Because I Can

Down by about 8200 votes currently but likely on his way out, George Allen ruined his campaign by failing to be courteous, basically. So, in a choose your own adventure novel, let's go ahead and see what could have been.

"My friends, we're gonna run this campaign on positive, constructive ideas, and it's important that we motivate and inspire people for something.

"This fellow here over here with th-the yellow shirt, um, hey son, what's your name?"

Loop until "the name" = "correct"{

[SD Sidarth gives him a name to go by]
[Allen says = the name, asking if he got it right]
[Sidarth corrects him]}

[Allen writes this down]

"[Allen says the name correctly], he's with my opponent. He's following us around everywhere. And it's just great; we're going to places all over Virginia, and he's having it on film and it's great to have you here. You show it to your opponent, because he's never been there and probably will never come, so it's good for you to see what it's like out here in the real world. Rather than living inside the beltway, his [sic] opponent right now is actually with a bunch of Hollywood movie moguls. (pause for laughter) We care about fact, not fiction. So welcome, let's give a welcome to, uh [name] here. Welcome to America and the real world of Virginia."

That would have been clever. The words "Welcome to America" just reinforce the idea that Webb and the Democrats just don't represent the state effectively. Being a bit more personable, Allen could have even gotten in a discussion with the guy and found out that he's a student at UVA, where Allen got his bachelor's and law degree. Fact of the matter is, it all came down to Allen failing the most basic test of common courtesy - asking someone their name. That would have meant George Allen would have won, no problems.

But noooooooo. Somebody couldn't remember basic rules of 4-year-old manners. Instead, this is what we got:

"My friends, we're gonna run this campaign on positive, constructive ideas, and it's important that we motivate and inspire people for something."

"This fellow here over here with th-the yellow shirt - Macaca or whatever his name is, he's with my opponent. He's following us around everywhere. And it's just great; we're going to places all over Virginia, and he's having it on film and it's great to have you here. You show it to your opponent, because he's never been there and probably will never come, so it's good for you to see what it's like out here in the real world. Rather than livin' inside the beltway, his [sic] opponent right now is actually with a bunch of Hollywood movie moguls. We care about fact, not fiction. So welcome, let's give a welcome to, uh Macaca here. Welcome to America and the real world of Virginia."

Just like this movie tells you how to lose a guy in 10 days, that speech tells you how to lose a double digit victory and shot at running for the presidency. Stupid.

Labels: Politics