The Joe Kerr thing
If Democrats REALLY wanna scapegoat someone ...
So folks in this area continue to discuss the CA-40 congressional race, which was pretty much designed under Prop 50 terms to result in two Republicans battling to the death inside a steel cage with hamsters, cheeseburgers and those miniature Slurpees everyone loves.
Wait.
Where was I?
Right—CA-40. So the latest results have been offered up, and they’re pretty interesting …
First, because we’ve predictably wound up with the two leading Republicans, who will (truly) use the next four months to spend millions of dollars beating one another up with mailings that will drive all of us to drink.
Second, it’ll be fascinating to watch Young Kim now shift back from I-love-MAGA! to I’m-the-centrist-y’all-love! now that the primary is over and she needs to woo … us. To quote KISS, “I’ve gotta laugh, because I know I’m gonna die.” Like, it’s actually funny, in that pathetic sort of way.
Third, Joe Kerr has landed 16,491 votes. And since I’ve promised y’all that the lead Democrat’s name will never again appear on this site, I’ll just say … hmm … the LA Interloper Ice Cream Truck Person of Interest Who Continues to Blather Incoherently on Instagram at a Staggering Pace should maybe stop solo-bashing Lisa Ramirez.
Hell, if I’m Ramirez and/or the LA Interloper Ice Cream Truck Person of Interest Who Continues to Blather Incoherently on Instagram at a Staggering Pace, I look at Kerr’s totals and think, “Why, Joe? Why?”
And I’m not mad at Kerr, because (truly) this district was created for Republicans to win. But, if we’re being honest, bro never had a realistic shot. And, if we’re also being honest, the majority of those 16,491 probably go to Lisa, not the LA Interloper Ice Cream Truck Person of Interest Who Continues to Blather Incoherently on Instagram at a Staggering Pace. Why, I’ll note that in the heat of the race, a Lisa supporter/political guru told me Kerr’s presence was profoundly hurting L.R., who lacked the LA Interloper Ice Cream Truck Person of Interest Who Continues to Blather Incoherently on Instagram at a Staggering Pace’s money, but dominated in likability and zest.
I don’t disagree.
•••
To be clear, Joe is a good dude. But also to be clear, going forward I’d like to see more of our candidates ask themselves, “What’s my purpose here?”
What I mean is, are you in it because running is fun and you’re bored? Are you in it because of ego? Are you in it because you want to make changes? Are you in it to make speeches? To eat free chicken? To legitimately win?
To enter politics, you have to have a big head. It’s true, and anyone who disagrees is likely a political figure with a big head. But, deep down, you also have to be able to self-assess and ask yourself the important questions.
Namely, can I triumph?
And, also namely, am I causing other decent people to lose?
1. Word. The hubris he and others showed in this and other races really were awful.
2. Maybe the LAIICTPOIWCTBIOIAASP could have done some introspection too. Brilliant political mind that she is, I saw where she’s started a PAC and rather than help her fellow Californians have representation in Congress, her first act is to give money to a race in Florida.
Kerr also soaked up labor endorsements, which didn't really net him volunteers or money in a serious way because of his previous poor performances making an R/R outcome seem fait accompli — but it did keep them from Ramirez (EKV is reportedly actively hostile to labor and gave a poor showing at the OCLF). The votes for him at the CA Dems conference (Ramirez placed first, Kerr second, EKV third) also would have pushed LR over the top for the DP endorsement. All of that money and time could have gone to help consolidate behind LR and win Dems a shot, but it didn't because of Kerr. IMO he is the villain here (as likeable and harmless a guy he is personally), because his candidacy prevented Dems & Labor from consolidating behind LR which would have also marginalized EKV.