VA-SEN: Right-Wing Columnist Criticizes Allen Recount Quest
As noted below, it seems likely conservative criticism will multiply should GOP Senator George Allen pursue a recount against Dem James Webb, because such a move could subject the GOP to more damage at a moment of extreme political vulnerability.
First the conservative blog Redstate.com slammed Allen for entertaining the idea. Now check out what James Taranto of the right-wing OpinionJournal.com has to say today about Allen's quixotic recount quest. Taranto says that it's not only unbecoming, but destined to fail, and calls the race for Webb:
The Democrats also will take a 51-49 majority in the Senate, having won every close race except in Tennessee--though it may be awhile before that's official, depending on whether Virginia's George Allen decides to take his razor-thin loss gracefully like Richard Nixon or brutishly like Al Gore.
Since a comparison to Al Gore is among the very worst insults Taranto could possibly dream up to throw at someone -- and since Taranto intends a comparison to Richard Nixon as something apparently to be desired -- this doesn't leave much room for doubt. Taranto is blasting the Allen recount idea, and should Allen continue with it, my bet is more conservatives will follow suit.
Taranto must have forgotten the Miami Herald series of articles detailing the various scenarious under which Al Gore won in 2000.
If any of those existed for Allen, he would undoubtedly encourage him to pursue them.
I think the robo-callers and vote suppressers are asking friendly outlets to put some pressure on Allen not to pursue the recount and bring their despicable tactics to light.
November 8, 2006 6:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think Al Gore took his "loss" very gracefully, and it's interesting that conservatives are lining up against an Allen recount quest. It could be they're afraid of what will be uncovered, but I think and hope that those vote suppression tactics should be brought to light even without a recount. It could be that they know Allen doesn't stand a chance of prevailing.
Or, it could be that they aren't afraid of acting like a real opposition party, something the democrats never seemed to figure out how to do until recently.
November 8, 2006 6:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'd be happy to see Allen pursue his right to a recount, precisely because I want to see more light shined on what happened in the election (including the false flag robo calls).
The smears on Gore are Republican myth making. Kitty Harris ran that election, and we should never let hacks like Taranto forget it.
November 8, 2006 7:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Now, we govern.
November 8, 2006 7:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think they're afraid, too; afraid of the evidence about the robo-calls, perhaps a little hopeful that the hideous "Macaca" incident might be forgotten in time.
Whatever the reason, WE WON! We won the House; We won the Senate. Ed Gillespie is going to lose on this one. Democrats--Jim Webb included--will not give an inch on it.
November 8, 2006 8:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good evening,all. I just finished looking in my, admittedly, very dusty crystal ball. The images I saw seemed to show the year 2008. George Allen has finished his stint at the Betty Ford Clinic, and, in a press conference showing remarkable presence of mind, considering the rampage he fostered soon after leaving, kicking and screaming, public service, announces that he has decided that a Gerge Allen/David Duke ticket for the upcoming election probably wasn't a good idea. Ththththat's all, folks!
November 8, 2006 8:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Now that Democrats have taken both the House and the Senate, what can they do to dismantle the "K Street Project"?
November 8, 2006 9:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Whatever the reason, WE WON! We won the House; We won the Senate.
Yes! and I am trying to allow myself some jubilation, while a little voice in my head urges caution and that the fight will never be over.
November 8, 2006 11:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
"...to take his razor-thin loss gracefully like Richard Nixon or brutishly like Al Gore."
Republicans keep repeating that old myth that Richard Nixon graciously accepted his 1960 defeat (to John Kennedy) and didn't ask for an investigation of questionable ballots in strongly Democratic Cook County (Chicago). According to historian Stephen Ambrose the reason Nixon conceded wasn't that he was being gracious, he knew that any investigation would also turn up an equal number of questionable ballots in strongly Republican downstate Illinois counties.
Republicans love their myths.
November 8, 2006 11:17 PM | Reply | Permalink