Maine

There's a fight for a senate seat in Maine happening now. I found a great article on Political Critic about the current atmosphere of the nation and how even bipartisan Republicans like Susan Collins might be forced out because of the bad Republican name.

Wikipedia has an ok page on Senator Collins and her opponent Tom Allen.

This is a comment I left on the Political Critic page.

I don't know much about the Senator from Maine, but your assessment seems astute. With blind loyalty to parties (especially during the Bush Administration), it's understandable how easy a Dem like Allen can come in and shake things up thus, but his video is an ABC book of touching points, as if written by a 5th grader.

"I will get us a soda machine. Nancy says soda is bad for your teeth. What they hell does she know!"

I can't say whether or not he would be a good Senator, but for god sake, the "I this" and the "she that" campaign is so nah-nah-like in its childishness... can't we get past that? Or is it the only thing that works any more?

Perhaps these sound bites worked in the past, but I have a feeling the country is done with that, and the people are doing their best to find the leaders they want. Or maybe that's just wishful thinking. - J

Here is Representative Allen's video:



Here is a video posted by The National Republican Senatorial Committee:



Is it just me or does a video made by a committee of Republicans just not pack as much of a punch as, say a video made by an opponent? I watched the video, I saw the comments, especially the one about the trip to Miami paid for by a pharmaceutical company (I liked how the slipped that in after Michael Moore's Sicko film)... and I don't think people are going to care. All of congress is bought and paid for by either a pharmaceutical or insurance or oil or car company. That's no surprise to anyone.

To quote the film Casino: "I had dozens of politicians and state officials coming through that place every week. Why not make him happy? For politicians like our State Senator up there, everything was on the house. These guys won their comp life
when they got elected... so, hey, why not take advantage of it."

We'll see how things turn out, but I figure that every state and every district has got its reps either waiting on the defensive or ready for a few quick anti-Rep sound bites. One way or the other, I think the next four years are there for the Democrats to either do it right or screw up completely. I don't see much middle ground.