Still Looking for a Candidate Against Lincoln

Most folks that I know think that bailout-supporting Senator Blanche Lincoln needs to be sent home (she lives in Virginia). Still, many are frustrated by the inability of the GOP to field a candidate against her who is at least as good as Senator Jim Holt was when he ran five years ago. I was for Holt, but the GOP establishment did not seem to think much of him. Soon they may have to back a challenger who is much less attractive.

Recently Tim Griffin withdrew from consideration in the race. Why he should ever have been considered a good candidate for United States Senate is beyond me. His chief claim to fame is that he was a Karl Rove crony for whom the popular Bud Cummins was pushed aside as a federal prosecutor. Hint to Republican insiders: Karl Rove is NOT popular among the general population, no matter how great you think he is in your sub-culture.

Because Griffin teased with the idea of entering the race, he could wear the mantle of closest Karl Rove associate, but another potential candidate, Senator Gilbert Baker, also has a close relationship with Rove. Plus, the fact Baker was GOP chairman rules him out as a "maverick" or "independent voice for reform" in the eyes of many voters. If he gets the nomination the perception will be he is a machine candidate, and those have little swing vote appeal. They only work when their machine is the dominant party.

Baker and the now disgraced former President of UCA, Lu Hardin were tight as ticks. There is a whole campaign worth of potential scandals involving their dealings. There may also be other trust issues. Baker’s district got ten times the GIF money of the others when the verbal agreement (when the legislature put him in a key position to distribute the money) was that it would be evenly distributed throughout the state.

I could go on, but enough about him. I can stop once I demonstrate enough evidence for my thesis, that the GOP has yet to find a candidate as compelling as the one they had five years ago. Let's talk about Curtis Coleman, the former Baptist preacher turned exec after trading in his wife for a younger woman. I don't care if it was 16 years ago, or if his ex would vote for him, people have a visceral reaction to that sort of thing.

But besides that, here are his qualifications for the U.S Senate: zippo. He has not even been elected constable. Sure he talks a good game- you can do that when you have no actual record of public service. But hey, if they are looking for guys who have never been elected to anything who think that the United States Senate is a good entry-level position, can't they at least find a never-been-elected-to-anything guy who has been faithful to his spouse? I know lot's of 'em. They even talk a good game, just like Curtis Coleman. There is a role for a "Mr. Smith goes to Washington" candidate, because right now there is so much skepticism for politicians. Still, a candidate like that needs to have lived a life more sterling than most of us manage.

That leaves Senator Kim Hendren. He does blow Holt away in the ability to make verbal gaffes, but between those and the surprise shut-down of his car dealerships, I don't see him making the race. His start is not that of a good candidate, not even as good as the one who ran against Lincoln last time.