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Posted on 12/08/2004 10:33:03 AM PST by ken5050
C-span is the best cure for insomnia ever discovered. This morning, about 2 am, I couldn't get back to sleep, turned on the tube, and found this little gem. It occuerd on 12/3, a forum co-sponsored by the "Hotline" and Larry Sabado's UVa think tank, entitled the "Democrats' Political Future." Two of the five panelists were Brad Carson, fresh off his loss in the OK senate race, and Dona Brasile. Carson had a lot of very interesting, and funny stuff to say, and I jotted down a few "gems" for your enjoyment....
1. Asked if Hillary Clinton is the face of the Dem party, Carson replied.."Probably, but she's far to polarizing a figure to be effective in much of the country. During my campaign, I was told thousands of times by voters that they liked me, but a vote for me was a vote for Hillary Clinton and Ted Kennedy...it would put them in charge.."
2. The Democrat party has a problem with its message to voters on values: "Are we for curfews, or for midnight basketball?"
3. "The DNC was absolutely NO help to me in my campaign in Oklahoma. They provided NO cover for me on the issues. They were irrelevant in my campaign"
4. " 76% of the voters of OK were in favor of the ban on gay marriage. I also voted for the ban. Some 7% of OK voters were opposed, and after my vote, many of them voted for the 3rd party candidate. So I could alienate 76% of the voters, or 7%."
5. Asked about the problems of liberal Dems in RED states, Carson said..A GOP pollster, not working on the OK campaign, who was a friend of Carson, spoke to him during the race and said.."I've got good news and bad news. The good news is that in western OK, where I was concerned about Bush's coattails, was that Coburn was running 45% BEHIND Bush. The BAD news was that Bush was at 90%. Here we have a Dem candidate, a national figure, a war hero, getting 12% of the vote. We've had convicts get a higher vote total, as a form of protest."
6. I have a very bleak outlook on the future of the Dem party nationally. We're like the British Labor party in the 80's. All they had going for them was a hatred of Thatcher, and she won every election."
7. Asked if he was running against Inhofe in 2008, whom he would prefer to have at the top of the ticket, Al Gore or John Kerry, Carson replied.."Running for senator or president, I think you only get one bite at the apple. I will not be running against Inhofe, and I can't see Kerry or Gore as the 2008 nominee.."
I saw three of the Coburn/Carson debates on C-span, and I thought Carson was terrible..a very ineffeective campaigner. In this forum he came across as the strongest, most down to earth, and realistic member of the panel, which only goes to show just how big a problem the Dem party has nationally. They haven't a clue..The final question was if the Dems should filabuster and obstruct Bush's proposls, and judicial nominations. All of the panelists EXCEPT Carson were in favor if it. He said.."They (the GOP) have the votes. We should vote NO, but let them pass their agenda, If they want to abolish the Dept of Education, let them do it. Then in 4 years we can have a national debate on the future course of the country."
Sharon, this one's for you, especially...and it's well worth your while to watch the program on the C-span archives.
FYI..
Yep. That's where we've seen this phenomenon before. I'd forgotten.
I watched this too, but I had a different impression of Carson. While what he said was comparatively realistic, he seemed very bitter about the results of his election.
Furthermore, he seemed to be very pretentious (not an unusual trait for a Rhodes Scholar), and I wouldn't describe him as being down to earth at all. In fact, he acted as if he would have trouble communicating with anyone who wasn't a tenured professor.
I recently saw an article by Carson, or quoting him at length. His great insight was that OK voters are not "yellow dog republican" voters; rather they make a clear distinction between Oklahoma democrats and "national democrats". A democrat in OK has a good shot at the governorship, because that democrat can be seen as an Oklahoma democrat. But Carson, no matter how conservative his positions, and no matter how extreme his opponent, couldn't get past the fact that he was (running for Senate) viewed as a national democrat. And it is probably true that electing even a very conservative democrat senator would have strengthened Schumer-Kennedy-Clinton-Leahy . And Oklahoma rejection of that wing of the national party is so strong that (in Carson's opinion) a democrat has no chance of being elected senator, even though they might happily vote for a democratic governor.
Great catch. Appears a few rats are facing the truth/facts. ;o)
Carson was very impressive, erudite, and common sense..In watching, one got the feelign that he held back a lot on what he realy wanted to say..
Thanks..
Well, it was at 3am..but you'll note that my impresion of him during the debates was not a good one, as a politician..his ability to communicate. I was trying to make the point hat he came across very well, in comparison with the other assorted Dem hacks and talking heads..and that's why the De,s have such a big problem. I do think we concur..BTW.. were you surprised that he ruled out a 2008 run so fast?
The bit about Coburn running 45 points behind Bush is a classic..
BTT!!!!!!
Looking at the national county-by-county map, Oklahoma, along with Nebraska and Alaska, is a totally RED state.
One aspect of the 2004 election hasn't really been discussed. the decisions by Carson and Denise Majette, in GA to give up very safe House seats for suicidal runs for the senate. From my perspective, both weren't looking forward to a decade or more in the minority in the House, which because of the rules is NO fun..they didn't want to "quit"..so they chose an "honorable" defeat as a means of getting out of a dead-end position..
well, I do agree with you that he came across well compared to the other assembled hacks. Of course, a turkey sandwich could come off sounding like a genius if it were seated next to Donna Brazile.
I was very surprised that he ruled out a run in 2008. I think he feels (rightly) rejected by Oklahomans, and I suspect he'll make a quick and profitable retreat to a blue state haven where he will have more successing plying his trade.
FYI..thought you might find this of interest..
I don't know.... having a Congressional seat, even if in the minority, is a pretty cushy position, with a lot of nice perqs. Wasn't Majette in a largely Democratic district, such that she was virtually assured of re-election as long a she didn't flip out like McKinney? Regardless, I think you're right, but what is Majette going to do now?
Both Majette and Carson can be considered moderate Dems..and the House Dem Caucus,a nd the black Caucus, are controlled by loonies. They can both make more money in the private sector, without the endless campaigning, and fundraising, and trips back home everyweekend. Thye knew they couldn't ever get anything accomplished, so they bailed..committed political suicide..Carosn gets to miss all those lunches and meeting with Nancy Pelosi..
Thanks.
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