We know that, in any contest, it is necessary to remain upbeat and positive if one plans on going ahead. Setbacks and preliminary defeats must be overcome in order to pursue the finals.
But we wonder how much of what we are getting from various political candidates is a positive attitude and how much of it is just plain spin.
As the results of the recent State Assemblies came in, we were a little surprised that we were not more surprised. We cannot help but believe that the results were real eye-openers to some of the candidates, but we have yet to hear one admit that.
Michael Bennet, who should be enjoying some incumbent status as a result of his being appointed to the seat, will be on the Democratic primary ballot’s second line. He only got 40 percent of the delegate votes, but the heading on his post-assembly statement made it sound like he was a winner: Bennet Emerges From Assembly With Strong Support & Clear Advantage.
Bennet claims to be a political newcomer and a person who is not the typical Washington insider. The fact is, he has become a typical Washington insider. We were really impressed when he participated in the ugly standing ovation during the recent appearance of Mexican President Calderon at a joint meeting of the congress. Bennet’s campaign says he “surpassed expectation.” We assume he expected to get less than 40 percent.
Scott Tipton, who should have a distinct advantage based on name recognition, needs to be up front and tell everyone that maybe name recognition is a bad thing in the next few years. Tipton had to be more than a little uncomfortable when Bob McConnell gathered up more than 45 percent of the delegates. McConnell truly is a political newcomer.
The real eye-opener was the race between Dan Maes and Scott McInnis. Maes, with less than a one percent margin, captured the top line for the Republican primary in the governor’s race. An assembly delegate may have nailed it when she said, “He (Maes) wasn’t hand picked by the GOP and we like that.”
It may well be that those “hand picked” experienced politicians are all in trouble, and it may well be that it is time for them to get off their spin machines and start talking in regular American. It may well be possible that the voters are going to give the real grass roots newcomers a chance to show what they can do.
We may be getting a little dizzy, but nothing will surprise us again. We think the voters are entirely capable of saving this country by rescuing us from the over-controlling, overspending, overpaid and power hungry bumbledoms that are at the helm right now.
