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The Tao of Cao: a *Iighthearted* view of how to SWITCH PARTIES!
Did you know that Republican biggies like Cantor (who made Republican unanimity his crusade at the Bachmannalia "press event" last week) sat right next to Cao before his vote to intimidate him?
Cao was about to make a fool out of Cantor, who in believing his own bombast was not realistic about the heavily African-American district where Cao lived, and maybe hadn't expected that nervy noon phone call from the African-American President to the Vietnamese-American Congressman.
The thing is that Cao can easily switch parties and presumably should as he's a long shot now. Popular accounts are that Cao's district is 75% to 85% Democrat (bear in mind, though, he's strongly pro-life). Rahm went "all out" to get his yes vote (which Cao silently cast at last moment by hitting the button unnoticed while Dems were raucously applauding the just-reached threshold of 218). If he switches, Rahm and Dems can probably protect him from a Dem. challenge in 2010. If he stays, the GOP can't protect him from a wingnut challenge by Club for Growth, etc., whereas in a general, he can lose to almost any Dem. I was trying to figure out if Repubs have a primary and whether it's a closed primary; does anybody know? Probably not as scheduled right now, but there is always a way to inject an opponent as in NY 23. The greater risk is that even Club for Growth may accept they can't win that district, so if Cao wants someone to push him into switching parties for job-security reasons, he may need to manufacture something devious.
Simple as pie!
Provoke public Republican fury, and then, mortified, leave the party in a huff -- tsk-tsk-ing all the way! Among the cruder strategies:
(1) harshly attack Limbaugh, Club for Growth and Palin, and await the reaction. Shouldn't take long, and the "reaction" may very well come as early as early as Monday anyway BTW, so he may not even need to provoke it. (You wonder if the GOP has been on the horn to Limbaugh imploring him to STFU about this, or how much he'd even listen.)
(2) Cao goes on TV and say that the reaction is appalling and claim that even he believes Jim De Mint and Bachmann are agreeing with him and are also somehow denouncing the Tea Parties as far as he knows (i.e., douse the flame with high-grade jet fuel) and *demand* that party leaders issue a statement of support, while saying in a wounded way that many leading Republicans recognize that Limbaugh is a fat, uneducated, drug addict.
(3) Base, Limbaugh, and whoever else all go bananas! (3a) [OPTIONAL, for amusement only] get Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton to say the Republican Party needs more diverse voices like Cao's, (3b) [OPTIONAL, for amusement only ] visits to the District by Bill Clinton and/or Joe Biden to publicly call for Republicans to show understanding of brave Cao and encouraging Cao to be an even more independent voice in Republican Party (maybe in an inner city Rally in heavily black N'awlins itself.) (3c) [OPTIONAL for amusement only] when Fox tries to interview Cao, say he can't talk to Fox because he tends to agree with White House that Fox is not news and ask them on behalf of his concerned constituents if Glenn Beck will step down why is Chris Wallace being so unprofessional in arguing with WH? (3d) [OPTIONAL, for amusement only, only with (3c) launched first] Cao urges a statement of support from Richard B. Cheney and says he believes Cheney should back him as conciliatory gesture even if Cheney's war record will always remain a question mark, as will his Grand Jury testimony. (3e) [OPTIONAL, for amusement only] praise Michael Steele for as a man who has always celebrated the vital role that ethnic minorities play in he Republican Party and given them special treatment, and watch that one take off...
(4) With the unfortunate shitstorm raging, which Dems formally calls Cao (as he realizes, boo-hoo that Republican "big tent" was just not there for him after all)? Steny Hoyer? Pelosi herself? I tried to think of a Southern Democrat who could, without damaging himself/herself. No ideas for the moment.
Anyhow, it's like 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover: there's almost no end to Cao's possible techniques! And he can explain bittersweetly to his constituents that he was forced into it, but on the good side, he'll be able to do more now to benefit them.
For now, Cao is darkly reprising the Charles Bronson vigilante character from Death Wish:
Repubs: We want more control of the voting from that unruly seat!!
Cao: "You'll have to take it."
UPDATE: The truth is always struggling to get out our mouths and it takes a substantial and constant effort to contain it. Cao was able to say little about the real reason for voting aye for the first six and a half minutes of this video but around 6:30 he spills the beans, or some of them: he has worked with Obama on Katrina reconstruction and thinks he can get more aid for New Orleans by playing along, and also for the Vietnamese community nationwide. In addition to not being tarred and feathered in his heavily Democrat district, that is.
Cao was about to make a fool out of Cantor, who in believing his own bombast was not realistic about the heavily African-American district where Cao lived, and maybe hadn't expected that nervy noon phone call from the African-American President to the Vietnamese-American Congressman.
The thing is that Cao can easily switch parties and presumably should as he's a long shot now. Popular accounts are that Cao's district is 75% to 85% Democrat (bear in mind, though, he's strongly pro-life). Rahm went "all out" to get his yes vote (which Cao silently cast at last moment by hitting the button unnoticed while Dems were raucously applauding the just-reached threshold of 218). If he switches, Rahm and Dems can probably protect him from a Dem. challenge in 2010. If he stays, the GOP can't protect him from a wingnut challenge by Club for Growth, etc., whereas in a general, he can lose to almost any Dem. I was trying to figure out if Repubs have a primary and whether it's a closed primary; does anybody know? Probably not as scheduled right now, but there is always a way to inject an opponent as in NY 23. The greater risk is that even Club for Growth may accept they can't win that district, so if Cao wants someone to push him into switching parties for job-security reasons, he may need to manufacture something devious.Simple as pie!
Provoke public Republican fury, and then, mortified, leave the party in a huff -- tsk-tsk-ing all the way! Among the cruder strategies:
(1) harshly attack Limbaugh, Club for Growth and Palin, and await the reaction. Shouldn't take long, and the "reaction" may very well come as early as early as Monday anyway BTW, so he may not even need to provoke it. (You wonder if the GOP has been on the horn to Limbaugh imploring him to STFU about this, or how much he'd even listen.)
(2) Cao goes on TV and say that the reaction is appalling and claim that even he believes Jim De Mint and Bachmann are agreeing with him and are also somehow denouncing the Tea Parties as far as he knows (i.e., douse the flame with high-grade jet fuel) and *demand* that party leaders issue a statement of support, while saying in a wounded way that many leading Republicans recognize that Limbaugh is a fat, uneducated, drug addict.
(3) Base, Limbaugh, and whoever else all go bananas! (3a) [OPTIONAL, for amusement only] get Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton to say the Republican Party needs more diverse voices like Cao's, (3b) [OPTIONAL, for amusement only ] visits to the District by Bill Clinton and/or Joe Biden to publicly call for Republicans to show understanding of brave Cao and encouraging Cao to be an even more independent voice in Republican Party (maybe in an inner city Rally in heavily black N'awlins itself.) (3c) [OPTIONAL for amusement only] when Fox tries to interview Cao, say he can't talk to Fox because he tends to agree with White House that Fox is not news and ask them on behalf of his concerned constituents if Glenn Beck will step down why is Chris Wallace being so unprofessional in arguing with WH? (3d) [OPTIONAL, for amusement only, only with (3c) launched first] Cao urges a statement of support from Richard B. Cheney and says he believes Cheney should back him as conciliatory gesture even if Cheney's war record will always remain a question mark, as will his Grand Jury testimony. (3e) [OPTIONAL, for amusement only] praise Michael Steele for as a man who has always celebrated the vital role that ethnic minorities play in he Republican Party and given them special treatment, and watch that one take off...
(4) With the unfortunate shitstorm raging, which Dems formally calls Cao (as he realizes, boo-hoo that Republican "big tent" was just not there for him after all)? Steny Hoyer? Pelosi herself? I tried to think of a Southern Democrat who could, without damaging himself/herself. No ideas for the moment.
Anyhow, it's like 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover: there's almost no end to Cao's possible techniques! And he can explain bittersweetly to his constituents that he was forced into it, but on the good side, he'll be able to do more now to benefit them.
For now, Cao is darkly reprising the Charles Bronson vigilante character from Death Wish:
Repubs: We want more control of the voting from that unruly seat!!
Cao: "You'll have to take it."
UPDATE: The truth is always struggling to get out our mouths and it takes a substantial and constant effort to contain it. Cao was able to say little about the real reason for voting aye for the first six and a half minutes of this video but around 6:30 he spills the beans, or some of them: he has worked with Obama on Katrina reconstruction and thinks he can get more aid for New Orleans by playing along, and also for the Vietnamese community nationwide. In addition to not being tarred and feathered in his heavily Democrat district, that is.
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Well OT Cantor stood before the wingnutz marching through Congress on Thursday and guaranteed them that there would not be one single republican vote for the House health care reform bill. So, I guess that's why he was sitting by Cao trying to intimidate him because his vote in favor of the bill meant Cantor's guarantee was not worth very much.
I agree if he wants to stay in office, switching parties may be in his future. I am guessing that his experience in congress has probably made him reconsider his party affiliation anyway... watching republican leadership stand in front of wingnutz saying ridiculous things and putting pressure on him to support their outrageous rhetoric.
November 8, 2009 8:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, Synch, I tried to note Cantor's pledge that in my Bachamanalia opening. You know what, though: Cantor "guaranteed" only that he would do everything to get that result, not that he actually could even though he tried to make it sound that way. It was deceptive. He hedged slightly, probably a little worried about Cao who has been hinting at this at least since August (and maybe other people?).
Speaking of pressure, as you say: Can you imagine being Cao and having this creep sit down next to you to bully you? How to not win friends.
November 8, 2009 8:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
I just snuck in something about Cantor in my blog.
Cao: a modern day Alcibiades. hahahah
November 8, 2009 8:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanx DD
I just spent the last 45 minutes reading the on Alcibiades. Now I know more about the man then ever before.
I did a little reading on Cao before posting my short blog earlier today. Seems he was headed for a priesthood in the Catholic church. Hence his rigged anti choice. One must keep in mind that his district has a large Catholic population and it is those constituents he is voting for. I am sure the man is no fool and we will never see him spouting any of that tea bagger nonsense. We just might add another member to the left side if somehow his anti-choice position could be accommodated; not likely.
M. Paul
November 8, 2009 10:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Progressivepunch.org as cached on Oct. 31 reports that Cao voted with progressives 10% of the time in crucial votes adn 40% of the time generally. He comes from a strong Democratic district. In short, he's way more conservative than most Blue Dogs.
November 8, 2009 10:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Interesting, AJM! If he's comfortable with this, and if the wingnuts who can't win his district will leave him alone, well, he can stay Republican and he's a long shot for re-election in 2010 unless the Dems just lay down and let him have the seat this time around? Could Rahm have somehow have engineered *that* for his bipartisanship-luvin' boss, you have to wonder? The Louisiana Dem. machine probably is strong enough to deliver that to Rahm for one cycle if he really sought it out.
If Cao wants to switch parties, I think Dems can stomach his pro-life views in that Catholic district, but he has to chuck everything else and vote as a reliable Dem *more* often than Blue Dogs. Because even Dems would cover him from left wing challenge in 2010, in 2012 he'll still be exposed unless he delivers for the District's many Dems. May need him to switch pretty soon to make that happen, though. Hopefully Limbaugh et al will help jumpstart that by lighting into him today and tomorrow and making the work easy for him.
Come to think of it, I guess WH can always just beam him up and make him U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam!
November 9, 2009 4:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
That was a fun read, OT...thank you. I was in a bit of a pissy mood and you made me laugh. Enjoyed and rec'd.
November 9, 2009 12:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks, Stilli. Very glad to have made you laugh!
November 9, 2009 4:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
My reaction is still that with prospective 'friends' like Cao, who needs enemies?
His training and instincts led him to the Republican party ... why would I want his input in what the Democrats do?
And, yeah, a weak candidate is probably what Obama and company promised him.
November 9, 2009 10:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
All very reasonable. If left to its own, the seat goes left Dem. I were Cao, I might be doing some fancy talking right now trying to ingratiate myself with Rahm. Thank you for your, as always, educated perspective.
November 9, 2009 2:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm not certain, but I think Louisiana has no primaries, instead relying on automatic run-offs. These often result in some very strange elections. (This is based on recollection of particular elections, however, and might vary from region to region.)
November 9, 2009 12:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hmmmmm... Thanks!
November 9, 2009 2:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
...he has worked with Obama on Katrina reconstruction and thinks he can get more aid for New Orleans by playing along, and also for the Vietnamese community nationwide.
You make it sound as if the GOp did nothing to rebuild New Orleans after Katrina ... oh, wait a minute....
November 9, 2009 2:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ah, Greg! =D
I can think of other posters who may have made this "catch," but very good all the same! LOL!
November 9, 2009 4:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, it seems like there are primaries at least in the first district -- Bobby "We can do any-thing!" Jindal's old seat, http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2008/03/congressional_primary_saturday.html
and indeed Cao's district, the second. http://host1.bondware.com/~Louisiana_Weekly/news.php?viewStory=1600
Whew! We are getting pretty deep into the weeds here!
November 9, 2009 2:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good catch, sorry to have steered you wrong. In trying to clean up my memories, I did a little Googling, and I'm more confused than ever. I distinctly remember when Jefferson won re-election in 2006, after the freezer event, I chalked it up to the crazy run-off system. I now see that Cao beat Jefferson in a regular general election in 2008.
*Googles a little more, followed by some Wikipediaing*
OK, I was just plain confused. The 2006 election was a special case. A lot of Democrats jumped into the election post-primary because of the freezer event, but Jefferson won anyways.
November 9, 2009 3:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Spicy cuisine; spicy politics! Nebton, I had a roughly identical experience; "sorry" is not appropriate. It maybe be confusing to us because it is confused. Whassat? Democrats "jumped in" after the primary??
LOL! Like they say in the Quarter, "That's just natchu'lly N'awlins!"
November 9, 2009 3:44 PM | Reply | Permalink