Why, he's the Democratic Senate candidate from Ohio, of course, and he's running against Republican incumbent and Bush loyalist Mike DeWine.
As part of Firedoglake's ongoing "Blue America" series, Howie Klein looks at Brown and his candidacy here. Check it out. Brown even appears in the comments section to answer questions from readers.
He's a strong candidate, would make an excellent senator, and certainly has our support here at The Reaction.
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
The entrepreneurial Democrat
In case you missed it, Ned Lamont has an op-ed in today's Wall Street Journal -- and it's our must-read of the day. In it, he presents "the four lessons of [his] business life" and stresses that he wants to bring a renewed entrepreneurial spirit to Washington.
According to Lamont (and, needless to say, to all of us who inhabit reality), America is "bogged down in Iraq, and hamstrung in the war against terror, by leaders who lacked judgment, historical perspective, openness to other cultures and plain old common sense". He claims -- I think justifiably -- to "offer something different".
And just in case you buy the Republican spin, and the similar Lieberman spin, that he's some sort of dove whose victory would give comfort and encouragement to America's enemies, consider this: "We start with the strongest, best-trained military in the world, and we'll keep it that way. But here's how we'll get stronger by changing course. We must work closely with our allies and treat the rest of the world with respect. We must implement the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission and put in place real protections for ports, airports, nuclear facilities and public transit."
Lamont brings a wealth of business success, as well as the perspective of a determined outsider, to his run for the Senate. I've been critical of him in the past, and I still think he needs to continue to define himself as something more than a hollow spokesman for the anti-war left, but he's absolutely right that America needs to change course. And he may well prove to be the right man in the right place at the right time.
Bush and the Republicans have had their chance. Too much of a chance. In desperation, with the prospect of defeat ahead, they will continue to claim, louder than ever, that Democrats are weak on national security and the war on terror. But being against the war in Iraq is not the same as being for terrorism. Indeed, it is Bush's irresponsible quagmire of a war in Iraq that has severely weakened America, that has distracted attention away from the terrorists behind 9/11 and those like them, away from security on the homefront.
Leadership for change will come from Democrats. It will come from Democrats like Ned Lamont.
According to Lamont (and, needless to say, to all of us who inhabit reality), America is "bogged down in Iraq, and hamstrung in the war against terror, by leaders who lacked judgment, historical perspective, openness to other cultures and plain old common sense". He claims -- I think justifiably -- to "offer something different".
And just in case you buy the Republican spin, and the similar Lieberman spin, that he's some sort of dove whose victory would give comfort and encouragement to America's enemies, consider this: "We start with the strongest, best-trained military in the world, and we'll keep it that way. But here's how we'll get stronger by changing course. We must work closely with our allies and treat the rest of the world with respect. We must implement the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission and put in place real protections for ports, airports, nuclear facilities and public transit."
Lamont brings a wealth of business success, as well as the perspective of a determined outsider, to his run for the Senate. I've been critical of him in the past, and I still think he needs to continue to define himself as something more than a hollow spokesman for the anti-war left, but he's absolutely right that America needs to change course. And he may well prove to be the right man in the right place at the right time.
Bush and the Republicans have had their chance. Too much of a chance. In desperation, with the prospect of defeat ahead, they will continue to claim, louder than ever, that Democrats are weak on national security and the war on terror. But being against the war in Iraq is not the same as being for terrorism. Indeed, it is Bush's irresponsible quagmire of a war in Iraq that has severely weakened America, that has distracted attention away from the terrorists behind 9/11 and those like them, away from security on the homefront.
Leadership for change will come from Democrats. It will come from Democrats like Ned Lamont.
Bruno Kirby (1949-2006)
Bruno Kirby has died.
He was a fine, fine actor who appeared in some fine, fine movies over the years -- including When Harry Met Sally...; The Freshman; Good Morning, Vietnam; City Slickers; Tin Men; This is Spinal Tap; and, best of all, The Godfather, Part II, where he played alongside Robert De Niro, the young Vito Corleone. (You can find his complete filmography here.) He was never the major star, but his memorable performances added so much to those movies and to everything else he was in.
I watched When Harry Met Sally..., one of the truly great and lasting romantic comedies, last weekend. I don't even know how many times I've seen it. Many, many times. And it's always wonderful. Although Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan are the focus, Kirby, playing Crystal's best friend, gives an invaluable supporting performance. The movie just wouldn't be the same without him. Now would be a good time to go back and appreciate, and admire, his work.
(Our guest blogger Edward Copeland has a nice post here.)
He was a fine, fine actor who appeared in some fine, fine movies over the years -- including When Harry Met Sally...; The Freshman; Good Morning, Vietnam; City Slickers; Tin Men; This is Spinal Tap; and, best of all, The Godfather, Part II, where he played alongside Robert De Niro, the young Vito Corleone. (You can find his complete filmography here.) He was never the major star, but his memorable performances added so much to those movies and to everything else he was in.
I watched When Harry Met Sally..., one of the truly great and lasting romantic comedies, last weekend. I don't even know how many times I've seen it. Many, many times. And it's always wonderful. Although Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan are the focus, Kirby, playing Crystal's best friend, gives an invaluable supporting performance. The movie just wouldn't be the same without him. Now would be a good time to go back and appreciate, and admire, his work.
(Our guest blogger Edward Copeland has a nice post here.)
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