The LuLac Edition #90, Nov 15, 2006

PICTURE INDEX: THE LATE GOVERNOR, CHAIRMAN OF AMERICAN MOTORS, HUD SECRETARY AND PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE GEORGE ROMNEY AND SENATOR JOHN KERRY, DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE IN 2004

IS KERRY DONE?

John Kerry's gaff in the recent off year election campaign might end his hopes of a comeback to return as the Democratic party nominee in 2008. Kerry made a statement to college students where he cautioned them that if they did not study hard,. they'd end up in Iraq. Immediately the White House propaganda machine took off after Kerry and he responded back in anger. Remembering how he did not respond immediately to White House attacks in 2004, the Senator went on the offensive against the Republicans. However when members of Kerry's own party admonished him for the remark, he apologized and said it was a mishandled joke. Kerry left the campaign trail in 2006 but that didn't seem necessaary since the Democrats had a big off year success on election night. Kerry was tring to position himself for a 2008 rerun which was problematic to begin with. Democrats have not renominated a nominee since 1956 when Adlai Stevenson faced off against President Eisenhower in that election with the same result. Kerry has to decide whether he wants to take the chance to try again for the nomination given this extra burden. The nation has a short attention span and most likely will not remember the specifics of his '06 remark two years from now. But his Democratic opponents will. And once a candidate is tarred with a remark, or an action, it is difficult to combat.
Take for instance the late George Romney who was the frontrunner for the Republican nomination in 1968 until he sat down for an interview with a reporter. Romney had quite a political career but then came the remark that he was "brainwashed" on the Vietnam War.
He led the Constitutional Convention that revised Michigan's Constitution from 1961 to 1962 and followed this up with a successful 1962 campaign for Governor of Michigan. Romney was a strong supporter of civil rights and was generally considered a moderate Republican, perhaps a bit to the right of Nelson Rockefeller, but well to the left of Barry Goldwater or Ronald Reagan.
After deciding to wait out the 1964 election, Romney announced he was a candidate for president in the 1968 election. Polls in 1967 showed him the leader among rank and file Republicans, especially among the "moderates." He seemed to have overcome the handicap of his Mormon religion being unpopular outside Utah.
On 31 August 1967 Governor Romney made a statement that ruined his chances for getting the nomination.[Johns 2000] In a taped interview with Lou Gordon of WKBD-TV in Detroit, Romney stated, "When I came back from Viet Nam [in November 1965], I'd just had the greatest brainwashing that anybody can get." He then shifted to opposing the war: "I no longer believe that it was necessary for us to get involved in South Vietnam to stop Communist aggression in Southeast Asia," he declared. Decrying the "tragic" conflict, he urged "a sound peace in South Vietnam at an early time." Thus Romney disavowed the war and reversed himself from his earlier stated belief that the war was "morally right and necessary." The connotations of brainwashing following the experiences of the American prisoners of war (highlighted by the film The Manchurian Candidate) made Romney's comments were devastating to his status as the GOP front-runner. Republican Congressman Robert Stafford of Vermont sounded a common concern: "If you're running for the presidency," he asserted, "you are supposed to have too much on the ball to be brainwashed." (Johns 2000) At the National Convention Romney finished a weak 6th with only 50 votes on the first ballot (44 of Michigan's 48 plus 6 from Utah).
Following Nixon's election, Romney was named to the cabinet as Housing and Urban Development secretary. He served in that office until the start of Nixon's second term in January 1973. During his four years, Romney slightly increased the amount of federally subsidized housing, but was prevented from expanding the concept to suburban areas.
Romney died in 1995. He is the father of 2008 GOP contender Mitt Romney.

CASEY COMMENT

Blog reader Pete Cassidy sends this comment on Senator elect Casey's first visit to Washington, D.C. He has never, to my knowledge proven himself , but he has a helluva opportunity now. Justify NEPA's support-Rise to the Calling. Start slow be cautious, settle in and then Become a Statesman. Youve got 6 years to accomplish something, anything and you can represent Pa for 24 years. Show Character- Cast a tall shadow.
He seems to feel he was born to serve, he seems to believe he has a legacy. Now he has the Opportunity. I hope the guy pulls it off, but Bobby for Christs sake, dont run for anything else. Ever!