(Mark Noonan) – Fred Weinberg penned (computered?) an article which appeared here at NN&V arguing that Sue Lowden is the best candidate for Senate. Fundamentally, that she is the candidate most likely to send Harry back to Searchlight, permanently. Mr. Weinberg opines that Lowden’s experience as a news anchor, businesswoman and politician has uniquely qualified her for the task.
It is certain that Ms. Lowden has varied experience and the fact that she spent years in front of a camera and, into the bargain, looks good in front of a camera does speak well over her basic qualifications to be the Republican nominee (is it shallow to point out that her looks help? Most certainly – but also, its reality. Part of the reason we have President Obama is that he’s better looking than John McCain).
But other than some bare bones “yeah, she’s credible as a candidate” qualifications, what does Ms. Lowden bring to the table? Not much. At least, not much, so far.
Personally, I’ve received two fundraising letters from the Lowden campaign. Each of them told me that Reid is afraid of her, but neither of that gave me a reason to vote for her other than the fact she’s not Harry Reid.
On her website, she hits the right notes of cutting taxes and spending and working for genuine health care reform, starting with tort reform. This is all good stuff. Clearly, if we had Senator Lowden today rather than Senator Reid, we’d be better off. But how do we get from Candidate Lowden to Senator Lowden? Where is the real battle against Reid and what he stands for?
In 2010, its not just a matter of beating Harry Reid. 2010 is a battle to defeat everything Harry Reid stands for. Reid stands for the corrupt status quo. And in the public mind, the Republican party is connected with the status quo. Not as much as the Democrats, but still there. We have to break out of the status quo and think and act anew.
The key to Republican victory in 2010 is to tap into the TEA Party movement. Those millions of people around the country – who are not all Republican by a long shot – who rose up in the Summer of 2009 and demanded change. Real change. Not “change you can believe in” but “you’d better darn well change, or we’ll change it for you” kind of change.
Sure, most of them are in favor of low taxes – but far more than that, they are in favor of clearing out the rot in government and returning power to the people.
If we Republicans don’t tap in to that and make it known – and believable – that we will conduct a root and branch reform of government, then we might as well stay home. We have to think not in terms of just another mid-term election, but in terms of a revolution at the ballot box.
We are waiting. Eventually a Republican will come along who has figured this out and that will be the best nominee.
(Mr. Noonan co-publishes Blogs for Victory)
