was so crooked that he needed servants to help him screw his pants on every morning. Even his funeral will be illegal. He was queer in the deepest way. His body should be burned in a garbage bin.”
- Why? Why should we feign grief for (3.00 / 4)
a man that helped cause the deaths of thousands, arguably millions, in America, in Iran, in Iraq, in Africa, etc.?
Why should we put on airs and pretend to be nice after the way that Republicans used Wellstone’s death? They’ll do even more with Reagan. They’ll use him to create a landslide for the GOP. We can’t just take that lying down.
by JamesB3 on Sat Jun 5th, 2004 at 17:50:11 EDT
- Sorry, folks–I’ll send no flowers. (4.00 / 4)
He was a criminal, a warmonger and a massive liar. He was a salesman and poster child for the worst elements of the fanatical GOP. Thousands of unmarked graves, maimed civilians and torture rooms in Central America are his legacy in history.
It is an irony that his own memory disintegrated–because his proxy-war policies caused unforgettable horrors. The Contras were terrorists folks–murderers and maimers of civilians. So were the warlords in Afghanistan that Reagan funded. He sowed the seeds of the monsters we are facing now–internationally and domestically.
The best I can say for him is that his son seems not to be an idiot. If only the man had stuck to movies.
by Tropicana on Sat Jun 5th, 2004 at 17:57:37 EDT
That’s just a few minutes scrolling down. The remainder of the comments tend to be a discussion about how much they can criticize Reagan without looking like jealous little weenies who hate Republican success even at the expense of the country. I don’t think they’ll be too successful.
Yes, Pete Stark has always had a screw loose. This, however, is beyond the pale. A constituent sends him a fax cricizing Stark’s vote condemning the prisoner abuse while lauding the troops in general. Stark called back and went nuts.
On a voice mail.
Oh yes, of course you can listen to it.
When Susan Collins gives a stump speech – does she pound the podium in slow motion? I swear, that woman is NyQuil in a silk blouse.
By that I mean Democrats, of course. Specifically, Al Gore and everyone associated with his 2000 Presidential campaign.
Why?
Cause it turns out they did one of the DUMBEST things I’ve ever seen – let Election Day come and go without spending all their resources. Yesterday it was reported that Gore had SIX MILLION dollars to give to various Democratic Party organizations, including the Kerry campaign.
So let me get this straight – you lost the Presidential race by 537 votes in Florida. You had SIX MILLION that you didn’t spend.
Feeling stupid yet?
And with all the fervor over blog ads for Kerry & Co. fundraising – why on earth would a Democratic activist send them more money? What have they done to earn the trust of donors? Keep in mind, this isn’t an example of a campaign spending money on activities you wouldn’t agree with – limos for youth volunteers, for example.
A cynic could conclude that dear Al knew he wouldn’t win, but wanted to keep enough of a wad tucked away to make him into the Democratic Pary Kingmaker he is today. (wink)
I think he’s gonna win. I think Toomey is gonna end Specter in a squeaker. And I did a good thing today. A nice drive north with a pile of money. :)