17TH CD: TWO WITH GEOGRAPHY PROBLEMS

As nearly as I can see, John Sullivan and Hal Baine share one thing, a geography problem. John doesn't live in Rock Island and Baine has no interest in anything within the corporate boundaries of the United States.

Since Baine has no chance in this process, let's just say he gave a terrific speech Saturday and he'd make a super executive director of the NRA and a hell of lot better Secretary of State than Condi. I'd make an effort to listen to him talk about any time but no chance is still no chance.

John Sullivan is a special friend of UMRBlog so we make no pretense of neutrality. This wasn't his best speech but it didn't make a damn bit of difference (when his voice breaks and he tears up, he makes Daniel Webster look autistic). Nobody holds an audience like John. The folks from the Quad Cities have one clear place to go if they don't like what their neighbors are giving them. That's all John set out to do. He just stands up there like a cross between John Wayne and Jimmy Stewart. Everybody listens and everybody wants to be his friend. Nobody doubts he'll knock on a million doors. His hand was "I can beat Republicans in Western Illinois" and he played it pretty well.

Hal had fun and entertained us. John stayed in the conversation, which is all he needed to do.

Tomorrow: Boland and Stockwell--Worlds apart.