Roemer's Fifteen Minutes
Buddy: "Can you spare a dime?"
The former guvnah took his case to
MSNBC (transcript) and
The Daily Show (video), and...well, for one thing, he's certainly the least batshit insane Republican candidate by a long shot. He seemed to get along comfortably with Maddow and Stewart, and vice versa.
Hell, you could make the case he's not insane at all, except that...he's running as a Republican.
I'm sympathetic to what's become, for better or worse, his single issue, campaign finance reform. Buddy's recycling Jerry Brown's 1992 pledge of no contributions over $100, and you could do worse...that said, he's been shut out of the "debate," and on a more serious note...well, I try to emphasize pictures over text in my posts, but to jot down a few thoughts:
I remember Buddy in 1987 -- similarly flying below the radar, but talking a good game ("a revolution in Loosiana!") before mysteriously closing in the last week (I've heard something that I could elaborate on in comments...don't know if it's true, but maybe it could be), outpointing Edwin in the open primary, and then walking into the mansion when Edwards ceded without a runoff (a smart move on Edwards' part in retrospect). However, the revolution ("change"?) stalled, there were some personal problems/issues (by this time I'd moved to Madison and was out of the loop...but at least I had a job); anyway, Buddy became odd man out in the Lizard-versus-the-Wizard (Edwin/David Duke) election in 1991...
And I get the feeling that, even IF he could somehow break loose -- and I'd say he's got better odds winning Powerball...and winning again...but -- IF he somehow moved heaven and earth...it wouldn't be any different. Sigh.
Maybe I'm just older...and more cynical. Or maybe I'm just realistic...though, on the other hand, it IS nice to see a Republican candidate for office not implying, actively or tacitly, that liberalism is akin to treason. Also, full disclosure: I voted for Buddy in '87 (he was still a Democrat).
If he somehow worked the miracle, no, I wouldn't vote for him against Obama, but it would be a sign that maybe the Rethugs finally opted out of insanity...but I don't play Powerball, and won't hold my breath.