Why the Mass GOP Should Consider "Schilling" a Ball Player for Senate
With the recent announcement on the part of Senator John Kerry that he will not run for the Presidency in 2008, it has stirred up a lot of interest on our side of the aisle as to whom we should throw up against him for his Senate seat.
If he decides to run, I'd be very likely to back Curt Schilling as the GOP nominee.
I know, a lot of people may take exception to our running a guy with no political experience like Shilling for not only a powerful position in the US Government, but for a seat that actually may be as vulnerable as John Kerry's is.
If you're one of those folks you have a point. After all, Kerry is indeed vulnerable. Wouldn't it be wise to strike while the iron is hot and not blow our wad on a candidate with as little qualifications as Curt Schilling has.
Allow me to make the case.
Here is the current state of affairs: John Kerry is in a very weakened state after not only losing his Presidential quest in 2004, but also in his own self-burial in the time since then, taking full advantage of every opportunity he's had to make an idiot out of himself. 
In fact, he has handled himself so poorly, that running for the White House in 2008 would likely be a detriment to his party, even in such a crowded and comedic field as the Democratic field for 2008 is.
Kerry has not only been lambasted for his off-beat stances on many issues of the day, but has also morphed into everything we love to hate about Democrats in general. He has an incredible penchant for pomposity and has the preachy, if not utterly condescending tone that contributes to the overall perception that he's altogether, insincere. He's the epitome of leftist elitism and a lightning rod for criticism, even from those who share many of his beliefs.
His level of commitment to his home state is a perfect example of what NOT to do if you're a US Senator and coupled with the reasons mentioned above, he may be ripe for the picking, even in an as Democratically-inclined state as Massachusetts.
The Republican Party in Massachusetts is teetering on extinction. Altogether, the MassGOP makes up only 13% of the registered voting population. The Massachusetts Governor's office was the last bastion of hope to many Conservatives who had otherwise been purged and repeatedly and in some cases, have been brutally beaten back by the nearly invincible Democratic Machine that dominates Massachusetts politics.
Party enrollment is at an all time low. While some Republicans can take solace in the fact that Democratic numbers haven't exactly been exploding either, the state GOP has had little success in recruiting those who identify themselves as independents, despite enjoying considerable support from them in past Gubernatorial elections.
Which brings us to today and why Curt Schilling should be the Republican Nominee to challenge John Kerry in 2008.
1.) CREATING A BUZZ-- It's been forever and then some since Republicans in this state had a magnet for publicity like a Schilling candidacy would be. Being a Republican in Massachusetts would be 'cool' again and inject some much needed energy into a State party that badly needs it.
2.) INDEPENDENT APPEAL-- With party numbers dwindling on both sides, a Schilling Candidacy would appeal to those who are otherwise apathetic towards the political process at best. Signing them up and engaging them in the political process would be nothing but a win for the state GOP before any votes are counted. We need numbers and a Schilling candidacy would help boost party membership.
3.) A SHOT IN THE ARM TO THE LOCALS-- If he does run and assuming he wins the nomination, if I were Peter Torkildsen, I'd be sure to inject Schilling's star power into every state legislative race I possibly could. People would show up to see Schilling and as a result, local candidates he supports would receive a rub as well, and likely a strong showing at the polls. It's free publicity for even candidates running for state representative.
4.) CONSERVATION-- Yes, there are more qualified candidates than Curt Schilling for the United States Senate. However, why waste them in a race where they'd likely get beat? This keeps the Kerry Healey's, Charlie Baker's, Andy Card's and Reed Hillman's on the sidelines, but keeps them warm for possible congressional campaigns and or the governor's office in 2010. Taking on John Kerry, even a vulnerable John Kerry, would be a risky proposition for the average state Republican candidate. Sadly, good candidates like Healey and Hillman for example, are a loss away from political oblivion. Why not play our cards smart and run them when the political climate would be most favorable to them, rather than risk them against Kerry?
5.) CONTRAST-- The best chance the MassGOP has of beating Kerry is to run someone who would be his polar opposite. Schilling is a ball player, Kerry is a player. Schilling is disheveled and otherwise unkempt and ordinary, Kerry uses more hair spray then all the members of Poison combined. Schilling has appeal with the 'little guy' not just on his appearance and name recognition, but how he delivers his policy stances. He'd be real, not the 'real deal'. Other candidates, however, do not provide that stark of a contrast. Kerry Healey and Charlie Baker are wealthy and to many, represent the typical White-Collar Republican that doesn't appeal to the masses. Sure, Kerry is in the same boat, but if you present voters with a choice between richy rich lefty and richy rich righty, in this state, they'll stick with the status quo. Andy Card will not win an election so long as President Bush is still in the White House, at least not in this state. Hillman's a little different in the fact that he's very likeable, but likely doesn't have the drawing power that Schilling would have.
Schilling provides voters with a clear alternative whom they can identify with. He brings a level of 'star power' that none of the other candidates, save for possibly Andy Card, can boast.
However, above all, Schilling has an 'X' factor about him that can't be said of any of the other hopefuls: If Curt Schilling loses, the state party still wins. There will be more registered Republicans in Massachusetts. We would likely win a few extra seats in the legislature as a result of the rub he could give lower level candidates. In sum, a Schilling candidacy would be a net-gain either way, without sacrificing better, more politically-inclined candidates.
Kerry, even if he won, would likely resume his reign on idiocy on the national scene and sustain his vulnerability until it's time to un-elect him again. With Ted Kennedy not getting any younger, it maintains a strong pool of candidates to run against a Democratic nominee if Kennedy's seat were to open up. We also have a reasonable field of candidates to stack up against Deval Patrick in 2010. A Schilling candidacy would be a major step forward win or lose.
In politics, it's sometimes better to take a minor sacrifice to win the battle. In the current political reality, the Massachusetts Republican Party is in the bottom of the ninth with two outs. With typically gutsy showing by a possible Schilling campaign may not give us the runs we need to win the game, it would be enough to push the game into extra innings and give us a chance to win. I say "Play Ball!"
