It’s time once again for The Future American’s FAIL OF THE WEEK! Every Saturday, I name a person or group who has spent the past seven days behaving in a particularly idiotic way. Since it’s my belief that idiocy knows no politics, nobody is safe.
This week’s fail was brought to you by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA). Just yesterday, a National Journal piece on the most powerful women in Washington was hailing Feinstein, one of the five longest-serving women in Congress, for her ability to maintain her popularity in her home state and Washington — that is, if you think an electoral majority of 54.1 percent is conducive to popularity. By rejecting her newest Republican opponent’s offer of a series of debates throughout California, it’s clear that mere tenure is all Feinstein thinks she needs.
The opponent in question is Elizabeth Emken, an autism advocate hailed for her experience in private business. Emken’s campaign sent Feinstein’s campaign a polite letter suggesting that they agree to hold the debates, each of which would focus on issues unique to specific regions of the state. (I shouldn’t have to point this out, but that’s smart.) Feinstein’s campaign wasn’t impressed. In a response to the media, they mocked Emken’s “cliche” debate offer as “typical” of someone with low name recognition and lower cash on hand.
So if I’m hearing the Feinstein campaign correctly, fame and money are all an incumbent such as herself needs. I can’t entirely blame them for that mentality, since Feinstein has yet to lose. But how can they air that mentality in public and not anticipate the inevitable, and true, accusations of sheer arrogance? Their response to Emken carries a strong whiff of “Go away, little girl. I’m the senator here. Nobody questions me.” I suppose, if Emken makes a big enough stink about it, they see a chance to accuse her of whining and not focusing on the issues. But the proposed debates were nothing if not focused on the issues!
Bear in mind that Feinstein is currently polling just above 50 percent, despite all that wonderful fame and money. So what we have here is a nice Arrogance and Dismissiveness Cake, with delicious Desperation Frosting. Televised debates with Emken could very well reveal that Feinstein has been running on fumes; this not being a good year for incumbent Democrats, such a revelation could lead her to lose! GASP! SHOCK! FAINT!
On the other hand, if this isn’t arrogance, dismissiveness or desperation, it could be that Feinstein has been at this job for so long that she’s literally forgotten how to perform in a debate. If that’s the case, get practicing so we can be assured that you have ideas.
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