>Much as I sympathize with the ABH impulse, no it would not
>be helpful to send Rudy to Senate rather than HRC. Senators
>can do plenty of damage to the everyday lives of people,
>even though they are not close to them. It's something
>like aerial bombing. OTOH, there would be something to
>be said for a spirited left candidate who could shake up
>the debate. The Senate is not likely to go Republican,
>and the marginal difference between RG and HRC could be
>outweighed by a serious left campaign that was able to
>use the race as a launching pad for bigger and better
>organizing.
Let's dispense with the most ridiculous item first--there's no-that's ZERO-chance of a "serious" left campaign to challenge HRC. So stop the madness!
Second, the Senate IS Republican and ISN'T likely to go Democrat in the next decade. The House IS likely to go back to the Dems, further marginalizing the damage Sen. Rudy the G-man might inflict on the Republic.
Being a Senator (especially a Jr. Senator) is a much less autocratic position than Mayor of NYC and certainly--I shudder at the thought--US Attorney General. You're only one of 100 and, because the senate power structure is based on seniority, a minor member to boot. And, on most days, to get what you want you have to convince a super-majority to go along with you to survive cloture votes. Plus, you've gotta deal with the yahoos on the other side of the capital. (Say what you will about Rudy, I don't think he's Tom Delay's kinda guy.) And, then, you have it all approved-and implemented-by your publicity rivals in the Executive Branch. That's why many senators devote most of their time to bringing home the porkbarrel and leave the more vicious political work to the Kooky Kabal that runs the show, the Bob Birds, Pop Warners, John Breauxs, Ted Stevens and Pete Dominicis of that "August" body---jsc
___________________________________________________________ ARE YOU A FREELANCE WRITER? Then you should be a member of the NATIONAL WRITERS UNION! The only labor union committed to improving the economic and working conditions of all freelance writers. For more information visit our web site <http://www.nwu.org>, call (212) 254-0279, or email <nwu at nwu.org>.