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Wednesday, May 21, 2008 |
With losses to Democrats in three recent special elections in solid Republican territory — including Louisiana’s 6th District — the national Republican Party continues to fret about its fall prospects. Virginia Republican Rep. Tom Davis didn’t mince words last week, saying that Republicans could lose 20 to 25 seats in the November elections. A Times-Picayune story today asking Louisiana Republicans’ take on the situation offers this nugget:
Sen. David Vitter, R-La., said he doesn’t agree with Davis’ pessimistic assessment, but he does say “it’s certainly true that national Republicans need to improve their brand.
“Perhaps folks should actually take some cues from Republicans in Louisiana,” Vitter said. “At home, we’re the party of reform and positive changes versus failed past and the good ol’ boys.”
If the national Republican Party wants to “improve their brand,” they probably don’t want David “Serious Sin” Vitter as an advisor or spokesman.
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As if I would ever buy a product because of its advertising cleverness!
Well, sadly, the Senator, and the other parrots we see elsewhere in the media appear to be on to something. Even though it offends our educated sensibilities, the electoral process is simply an emotional process now. TV has so fully permeated this process, that voters have no connection to their represenatives on a personal basis, nor do they follow a multitude of issues and read detailed, deeply conflicting newspaper accounts of this information. Simply now, we are left with candidates with whom we would feel socially comfortable at the dinner table, drinking a beer, or who appeal to some abstract idea of your various buzzword motto of the election season.
As soon as voters stop rewarding the Democrats and Republicans with their votes, and discontinue their patronage of media oligopoly, and check themselves out of the conventional consumer product cycle, then, perhaps, having wrested the vast waste of money out of elections, we might then be rewarded with leadership worth voting for.
America meanwhile, continues to act like Star Trek's Ferengi Alliance...anything can be bought or sold, even your DNA.
Thanks Vitter. What would Jesus do? Really.
And Mr. Jordan, can we get some reporting on the current state of worker unionization in the Acadiana area? I would also like to see some discussion on how such values matter in our local politics as well.