Congressional Election: GOP Wins - Barely

Picture credit: WikiPedia
The Dems pulled out all the stops in Ohio and, once again, couldn't close the deal. The opportunity arrived because President Bush had appointed Republican Rob Portman as U.S. Trade Representative. Thus, a rare, off-year election yesterday pitted Jean Schmidt against Democratic contender Paul Hackett.

Paul Hackett (WikiPedia)

The Dems truly didn't play around this time. They had hoped to pull off a major upset by aligning every factor in their favor:

- Hackett is a former U.S. Marine (and trial lawyer), but claims opposition to the war
- Hackett featured... yes... President Bush in his ads
- Hackett looks like a male model
- Schmidt had been tied to the unpopular Governor, Bob Taft, who is enduring his own personal scandals at the moment
- Voter turnout would be light in an off-year race
- Hackett received enough campaign money to essentially match Schmidt ad-for-ad

The race reminds me of nothing less than a snippet of conversation from the television show Cheers:

"What'll you have Normie?" "Well, I'm in a gambling mood Sammy. I'll take a glass of whatever comes out of that tap." "Looks like beer, Norm." "Call me Mister Lucky."

The citizens coming out of the tap will continue to vote Republican for the foreseeable future. That is, until the Democrats excise the cancerous MoveOn, Michael Moore, and Hollywood Left from the party. Not only does that Left Bank represent damaged goods, they don't even think we're at war.

Michael Moore speaks for the Democrats' Left Bank when he says, "There is no terrorist threat. There is no terrorist threat."

As does Juan Cole, who flatly states, "It is not a war."

I question either their judgment - or their loyalty. I can come to no other conclusion. The Left Bank is either intellectually bankrupt... or their patriotism lies with another land. In any case, they won't be winning many elections for the foreseeable future.