Mark Dayton

I need to keep peeps up to date on Minnesota news. U.S. Senator Mark Dayton announced earlier this week he would not seek reelection. Dayton was concerned about his ability to raise funds and, I think, his odds of winning the seat for Democrats.

In reflection upon his announcement, I am saddened by several things:

1. The amount of money it takes to win an election, regardless of your
affiliation. Mark estimated he needed $15 million, while it is
estimated that $40 million will flow in for the Republican candidate.
So, you either have to be personally wealthy, sell your self to
special interest, tap into party funds at a state and national level,
or perform a miracle of outreach to the indifferent masses. Many
average people resent Mark for his personal wealth and ivy league
education, ignoring the fact that he has dedicated his life to civil
service and selflessly invested his time and money to improve the
lives of those who have less. To me, that seems honorable, not
despicable.

2. Debased ad hominem attacks and shitty media coverage. Mudslinging
is always effective. People are ignorant and eager to grasp onto
incendiary dollops of hearsay. The masses love tabloid headline news
about putative personal idiosyncrasies, which they consider more
important and more representative of a person's character than
politically germane ideas and actions directly affecting lives. The
masses will remember Mark's solo action of evacuating his Capitol Hill
office in October in response to a possible terrorist threat. People
will remember Mark calling Condi Rice a liar. Most of all, people will
draw from their vague memories a sense that Mark was a strange fellow,
uncomfortable in the spotlight, awkward around people, maladroit when
speaking.

3. Unctuous style always defeats dry substance. Ahem, Norm Coleman.