Picking a seat

I don't get it.  If you do let me know.  It seems to me that while picking Ryan from Wisconsin as his VP running mate puts Romney ahead of McCain in thinking things through, it puts Romney ahead of McCain in thinking things through just barely.

Romney has been slipping ever so slightly in the polls.  There hasn't been movement in the electoral college projections, but the fact he is losing ground on the popular vote doesn't bode well in the "undecided" races.

Now there still are three months until the election.  Whether the VP pick backfires or not does remain to be seen.  The long and the short of it though is it doesn't seem to be a solid pick.

Yes he is looked upon as being right of center.  He is definitely viewed as leaning the right way on economic issues by the right leaning.  He has the clean cut look, is suppose to be bright.  On the face of it, politics aside, and in political terms, he has the right curb appeal, especially with many hard core republicans.

From the "savvy" side of politics, one has to wonder why the choice didn't come out of Ohio or Florida.  Both toss up states with larger electoral votes than Wisconsin.  Both with candidates with potential to swing the states right.

One reads though the obvious choice for Florida, Marco Rubio, wasn't even seriously considered, and that Portman from Ohio was discounted due to a belief he actually couldn't swing the state.

So whatever the ultimate deciding factors, we have Romney going with Ryan from Wisconsin.

More locally, but still with national implications is the 9th Congressional House seat.  There is an article in the S-T today discussing our outgoing Rep's support for one of the candidates for the new formed district. If you don't know it Frank is supporting Keating.

Interesting quote in the article attributed to Barney Frank.

When you have a new member who's been doing a very good job, when there are no flaws in his record, running a primary just because someone wants a new job is a mistake," Frank said. "I don't like the idea of primaries when there are no issues.

I have a couple of problems with that.  Before I get to them, I will note that I have honestly not decided one this race.

And that brings up the first problem.  Keating may be a new member from whence he came, but he is not our member.  This race involves a new district.  We certainly should have a say in the matter.  We didn't elect Keating.  Heck we couldn't vote for him the last time.

Apparently we on the South Coast should simply accept Keating as the anointed one.

If we applied one of the criticisms being leveled against Scott Brown in the Senate race, Keating would actually be the bigger offender based on the info in the article.  It seems more than 50% of his money has come from PACs and "other national groups".  A big sum too, over $411,000.00.

I would say that creates an issue all by itself.  Sticking with the Senate tie in, should we vote for the candidate raising money from the common folk, or go with the one taking it from the special interests groups?

The minute there is a challenger in any election, you have an issue.  Who is the better candidate becomes the issue.

No flaws?  I think the fact that the anointed one had to move into the new district to run is a pretty big flaw myself.  Has he moved yet?

But truth be told, Sutter violated the long standing unwritten "platform" of the democratic party, and the republican party for that matter.  Never, ever cause a primary for an "incumbent".  Never cause a primary without party leadership's blessing when there could be difficulty in the general election.

Why do you think there was so much maneuvering at the State convention to keep other Democrats from receiving enough votes to force a primary in the Senate race?

How could you not have a primary in a newly formed district?  The voters thrown into the district are suppose to simply accept the status quo?

Sorry, but if you don't want primaries, do away with them entirely, not just when the powers that be feel comfortable with the candidate of choice.

The seat belongs to the people not the party and not to any elected official.

By all accounts, Keating has not been a bad Congressman for his district.  The fact that he is a "newbie" is probably why there is a challenge at this point, in addition to the redistricting.  Statistically, first term Reps are at their most vulnerable point as far a re-election.

The attitude that this is somehow his seat is what bothers me.

Locally, there isn't much to report at the moment. Sure there are a few issues that deserve some additional attention, but hey it is Monday morning.  I will give everyone at least a long weekend off on those matters.

Besides, sooner rather than later, something will happen that will rekindle the fire on something.