He may, unfortunately, be waiting for Crit Luallen to announce that she’s decided to stop holding this process hostage– but Andrew Horne is finally admitting to the mainstream press that he’s preparing for battle. He’ll run for the United States Senate against Mitch McConnell. Something I’ve been waiting, patiently and quietly, for weeks to discuss: someone, anyone who is not a career politician. (To toot our own horn a bit: read Alessi’s feature story proving much of what we’ve reported the past few weeks.)
I’ll save my detailed thoughts on the matter for a later date. For now, suffice it to say that Andrew shouldn’t wait on Crit to make her announcement. She’s already wasted way too much time. Being a gentleman is fine and dandy but this is kind of, um, serious. The time for courtesy delays has come and gone.
As much as I like and support Greg Stumbo, it’s becoming more and more a reality that a victory for him is, though not impossible, unlikely. I won’t bother getting into the negatives.
It’s time for Kentucky to consider another option. A non-politician who doesn’t sell out.
A Horne candidacy is refreshing. Andrew is baggage-free. He can smoke Mitch in debate, on the war, on social matters, on government waste, on supporting RED CHINA, on screwing the country. He fought a tough political battle against John Yarmuth in 2006 and came out a political leader. He’s been in Kentucky’s trenches ever since. He’s the kind of guy average citizens love. And he’s the kind of person who’d best be able to represent the Commonwealth in Washington, D.C. Because he’s just like you and me.
I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Andrew and his wife Steph personally for two years and in that amount of time I’ve seen him prove himself in every situation imaginable. From leading Vote Vets and serving as a spokesperson for Democrats on a national front to getting to know everyone and walking door-to-door, he’s made it clear that he’s the right man for the job. While I’ve grown to love the Horne family as my own and don’t want to see them covered in McConnell mud? There’s no denying he has to give this a shot.
But enough about the personal. There are several concerns to address.
After the jump…
Money? He’ll be able to raise as much as any other Democratic candidate. We were impressive with his finances in 2006 and held our own while up against big money. He’s already got the national ties necessary and has the support of people like General Wesley Clark. Not to mention every last 527 on earth will be sinking millions of dollars into the Bluegrass at every opportunity. (You listening Achim? David? Fatten those pocketbooks, ladies!)
Never won a race? So? Big deal. Do you, as Kentuckians, want another career politician who sells out for personal gain? Are you after someone who only wants to win for winning’s sake? Didn’t think so.
He’s not tough? Hello? First in his family to graduate college. Been a Marine for longer than I’ve been alive. Was in Saudi Arabia/Kuwait in 1991 as part of Operation Desert Storm. In 2004 he served in Operation Iraqi Freedom in Al Anbar. And he’s faced serious battles at home as each and every one of us have. He has his shiz in check.
He’s a one-issue candidate? Uh, look at his 2006 race. Not a one-issue candidate. There’s not an issue on which he isn’t well-versed. His ideology is appealing to Republicans and Democrats alike. He’s not just the guy who knows first-hand of the Bush-McConnell corruption going down in Eye-rack.
Andrew is as close as we’re going to get to a consensus candidate. There’s no baggage. He has the tenacity and political prowess of Greg Stumbo. The intellectual ability of Crit Luallen. And the “it” factor to make him as popular as Jack Conway. He elicits the kind of emotional grassroots support that causes about 1,500 Louisvillians to work tirelessly for six months only to lose and keep on going– backing him where ever he moves. He has the type of amazing personality that pushes a couple big-time filmmakers to follow his campaign for a documentary appearing on the Discovery Times Channel.
Andrew Horne is the kind of guy Kentucky so desperately needs.
While a few try to play kingmaker and work out some sort of back room deal, we’re standing up behind the first true leader Kentucky has seen in a generation.
Disclaimer for the haters: No, we won’t be trashing other candidates in some biased way. And we won’t always be screaming fanboys for Andrew Horne. If he screws up we’re gonna call him on it.
4 responses so far ↓
1 CWash // Dec 7, 2007 at 1:34 pm
At Last! An actual discusion of some issues. Without cutting somebody down. OMG!
2 Go Andrew Go // Dec 7, 2007 at 5:05 pm
Needless to say I am excited. Lt Colonel Horne is certainly not a one issue candidate as Mitch will find out. Kentucky should be excited for what is about to happen.
3 Shelia Quinn // Dec 10, 2007 at 1:58 am
It’s refreshing to read a non politician wanting to step up and take Ky in a new direction.We’ve neeeded to get Mitch out for a long time .Horne sounds good to me and I will definately be talking his name in Elizabethtown. Thank you!
4 fivestring // Dec 14, 2007 at 9:38 pm
Someone I can feel good about supporting,although I would vote for a yellow dog before voting for McConnell. I, thrilled and can’t wait to get to work.
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