[speedgibson] Speed Gibson: Sweat the Small Stuff

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Posted by Speed Gibson:
Sweat the Small Stuff
http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1226467110.shtml


   In case I have any impressionable youth reading, take a look at what's
   happening to Minnesota's Secretary of State, Mark Ritchie. This is
   generally a low profile job. Generally you're at your best when you're
   not making headlines. Only now, fate has him overseeing one of the
   closest State elections in decades.
   Back up about a year, to when Ritchie was caught using State voter
   registrations for his own fund-raising, then [1]lied trying to cover
   it up. There hasn't been a successful cover up since the 1960's, and
   this one didn't work either.
   What Ritchie did wasn't a big deal, as the State Auditor ruled once
   Ritchie finally cooperated with the investigation. But it certainly
   was embarrassing for someone who ran on being non-partisan while
   falsely accusing the incumbent of being partisan. It was so
   unnecessary, and that's my point.
   You never know when life will test you the most. But when it does,
   your reputation to date looms large. How could Bill Clinton deny
   Juanita Broderick's serious charge given his hound dog reputation? If
   someone falsely charges you with some sort of impropriety at work,
   what chance do you have if you've been playing the system to your
   personal advantage, wearing it like a coat of arms?
   So now stands Ritchie trying to appear impartial and the Republicans
   aren't buying a single vote of it. Truth be told, should Franken have
   legitimately won the election, many Democrats will secretly have to
   wish that Mary Kiffmeyer had won in 2006, to avoid the obvious taint.
   But Ritchie moves on, giving the appearance as one tampering with
   votes or tolerating the actions of those who are, unconcerned about
   the statistical red flags people are noticing a thousand miles away.
   His reputation precedes him.
   Even Chad Knaus wouldn't try to push his luck this far in a single
   race.

References

   1. http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1196569339.shtml