Blame Shriver
calblog.com
So I wake up and find the latest Field poll results that show Bustamante actually leading Schwarzenegger. If you like to start your day with bad news, link to the Washington Post story here. And, to rub salt in the wound, yesterday's absolutely idiotic---words fail to describe how stupid---fiasco over Prop. 13 will likely mean that the Field Poll actually overstates Schwarzenegger's current position. (I think, as of yesterday, it's fair to say that Schwarzenegger will fall, and McClintock will rise.)
And, then, to add further insult to injury, we read the crap about Rob Lowe. Apparently, Rob Lowe will be taking a position as some kind of unpaid advisor.
Okay. Here's what I think.
In that LA Times shake-up story, we learned that Maria Shriver "has assumed a central strategy role." And this has led to cetain "tensions."
Since Shriver assumed a central role, the campaign has added Shriver's picture to the campaign website, and has allowed Warren Buffet and Rob Lowe to associate themselves with the campaign.
Now I would expect the Republican operatives in the campaign to know that Republicans dislike Lowe and Buffet. These are things that Republicans just know. No one has to tell us or teach us. It's almost assumed, like burning the flag. It's something you just don't do. Bringing these people on is an example of extremely poor judgment.
Lowe, in particular, is a creature of the airhead Hollywood left who, if I remember correctly, actually spoke at the Democratic National Convention one year -- where he got mixed up in some sex scandel with some underage girls on video.
Now, while I would expect the Gorton brain trust to know better, I doubt that Maria Shriver, a Kennedy Democrat, would have any understanding of how Republicans think, and she is likely to have a tin ear when it comes to Republican politics. Maybe Shriver thought that businessman Buffet would be a hit with Republicans. After all, Democrats--seeing themselves as the party of the little guy--actually think that that Republicans have an instinctive like for the rich. (I think it's reasonable to think that occasionally Democrats actually believe what they say.)
And, in all likelihood, Shriver didn't imagine the level of disgust that rank and file Republicans have for Rob Lowe. And why would she? She doesn't swing with Republicans, and would have no reason to think that Lowe is anything but a handsome young man with "sensible" liberal views, like her own, who could appeal to a younger, female audience. And, as far as she knows, The West Wing gets good ratings, so why wouldn't Lowe be a hit?
Moreover, since Shriver assumed the central role, Schwarzenegger has largely been removed from public view. She was, if you remember, unhappy with how the early morning talk shows were handled. As nature abhors a vacuum, the off-hand remarks of surrogates like Buffet and Lowe take a greater role.
All this leads me to cry out: MARIA SHRIVER, YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT RUNNING A STATE-WIDE POLITICAL CAMPAIGN. PLEASE STEP ASIDE AND LET THE EXPERIENCED PROFESSIONALS LIKE GEORGE GORTON RUN SCHWARZENEGGER'S CAMPAIGN. THIS IS A RACE THAT IS YOURS TO LOSE, BUT IF YOU INSIST ON TAKING A CENTRAL ROLE, RICHIE ROSS WILL EAT YOU ALIVE, YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND WILL BE A DISASTER, AND YOU BOTH WILL SUFFER GREAT HUMILIATION COME ELECTION DAY. |
