In science class I used to love, more than anything, litmus paper. How cool was that stuff? Dip it here, dip it there, and usually an no-nonsense color-coded answer would appear before your eyes. There will be lots of litmus paper around on November 2nd. We may even have enough to use it as confetti for the big celebration. I know, I know…don’t count your chickens. Still, I have a warm feeling wrapping around me like an August rain, and as my birthday falls on November 3rd, I’m issuing my wish list now.
I remember this feeling as a kid at the toy store. Decisions, decisions. There are countless races around the country that hold a lot of weight for me. Pelosi? She’s got to go and her dismissal to the political “lost-and-not-found” bin would leave me euphoric. Harry Reid? Another one I would love to see evanesce into fog off of the warm surface of the political scum pond that we are all currently treading water in.
What about the witch in Delaware? I want her to win just because. She’s not my cup of tea, really, but seems like a decent enough person and she has that single thing we need more than anything else in Washington. Core Values. Like Palin, you may not agree with them, but you’ll notice they are not for sale or subject to renovation as are the values of so many of our current political flock.
The real litmus test for me, though, will be watching our Southern neighbors try to tip over the rather large seat of Barney Frank. I’ve watched Frank over the years morph from the consummate Massachusetts democrat, and not a bad guy in those days, to some kind of political Sasquatch who mostly likes to run and hide in the thick underbrush when challenged, or simply trample those that challenge him. He is challenged this year by the formidable Sean Bielat. Marine, smart guy, well spoken, but most importantly, that “regular guy” air that is carrying most of our new breed of politician into office.
I watched the two of them the other night square off in a quick debate on Fox 25 News. Even if I had no idea who Frank was, it was a slap down. Bielat…calm, collected, concise. Frank…sweating, shaking and denying. It’s hard to believe there’s even a race here. I would vote for an exceptionally smart German Sheppard over Frank, and the dog could simply bark out his yes or no votes. Barney has become the black dinosaur, not the purple one. He appears bitter and mean, always condescending to those who would question any of his deeds while in office. He sweeps off the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac debacle, still blaming the Republicans while admitting that he did indeed let the whole thing slip by him. Because he was in the minority at the time, he claims there would have been nothing he could do anyway. Not the kind of guy you want to be stranded on an island with.
He is the classic example of politician-turned-barnacle and we need to scrape him of the hull with a huge putty knife. The good folks of Massachusetts surprised us once already with the election of Scott Brown. Were it not for that event, I wouldn’t let myself hope that Barney Frank could get ousted. Yet, there is hope, and if anyone in Massachusetts is still wondering what I’d like for my birthday? Watching Barney Frank become inconsequential. Make a wish and blow!