What a lot of great publicity for Upstate New York from the appointment of the Hon. Ms. Gillibrand (pronounced with a "J")! Who knew that there was such a wonderful place where people shoot Christmas Turkeys, don't care about what happens to the illegal immigrants among them, and think that whole Wall Street bailout mess was just tomfoolishness. So "real America," yet so close to the real New York! I bet the electable white Democrats are "socially moderate," but well-known for their "fiery brand of economic populism." I wonder if they also have antiquiquing?
Kirsten Gillibrand might do a great job, and she might have been the best pick, and yada yada yada, but I've got to tell you, I don't see it.
I've heard her described as a tough campaigner because she doesn't mind running negative ads against her opponents. That's not tough campaigning. If the ads deserve to be run, then its reasonable campaigning. If they don't deserve to be run, then it's craven and possibly dishonest campaigning. Tough campaigning is sticking to your guns (as opposed to 'clinging to your guns'?) when you have a position that might be unpopular. Tough campaigning is not using an issue or line of attack that you know only clouds the real issues even though you could use it to an advantage.
This situation is the sum of a lot of failures of political culture in our country, and it doesn't have to end badly for New York or the Democratic party, but I think I'm starting to make out a political high tide line.
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