A congressional campaign centrally focused on gay marriage?
Congressional campaigns tend to get decided on whose policy will best strengthen the economy? In last evening's debate, Barnes made clear his primary policy for growing the economy is to increase federal spending on education. (Later Barnes made clear he thinks more trade barriers makes sound economic, environmental and moral sense.) Barnes' top objective is to deliver a sop to a primary DFL special interest group. Such courage!
The remainder of Bodell's endorsement is the standard political pro BS: Barnes has done nothing but impress Bodell with his devotion to a tough campaign.
To be a tv-quotable political insider like Bodell, you have to be able to pump out difference-splitting dreck of this kind. It's all about electability, you see, and Barnes embodies it. Trust me, Joe Bodell has a nose for electability--he knows how to win elections. And as a writer Bodell never fails to tingle:
Let's not mince words: the Third is going to be a tough race no matter who the DFL nominates.The two on the rez candidates have allowed a personality-based process to govern--without discussion as to whether that's best. The process merits reflection and reworking; it generates a dull politics of narcissism. Sund-Barnes is a piddling, false dilemma--a Rorschach test good at revealing the boredom and brain-death of the regnant local chieftains, and not much more.
Autopilot got us last night's debate, which, by its setup and moderation, reduced the choice to a test of self-presentation. The lesson for future candidates is clear: Focus on forensics; memorize the mushy pabulum. Issues shmissues.
Unless we can awaken the 99%!
