Fineman Jumps The Shark (Again!)
Actually, Howard has jumped multiple sharks in the last couple of years – he’s our foremost shark-jumper! Nevertheless, in an article titled If Hillary Can’t Win, Then Who?, it certainly comes as a shock to see that the putative challenger is…Christopher Dodd.
Says Fineman:
Maybe Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut has no chance to win the presidency. Or maybe he does.
Stick with that first thought…well, maybe I’m speaking too soon. Let’s go a little deeper:
He knows the litany of why he can’t win: he’s a senator, an insider, has no money, is from the Northeast (liberal New England, no less). He’s the product of, and thrives in a pre-Internet world where deals are done and votes are won in person, face to face, handshake to handshake, across party lines. Definitely old school.
But Dodd’s argument is that, in an uncertain world, and one divided by Red and Blue, voters are ready for someone who can make politics work by bridging gaps, talking turkey and doing deals. “I think I’ve demonstrated an ability to bring people together,” he said. “People are yearning for a sense of confidence in the country’s future,” he said. “Bringing people together is the way to do it.”
And though he doesn’t say so, the subtext is clear: I can do something that Hillary can’t.
Nope, I was right the first time. Christopher Dodd? To call him a longshot would be an insult to the real longshots…
If fairness to Howard, that column is not so much talking up Dodd as pointing out that this common theme of “Hillary can’t win” has even people who have virtually no shot thinking of taking a shot.
From what I know of Dodd, he seems a reasonably good politician, not especially extremist in politics or rhetoric. The problem for anyone trying to break past the Hillary and McCain (and possibly Giuliani) candidacies is that description fits several dozen pols. What makes George Allen better than Mitt Romney? What makes Mark Warner better than Christopher Dodd? I just don’t see any of these wannabe challengers managing to stand out enough to make a dent.
Oops, that should be “In fairness,” not “If fairness.” Dang traitorish fingers, always making typos to discredit me.
Ah, I guess you’re right – Howard, when you read this, you didn’t really jump the shark – this time…
As the great Foghorn Leghorn once said, “I say, that boy’s about as sharp as a pound of wet leather!”
LOL is anyone keeping track of Fineman’s terrible analysis and just how many times he has been completely wrong?