Sunday, August 15, 2010
Arkansas Politics Bill Halter's future
Posted by Max Brantley on Sun, Aug 15, 2010 at 7:40 AM
John Brummett concludes that Lt. Gov. Bill Halter comes out of his losing race with Sen. Blanche Lincoln with positives. But what will he do to maintain political viability in the next four years?
(I can envision a scenario where Halter might have an option in two years and would need to be hard at work on it in about one. Should this happen, even some Democrats with cool feelings toward him might get wildly enthused.)
Speaking of Bill Halter
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Comments (9)
Showing 1-9 of 9
Are you implying Bill would primary Joyce Elliott? I know you wouldn't even hint at someone else winning the race this year without your head exploding.
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Maybi it got paed, dnelms.
What we saw in the Halter race was the old Democrat Club joining together to hold the door after Bill Halter got his toes between the door and the door jamb. Club members hate upstarts and few upstarts have upstarted so well and forcefully as Bill Halter. The good ole boys, by hook and by crook and I do mean by Garland County crook, held the door shut and protected their ultimate loser, Blanche Lincoln so she could die an embarrassing political death in November.
The old boy's Democrat Club cut its nose off to spite it's face and will spend the next 6 years screaming at Senator John Boozman. Smart move, boys....karma is a real bitch, ain't it?
I hope President Obama notices a good man with time on his hands after January. Like Halter knew when to pay his taxes and report income when few other state officials did, he'd be as sharp in the Obama administration too. There's not much for Halter to do in Arkansas for the next 2 years. Of course I'd like to see him take on Silent Mark C. Street Pryor. But in the mean time, it would be a sin to let a good man go to waste.
However, tending his personal investments and helping Shanti raise 2 beautiful daughters is no waste of time. Through unfortunate circumstances I was forced home 12 years ago and I didn't like it one bit. But surprise surprise, as Gomer would say, the end result was becoming a father who actually got to know his own kids. Now, I wouldn't take a million dollars for the experience and with my dying breath I can truthfully say I indeed had a working hand in the success of my children. My own father barely knew me and I've suffered from that.
I'm bitter over Halter's narrow loss. I see the Monkey's Paw coming at us this November when we'll be forced to choose between Rotten and Horrible, Failed and Didn't Even Try. But don't cry for the good ole Arkansas Democrat Club.....they were set up swell years ago and they'll be set up swell in the future. It's why they're members of the Club....safety in numbers...the sharing of the wealth, our wealth..the keeping of secrets..the privileges of membership.
They'll spend the next 6 years telling everyone that Lincoln got beat because of that damn black guy in the White House. It won't be St. Blanche's fault, it won't be their fault for backing a lousy Senator with a lousy voting record. And those of us outside the Good Ole Boy's Club.....we'll get nothing as usual, except the ownership and blame for sending to DC, the dumbest guy in the Senate....even in these times of very very low bars. Thanks, Bill....see you soon.
Something about a once budding sports writer like MISTER BRUMMETT turning to political observations. They just never shake the inner sports writer...
"Finally, there is the warmth Arkansas voters tend to extend toward an ambitious politician after they knock him down to keep him from getting too big for his britches."
***Are you implying Bill would primary Joyce Elliott? I know you wouldn't even hint at someone else winning the race this year without your head exploding.***
Posted by BurnNotice
Are you using "primary" as a verb? If so, what the hell do you mean?
I don't know what Halter will do in the next two years, but in that time our daughter will be halfway to a college degree, courtesy of the scholarship lottery. And we have him to thank for it. If he sits on his hands, he'll still be doing a world of good to Arkansas students and our state's future! Thank you, Bill.
DBI, we could have had a Senator that Arkansas would have been proud of. Instead the two front runners have all the excitement hair clippings. The voting records are either rubber-stamp, full-flavor Republican (Boozman) or GOPLite (Lincoln). That whole thing about Garland County still stinks to high heaven, but the local news media is more interested in the flatulence of Bobby Petrino than lack of poll venues in Hot Springs.
I've already used my one "tactical" vote for Lincoln back in 2004 when Jim Holt was running on the H8 platform. She or her 2010 Republican opponent may win but not because of my vote.
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