Arkansas MediaArkansas Politics

Even the Losers…

…get lucky sometimes, and get to have their moments of humiliation enshrined for the ages. That’s the case today in Arkansas Democrat-Gazette columnist Kane Webb’s Sunday piece looking at a couple of his favorite anecdotes from the losing side in elections past.

Specifically, Webb looks at the shining moments for two fellows employed by Arkansas Republican gubernatorial campaigns, 16 years apart: me, when I served as spokesman for Asa’s Hutchinson’s 2006 run, and Rex Nelson, who was communications director for Tommy Robinson’s 1990 unsuccessful primary run against Sheffield Nelson. On our respective election nights, both Rex and I were dispatched to serve as the smiling faces of optimism—on television—as the world collapsed around us.

Short version: We got to look like jackasses, for the entertainment of tens of thousands of viewers. But read Webb’s piece for the full effect. Ah, precious memories.

Please follow and like us:

5 thoughts on “Even the Losers…

  • AKA Bryce

    “I am going to buy a Cornish game hen and have all my friends over for dinner.”

    Classic.

    My favorite memory is sitting down in the war room, getting my spread sheet out, adjusting my seat, looking up at the big screen t.v….. and Fox news had called the election for Beebe.

    Or leaving the “war room” to tell one of the other staffers “We just lost the most Republican precinct in Union County. Holy sh*t. What do we do now?”

    His reply…”Punt”. It was then I began to weep uncontrollably.

    My guess is this Tuesday every Republican in the United States will know what I felt like that night.

    Reply
  • APYB (Arkansas Project Younger Brother)

    Yes, Dave, it’s good for the world when your jackassery is not limited just to those of us who know you but spread far and wide for all to enjoy.

    Reply
  • David Kinkade

    Jesus, how do you turn off the comments feature on this thing?
    D.

    Reply
  • Fourche River Rex

    The most amazing part of Webb’s piece is that it focuses on what Rex had to say on the night TR lost. I mean, out of all the explaining a spokesman for TR would have to do, I would think that the night TR lost the election would be the easiest night of the campaign.
    Brummett; “You know we are just waiting on Pulaski County and he won’t do well here.”
    Rex; “Gee, no kidding John. You do know that our candidate is bat shit crazy, don’t you?”
    I mean, really, that would be all that Rex would have to do. No one expected any more of him. I can’t imagine people being shocked TR lost. But then again, it was TR and he did go to DC as a Congressman. I was way too young to vote, but I’ve always wondered what psychosis griped people so severely that they voted for the man.
    A far more entertaining story would be Rex having to explain how he kept TR from calling Nelson several choice names for the female sex organ during the few months of his primary challenge. Or how he kept TR from beating someone up, or shooting someone with a shotgun or hitting someone with a phone book. That’s the story I want to hear. I’d imagine it would involve Rex slipping Mickey’s into TR’s beer so that he slept through most of the campaign, but that’s only a guess on my part. That’s what I’d do.
    Oh well. Obama’s going to win and then everything is going to be sunshine and roses. So it doesn’t matter. In fact, it will be such a happy evening, even John McCain, realizing the foolishness of his attempt to block the second coming will fall upon bended knee and beg for grace and mercy. I expect McCain’s press people to simply reply, “Oh we knew this all along. We’re very happy for the country because, clearly, Senator Obama is the perfect man for the job.” That’s all they will have to say because anything else said to the press will be ignored or misconstrued to come out sounding like that anyway.
    And then all the press corps will hop on their flying unicorns and be whisked away to a magic castle in the clouds where they will be greeted by President Obama and given lavish gifts of gold, silk and chocolate. Then they’ll dance with angels and fairies and sing magical happy songs that will bring peace to the people of earth. It will be a grand day.

    Reply
  • LawDog

    AKA Bryce-

    Amused that so many of you that night were surprised or shocked. And, that someone invited to the war room of a state-wide candidate would be so.

    Certainly seems your instincts have greatly improved considering your forecast for tomorrow’s election watch parties.

    Reply

Leave a Reply to LawDog Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

The Arkansas Project