[Speed Gibson,
Thursday November 10, 2005 at 12:17am]
Ham Sandwich elected Mayor in St. Paul
Looking at the tallies for St. Paul Mayor, Joe Soucheray wondered on Wednesday if a number of other Democrats regret not running as well. It was 69 percent to 30 percent in a race between two Democrats. The difference was obviously Kelly's endorsement of George W. Bush for re-election in 2004, an unpardonable sin as I wrote earlier. Anyone short of a Republican could have beat Kelly. Just say you're pro-life and support the public schools. As a judge noted 20 years ago, a grand jury can indict a ham sandwich. Now we find that ham sandwiches can be elected to public office as well.
After running against Bush, winner Chris Coleman claims, no, it was all about him, that the good people of St. Paul really do want their taxes raised another 10 or 20 percent.
I'm reminded of when Paul Wellstone first won his Senate seat in 1990. His plucky style and clever campaigning were certainly important, but it was dissatisfaction with the incumbent Rudy Boschwitz that made it all possible. Senator Boschwitz had become a bit arrogant and insufferable, sharply criticizing his own party at any sign of disagreement. (er, Mr. Pawlenty?) I, too, voted for Wellstone in 1990. Boschwitz had to go.
Wellstone took this "negative" vote as a sign that his 1960's liberalism is what we wanted, only to find local coffee shops refused him service for spouting 1960's anti-military rhetoric. He toned it down, but kept the faith to be voted down 96-3 on a regular basis, accomplishing nothing.
Mayor-elect Chris Coleman hopefully understands his good fortune and will not let his ego unravel the accomplishments of Randy Kelly.
After running against Bush, winner Chris Coleman claims, no, it was all about him, that the good people of St. Paul really do want their taxes raised another 10 or 20 percent.
I'm reminded of when Paul Wellstone first won his Senate seat in 1990. His plucky style and clever campaigning were certainly important, but it was dissatisfaction with the incumbent Rudy Boschwitz that made it all possible. Senator Boschwitz had become a bit arrogant and insufferable, sharply criticizing his own party at any sign of disagreement. (er, Mr. Pawlenty?) I, too, voted for Wellstone in 1990. Boschwitz had to go.
Wellstone took this "negative" vote as a sign that his 1960's liberalism is what we wanted, only to find local coffee shops refused him service for spouting 1960's anti-military rhetoric. He toned it down, but kept the faith to be voted down 96-3 on a regular basis, accomplishing nothing.
Mayor-elect Chris Coleman hopefully understands his good fortune and will not let his ego unravel the accomplishments of Randy Kelly.