Yesterday’s Mystic River Press contains a front page article about the State Senate race in the 18th District between Andrew Maynard (D) and Stuart Norman (R, sort of). Andy and Stu have decided to eschew name calling and campaign through a series of joint appearances. (The Mystic River Press is not on line, so no link and you’ll have to trust me on the quote.)
Maynard, the incumbent, said the two candidates bumped into each other a few weeks ago at a legislative brekfast for real estate agents. They discussed the possibility of campaigning together with a courtous exchange of ideas and “kind of ratchet[ing] down the demonizing.”
…
Referring to his opponent as a “fine gentleman,” Maynard said that he and Norman are committed to a respectful exchange of ideas. Their debates would be marked by thoughtful discussions, and not name calling, he said.
Stu and I go pretty far back. He was a year ahead of me at Bowdoin, and I can attest that he has definitely risen in the world, or at least in esteem, being that he was a member of Beta Whatever Whatever, the animal house on campus, which means he had a way to go to become a fine gentleman. Which, I hasten to add, he most definitely is. He was also a year ahead of me at UConn Law, but as I have no particular sentimental attachment to that institution, I will let that pass.
I’m afraid their discussions will not only be civil, but also rather boring. In the world of Republicans, Stu is a wild eyed leftist. (I’ve told him on more than one occasion that he’s really a Democrat. I believe he’s even married to one) In the world of Democrats, Andy is a tad on the conservative side, at least fiscally. In other words, I don’t think they’ll disagree on much. Stu is the last of a dying breed, a rational person in a party gone mad.
So, despite the civility and our shared Alma Mater, there’s no way I’ll be voting for Stu. To both paraphrase and mangle the Bard’s Brutus, as he was superbly educated, I rejoice at it; as he has integrity, I honor him, but as he is Republican, I will not vote for him.
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