The Nerd and the Head Cheerleader
Talking to a friend who's a GOP party dropout like myself this weekend, we discussed the Mike Protack situation. I made the analogy that Mike Protack is the guy in high school who can't accept the girl just isn't interested. No matter how many times and how many different ways he asks, the girl just won't go out with him. Rather than setting his sights on another girl, he keeps going after this one girl to exclusion of a girl who might actually be interested in him.
Mike Protack is not pursuing just any girl but the head cheerleader, the top spot on the Delaware GOP ticket. In each of the past three elections, he's sought the top spot available for a Delaware Republican, only to be rejected by the GOP Convention, where delegates are elected by the grassroots membership of the party. (I don't have results for past years, but he got beat over 5-1 this year and past margins were similar, I believe.)
In 2002, after running for US Senate against Ray Clatworthy and losing at the convention, Protack gave a gracious speech where he pledged to respect the convention's decisions and work to elect Clatworthy. I, and many others I talked to, were impressed with his graciousness and were ready to support him for a lower office in a future campaign. (It's no insult to say that someone isn't ready for a state-wide campaign, just as it's no insult to say that a player right out of the draft isn't ready for the major leagues. That's why we have minor leagues, to prepare people for the majors. Similarly, many people need to build a resume before they can be a credible state-wide candidate.)
But Protack can't get that head cheerleader out of his head, so rather than going for the pretty flutist in the band. Not content to run for a state representative seat or some other local position, Protack will accept nothing other than the top spot on the ticket. (Think of it this way: he demands to be on the ticket ahead of a two-time Governor and seven-time Congressman.)
To make matters worse, after his two most recent defeats he's angrily attacked the cheerleading squad and tried to force his way into the head cheerleader's arms. He's tried telling her how popular he is with people outside the cheerleading squad, using misleading polls as his evidence. (Here's an example. If you read it closely, it's clear what Protack has done here is a complete misuse of polling. It's legitimate to ask questions like this to determine your strengths and your opponent's weaknesses for honing a campaign's message and strategy, but is useless for determining actual campaign standing which is how he attempts to use it in his release linked to above.)
So what happened when Protack took his case to the rest of the student body for their support in his quest to date the head cheerleader? Over 70% of them voted for the starting quarterback Bill Lee, with only 23.5% supporting Protack.
So, the cheerleader's not interested, and the cheerleading squad and student body think she can do better? It's time for our nerd to move on from the head cheerleader and hope the flutist hasn't been turned off by his obnoxious behavior.
Mike Protack is not pursuing just any girl but the head cheerleader, the top spot on the Delaware GOP ticket. In each of the past three elections, he's sought the top spot available for a Delaware Republican, only to be rejected by the GOP Convention, where delegates are elected by the grassroots membership of the party. (I don't have results for past years, but he got beat over 5-1 this year and past margins were similar, I believe.)
In 2002, after running for US Senate against Ray Clatworthy and losing at the convention, Protack gave a gracious speech where he pledged to respect the convention's decisions and work to elect Clatworthy. I, and many others I talked to, were impressed with his graciousness and were ready to support him for a lower office in a future campaign. (It's no insult to say that someone isn't ready for a state-wide campaign, just as it's no insult to say that a player right out of the draft isn't ready for the major leagues. That's why we have minor leagues, to prepare people for the majors. Similarly, many people need to build a resume before they can be a credible state-wide candidate.)
But Protack can't get that head cheerleader out of his head, so rather than going for the pretty flutist in the band. Not content to run for a state representative seat or some other local position, Protack will accept nothing other than the top spot on the ticket. (Think of it this way: he demands to be on the ticket ahead of a two-time Governor and seven-time Congressman.)
To make matters worse, after his two most recent defeats he's angrily attacked the cheerleading squad and tried to force his way into the head cheerleader's arms. He's tried telling her how popular he is with people outside the cheerleading squad, using misleading polls as his evidence. (Here's an example. If you read it closely, it's clear what Protack has done here is a complete misuse of polling. It's legitimate to ask questions like this to determine your strengths and your opponent's weaknesses for honing a campaign's message and strategy, but is useless for determining actual campaign standing which is how he attempts to use it in his release linked to above.)
So what happened when Protack took his case to the rest of the student body for their support in his quest to date the head cheerleader? Over 70% of them voted for the starting quarterback Bill Lee, with only 23.5% supporting Protack.
So, the cheerleader's not interested, and the cheerleading squad and student body think she can do better? It's time for our nerd to move on from the head cheerleader and hope the flutist hasn't been turned off by his obnoxious behavior.
posted by Paul Smith Jr. at 2:22 PM
11 Comments:
The first time he ran for office, he seemed to be a well intentioned man with principled ideals.
The second time, he perverted the process and insulted first the conventioneers (who were "hand-picked" to defeat him) and then the primary voters (where he would have won but for "low turnout") in order to raise his own profile.
This time, he's an obvious crank. My great fear though - to use a baseball metaphor (for you, Paul) - is that he'll put his name on the ballot so often that he'll finally get elected because everyone recognizes his name, much like the marginal big leaguers who eventually are enshrined in Cooperstown (I'm looking at you, Tony Perez).
I'm with you on Tony Perez. As much of a Reds fan as I am, he's a member of the Hall of Very Good, not the Hall of Fame.
I wouldn't worry too much about Protack sneaking in that way: he'll never have the money to get his name out state wide like any endorsed candidate would.
Good points guys and as far as the cheerleader thing goes, at this point I dont think he could get a date with the weird girl that eats paste.
Good points guys and as far as the cheerleader thing goes, at this point I dont think he could get a date with the weird girl that eats paste.
In the weird girl's defense, paste is delicious.
Pitiful site, spite, and lame witless writing.
Sad.
Thanks, anon. And you are always welcome to stop by and chat.
You almost wonder if he should set his sights on the librarian.
librarians are kinky
Again, as an outsider, your comments about a lack of a political resume don't really hold weight; Wharton has no real political resume to my knowledge, nor does Jan Ting, particularly compared to who Ting will be running against (former Representative and Governor).
WORSE... The writing of this post is splendid... creative, eloquent, powerful, image-invoking, and interesting.
The political logic, however, is mind-blowing and false.
Political experts will advise you to get experience campaigning. One experienced political consultant would advise candidates to EXPECT to run several times before they win.
Experience on the campaign trail is every bit as important and real as experience in office. Someone who understands the campaign, knows the techniques, knows the tricks, etc., is in the best position to mount a successful campaign.
Jan Ting not only has no experience for the job itself (although neither does Mike Protack) but Jan Ting also has NO experience as a candidate.
The first job of a candidate is to be a candidate... to win the election. At that Mike Protack is more experienced than Jan Ting.
Yet, the conservative bloggers seem to think that EXPERIENCE in running a campaign is somehow a liability instead of an asset.
No, I disagree. Take, for instance, Mike Ramone. He has experience running a campaign, and he has shown an ability to draw support, nearly knocking off an incumbent last time. Protack, though he has experience, failed to generate any measurable support in his primary race against Bill Lee. And I wouldn't call a failed primary "campaign experience."
That's the difference. A candidate with a good resume and no experience is preferrable to a candidate who failed miserably in a previous campaign.
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