Does Borat co-star Bob Barr's libertarian candidacy present a "Nader Effect" that could take down McCain? Probably not. What's more, why would we want to splinter the anti-war vote? Instead, why not mobilize the "Draft Dobbs" wahoos and hit McCain where it hurts?
In the GOP primary, Mitt Romney and others held up McCain-Kennedy (and the Bush policy, to be fair) as the ultimate betrayal. And it is here that we could siphon off the white-working-class-middle-aged-early-morning-patrons-of-the-Walmart-donut-counter vote from McCain.
A skirmish on this issue would not and could not hurt Obama. And in an election where the Southwest appears to be a new battleground, a Tom Tancredo or Duncan Hunter candidacy--perhaps generously funded through our own donations--could help mobilize the neo-nativists, xenophobes, and well-meaning labor voters among us.
Kos-ites? Infiltrate.
A few days ago, liberal-leaning wags from the MSM were briefly abuzz about Borat co-star Bob Barr's libertarian ascendancy, arguing that it threatens to enact a "Nader Effect" against John McCain with with the non-interventionist, small government fringe who no longer have a party.
But among the core constituencies that threaten to be game-changers this November, do we really want to splinter the anti-war vote? Instead, why not mobilize the "Draft Dobbs" wahoos and hit McCain where it hurts?
Right now, with a progressive democrat and the embarrassed author of McCain-Kennedy setting off to the races,there is a general-- general --consensus about sensible, humane immigration policy. A skirmish on this issue would not and could not hurt Obama. And in an election where the Southwest and WWCVoters appear to be the battlegrounds, a Tom Tancredo or Duncan Hunter candidacy--perhaps generously funded through our own donations--could help mobilize the neo-nativists and xenophobes among us.
Now, McCain has certainly locked up your average "nuke the A-rab" voter, but immigration voters--on the left and the right--view him with warranted suspicion.
Obama is trying to make a play at Colorado, a state that has definitely been an immigration battleground. You can bet the Anheuser-Busch PAC will muster the means and the infrastructure to saturate Colorado for McCain--but what about a Tom Tancredo candidacy, someone who could go practically door-to-door in the hills and ask why all those Mexicans get a free public education while hard-working Merkins (to use the Bush proununciation)who don't even have school-aged children foot the bill?
Meanwhile, McCain insists that California can and will be in play this year, playing on his moderate image, the high concentration of military officers, veterans, grunts, contractors, and some good old-fashioned "the Mexicans hate the blacks" calculations. The linchpin of this strategy is to present a Rorschach immigration policy.
We'll deport those filthy illegals!
Who, by the way, are welcome here, and under my administration, will see an appreciable rise in business opportunities! population importance
Se habla immigracion! he'll chortle in spainglish when only Telemundo's filming him.*
Which makes the case for Duncan Hunter, the absolute fruitcake from wildly conservative San Diego County, perhaps the most militarized region of its size in the world--and a region legitimately overrun with fence-hoppers. If--if--California truly is in play this year, neutralizing San Diego County would be a huge blow to McCain.
Congressman Hunter, by the way, is not seeking reelection, but his son, Duncan D. Hunter, is.
How many votes would one of those have to siphon to make it worthwhile? Now, add some rabid anti-gay and anti-abortion rhetoric (thank you, Cali Supreme Court!) and Michelle will be picking out the White House drapes in no time.
*This is yet another reason why my veepstakes entry, Governor Bill Richardson, is invaluable. Racial calculations are but 1% of the equation, though--he is criminally overqualified for the job, with infrastructural experience, executive experience, an encyclopedic mind, moderate positions, thin but substantial Clinton ties, foreign affairs credentials that put McSame to shame,and an affability that would allow him to destroy a taciturn Romney or lightweight Charlie Crist with one hand tied behind his beard.