Monday, January 3, 2011
Arkansas Politics Thanks a heap, Mike
Posted by Max Brantley on Mon, Jan 3, 2011 at 7:37 PM
Does Mike Beebe give a crap about the political shape of Arkansas in the future after his governorship? Some, at least.
The governor left $881,000 of campaign surplus to the Democratic Party of Arkansas. That's something.
He raised more than $5 million for his race against a walkover candidate and he spent nearly all of it, leaving a $87,000 or so balance (an amount equal to his salary, the maximum carryover allowed a political candidate). But that was AFTER he gave several checks to the Democratic Party of Arkansas, which he hadn't helped much the last four years. Thanks to Talk Business for the report. Had he used his fund-raising prowess to benefit legislative candidates — and guided the party to better recruitment and strategy — the election might not have been so disastrous for all but Mike Beebe. Might.
In putting self over principle and party, he only joined a long line of governors, particularly including Mike Huckabee and Bill Clinton. Mike Beebe is smart enough to know his years of politcal ascendancy in the Senate would have counted for nothing aginst a Republican majority had he been in the minority. He offers no shoulders for others to stand on. He may be a two-term governor, but his legacy may be the Republicanization of Arkansas.
Noted: This item was edited in several respects after its original posting.
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