Sylvia Smith has an interesting analysis of Senator Lugar’s campaign operation, describing how he remains diligent and attentive to politics throughout his term and not just as the election approaches. She also describes how he finds common ground with potential Democratic challengers and manages to engage them in policy that is mutually beneficial to themselves and their constituents and, at the same time, serves to neutralize the likelihood that these Democrats will work too hard to unseat him in the future.
Something the analysis only touched on briefly, about which I am now curious, is how Sen. Lugar engages in this sort of bipartisanship without riling up the conservative Republicans who are usually very sensitive about their politicians consorting with “the enemy.”
(Thanks to Paul O’Malley for alerting me to the story.)
Well, from a certain perspective (mine, say) that article was all filling and no Twinkie. The bigger question is “How does Dick Lugar maintain an image of bipartanship and an 88 ACU rating for 2005″? Or how’s he have a 79 lifetime rating while scoring in the mid-to-upper 80s as the government tilted extreme right and still get fluffed as His Own Man?
Don’t get me wrong…I think he’s an honorable man who’s done some good things; I just question his credentials as a moderate, or a non-partisan consensus builder, or a particularly shrewd politician. It hasn’t been too difficult for incumbents to hold onto state offices since 1976, has it? Dan Coats turned out by Evan, Joe Kernan turned out of an office he was never voted into, that’s about it. Lugar’s no ideologue in moderate’s clothes, like McCain, but he’s no moderating force in the GOP either.
Ive always respected Sen Lugar on his military assessments,and he warned early about the quagmire awaiting in Iraq.He predicted 5-10 yr involvement,when the administration was telling us a few thugs were in the way of complete victory. I dont know what Lugar’s views are otherwise,but when I have heard him interviewed nationally invariably he talks about military issues.
He can be diffcult to pay attention to,because he speaks monotone,so maybe I missed his other subjects.
Deservedly or not, Lugar has a very strong public image of being a “rational” man. It isn’t politically strategic to be seen to be “riled up” by someone everyone perceives to be “rational.” He scared me for a few months there when he seemed to be leaning further right (entertaining the notion of running for higher office?), but has wobbled back a bit since.
What do Democrats make of this. Will they vote for the Libertarian candidate in the small hope of denying a single Senate seat to a Republican?
I know that I will not be voting for Luger.
I used to like Luger.
He has been in office far too long.
The Democrats chose not to run a candidate; luckily, The Libertarians are running a candidate.
You can check him out at:
http://www.lplp.org/candidates/html/steve_osborn.html
Mike Sylvester
I am a Democrat who just loves Lugar. I think he is very respectable and smart. He has my vote!