Mickey Kaus: A Democrat the werewolf can get behind

Investors Business Daily has an interesting little blog blurb about Mickey Kaus's nascent senate campaign in California. The fact that thoughtful and unorthodox Democrats actually exist is a good omen. Kaus fits that mold beautifully. He is certainly a liberal in several regards and on substantive issues. What makes him unique in the modern political sphere is a respect for fact based metrics, an inherent contrarian streak that questions blind political hackery, and a understanding that the world is governed by several changing dynamics that static political positions can not effectively manage. Here's an inspiring excerpt:

"You don’t have to be a wild-eyed libertarian to realize something is very wrong with that. But, as Kaus points out, “You can’t find a Democrat politician criticizing the teachers unions.” That silence is hurting the liberal cause. “Unions are what make affirmative government unpalatable,” he said."

The werewolf is no Democrat, and finds many elements of modern liberalism intellectually appalling and a righteous cause for severe indigestion. He thinks Barbara Boxer is an ignorant slut at best and a vile, bigoted and condescending brutish genderless left wing wacko who deserves to contract some putrid STD at worst. He despises her as much as one can. She is the worst creature that modern politics breeds.

Still, he thinks it is important for the long term health of the republic to erode strictly partisan assumptions and practices as a norm. Plus, how conservative would a GOP senator from California really be, and wouldn't greater value be added via an honest and renegade oriented Democrat in terms of getting that leeward party to question itself at times?  Also, the werewolf is unsure of how he feels about Carly Fiorina given her topsy-turvey tenure at H-P and finds Tom Campbell more appealing at prima fascia. That means his preferred candidate has a snow-balls chance in hell of making it through the general if he clears the primary. However, that is a fluid observation subject to change. Mickey Kaus offers a promise along those lines. In many ways, he can be the liberal version to the straight-shooting contrarianism of Republican senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma. That seems like something this country could use at the moment. Thoughts?

Bye Bayh!

Indiana's junior senator, Democrat Evan Bayh, will not be seeking a third term in the senate. On several levels, this is a startling blow to Democrats. Bayh is a liberal who successfully wears moderate drag. He was a shortlist candidate for Obama's VP, seems to have decent national recognition, and is certainly a household name in his home state. Also, given that Obama carried Indiana in 2008 this exemplifies how drastic the political winds have shifted. Not only was Bayh being challenged in a primary by former Sen. Dan Coates, but he was seen as vulnerable by the GOP and a spectrum of GOP veterans were entering the fray to dislodge him. Several themes seem to be emerging in the 2010 cycle. Incumbency is no longer a strong asset, name recognition may be as much of a vice as a virtue, and while a few GOP top dogs are steeping down, it looks like the head winds are decisively anti-Democratic. Is that the legacy of Obama's first year in office? Becoming Democrat kryptonite?

UPDATE: Over at The Corner, some speculate that Bayh may launch a primary bid against Obama. The werewolf thinks not, but stranger things have happened.

CORRECTION: Dan Coates is a Republican who will be running for the soon to be vacated senate seat. There was no Democrat primary challenger to Bayh.

The SCOTT heard around the world!

The werewolf's tail is wagging with uncontrolled joy and he can barely keep his paws still. To think that one year ago today, President Obama was being inaugurated on the empty wave of "hope and change" and now the bluest of the blue states has elected a semi-conservative Republican to fill the sloppy Kennedy's seat is truly a historic moment. Incredible. *Guido Fist Pump!*

While this is an important and historic victory, with profound ramifications, it is by no means license for the GOP or the various voices of rational thought to get complacent or ahead of themselves. There is still much to do before November. Watching the fallout and how the dust settles over the next few days ought to be interesting. Also, the werewolf wonders if the profound shock waves of this election may save the Democrats from their own suicidal approach to politics as the gravitational pull anchors them back to reality. He hopes not.

Brown Rising? Let's hope so.

The blogosphere has been ablaze with speculation about tomorrow's special election in Massachusetts. For good reason, it's the most remarkable political story this country has seen in some time. A little known Republican state senator, Scott Brown, is challenging the chosen successor to Teddy Kennedy's former senate seat in the bluest of the blue states. In some ways, Brown's spectacular rise is not dissimilar to the origins of the current occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. But the werewolf doesn't want to get ahead of himself.

There are multiple dynamics that make this race remarkable. Many perceive it as a national referendum on the vile health cae legislation currently under consideration, some see it as a referendum on Obama himself. The democratic candidate, Martha Coakley, has been subjected to heinous attacks from her own party as they preemptively write her obituary to mitigate the fallout from a potential defeat. (If she wins, payback could be a bitch to key national democrats) She has also run a lazy and gaffe prone campaign. Whereas, Brown has run a highly disciplined and impressive campaign that has propelled him to the national spotlight.

As for predictions, this is a toughie. Turnout for special elections is always tough to gauge. Plus, this race is a real barn burner. It's shocking that Brown leads in most polls in a state where Democratic registration outweighs Republicans by more than a 3 to 1 ratio. It's legit, just shocking, and speaks to how poorly Americans view those in power. This may also lend some steam to the notion that Democrats have severely misread their mandate and are futher out of touch than anyone fathomed. Beyond a natural registration advantage, Democrats are also extremely gifted at stealing elections, so if it is close, the Democrat machine may tip the scales for Coakley. Plus, Massachusetts hasn't had a Republican senator since Edward Brooke left the senate in 1979.

The werewolf is pulling for Brown. He thinks he has all the momentum, is amazed by his discipline and prowess, but isn't ready to call it for Brown because it feels premature, and he learned long ago, to hold your hope in reserve. Regardless of tomorrow's outcome, 2010 looks to be a very bad year for Democrats. That unto itself gives the werewolf cause to grin.

The werewolf also wonders, if Brown wins, does it merit consideration for something larger in 2012?

Dodd's Demise? Democratic implosion?

According to the latest from the NY Times, former presidential wannabee and five term Democratic senator from Connecticut, Chris Dodd, is bowing out from pursuing a sixth term in his native blue state. The werewolf says good riddance. Dodd was a douche extraordinaire.

This announcement comes on the heels of another senate Democratic retirement announcement from Byron Dorgan of North Dakota. These retirements are both originating from senior Democrats, who've held their seats for some time and have strong name recognition. Coupled with Parker Griffith's recent conversion to the GOP, and the raft of recently announced Democratic house retirements, it's clear that if you're a Democrat in 2010, something is rotten in the state of Denmark.

There are a variety factors at play here, especially in Dodd's case. It's incredible that Dodd was able to parade around Washington, and claim to be some sort of champion of the left, during the last few years. His recent accomplishments include crafting the legislative loophole that allowed the tax-payers to foot the controversial AIG bonuses. He was fast "Friends with Angelo Mozilo," which he used to get a favorable mortgage for that spiffy Irish cottage. That's just skimming the surface. The werewolf thinks part of the major problem was that Dodd was a careerist in the Senate, and had become a slave to incumbency. Never a good thing, regardless of party.

There is another trend that has piqued the werewolf's interest, that doesn't seem to be getting much attention. The short term legacy of the Obama effect. This time last year, the world, was a Democrat of any stripes, oyster. The drone about the end of conservatism and new ascendancy of liberalism was deafening. What a difference a year makes. What's remarkable is that the GOP, being caught in its own lameness, has very little to do with these festering Democratic wounds. They are all self-inflicted. Getting back to the point, was the price of an Obama presidency, some sort of long-term Pyrrhic victory for the Democrats? During the election, Obama was exceedingly gifted at promising to be everything to everyone? It worked. He got elected.
However, by failing to even marginally meet these raised expectations that he campaigned on, have the contrails he's left behind been toxic? It's too early to tell yet, but I get the sense that the very vehicle that propelled him to success may be hazardous to the near and medium term prospects of his party. As we all know, much can change over the next 11 months.