Jim
offers a good analysis of why Ted Kennedy’s Senate seat is
unlikely to fall into Republican hands unless a “novelty
candidate” like Curt Schilling runs. Of course, as Jim says,
Schilling would have to register as a Republican first (to be
called a Republican, but not necessarily to gain their support),
“finesse the social issues” and “aggressively painting the
Democratic nominee as too far to the left.”
Over the weekend Schilling
attempted to explain “What I Believe” at his 38Pitches.com
blog, where he did appear to finesse the abortion and gay
marriage issues, but whether he has the stomach to go after an
opponent is questionable. Some excerpts:
On the Bush Administration: “it appears to
me that as an Independent, which I will always be, I’ve always
tried to vote for the right team more so than the right person.
I believed in Dick Cheney, I believed in Colin Powell, I
believed in Condoleezza Rice. I voted as much, if not more, for
the team President Bush had assembled as I ever did for the
man. It’s the reason I voted for his father, it’s the reason I
voted for Bill Clinton.”
It’s not a given that he would register Republican, as some
think.
A mixed bag on spending, taxes and
corruption: “Taxes? Sure I’ll pay them, regardless of
the number. Would I prefer lower taxes? Sure, who wouldn’t? But
I’ll pay, whatever they are, because that’s the cost of being
able to live in this country and I’ve never had a problem with
that.
Having said that I live in a state where I can’t drive 1/2
of a mile without a torn up road, or on a major highway without
paying a toll, a large toll. How in the hell is this state
broke? How in the hell has a state with supposedly as
intelligent a voter base as Massachusetts allowed itself to be
run into the ground by entrenched and often times corrupt ‘me
first’ politicians? How did that happen? All the way down to
the community level our papers are littered with stories,
daily, of unethical behavior, scandal and outright criminal
acts, BY OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS!.” (and I
love this comment: “I’m not even close to a Rhodes
Scholar or Ivy League graduate, but I also know I’m watching
many people with those exact credentials run this state, and
this country, into the ground.”)
Finessing the social issues with a states-rights
argument: “I’m pro-life (with exception to rape,
incest or terminal consequences to mom or child during birth)
and against Gay marriage. However, let me be very clear on both
of those issues. Those issues are so far beyond the scope or
responsibility of one person to legislate it’s laughable. The
state you reside in should be the body that determines BOTH of
those laws. Because I’m pro-life should have nothing to do with
your belief or your opinion. The constituents you work for
should be the people that decide those laws in the state they
live in, period.”
Guns: “I am absolutely for the 2nd
Amendment. But I also think this country has become so beholden
to special interest and lobbyists that we have completely
sacrificed the safety and well being of the individual American
citizen. Why should our Police Officers have to worry about
automatic weapons? What logically thinking human would think
it’s ok that a ‘citizen’ to carry a weapon capable of
discharging 1000 rounds a minute? I understand one thing,
that’s big business, and big business is what we’ve allowed to
take over in far too many places and in far to many areas that
the people need to take back.”
Term limits, at least for himself: “To be
clear I have no ambition to enter into a life of politics, or
to be a career politician, none. I am flattered that some
people felt I’d be the right person for this. None of that
means I would, or will, attempt to run for the vacant Senator’s
seat here in Massachusetts. Were I to even consider this it
would be for 1 term and 1 term only, and then only to do
everything in my power to rid this state of the tired an
unethical people that have run it into the ground and help it
begin the healing process, and once again become a thriving
state to live and work in.”
Jim does call him a novelty candidate and I agree he would be,
but he says he’s seriously considering it. If he runs, I believe
he would be formidable and whether he’s a registered Republican
or not, the party will likely rush to support him.
