The Second Most Important National Election

What times we live in. Not only do we have the opportunity to send the petulant, preening and pompous John McCain back to Arizona so we can then take his Senate seat in 2010. But another race with almost as consequential national implications will take place this election day.

It is the U.S. Senate race in Kentucky.

We have the chance to send Senator Mitch McConnell, a man who does to legislation what an over-absorption of water in the colon does to the digestive system, back home to Washington...er Kentucky forever. And you can't imagine how much this would improve the odds of getting progressive legislation through the U.S. Senate.

McConnell is a master of two things--mostly due to a seemingly sick obsession with both--raising money from his corporate homies and blocking bills that would help non-twelve-house-possessing Americans make their lives just a little better.

In his opponent, we have businessman Bruce Lunsford, and what a few weeks it has been for him. Polling now shows the race is tied, the DSCC seeing this, has jumped into the race with funding for ads, and even a prominent Republican in Kentucky has come out for in favor of Lunsford. Add in an endorsement from the state's largest newspaper and that is what you call Big Mo.

Meanwhile, McConnell's slavish devotion to corporate America and the role he played in this financial crisis are being laid bare for all to see. As is his addiction to power for it's own sake.

Some Democrats--including your humble author--have in the past expressed concerns about Lunsford. Well, I can tell you, that I could not support any candidate more strongly than I do Bruce Lunsford in this race. Sure, he made a few mistakes in the past in supporting Republicans, but this particular writer once gave a small donation to McCain (in 2000) and voted for Rudy Giuliani (1997).

I had to write a book to feel redeemed for the former. Lunsford can have his chance for redemption as a U.S. Senator.

Lunsford, as he told me when we recently spoke, supports the redeployment of our troops from Iraq and universal access to healthcare, opposes tax breaks for oil companies and privatization of Social Security. He's in favor of "Country of Origin" labeling, an economically populist position that puts small American farmers before agribusiness conglomerates--or part of McConnell's base, if you will. You wanna guess how McConnell stands on all of these things? I'll give you a hint. He still thinks going to war in Iraq was the right thing to do, and overall has voted with President Bush 95% of the time.

95%!

It is simple really. McConnell puts big business first, second, third and fourth through 147th. Lunsford's plan puts middle class Kentuckians, and American workers, first. As Lunsford put it, in a turn of phrase that could not be more apt, Republicans like McConnell want to "privatize the profits and socialize the losses" in our economy. McConnell is the very embodiment of this anti-American credo, as one can see in his record of selling American economic interests out to China.

A Senate with Lunsford and without McConnell will be much, much more progressive. Progressives should do whatever they can--knock on doors, email friends, yell from the mountain tops!--to make sure this happens.

Comments

[Vindictive502]

I'm a resident of Kentucky and Mitch McConnell is like our state's McCain. I have never voted for him and that won't change next Tuesday.

[KitChandler]

If McConnell's is the second most import race in the country, then the race for Sax B Chambliss' seat is third on that list.

That the people of his state picked him over Max Cleland is something I'm still unable to understand.

[Wilbur]

Apparently you've never been to Georgia.

Wilbur

[JRsNana]

This would be absolutely the second best thing that could happen on Nov 4th. The major obstructionist to anything even smelling of progressiveness would be gone! We cannot be complacent. We cannot let down our guard and start popping the champagne just yet. Lots of work to do in the next two weeks. I'm putting my check to Lunsford in the mail first thing in the morning.

[LanguagePolice]

"Also, a group of labor unions called Truth from American Workers is running a 60-second ad on small radio stations in Western Kentucky blaming McConnell for the nation's financial woes."

I love it.

[Chicagowill]

I hope you are right because we need to get this country off the dime. I do not mind negotiating with the congress when they can negotiate in good faith, but McConnell does not understand good faith any more than W does. However, when will we see this sentiment reflected in the numbers on fivethirty­eight.com?

I have put my money where my mouth is, giving several hundred dollars to the DSCC.

[ewoman]

Cliff, I feel honored to be able to vote for Lunsford vs. McConnell this year. Honored, I tell you. I feel as though I'm a huge part of history, just with one vote.

[lwfky]

I'm a resident of Kentucky, and believe me, if Obama wins and Mitch is ditched, all my dreams will have come true!

[TXfemmom]

That would have to be the frosting on the cake. Take down the Republicans in the White House, Senate and the House, and get to see McConnell go bye bye.

[jean1]

i am in KY. it IS possible to vote NOW; figure out where you are going to be out of town on nov 4th. have to go to courthouse ( i assume in all counties) and fill out paper saying you are going to be out of town, sign it and VOTE. ENOUGH! yes, that is code for DITCH MITCH. i encourage ALL Kentuckians reading here plan your dr's visit, etc for nov 4 and VOTE NOW.

[kjstjohn]

Here is the link to ActBlue for Bruce Lunsford (McConnell's opponent):

http://www.actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/20008

[Mikecoatl]

I wish Mr. Lunsford the best of luck! I cast a ballot today for Rick Noriega. Maybe we can get rid of Cornyn, too!

http://ricknoriega.com/

[billwetzel]

Rock on, Cliff.

[lejman]

on the crest of a giant wave, the real americans get swept out of office. the only things that can stop the tsunami are voter machines created and manufactured by real americans.

nbc/wsj obama/biden +10%!!! pew + 12%!!! still the pundits and newsreading commentators preach a nailbiter. gotta keep those ratings up.

[Lorifromky]

DITCH MITCH!