Monday, 20 July 2009
Beshear / Abramson 2011
Well it is official, Abramson has signed up to be Beshear's running mate for 2011. Of course the thought of Abramson near the governor's mansion caused the CJ to swoon and immediately began the Abramson love fest. While some may claim this is a great move by Beshear, I am at a loss to understand their reasoning.
Yes he brings fund raising prowess. Maybe he brings in a few more votes in Jefferson County, but I don't think it will be many. First of all, the reason Abramson is taking the position is that his re-election for mayor is far from certain. In the last year, he has begun struggling under the weight of coruption from his long tenure. The Louisville housing departement had a recent fraud scandal. Abramson's buddy Cordish has been making a nice profit off the city. No one knows what the gaming authority is doing with city tax dollars and Abramson has continued his long standing fued with the FOP and firemen's unions. All of which have dragged Abramson's approval ratings to the lowest levels since he has been mayor.
With his popularity waning how is he going to bring in a vast number ofnew votes from Jefferson County? Let's assume he can bring in a lot of new votes. Those votes will be lost 10 times over from the rest of the state. Abramson is the face of Louisville. What part of the state doesn't resent the city of Louisville? Add on top of that the fact that he is pro-abortion, pro-gun control, pro-gay rights, and Jewish and you don't have a candidate people in rural Kentucky will be jumping to support. There is a reason that Abramson has never run for state wide office before now.
Personally, I think the pick of Abramson highlights Beshear's lack of political common sense and imagination. His campaign and administration have all been about expanded gambling. He has offered very little else to the state in the way of ideas an innovation. When faced with the reality that it won't pass, he can't handle the truth. He just turns a blind eye and clamors on about changing their minds or having them beat next November. He apparently lacks the capability to see beyond the simple or to use his mind to find creative solutions to the state's problems.
I think the Abramson pick continues on this theme.He went with Abramson because he thought it would get him money and enough votes in Jefferson County to guarantee victory. He also knew it would make a big splash in the media. But, he is apparently blind to the baggage Abramson brings to the ticket. How Abramson's negatives present a real danger to Beshear's re-election chances.
Myself, I am not going to look a gift horse in the mouth.
Yes he brings fund raising prowess. Maybe he brings in a few more votes in Jefferson County, but I don't think it will be many. First of all, the reason Abramson is taking the position is that his re-election for mayor is far from certain. In the last year, he has begun struggling under the weight of coruption from his long tenure. The Louisville housing departement had a recent fraud scandal. Abramson's buddy Cordish has been making a nice profit off the city. No one knows what the gaming authority is doing with city tax dollars and Abramson has continued his long standing fued with the FOP and firemen's unions. All of which have dragged Abramson's approval ratings to the lowest levels since he has been mayor.
With his popularity waning how is he going to bring in a vast number ofnew votes from Jefferson County? Let's assume he can bring in a lot of new votes. Those votes will be lost 10 times over from the rest of the state. Abramson is the face of Louisville. What part of the state doesn't resent the city of Louisville? Add on top of that the fact that he is pro-abortion, pro-gun control, pro-gay rights, and Jewish and you don't have a candidate people in rural Kentucky will be jumping to support. There is a reason that Abramson has never run for state wide office before now.
Personally, I think the pick of Abramson highlights Beshear's lack of political common sense and imagination. His campaign and administration have all been about expanded gambling. He has offered very little else to the state in the way of ideas an innovation. When faced with the reality that it won't pass, he can't handle the truth. He just turns a blind eye and clamors on about changing their minds or having them beat next November. He apparently lacks the capability to see beyond the simple or to use his mind to find creative solutions to the state's problems.
I think the Abramson pick continues on this theme.He went with Abramson because he thought it would get him money and enough votes in Jefferson County to guarantee victory. He also knew it would make a big splash in the media. But, he is apparently blind to the baggage Abramson brings to the ticket. How Abramson's negatives present a real danger to Beshear's re-election chances.
Myself, I am not going to look a gift horse in the mouth.
Posted by at 9:24 PM in Kentucky Politics
