A dubious distinction

In this week's National Journal (a magazine Katherine Harris frequently cites while campaigning) political insiders from both parties were asked which U.S. Senate candidates have run the best and worst campaigns.

The best: For Republicans, it was a tie between Tennessee Democrat Harold Ford and Maryland Republican Michael Steele (both with 22 percent). For Democrats, it was Ford over second place Minnesota Democrat Amy Klobuchar.

The worst: Republicans and Democrats agreed on Virginia Republican George Allen with Republicans citing Florida Republican Katherine Harris and Montana Republican Conrad Burns as second and third. Democrats had Burns second and Harris third.

National Journal survey participants are political consultants, lobbyists, party operatives and state and local political leaders. 

Comments

katherine harris needs to be available full-time for shopping, parties and her husband. she should not be a senator. katherine yells about being a conservative woman. let her start acting like one. according to traditional customs, she should be at home, tending to her husband.

http://wonkette.com/politics/the-hill/harris-item-fails-to-meet-our-high-standards-hill-to-blame-210023.php

[The Rat Takes the Cheese]

Locally, I thought we were doing very well in House District 53 with two fine candidates, but the Florida Republican Party mailer ridiculing Bill Heller reached a real low which reflects very badly on Angelo Cappelli. I think it is time for all Republican candidates to ask their party to quit "helping them."

[James]

Charlie Crist isn't alone. The Republican party has become a big tent with lots of room for gays and lesbians, but only under deep cover. Most people would be suprised to know that the Log Cabin Republicans pretty much control the Republican National Committee.

Here's some more information on their group:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Log_Cabin_Republicans

[James]

Harold Ford Jr. has run an excellent campaign and he will become the first African-American U.S. Senator from a southern state since Reconstruction. I'm a loyal Republican, but I must confess I'm rooting for Harold. He's much more conservative and alot more intelligent than our still-in-the-closet candidate for Governor, Charlatan Crist.

what a shame that harold ford is being attacked by the white house slime machine. i saw that really vile ad the republicans put out, suggesting that ford goes to bed with slutty white women, all to the beat of jungle drums. don't republicans feel any sense of shame at this? have republicans lost all sense of decency?

[James]

Charlie Crist, whose lead in the Florida gubernatorial race is shrinking a bit, does not have sex with men. That’s what he claims to the Broward-Palm Beach New Times. The men who he has sex with, though, get drunk at parties and tell everyone:

He said Wetherington told him and several other people at a party that he had sex with the politician in a hotel room in the Tampa-Sarasota area while he was working on the Harris campaign. He said Wetherington recounted that he spoke with Crist about a campaign matter and “one thing led to another and they had sex.”That’s right, it’s a Katherine Harris campaign staffer. Her gay valet.

The whole sordid story is here, but the author takes way too many words to describe what is a simple story:

People have speculated about Crist’s sexuality for many years.
After being sorta ok on gay issues, he recently came out in favor of an anti-marriage amendment and a ban on gay adoption.
21-year-old former Harris field director got drunk at at least two parties, claimed to f*** Crist.
Said kid added that felon (and former Harris staffer) Bruce Carlton Jordan is Crist’s long-term partner.
Everyone denies everything.

http://www.wonkette.com/politics/charlie%20crist/

[James]

What the RNC has done to Harold Jr. makes me ashamed to be a Republican, and it's dispicable. It's absolutely racist, and in very poor taste. I think those desperation tactics will backfire and Ford Jr. will defeat Bob Corker. Harold has a bright future in politics, perhaps he'll be our nation's first African-American President. He's that good of a campaigner, the best I've seen since Bill Clinton. Harold Ford Jr. is an honest man, a straight shooter, and I agree with most of his positions which are quite conservative for a Democrat. The Democrats in Tennessee have a real shining star there in Harold Ford Jr. While we Republicans in Florida have a weak sister candidate for Governor who is still in the closet, failed the Florida bar exam twice, can't think on his feet (probably has an IQ around 100 if he's lucky), and is so self-absorbed that he's illegally put up 70 x 50 and 60 x 60 feet murals of himself in downtown Tampa. Heck, I might donate money to Harold Ford Jr.'s campaign, it'll help me feel better about myself for being a Republican.

James you are a simple hack.

[James]

To DeLaAngela:

I read the passages and they made me contemplate things, sort of re-center myself on this issue. Which is exactly where it was before, and will continue to be. Darnit, sometimes the truth hurts, DeLaAngela, and that's part of life. I feel your sadness, but I believe your sadness is mostly due to the adverse effect these revelations regarding Mr. Christ's sexual orientation may have on your gubenatorial candidate of choice's chances of winning on November 7. I'm sorry if you have been upset by any of my posts on this blog. I'm just trying to help the people of Florida have all information possible on the candidates, so they can elect the best Governor we can possibly have. I believe Christian values should include integrity and not being a phoney hypocrite. So although I am a registered Republican and an Evangelical Christian, I will be voting for Jim Davis, who, by the way, is also a Christian. Yes, believe it or not, most Democrats are Christians too, DeLaAngela.

[James]

OHIO: RNC CONFIRMS THEY PULLED THE PLUG ON DeWINE.
Remember just a week ago when the New York Times reported that the Republican National Committee cancelled millions of dollars in ad buys on behalf of US Senator Mike DeWine (R) because they purportedly wanted "to reduce [national party] financial support for his race and divert party money to other embattled Republican Senators." The angry denials from GOP leaders came swiftly, as the party claimed it would pour millions of money into Ohio to support DeWine and the embattled Ohio Repubican ticket. It turns out those denials were false. According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, RNC Spokesman Aaron McLear on Thursday said the party will continue "on-the-ground" efforts in support of DeWine -- but he also confirmed the national party "will not be on the air in the final week of Mike DeWine's campaign, canceling its [TV] ad reservations throughout Ohio." In other related news, it appears the NRSC and the RNC have also largely given up on US Senator Conrad Burns (R-MT) -- as The Missoulian newspaper reported a few days ago that the national party has not spent a dime on TV or radio spots on behalf of Burns since August 7.

[GOP for Life]

Charlie Crist says he's not gay, but I don't know. Read and decide. I'm voting for Crist regardless because unlike James I vote Republican no matter what.

http://www.orlandoweekly.com/columns/story.asp?id=10990

[GOP for Life]

I wonder if all this speculation about Charlie being gay has anything to do with Davis climbing in the polls and Crist dropping. I've gone to blogs and message boards from all over the state and everybody is talking about it. I saw the Quinnipac Poll where Crist is only leading 46-44% and that was before the debate. I wonder if Davis will be leading in the soon to be released polls since most observers think Davis clearly won the debate? I thought Charlie did well but the media thinks otherwise. I really hope Charlie wins this race. Even if Charlie is gay I love his eternal optimism and it'll help him be a wonderful goveror.

[Stephen R.]

I think all the polls are worthless. I believe Crist will defeat Davis 58 to 41 percent with 1 percent going to Linn. Katherine Harris will suprise all of you and the liberal news media by defeating Nelson in a sqeaker 50.1 to 49.9 percent. Florida is a red state now, through and through. The Republicans will retain control of the House and Senate much to the disappointment of the liberal news media. Last but not least, Bill Frist will become President in 2008. Believe it!

[Sandra]

** Veterans Post endorses Samm Simpson for U.S. Congress **
http://www.veteranspostnews.com/PolCand.htm

More theater screenings of "Iraq for Sale" in Clearwater and St. Pete Beach! http://iraqforsale.org/screenings.php

"Let’s humbly, and bravely admit our failures in Iraq. Let’s take responsibility for the misguided policies and lies that led us first to war in Iraq, and the subsequent occupation. Let’s have a dialogue about the responsible withdrawal of our military and the U.S corporations that have wasted billions of our tax dollars."
Samm Simpson for U.S. Congress

i would pay a lot of money to be in the same room with people who write "Harris will win," and "Crist will be a WONDERFUL" governor.

You all actually write that stuff with a straight face?

[Gene Smith]

In 2004 Katherine Harris won hands down in the annual poll of Capitol Hill staffers as "not a rocket scientist."

Now in 2006, she is in the money as the candidate running the worst campaign in the country.

Republicans must really be proud that Kooky Katherine was the best they could come up with to run for US Senate.

On the Democratic side, Harold Ford Jr. would get my vote as the best campaign even if all he had was terrific his response ad to that despicable racist RNC ad.

[Irish Heather]

From what my girlfriend says (yes, she is still on the campaign, poor gal), Ms. Harris is just a basketcase and has been even nastier than normal. She is now looing for ways to get paid back for her $3 million loan to the campaign. She is demanding a direct mail and email campaign to raise money for her reimbursement. Ms. Harris has already conceded the campaign with this kind of talk.

[GOPer]

How in the world does someone win 3 or 4 races and then not even run a respectable campaign? Harris should be a seasoned politician by now. No?

[Jennifer]

I'll tell you why. kooky katherine doesn't have her Ahole team on board. Nelson would probably still have crushed her like a bug with or without her team of thugs but it would have been at least a respectable crushing.

http://thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/Features/CapitalLiving/102506_Know.html

[TB Blue Dog]

Poor Katherine can't win anything, can she?

She should always strive to be the best (or worst in this case) at everything she does. GOP ranked her second worst and Dems ranked her third worst?

She'll be screaming at her staff for days over this one. At least her Congressional staff was on the ball enough to make she she was ranked as the dumbest Congressman.

Katherine Harris keeps plugging along and that is what makes everyone so mad. Just can't stand that she won't go away and won the primary. There are a lot of other campaign staffers getting yelled at, not appreciated or respected, but it just does not hit the press like her campaign does!!Come November 8th, a lot of staffers are just going to drop from the stress!!

[Super Voter]

If you had to pay $25 and be under the age of 7 to vote, Katherine Harris would have locked up this election weeks ago.

I'm still not convinced that six-year old really voted for her - I'd like a recount.

[Irish Heather]

No one yells and screams like Ms. Harris. No one is as mean and cruel as Ms. Harris. No one makes it as personal as Ms. Harris. No one. Talk to her staff that have worked for multiple candidates. Yes, all candidates have their moments and yelling will be involved but no one is as backstabbing about it as Ms. Harris.

Jim Webb's virgnia Books.. ICK!!

http://www.drudgereport.com/flashaw.htm

Irish, i want to know who your girlfriend is on her campaign! You know more about Krazy Katherine and her internal crap than anyone. As a former campaign staffer myself who has worked on a couple of difficult races, KH is a mean, unstable weirdo.

WE LOVE YOU KATHERINE! THESE LIBERAL LOSERS ARE PULLING OUT ALL THE STOPS! THEY KNOW A LOSS IS COMING THIER WAY! IRISH POTATO AND STUPID VOTER SMELL THE COFFEE, GIRL! YOU’RE GONNA WIN THIS AND THEY KNOW IT, LADY!

STAY FOCUSED AND ON TASK, GOD WILL GUIDE YOU TO A WIN! THE SODAM AND GAMORRA CALLED WASHINTON WILL SOON REURN TO GOOD, CLEAN, FAMILY VALUES!

GO GIRL, GO!

[sleeperdem]

why do young repubies keep going to work for kooky katherine?

the all-cap freak will soon be back serving coffee and diet coke to passengers on Delta airlines.

HANG IN THERE KATHERINE! YOU’LL WILL BE FLYING AFTER THE ELECTION, BUT IT WILL BE FLYING HIGH ON A WIN! LIL’ NELLIE WILL BE FLYING HOME WITH A BOX FULL OF NOTHING, JUST LIKE HIS RECORD! GO GIRL, GO!

KEEP YOUR HEAD UP AND YOUR MISSION FOCUSED! WE LOVE YOU!

[Super Voter]

All-Caps gives Katherine unconditional love - just like my labrador retriever.

Unrelated, but funny: "Bush swung through Des Moines, Iowa, at lunchtime to raise $400,000 for the state Republican Party and congressional candidate Jeff Lamberti, whom the president mistakenly called "Dave" throughout his speech." http://www.woodtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=5596191&nav=0Rce

I listened to it on NPR this morning - it makes you wince every time he called Jeff "Dave."

Remember when Bush came in and stumped for Katherine's campaign....oh, never mind.

9:33-hahahaha. Hilarious

LAUGH IT UP YOU IM MORAL LIBERAL LOONIES! STUPID VOTER JUST ADDED BEASTYALITY TO THEIR LIST OF SICK AND TWISTED DISPOSITION!

FIRE AND BRIMSTONE WILL RAIN DOWN ON THEIR RAINBOW PARADE, AND WE WILL RETURN GOOD CHRISTIAN FAMILY VALUES TO OUR NATION! CAN YOU HEAR THAT LIL’ NELLIE? THAT’S THE SOUND OF THE MACHINE THAT WILL TURN OUT THE VOTE FOR KATHERINE HARRIS!

GO KATHERINE GO! WE LOVE YOU, LADY!

There is nobody that could have saved KH from herself. Nobody. Her ego, her treatment of others, her mental illness.

The injured bodies of her former soldiers are all over Florida and elsewhere. Though they are injured, they are not dead. If you do not chop of the head and kill the serpent, it will come back and bite you. She never had the political power or the smarts to kill her foe, and now they have ALL risen to strike her down.

[Super Voter]

All Caps - I think I'm actually getting attracted to you. Are you single?

You realize that all caps is playing a joke.

There is much truth to what 9:58AM has said (the 9:58AM without all the obnoxious capital letters).

KH indeed has brought much of the pain upon herself. With such high staff turnover, it started with lack of institutional knowledge, then insitutional control, then mix in a huge amount of vengeful former staffers, and add a dose of gaffs, stir in some unnecessary exaggerations, and you have a candidate that is losing by over 20 points.

[Super Voter]

To lighten the mood: Katherine Harris on Saturday Night Live: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5kN7l7PzAk&mode=related&search=

[Irish Heather]

Personally, I believe Ms. Harris's downfall is solely about how she treats her staff. Her throwing and slamming of her coffee into the trash can when not exactly right (too much f-ing foam you f-ing idiots!). The throwing of her pens. The pounding and slamming of her computer keyboard. The deragatory talking behind the backs of each and everyone of her staff. The pitting of one employee against another. The cursing at her staff. The belittling of her staff.

I have been told that when she loses, many of her current and former campaign staff will get together and have a farewell party. They will celebrate the campaign being over, Ms. Harris being gone, and exchange war stories.

I will be there with my girlfriend.

I want to go the farewll party!!!!!!!!!

me too!

BYE BYE KATHERINE.

YOU DESERVE THE CRUSHING DEFEAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO RECEIVE. ALL THE PEOPLE YOU HAVE TREATED POORLY THROUGHOUT YOUR POLITICAL CAREER ARE VOTING AGAINST YOU, AS ARE THEIR FRIENDS, FAMILIES AND COLLEAGUES. MANY OF YOUR FORMER STAFFERS HAVE BEEN ACTIVELY WORKING AGAINST YOU, AS YOU HAVE ACTIVELY WORKED AGAINST THEM. YOUR PASSIVE-AGGRESSIVE ATTACKS, YOUR BI-POLAR HISTORY, AND YOUR BACK-STABBING IS ALL COMING BACK TO YOU FULL CIRCLE. YOU DEMAND LOYALTY BUT GIVE NONE IN RETURN, AND YOU ARE ABOUT TO RECEIVE LIKE JUSTICE.

DING DONG THE WITCH IS (almost) DEAD!!!

DON’T YOU WORRY KATHERINE, YOU’RE DOING JUST FINE! THESE LIBERAL PUNDENTS ARE JUST DOING THEIR JOB! MISLEADING THE VOTERS IS WHAT THEY DO BEST! THE MACHINE IS WORKING HARD FOR YOU, LADY! WE WILL WIN THIS OVER LIL’ NELLIE AND THESE LIBERAL FARTS WILL TAKE THEIR STINK AND CRAWL BACK INTO THEIR DIRTY LITTLE HOLES WITH THE REST OF THE SICKO SODOMITES!

WE LOVE YOU KATHERINE, GOD BLESSES YOU AND OUR COUNTRY!

to the katherine harris junkie above:
the word is PUNDITS, you idiot, not PUNDENTS. by the way, have you noticed the number of "sodomites" working on katherine harris' campaign?
you sound like an evangelical retard, always screaming and calling people names. some fine christian you are!!!

TO THE LIBERAL SODOMITE ABOVE; WE WERE JUST TRYING TO HELP YOU PHONETICALLY CHALLENGED SYCOPHANTS! GLAD TO SEE YOU’RE IMPROVING WITH HELP FROM THE FCAT! WE’LL TRY SOME TOUGHER WORDS NOW!

WE LOVE YOU KATHERINE, THE PUNDIT POSSUMS ARE BACKED INTO A CORNER AND COMING OUT A’SCRATCHIN! THAT MEANS YOU’RE WINNING GIRL, AND THEY KNOW IT!

GO GET ‘EM LADY!

[xii]

Pundents? Beastyality? Sodam and Gamorra? Kitty's fans aren't the brightest coins in the fountain, are they.

[xii]

"WE WERE JUST TRYING TO HELP YOU PHONETICALLY CHALLENGED SYCOPHANTS!"

Sure you were, hon. Keep telling yourself that.

All caps = obnoxious and slow-witted.

THEY’RE GRABBING AT STRAWS KATHERINE, HANG IN THERE LADY! LIL’ NELLIE AND THE REST OF THESE FREAKS ARE IN FOR THE SHOCK OF THEIR LIVES! BUT NEVER YOU MIND YOU LITTLE WAYWARD LOSERS! ONCE YOU SEE THE LIGHT AND RENOUNCE YOUR ABERRANT WAYS, GOD WILL FORGIVE YOU, AND WE WILL TOO!

WE LOVE YOU KATHERINE! YOU’RE GOING TO WIN!

BYE BYE KATHERINE.

YOU DESERVE THE CRUSHING DEFEAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO RECEIVE. ALL THE PEOPLE YOU HAVE TREATED POORLY THROUGHOUT YOUR POLITICAL CAREER ARE VOTING AGAINST YOU, AS ARE THEIR FRIENDS, FAMILIES AND COLLEAGUES. MANY OF YOUR FORMER STAFFERS HAVE BEEN ACTIVELY WORKING AGAINST YOU, AS YOU HAVE ACTIVELY WORKED AGAINST THEM. YOUR PASSIVE-AGGRESSIVE ATTACKS, YOUR BI-POLAR HISTORY, AND YOUR BACK-STABBING IS ALL COMING BACK TO YOU FULL CIRCLE. YOU DEMAND LOYALTY BUT GIVE NONE IN RETURN, AND YOU ARE ABOUT TO RECEIVE LIKE JUSTICE.

DING DONG THE WITCH IS (almost) DEAD!!!

[GOPer]

one big vicious circle jerk:

http://www.wonkette.com/politics/katherine-harris/kitty-harris-is-number-one-210684.php