Here is what passes as news at the Washington Post four weeks before an election.
Democratic Faces That Could Launch Thousands of VotesI have not done any research to test the theory by counting how many attractive Democrats there are compared to how many attractive Republicans, but the first race that came to mind, Murtha--Irey, definitely flys in the face of it.
With a Parade of Attractive Candidates, the Party May Benefit From the Politics of BeautyBy Shailagh Murray
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, October 14, 2006; A01AUBURN, N.Y. -- Maybe Democratic candidate Michael Arcuri is running strong in this Republican House district because he pledges to expand health coverage, balance the budget and raise the minimum wage.
Or maybe it's his piercing Italian eyes and runner's physique.
"He is pretty good-looking," observed Paula Ferrin with admiration, as the 47-year-old district attorney worked the crowd at a local senior center.
"What we want is brains, honey," scolded her friend Rose Oliver.
"True," Ferrin answered, "but handsome doesn't hurt."
The research is unambiguous that Ferrin is right: Attractive politicians have an edge over not-so-attractive ones. The phenomenon is resonating especially this year. By a combination of luck and design, Democrats seem to be fielding an uncommonly high number of uncommonly good-looking candidates.
The beauty gap between the parties, some on Capitol Hill muse, could even be a factor in who controls Congress after Election Day.
Democratic operatives do not publicly say that they went out of their way this year to recruit candidates with a high hotness quotient. Privately, however, they acknowledge that, as they focused on finding the most dynamic politicians to challenge vulnerable Republicans, it did not escape their notice that some of the most attractive prospects were indeed often quite attractive.
There is a certain logic to the trend. Back in 1994, when Republicans seized power in Congress from Democrats, the GOP had a number of fresh-faced challengers who knocked off incumbents who had grown worse for wear after years of committee hearings and fundraising receptions.
This year, it is the Democrats who have several ripe opportunities to unseat Republicans, some of whom have grown gray and portly during their years in power.
I just noticed the reporter did not mention Arcuri's expense report problems. Overbilling the taxpayers is not pretty, no matter how you look at it, but I guess if reporters can be distracted by a pretty face, many voters can be, too.
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Comments (5)
MN 6th - Michelle Bachman R... (Below threshold)1. Posted by RAT | October 14, 2006 8:06 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
MN 6th - Michelle Bachman R vs. Patty Wetterling D
1. Posted by RAT | October 14, 2006 8:06 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on October 14, 2006 20:06
2. Posted by Scrapiron | October 14, 2006 9:49 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Or Hanoi John Kerry Vs an ugly mule with three legs and rabies. Based on their criteria the mule would still win. LMAO
2. Posted by Scrapiron | October 14, 2006 9:49 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on October 14, 2006 21:49
3. Posted by Scrapiron | October 14, 2006 11:16 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
What they think are pretty boys, but brainless isn't the only thing the democ'rats party is supporting. While reading the blogs i've found they are running and supporting a number of Islamic terrorists supporters and some outright terrorists along with a host of Israel haters. This is something the entire country will regret in coming years. Selling out the future of the country and the lives of they're, along with your children, for a few votes.
3. Posted by Scrapiron | October 14, 2006 11:16 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on October 14, 2006 23:16
4. Posted by eddiebear | October 15, 2006 12:21 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Murray was a staff reporter at the Wall Street Journal before going to WAPO. She is proof yet again that while the WSJ's editorial page is conservative, the rest of the paper is liberal to the nth degree. The fact that John Harwood and Jackie Calmes run the DC Bureau, and that Taylor of NC-11 ( the Republican incumbent) is suing the WSJ to retract some false claims they have made is all you need to know about their bias.
Also, I think the WSJ earned the "honor" of the most liberal biased reporting in 2005.
4. Posted by eddiebear | October 15, 2006 12:21 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on October 15, 2006 00:21
5. Posted by John | October 16, 2006 1:07 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
It would be a pretty thought if Democrats were weakening the Republican candidates for the mid term election. Boy, those sneaky Democrats. They spew hate, and don't fight fair, the godless commies. Anyway, it would ba a pretty thought if it were true.
The Republican Candidates are their own worst enemy. Let's look at what Republican leaders have been up to over just the last 2 years.
Bill Frist, (who took over for disgraced Republican Trent Lott), becomes involved campaign finance improprities, then insider trading of his families multi-billion HCA health care conglomerate.
Bush administraton outs CIA agent Valerie Plame, Scooter Libby, chief of staff for the Vice President is indicted for perjury and steps down. In spite of official denials, others close to the scandal were determined to be Dick Cheney and Karl Rove.
Torture photos from Abu Ghraib involve the White House in prisoner abuse scandal. Bush claims the US "does not tortue". At the same time, Dick Cheney lobbies congress to permit the torture of prisoners. Secret prisons uncovered, US found to have turned over prisioners to other countries who also conduct torture.
The Republican House Leader Tom DeLay repremanded twice, then indicted, and resignes in disgrace.
Bernie Kerik, Bush nominee for Secretary of Homeland Security withdraws from considertation over ethics improprieties.
Bush administration caught paying journalists Armstrong Williams, Maggie Gallagher and Michael McManus to produce bogus news articles as government propaganda. Journalism as propaganda was also promoted in Iraq. Jeff Gannon gets extrodinary access to White House to produce slanted news coverage. Gannon found to be operating a male prostitution ring.
Downing Street Memo from Brittish Government leaked in 2005 shows Bush was determined to twist intelegence to support military action in Iraq prior to start of war.
Randy Duke Cunningham, pleads guilty to bribary, fraud, and tax evasion, and is sentenced to jail. Admits to receiving 2.4 million in bribes.
Jack Abramoff, tied to many republican congressmen, and a key figure in the Tom DeLay scandal is indicted on wire fraud.
Representative Bob Ney pleades guilty to conspiracy in Abramoff affair, faces 10 years in prison, drops out of election race, but refuses to resign from Congress to keep pension and benefits.
Michael Scanlon found guilty in a 20 million influence peddling and bribary scandal. David Vitter (R-LA), Eric Cantor (R-VA), John Doolittle (R-CA), J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ), Don Young (R-AK), among others are implicated. Scanlon was also famous for the following remark about segments of the Republican base, similar to Karl Rove's recent statements.
"The wackos get their information through the Christian right, Christian radio, mail, the internet and telephone trees ... Simply put, we want to bring out the wackos to vote against something and make sure the rest of the public lets the whole thing slip past them.".
Ralph Reed and Grover Norquist along with Jack Abramoff under grand jury investigation for stealing money from legal clients.
Abramoff/DeLay tied to Commenwealth of Marinias Island scandal over labor violations, forced prostitution, forced abortion scandal.
Bush admits to wiretapping in violation of FISA court rules, a violation of US law.
Mark Foley resigns from Congress over allogations of pedophilia via sexualy explicited emails and instant messages.
House Speaker Dennis Hastert seen as inactive over GOP scandals including Ney and Foley scandals, pressured to resign.
Representative Curt Weldon (R-PA) currently under FBI probe for alegedly stearing 1 million dollars in government contracts to daughter.
This is just a list of the stuff that's been going on in the LAST TWO YEARS. It's not even a full list. Republicans have been very, very busy indeed, and it's not busy helping you or I. They've been busy lining their own pockets. If that's the kind of representative government you want, keep voting them in.
For your convienience, here's a handy list of Repulicans, currently in office, that you've seen in the press for various alleged deeds of corruption. They need your money, and your vote now more than ever. You can expect you'll be seeing them again, (perhaps in mug shots) so you might want to keep this list handy.
Members of the Senate:
Conrad Burns (R-MT)
Bill Frist (R-TN)
Rick Santorum (R-PA)
Members of the House:
Roy Blunt (R-MO)
Marilyn Musgrave (R-CO)
Ken Calvert (R-CA)
Richard Pombo (R-CA)
John Doolittle (R-CA)
Rick Renzi (R-AZ)
Tom Feeney (R-FL)
Pete Sessions (R-TX)
Katherine Harris (R-FL)
John Sweeney (R-NY)
Charles Taylor (R-NC)
Jerry Lewis (R-CA)
Gary Miller (R-CA)
Curt Weldon (R-PA)
Other Members to Watch:
Chris Cannon (R-UT)
J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ)
Dennis Hastert (R-IL)
Don Sherwood (R-PA)
Anyway, it's pretty apparent that the Democrats could not have pulled this off on their own. The sad fact is that the Republican is incredibly corrupt, and control of Congress needs to be more ballanced for the good of the Nation.
John
5. Posted by John | October 16, 2006 1:07 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on October 16, 2006 13:07