Monday, January 7, 2013
Arkansas Politics The 2014 election for U.S. Senate; hoping for Cotton
Posted by Max Brantley on Mon, Jan 7, 2013 at 9:41 AM
I know. We just finished the 2012 election.
But, everywhere I go, people are talking about 2014. Can Dustin survive? (Good question.) Will other strong Republicans challenge Asa! for the gubernatorial nomination? (Could be. Think Davy Carter as a winner-take-all possibility, if he could survive a Republican primary.)
And about that race for U.S. Senate, who'll challenge Sen. Mark Pryor?
That final question seems to be boiling down to two U.S. Reps. — Steve Womack and newcomer Tom Cotton. Womack is the stronger candidate. So I hope for Cotton. A cookie-cutter Club for Growth candidate awash in national money against a shoeleather Democrat for a sprawling congressional district is one thing. But the same charisma-challenged Republican running statewide against a moderate Democrat with a huge bankroll and stout family connections is another race entirely.
Cotton's opening vote against disaster aid for Hurricane Sandy victims is a telling symbol for his view of public service. Arkansas is still a place — as a net beneficiary of federal money — that responds to the populist notion of the federal government's role of broadly supporting the common good, not telling the hungry, sick and storm-wracked to fend for themselves.
I also hope it's Cotton because of indications that his tireless defender, extremist Republican state Rep. Nate Bell of Mena is hungering to run for Congress if Cotton tries to step up. That, in turn, might set up a winnable Democratic battle between Bell and a mainstreamer like, say, Sen. Bruce Maloch of Magnolia. A no-brainer, as they say, to go with the candidate with brains.
(Oh, OK, other Repubs would run for Congress, too, including some rational ones, like Lane Jean. I can dream, can't I?)
Speaking of...
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The Exxon's Negligence Exposed Edition
June 14, 2013The latest in the Mayflower oil spill story; Mark Pryor, guns and immigration; a new petition to overturn the private option in Arkansas, and Arkansas Republican’s love affair with hating on Planned Parenthood — all covered on this week's edition. /more/
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Coalition holds immigration reform vigil tonight
June 14, 2013The Arkansas United Community Coalition will hold a vigil at First United Methodist downtown on Friday evening, 7 p.m. /more/
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The NRA has Mark Pryor's back; Bloomberg group keeps up pressure
June 14, 2013The National Rifle Association will run 60-second radio ads over the next two weeks defending Sen. Mark Pryor against the ads from New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg criticizing Pryor for being weak on gun control. /more/
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Pryor leaning toward support of immigration reform bill
June 14, 2013Sen. Mark Pryor is still being relatively cagey, natch, but he told the Wall Street Journal that his "inclination is to vote for the [immigration reform] legislation." /more/
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Pryor and the politics of provincialism
June 13, 2013Provincialism — that sense that Arkansans have limited use for the world beyond Arkansas's borders — has been a defining characteristic of the state's politics and society for its entire existence. /more/
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Bloomberg v. Pryor, round 2
June 12, 2013Critics of the recent Mayors Against Illegal Guns ad buy taking on Sen. Mark Pryor and other Democratic senators for votes against background checks for gun buyers clearly haven't gotten through to New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the primary financier of the ads. /more/
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Pryor campaign pushes back against the latest lame ad from Super Pac
June 12, 2013Super Pac puts out forgettable ad. Pryor campaign says we don't need no stinking outsiders. /more/
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How will Pryor vote on immigration reform?
June 12, 2013Jonathan Chait notes that Republicans aren't using the filibuster to block the immigration reform bill in the Senate and speculates that the lack of procedural resistance bodes well for eventual passage. /more/
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Open Line: Boozman, Koch brothers, Pryor
June 11, 2013*DR. NO: You're never going to believe this but Sen. John Boozman opposes the immigration reform bill. /more/
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Immigration reform bill clears procedural hurdle in Senate
June 11, 2013The Senate voted 82-15 to proceed with debate on the immigration reform bill crafted by the bipartisan "Gang of Eight." /more/
- More »
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