2008

The Ultimate Problem for Oberweis

ArchPundit March 11, 2008 No Comments

Eric points out how some Republicans have described the guy:

Russ Stewart 

Aside from being pompous, arrogant, intolerant and utterly insufferable, Republican congressional candidate and perennial statewide loser Jim Oberweis is otherwise just a swell guy

Tom Roeser:

1. Are we going to have to wait until Big Jim Oberweis spends ALL his money in primary election after primary election for the purpose to determine if he’s loved-which for anyone who really knows him understands that this, not political issues, is the reason for this experiment?

And good God, Roeser and I agree on something:

4. Oberweis has been notable for paying lavish fees to campaign consultants who are less than bright. The first time it was to a consultant that insisted Oberweis had to be pro-choice. The second time it was to a consultant who devised a TV commercial that didn’t just make a statement on immigration but which was bound to inflame. Now we have a consultant who told the media on election night (Bill Pascoe) “I think everybody was surprised. We did not see it coming.” HUH? Evidently everybody saw it coming but you, Mr. Pascoe. The word on the street, far from the precincts of the 14th and the headlines in most newspapers was that Oberweis could easily lose. Where were you? And are you going to continue raking down the money for the next lucrative Oberweis loss eight months hence? Really a neat industry for you and others, isn’t it?

The Beacon adds this:

Oberweis spokesman Bill Pascoe said Monday that it is too early to accurately assess how the election slipped away. He said he would need to see numbers telling him who voted, and where.

“One of two things is true,” Pascoe said. “Either we had a problem with our message, or a problem with organization.”

These are not mutually exclusive problems, but there’s an additional problem–Oberweis himself.

Serial Candidate Alan Keyes Running on the Constitution Party Ticket?

ArchPundit March 11, 2008 No Comments

Please, pretty please….

Via Austin Mayor

  Brace yourselves, Republicans: presidential candidate Alan Keyes may be leaving the GOP. In a conference call with supporters last night, Keyes is said to have told supporters that staying in the Republican Party would be “an occasion of sin” and is ready to bolt. Keyes, it seems, really dislikes John McCain (and, as we recall from an event in Iowa, everyone else running for president) and reportedly wants no part in selecting the “type of deodorant we need to make a stinking candidate acceptable to conservatives.” A Keyes supporter on the last night’s call confirms to Radar that the former Reagan administration official “stated in the conference call that he could no longer remain in the Republican Party.” As for what’s next, a third party bid seems like a good bet. Keyes hinted at the possibility on a radio program in January, and an e-mail sent out by the campaign after last night’s conference call (subject header: “Constitution Party poll”) includes a link for supporters who “want to vote for Alan as your 1st, 2nd and 3rd choice on the Constitution Party presidential poll.” A Keyes message board commenter who claims to have been on the conference call last night said regarding the possibility of a Constitution Party run that, “Alan asked us to pray about it. That’s what he is doing as he is considering these things. He did not say he’s definately [sic] going to do it, but from the tone of things I am going to say it’s very likely.” Radar has thrown its prayer pants on and awaits a response to phone and e-mail inquiries to the Keyes campaign.

Awful News

ArchPundit March 11, 2008 No Comments

Pat Botterman passed away yesterday. Rich has more over at Capitol Fax. I didn’t know Pat terribly well having met him at Yearly Kos. What’s amazing is that he had worked on several campaigns I had followed and he did an amazing job. More than that, he always worked for good candidates whether they were the most likely to win or just a worthwhile challenge.

Daily Herald 

Fritchey 

Rob who introduced me electronically to Pat