Headline of the day
Usually, a New York tabloid wins the contest, hands down. Sometimes, one of the more staid major dailies (like ours) claims the honor. But today, it goes to a magazine that, while influential within centrist and center-of-left circles, has a circulation well under 100,000: The New Republic.
The publication posted an article that thoughtfully examines a question that Democratic politicos have been mulling among themselves all year -- if Hillary Clinton snags the party's presidential nomination, to what degree would she harm other Democrats running for the Senate, the House, governorships or other offices next year?
The headline: "Drag Queen" (click here to check it out).
We can't help but wonder how the esteemed Walter Lippmann, who co-founded the New Republic 94 years ago, would have reacted.
The piece, by political science professor Thomas F. Schaller, goes on to make a persuasive case that a Clinton candidacy would NOT seriously jeopardize Democratic prospects in other races (the provocative head notwithstanding). Indeed, he states flatly: "... the fact is that neither she nor her main rivals will provide a significant drag or lift for Democratic office-seekers."
One quibble: Schaller impressively backs up his assertion, but it remains a thesis on his part, not a "fact."
-- Don Frederick
Share
Posted by Don Frederick on November 30, 2007 in Congress , Democratic Politics , Governors , Media , Newspapers , Presidential Campaign | Permalink
Don Frederick has served as an editor helping guide coverage of every presidential election since 1984. He is a third-generation Washingtonian, so watching the political world comes naturally to him.
Andrew Malcolm's immigrant parents repeatedly stressed the importance of active participation in a democracy. Early lessons included learning the alphabetical list of states by watching televised roll calls of national political conventions. That childhood exposure led to a lifelong fascination with politics, including 40-plus years of covering them and a brief stint practicing them as press secretary to Laura Bush in 1999-2000.
Subscribe to this Blog
Unfortunately, there are many in congressional districts that are red or purple who say they are going to lose. They do not speculate but, state it as a fact. They know their districts and the people there. And there are people the democrats wanted to recruit who turned them down on the chance of Hillary being the nominee. They say they cannot run in a race they will lose for sure.
Maybe this man should have first talked to those democrats in those districts to learn about why and how they are sure. Maybe then, the article may have a different view.
I live in a purple district with a red bent in a blue state. If Hillary goes on the ticket, you can be sure democrats will lose in down ticket races.
Posted by: vwcat | November 30, 2007 at 07:57 PM