Our Katherine of Arc: How far she has fallen

Orlando Sentinel ^ | Published March 30, 2006 | Mike Thomas

[TroubleBoy]

After watching Katherine Harris lately, don’t let her pick any more presidents.

Recall the '01 Florida ball, watching Republicans celebrate W’s victory. Katherine was star in black gown; object of whispers and turned heads.

"In France, there was Joan of Arc; in Crimea, there was Nightingale; in the Deep South, there was Parks; in India, there was Mother Teresa. In Florida, there was Katherine!"

Lesser women would be embarrassed.

Riding to Congress in '02, her destiny was the Senate in '04. Nelson could do it; she could.

But the Party needed to erase the dangling chads. Rove did his voodoo and cast his bones on the floor... for Mel Martinez.

Katherine could wait for '06.

But then came Jeb; trying to recruit Speaker Bense. Bense couldn't win, but would lose without collateral damage to Republicans. The man knew his limitations and declined. Katy does not.

Her campaign is gaffe-filled - illegal contributions, staff defections, statement retractions. She’s so busy self-destructing, the Dems don't need to speak.

Bill Nelson is blessed. First McCollum, and now Katy. Nelson may not have enough depth to float a minnow, but he has been around long enough not to blow double-digit leads. KH is no Rocky Balboa.

What to do? Jeb could take out Nelson. The idea of a fiscally conservative Republican in Washington is intriguing. But Jeb hates legislative politics.

Mark Foley wants in, judging by the spam he sends out on his pork-barrel additions to the federal deficit.

Tom Gallagher could trade the governor's race for the Senate, depending on whether he prefers losing to Nelson or Charlie Crist. Of course, they could both lose to Katherine in a primary; the memories '00 not to be underestimated.

That won’t happen. All she shares now with Joan of Arc is pole position to flames.

[smoothsailing]

Comment Removed by Moderator

[CBart95]

Thanks for the "balanced view" of Katherine Harris.

It will be amusing to compare what you have said about her now with what you may chose to say in '12 when she runs with Condi for the Oval Office.

[marc costanzo]

>>Her campaign is gaffe-filled - illegal contributions, staff defections, statement retractions. She’s so busy self-destructing, the Dems don't need to speak. <<

Hold it there, she did nothing illegal- nada !

She was given illegal funds, which she long ago gave to charity !

The election is still seven months away !

Harris has won seven consecutive elections thus far .

Katherine should've run for the senate in 04, but she did not !
She was loyal to the GOP cause, a fidelity that has not been reciprocated .

[JennysCool]

Damn. That's one horribly-written article.

[manwiththehands]

"Her campaign is gaffe-filled - illegal contributions, staff defections, statement retractions. She’s so busy self-destructing, the Dems don't need to speak."

I've heard worse about her here on FR. What's the big deal? She needs to withdraw NOW in a desperate attempt to put someone in the race who might have a chance to win.

Personally I don't trust anyone in the Senate nor do I trust anyone willing to run for a Senate seat.

[Banjoguy]

Yeah, Mike Thomas is a real piece of work. Like others of his ilk, he uses several literary techniques to sell his leftist tripe, among them being half truths, lies, and hyperbole.

That leftist news rag he write for, around here, is known as the "Orlando Slantinel".

[poobear]

Mike Thomas - Orlando Sentinel was the reason I canceled my subscription 3 years ago. Don't even bother to read past the headline if he is the writer.

[CBart95]

Little "Mikey" may be finally doing us all a SERVICE with his terrible pen.

This Katherine Harris. This incredible public servant.

[Happy Valley Dude]

She needs to withdraw NOW in a desperate attempt to put someone in the race who might have a chance to win.

While I would agree that Rep. Harris has litte chance of knocking off Nelson. But who would relace her that would be able to beat Nelson? Harris said last year that she would step aside if Jeb wanted to run, but he has made it clear that he is not interested. Nelson has voted with the GOP enough to appear to be a moderate.

[fieldmarshaldj]

"Nelson has voted with the GOP enough to appear to be a moderate."

You're getting Bill Nelson confused with Nebraska's Ben Nelson. Ben Nelson is the one with a respectable record (by Democrat standards), Bill Nelson is quite liberal and has not voted anywhere near moderate whatsoever.