Who can derail the Democrats better than they, no one!
"Success has a thousand fathers but failure is an orphan," President John F. Kennedy.
Now that the Massachusetts Senate election is over, the Democrats will retreat into their corner and start to lick their wounds. One would think that this may call for some real examination of how this campaign fell apart and how to learn from it but we all know that probably won't happen. Instead, the finger pointing that started several hours before the polls even closed, will drown out reason.
Seriously. How is it that the GOP can be more effective when they are the minority party in Congress than the Democrats can as the majority? We have a 'super majority' even (or did) and that wasn't enough to get health care reform passed. WTF? Now, I am not a Massachusetts resident and I have not followed the Mass race as closely as some but my political experience tell me the following:
- Don't call the election before the polls close. That includes blaming someone else for your 'loss.' I don't care how depressed your staff is or you are. If the polls are still open, you should not send out memos to staff blaming the White House. And if you are in the national office of a political campaign (or in the White House) keep your criticisms to yourself until the results are in.
- Point one is not an issue simply of protocol. People want to vote for a winner. When you read that a candidate has done something like I described in 1, the implication is 'Wow. This must be bad for them if they are doing that.' People reading about that may not have voted yet -- maybe they will run out to vote for that candidate but probably not. It is more likely that they will either stay home or vote for the person not sending out snarky memos. This was true before social media and is even more true today.
- You don't have to like meeting voters but you have to be able to pretend that you do. Shaking hands and kissing babies is your bread and butter as a candidate. Yes, it tiring. Yes, you need ridiculous amounts of Purell . Yes, this skill has nothing to do with governing. Get over it. Just like fundraising, it's part of the package. Voters should feel that you like them more than donors or high ranking party officials. It is true that money is important but even the richest person only gets to vote once.
Those are my initial thoughts and come from a snarky place. I am not upset so much about the results because honestly, the GOP ran a better candidate. Not policy wise but in terms of his ability and perhaps desire, to connect with voters (the number of campaign events he did was more than triple of his opponent) and at least the right may quit whining that ACORN stole the election (not likely but one can dream).
Thank you and good night.