The Art of Politics

Specter and Spectre

Both come out on top tonight...

Arlen Specter beat back a very close challenge from Pat Toomey in the Republican Pennsylvania primary tonight. The same day, another Spectre dished out a little made-in-America goodness in Najaf and Fallujah.

Specter's win bolsters White House hopes of winning Pennsylvania in the general election. Bush is running well there currently, and with Specter on the ticket, Bush will get the advantage from fencesitters who feel stronger about Specter than Bush.

Toomey ran too soon, and in the wrong cycle. He showed he has some appeal, and as a Congressman, electability. But White House designs on re-election and the chance of the Senate to remain Republican brought out the heavy hitters, and both Rick Santorum and George Bush campaigned for Specter, and it seems clear, made the difference. This makes Pennsylvania more likely to run Republican this fall.

Around Fallujah and Najaf in Iraq, the ungainly but ferocious AC-130 pounded Iraq insurgents who dared to expose their position. This hopefully brings to an end the pointless cease fire in Fallujah, and demonstrates the US is not intimidated by hysterical reproaches about holy sites when it comes down to business. Never do an enemy a half-measured injury. If the insurgents need to be cleaned out of Fallujah... the insurgents need to be cleaned out of Fallujah. Show an animal hesitation, and it will try and exploit it to it's advantage. Now is the time to demonstrate the willingness to do what it takes to take the battle to the enemy, be they in a headscarf, a street, or a mosque. Half measures will not suffice.

Like an abscess, the longer Fallujah and Najaf fester, the more painful the eventual outcome will be.

Posted by MEC2 at April 27, 2004 11:44 PM