Harris Miller's "Through the Looking Glass" Letter

By: Lowell
Published On: 6/6/2006 7:03:32 AM

Contrariwise," continued Tweedledee, "if it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be; but as it isn't, it ain't. That's logic."

"That's the effect of living backwards," the Queen said kindly: "it always makes one a little giddy at first-----"

In Lewis Carroll's classic, "Through the Looking Glass," there are numerous mirror themes, including opposites, time running backwards, etc. Up is down, front is back, forwards is backwards.

And so, it seems, in the world of one Alice...er, Harris N. Miller, currently busy seeking the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate here in Virginia.  As I read the Miller campaign's latest fundraising letter, I kept thinking of "Alice in Wonderland." Have we now entered some weird parallel universe, or what?  Check this out:

"Jim Webb has spent considerable time and energy on his onslaught of negative spam emails.  But it is not working.  Despite his barrage of vicious smears, polls show that this race is too close to call.

Huh?
A few comments.  First, Jim Webb has sent out "negative spam emails?"  What on earth?  Where are they, I'd love to see them!  Second, "vicious smears?"  You mean, like having surrogates call your opponent a misognyst, racist, etc?  How has Jim Webb smeared you, Mr. Miller?  By telling the truth about your corporate lobbyist record? Finally, "polls show that this race is too close to call?"  What polls?  Do you know something the rest of us don't, Harris?  Are you talking about the misleading, possibly illegal, poll that your campaign is alleged to have conducted, and is now under investigation by the FEC?

The letter gets weirder.  How about this?

The truth is that some voters will be casting a vote in the Democratic Primary as a way to support George Allen...I sincerely believe that my opponent's candidacy could have serious unintended consequence [sic] of helping to ensure George Allen's reelection in November.

That is really the only scenario that has me losing the primary - if enough Republicans cross over to vote in our primary with no intention of supporting the Democratic nominee in November then Webb could win.

Huh?  Through the looking glass, indeed.  Republicans are going to cross over to vote for Jim Webb because they think that Harris Miller is the stronger candidate against George Allen this November?  Whaaaaaaaaaat?  Seriously, that's completely bonkers.  Does anyone out there know a SINGLE Republican who is planning to do that?  Does anyone out there know a SINGLE George Allen supporter who isn't hoping, praying for a Harris Miller victory on June 13?  Maybe in the mind of Harris Miller, just like he wasn't REALLY a leader in outsourcing of American jobs, but nowhere else. 

Finally, another bizarre statement:

We have created a grassroots organization that will continue to grow and sustain a winning effort in the fall.  Our team of  volunteers and activists will benefit every Democrat running in November.

Holy Humpty Dumpty, Alice! What is Harris Miller talking about?  Look, let's just stipulate that Harris Miller has run a professional campaign.  But "grassroots organization?"  What "grassroots organization?"  Harris, are you referring to Jim Webb's 2,500+ volunteers again?  Is that the "team" you mean?  It must be, since Webb has about  50 times the number of volunteers you've got. 

As to your bizarre final point, that if you're nominated it will HELP Democrats running this year in Virginia, that's the ultimate "through the looking glass" assertion.  In fact, I just talked the other day to a Democratic candidate for Congress who told me point blank that "Jim Webb on the ballot means an extra 5-10 points for all of us."  I've heard from numerous sources that other Democratic Congressional candidates feel the same way.  Once again, what are you talking about Alice...er, Harris?

OK, back from the land of "Tweedledum and Tweedledee," "Looking-Glass Insects," and "Queen Alice."  If you want the strongest Democratic candidate on the ballot this November, you need to get out there right now and support Jim Webb for U.S. Senate on June 13!  Phone bank.  Hand out flyers at Metro stops and other public places.  Call everyone you know, friends and family, and get 2, 5, 10 extra people to vote next Tuesday.  Send money to help Jim Webb fight back.  Then, on June 14, we'll stop talking about this "Mad Tea Party" of a primary and start talking about throwing George Allen into "The Pool of Tears."

Comments



fix this sentence (teacherken - 6/6/2006 7:48:00 AM)
right below the block quote on Republicans voting in Dem primary.  You write
Republicans are going to cross over to vote for Harris Miller because they think that HE is the stronger candidate against George Allen this November?

it doesn't seem to go with the point you are trying to make.



Fixed...too early in the morning. (Lowell - 6/6/2006 7:52:48 AM)
And I'm really tired from all this.  Ugh.  Can't wait until June 14, then I retire.


no you don't - you get ONE DAY off (teacherken - 6/6/2006 7:53:56 AM)
and then it is back to work for the general.  It is going to be a long and hard slog.


Not if I keep getting bashed (Lowell - 6/6/2006 7:55:09 AM)
And not if, God forbid, Harris Miller wins.  In that case, my days in politics are over.


hey, you want to talk about bashing (teacherken - 6/6/2006 8:10:41 AM)
I spent 90 minutes yesterday with a reporter from Chicago Tribune who covering Yearlykos and who had been put on to me by Gov. Vilsack, whom he knows from days working for DesMoines Register.  I probably should have waited until my "pundit training" at Ykos on Thursday morning, but I have a tight schedule in LV, and I was taking a break from grading final exams.  It went on far longer than either of us expected.  And I realize that the coverage those of us on panels at Ykos will have will inevitably that we will get bashed all over by not only Republicans, but quite conceivably DLC types as well.  Oh well,  while I am sensitive, I try to direct that towards the needs and feelings of my students.  If I upset people like the DLC, too bad -- they've been upsetting me with how badly they have messed things up in this country.


And we get bashed by people (Lowell - 6/6/2006 8:42:08 AM)
on the far left as well, plus people who just don't like us, plus people who are really really stupid, plus people who are jealous of our successes and want to tear us down, plus people who are just plain sadistic, plus...  Ain't life grand?


You should check out FreeRepublic (PaulVa - 6/6/2006 9:09:54 AM)
And do a search under "James Webb."  There are some Freepers who are looking to vote in the Dem Primary for Harris Miller because he's the WEAKER candidate and one or two who actually are crossing over to vote for Webb because they like his military background.

 



Lowell, this is so good!! (summercat - 6/6/2006 2:47:10 PM)
Miller really seems to be getting delusional--his tendencies toward projection which were beginning to be manifested the first time he presented Jim Webb as not a Democrat have now taken him over, it would seem.  Hopefully when the  primary is over, (Karl Rove/Swiftboat wannabe) Miller will be able to get some rest and/or professional help.  Or whoever dreamed up this bizarre stuff will.


That's just nuts (TurnVirginiaBlue - 6/6/2006 2:55:05 PM)
What a work of fiction.

I don't believe for a second Webb is doing "negative spam emails".