Christian Science Monitor: John Mellencamp: Replacement for Evan Bayh in Senate?

[ddeclue]

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/The-Vote/2010/0217/John-Mellencamp-Replacement-for-Evan-Bayh-in-Senate

By Mark Guarino Staff writer / February 17, 2010

Chicago
As Indiana Democratic leaders scramble to replace Evan Bayh in the US Senate race, one name is emerging from left field: rock musician John Mellencamp.

As Evan Bayh bows out, Democrats scramble to save Senate control

When questioned Wednesday, Mellencamp publicist Bob Merlis responded to the Monitor via e-mail this way: “As of now, there is no response.” The lack of an answer — which was the same given to the Indianapolis Star Wednesday — is helping the Internet rumor mill churn even faster.

Grassroots efforts are urging Mr. Mellencamp to take the leap. On MSNBC Tuesday, Katrina Van Heuvel, editor of The Nation, suggested that Mellencamp could be a “populist candidate” as someone “who worked very hard for farmers who faced foreclosures” and “a Heartland son of Indiana.”

Chicago film critic Roger Ebert suggested a Mellencamp candidacy via Twitter Monday. A Facebook page dedicated to drafting Mellencamp as a candidate had 940 members by mid-Wednesday. An online petition via CitizenSpeak calls the singer “someone who can win this November” and “a staunch advocate for Hoosiers of all backgrounds.”

... more at link

[WatchWhatISay]

1. I'm beginning to detect a pattern here . . .

[Don Caballero]

2. Enough of this.

We get it. You love celebrities. Mellencamp has no chance here. So sorry.

[ddeclue]

3. Not up to you to tell me what I can post pal.. each post is from a legitimate news source

and demonstrates that the idea has legitimacy with the public.

By the way the biggest of the three facebook groups on this subject has 1200 members now and has grown by at least 500 members in less than 24 hours so I guess you really don't speak for everybody from Indiana now do you?

[salin]

4. Given the timing (and the lack of knowing whether or not he has an interest) you are right

The announcement was too late for any actual candidacy (as the filing date including 500 signatures from each congressional district) - there is no citizen input into who the candidate will be. There is no way the state dem party leaders, who get to select the candidate will select Mellencamp. If this had been a primary race (that is if the announcement had been made early enough for a regular primary organizing process had been possible, *and if Mellencamp had indicated an interest* it might have been possible. He has quite a populist appeal here. But the timing of the "not running" announcement pretty much precludes such a scenario.

[Leopolds Ghost]

8. Indiana State Party will throw the election to the Republicans since that's what Bayh seems request.

[DRoseDARs]

6. Well, Indiana law says enough seeing as the deadline came and went noon yesterday.

But three Facebook groups filled with literally hundreds of non-law majors clearly know better.

[Leopolds Ghost]

7. You seem awfully offended. Have a nice time on DU n/t

[donheld]

10. Who says Mellencamp want's a chance?

[LostInAnomie]

12. A handful of bloggers, facebook users, and internet speculators.

Most of which aren't from Indiana, don't know the process in Indiana, and know nothing about Indiana politics.

[DRoseDARs]

14. Indiana law has already nixed the idea anyway as the deadline for getting signatures has passed.

I suspect, as do many others, that Sen. Bayh knew EXACTLY what he was doing when he made his announcement the day BEFORE the deadline for gathered signatures to be turned in. If Facebook friends counted, I could see the thousands of "signatures" necessary being collected in under 24 hours, but they don't. Only handwritten signatures do and there was no way in hell Mellencamp was going to get those signatures in time, regardless if he even WANTS to run or not.

[LostInAnomie]

17. Exactly.

Unless party officials get a wild hair up their ass and decide to make Mellencamp the Democratic candidate this is all fantasy.

[TexasObserver]

5. He'd make a decent choice. His Farm Aid work is remarkable.

Like Al Franken, he's a guy who could win.

[LostInAnomie]

9. I love it when "legitimate" news sources use facebook groups as proof of support.

I have a friend who's in a local band that has three times the number of fans as the Mellencamp group. I have a friend that owns a local restaurant that has roughly twice the amount. There's a group called something like "Can this pickle get more fans than Nickleback" that has close to 1.5 million fans. Anyone can get people to sign up for anything on facebook.

[Leopolds Ghost]

11. Who do YOU support?

Some would say, "I intend to support the whoever the party nominates, they are good and loyal Dems." Like Bayh.

[LostInAnomie]

13. I'd support almost anyone over Coats or Hostettler.

Former Governor Joe Kernan wouldn't be a bad choice, but I doubt he'll get the nomination. Jon Weinzapfel would be a good choice too. I think it will probably be Brad Ellsworth though.

What most people are forgetting is that even in the best electoral environment, Bayh was about as far left as Indiana was willing to go for a state wide election. This electoral environment is far from good. I wouldn't doubt we lose most of our Dem seats regardless of who is running.

[ddeclue]

15. Yeah whatever pal your friend didn't do it in 24 hours..and your friend isn't

being picked up by the LA Times, The Hill, and USA Today..stop stalking my threads and go start one of your own.

[LostInAnomie]

16. Maybe you aren't familiar with how an internet forum works.

When you post a thread people are allowed to respond to it. If you don't like what they are saying you are free to ignore them.

Those news papers aren't picking up on your facebook group. They are doing the typical lazy reporting that the media is famous for by repeating a couple of quotes and justifying it with "People are talking about it! Look at facebook and twitter!"

[ddeclue]

18. They actually ARE picking it up and providing links to it..

Facts are facts: It's on their sites - in fact that's the definition of "picking up the story". Sorry if you don't like it but you don't get to decide what the LA Times, USA Today or The Hill prints now do you?

You are just here to thread stalk and be a nay sayer. You really hate it that a lot of people disagree with you and you are terribly offended that you can't tell them what to do.

[LostInAnomie]

19. Yeah, they are all picking up the same quotes and justifying it with...

... a facebook link. It's called lazy reporting.

As far as I've seen in these threads, hardly anyone that actually counts (Indiana voters) or anyone that actually knows the process is giving credence to the idea. Unless the party officials nominate the guy, it ain't happening. Call it what you will, but that's the facts.

[upi402]

20. Then screw the damn DCCC, people can write him in

Not like they don't know the name.
Ron Reagan
Sonny Bono
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Al Franken

I finally stopped participating in the Democratic Party BECAUSE of party officials. Screw 'em. The spineless weasels need to lead or get out the way.