Blunt’s positives
While I tend to disregard even the most constructive of criticism, I got an e-mail a few weeks ago that got me thinking. A friend asked a relatively trivial question about a link I had posted on johncombest.com, but the main thrust of his e-mail was this: Why am I so hard on Matt Blunt?
Of course, I always respond to those types of complaints, from Rs and Ds alike, by pointing out that I don’t make the news — I just link to it.
But my friend was right — I don’t spend enough time pointing out the good things about the Blunt administration. And there are a few.
As explained a couple weeks ago, those of us Republicans still considering voting for Matt Blunt in 2008 should be glad that Ed Martin is starting Friday as the governor’s new chief of staff. Let’s keep the positivity going and look at the good stuff Ed has to work with:
– A focused political team. As previously mentioned, Blunt’s HARRIS (to Hell with All Republicans Residing In St. Louis) Plan was criticized in 2004 by many of us on this side of the state, including your favorite blogger’s favorite blogger. But the focus on outstate counties proved successful — energy that might have been wasted on Dem constituencies was channeled toward our base. To this day, the Blunt team realizes that as long as Republicans control the executive and legislative branches, there will exist a political underclass that is not happy unless they’re unhappy. The Blunt team is content to let such chronic malcontents jibber-jabber on low-wattage radio while the governor stays focused on implementing his agenda. A wise move.
– Spence Jackson. Any honest political spokesperson (1) can be no better than the facts at his disposal. Those who criticize Spence should look at what he has had to work with and tell me what more he could have done to positively spin the myriad of ethical charges levied against the administration. Spence is at his best when he is dismissing the Democrats’ whiny, sour-grapes complaints for what they are: whiny, sour-grapes complaints. Spence is not so great — how could he be? — when he’s forced to explain dumb mistakes made by others in the administration. Give Spence less to apologize for in 2007 and we’ll all be talking about what a great job Matt Blunt is doing.
Also, you know that I never, ever, under any circumstance, claim to speak for anyone but myself, but I speak for every single Missouri Republican when I say that Spence was everybody’s favorite Blunt campaign guy. (2) The fact that he’s stuck around probably keeps some people from completely disavowing his boss.
– A strong political machine. Sandra Thomas’ victory in the GOP auditor primary proved that the Blunt machine can still turn out nearly 30% in a crowded race. You can bet everyone from Mitt Romney to potential gubernatorial candidates to your local GOP county chair took note of the results and will remember them as they make their plans for 2008.
More to come.
(1) I know, I know. Just play along.
(2) I know, I know. But still.
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