Has afflicted Mike DeWine. (HT: Hugh Hewitt).
Definition: The Times Syndrome: a desire to be liked by the NY Times. Also known as “growing in office”, “surprising Friend and Foe alike”, and “boasts an independent streak”. Only known sufferers are initially conservative Republican officeholders who move to the left.
Senator DeWine has this, and it’s getting worse. It may not be terminal in the primary, will make the general election a squeaker for him, but eventually will likely prove fatal.
As evidence, take the latest puff piece from Slate (link above):
“DeWine boasts an independent streak: He endorsed John McCain for president in 2000; he joined with a bipartisan group of Senate centrists to work out a 2005 compromise on judicial filibusters; and, according to the National Journal's 2005 vote rankings, he is the ninth most moderate GOP senator.”Let’s see--- soft on Judges, Soft on the 2nd amendment, now soft on the war against terror, no drilling in ANWR, but some show trials on energy prices.
The reasons to vote for DeWine are rapidly shrinking. When your only slogan left is “I’m not as liberal as my opponent!” That’s not a rousing call to arms. Given the choice, most voters leaning left will prefer the real Democrat to the faux one. And if those are the choices, many conservatives may stay home.
Oh, and memo to Sen. DeWine: The puff pieces won’t be rolling out from the MSM in September and October. They’re pretty fickle. Well, not fickle, since they will rally to the left every time.
|