Sunday, March 06, 2005 :::
The Fevered Dreams Of Jeff Shapiro
"Good Copy" Shapiro seems to have lost his interest in Russ Potts, for now at least. Today's point of interest is one of the men our man Jeff loves to hate -- George Allen.
Just how much does Jeff want to see Allen off the main stage? Enough to suggest that he abandon his Senate seat to increase his chances of becoming president. Let's see if we can follow Jeff's logic:
Allen, who turns 53 on Tuesday, could be left with absolutely nothing, except his taxpayer pension. His badly divided home-state party could be further splintered. The Democrat viewed by some as afraid to oppose Allen next year just might stroll into the Senate.
Though it is highly unlikely that Allen, credited with padding his party's majority last year as campaign boss for Senate Republicans, would quit after one term, such a move would free him to go all out for the GOP presidential nomination.
Um, sure it would. Let's see...a man wants to be president. He needs to build nationwide name recognition, a fundraising base that could support a, say, $40 million campaign effort. Oh, and he needs to be able to call in favors from national, state and local pols to establish a ground effort that can take him through the primaries and then re-energize itself in time to mount a national election. Sounds like the perfect job for a former one-term senator and ex-governor. Here's a radical idea, why not ask Allen to quit now? That will give him even more time to build this incredible perpetual motion machine.
Anyway, back to Jeff's sick bed, where he forsees a dark future for Allen's hopes if he dares to stay in office:
The Democrats may not defeat Allen, but they can damage him for'08. What they need is a happy kamikaze; say, someone like former Del. Barnie K. Day of Patrick, who -- in the hardscrabble patois Allen would absolutely die for could annoy the quick-to-anger incumbent for his switcheroos on gay marriage, gun control, deficit spending and numerous racially tinged issues.
However, should Allen put his presidential ambitions ahead of his obligation to defend a Senate seat, all bets are off -- in both political parties.
I'm sure Mr. Day -- one of the merry band of writers over atBacon's Rebellion, is somewhat flattered -- or perhaps aghast -- to find himself cast as the sacrificial lamb in Jeff's dreams. But when it comes to battling Jeff's demons, no one is exempt from service.
Then Jeff's fever appears to reach its rather lurid peak:
Republicans could see a bruising nomination fight between former Gov. Jim Gilmore and U.S. Rep. Thomas M. Davis III, R-11th. It would be a Richmond-versus-Northern Virginia death match, pitting Gilmore's hard-nosed anti-taxers against Davis' more moderate suburban technocrats.
No matter who wins, the GOP nomination could be worthless. Republicans are not known for their capacity to kiss and make up. And if Gilmore and Davis are skilled at anything, it's burying the hatchet -- usually in their opponent's skull.
This would provide a big opening for Warner, who was defeated for the Senate in 1996. He could quietly bide his time, muse over the benefits of continuing Republican fratricide, set aside a few pennies for the general election and coast into the Senate on a promise to bring Virginia common-sense politics to Washington.
Call the nurse, quick..."Good Copy's" babbling about Jim Gilmore again! He think's Gilmore's an axe murderer or something!
But then, the fever breaks, and we are left with the specter of our pallid, worn, correspondent...still clutching the stake he hopes to thrust into the Great Allen-beast's heart.
However, to partake of the balmy breezes of South Carolina, Allen would first have to survive the icy plains of Iowa.
A major factor in that state's politics: how and what the big meatpackers pump into the environment. Imagine the reaction of Iowa voters when they learn that one of Allen's most generous supporters during his years in Richmond (1994 to 1998) was Smithfield Foods, the nation's largest producer of pork products.
Smithfield plowed $125,000 into an Allen political-action committee while it was under investigation for fouling state waters. Federal authorities eventually stepped in because the Allen-controlled state environmental agency had been accused of foot-dragging.
In 1997, the head of Smithfield said Washington intervention was an attempt to embarrass Allen.
And in 2008, it just may succeed, possibly ending Allen's political career.
The fever seems to have had some long-term effects on our patient. He believes Iowa Republicans -- not too few of whom are farmers -- will somehow crucify Allen for accepting financial contributions from Smithfield Foods (nasty polluters, but love that Virginia Ham, guys). I'm sure Jeff is confusing Iowa Democrats with Iowa Republicans. I'm sure he's also unaware of the fact that this same evil company has given $10,000 to Tim Kaine, $35,000 to Mark Warner's One Virginia PAC, or hell, even the $1,000 they gave to Dick Saslaw.
But we won't bother our poor, weary patient with such trivialities right now. He needs his rest. And maybe a ham sandwich later.
::: posted by Norman Leahy at 3/06/2005
2 comments
