From the AP:
Louisiana-born porn star Stormy Daniels announced Thursday that she will not run for U.S. Senate in her home state, ending a yearlong flirtation with politics that began as Republican incumbent Sen. David Vitter was working to overcome a sex scandal.
In an e-mailed statement, Daniels said she cannot afford a run for the Senate and, comparing herself to former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, complained that the media never took her interest in the race seriously.
"To begin with, like Governor Palin, I have become a target of the cynical stalwarts of the status quo," Daniels said. "Simply because I did not fit in their mold of what an independent working woman should be, the media and political elite have sought to relegate my sense of civic responsibility to mere sideshow antics."
So. Stormy is a victim of "the cynical stalwarts of the status quo". The alliteration reminds me of the rhetoric of whoever wrote Spiro Agnew's speeches. Remember Spiro Agnew? But I digress. If Stormy's aspirations include being another Sarah Palin, it's just as well that she's not running. One Sarah Palin is enough! We don't need Sarah wannabes.
If nothing else, a Daniels campaign for the Republican nomination would have been a constant reminder of the 2007 scandal that broke when Vitter's phone number appeared in the records of a Washington prostitution ring. Other than admitting a "serious sin," he has steadfastly refused to discuss the matter.
Meanwhile, his political career seems to have survived intact. He has raised plenty of campaign money while bashing the policies of President Barack Obama, who is not popular in the state.
At the end of the latest filing period, Vitter had $5 million in campaign cash on hand, compared with $2.3 million for his Democratic rival, U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon, according to Federal Election Commission filings released Thursday by the campaigns.
Vitter may yet gain another well-known rival because former Republican state legislator James David Cain has said he may enter the race as an independent. Vitter so far has no major opposition in the GOP primary.
Vitter seems immune to ill effects from being caught consorting with prostitutes. He said he was sorry, and there have been no new charges, and that seems to be enough for his loyal supporters and contributers.
Stormy has another problem, too.
Her political story took a bizarre turn last summer when she was arrested on a domestic violence battery charge after she allegedly hit her husband at their home in Tampa, Fla., during a dispute about laundry and unpaid bills. Charges later were dropped.
I confess that Grandpère and I have had our share of disputes over laundry and various and sundry other matters (never over unpaid bills!), but our disputes are not of a violent nature. I've never beat him up. I promise.
William Safire is no longer writing speeches, but maybe Ms. Daniels could get a gig contributing to the "On Language" column in the New York Times Magazine.
ReplyDeleteWilliam Safire did the "nattering nabobs of negativism", then. I can't charge that Safire's words are forgettable, can I?
ReplyDeleteIt could be just me but I have had the impression that Paul (A.) has been very quiet the past week or so on the comment front. Paul (A.), are you allright?...
ReplyDeleteHere's the par I found about the Stormy domestic violence thing:
ReplyDeleteDaniels was charged with battery after she allegedly hit her husband, Michael Mosny, over the head with her hands. According to the police report, she was angry about a bill Mosny hadn't paid and about the way his father had done the laundry. She broke a flower pot and a few glass candle holders, threw their wedding album on the floor and allegedly hit her husband while struggling to get the car keys from him. She denied hitting him intentionally.
So, maybe if Grandpere's dad had done the laundry it would have been a different story, Mimi.