“I think even the mayor will admit that the schools have been so neglected that we're really talking about peanuts in terms of making them look like we want to educate children.”
The primary this week was more a referendum on Fenty's personality that on his performance.
That's why I think he deserves a second chance, as a Republican.
Why not, more than 800 Republicans wrote him in and Fenty has until 4:45 pm today to accept the Republican nomination.
Fenty lost the primary by around 10,000 votes. There are 29,000 registered Republicans in DC. If you assume that everyone who voted for Fenty on Tuesday will vote for him again in November, then he has two months to apologize and appeal to the masses who turned up against him and significantly close the gap or possibly win.
Could he pull it off? This would be a huge and historic challenge but fortunately not without precedent. In 2006, former Vice Presidential candidate, Joe Lieberman was defeated in the Democratic Primary by Ned Lamont in Connecticut. But by switching to become an Independent, Lieberman pulled it off defeating both Lamont and the Republican challenger.
But wouldn't Fenty be labelled as a traitor? Take the renowned quote by Lieberman himself:
After an embarrassing defeat (in 35 years only once has an incumbent mayor lost reelection bid -- Sharon Pratt to Marion Barry in 1994), Fenty has definitely learned a lesson on management and will certainly change his ways.
Certainly Fenty can run again in the future, but the best chances for a real and lasting education reform that both Fenty/Rhee and Obama's administration are pushing is right now.
Fenty did say Wed, that he will not run again for Mayor. However, as a fellow triathlete, I can attest that Fenty runs a hard race. If he's behind in the swim, then he will catch up on the bike. If he's behind in the bike, there's always the 10 km ride. Fenty lost the primary, but there's always the November election.
How about the values? Would Fenty have to change his campaign priorities as a Republican -- not at all.
The only thing Fenty needs to change is his public perception. The most important value he needs to embrace is his commitment to lasting and meaningful school reform
The primary this week was more a referendum on Fenty's personality that on his performance.
That's why I think he deserves a second chance, as a Republican.
Why not, more than 800 Republicans wrote him in and Fenty has until 4:45 pm today to accept the Republican nomination.
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| Credit: J Scott Applewhite/AP Photo: Andrew Harrer/Getty Images |
Could he pull it off? This would be a huge and historic challenge but fortunately not without precedent. In 2006, former Vice Presidential candidate, Joe Lieberman was defeated in the Democratic Primary by Ned Lamont in Connecticut. But by switching to become an Independent, Lieberman pulled it off defeating both Lamont and the Republican challenger.
But wouldn't Fenty be labelled as a traitor? Take the renowned quote by Lieberman himself:
"I'm a loyal Democrat by I have loyalties to my state and my country."Fenty had asked President Obama to endorse him. The White House decided against this. Obama, who Fenty widely endorsed in the early days of the Presidential election has turned him down.
After an embarrassing defeat (in 35 years only once has an incumbent mayor lost reelection bid -- Sharon Pratt to Marion Barry in 1994), Fenty has definitely learned a lesson on management and will certainly change his ways.
Certainly Fenty can run again in the future, but the best chances for a real and lasting education reform that both Fenty/Rhee and Obama's administration are pushing is right now.
Fenty did say Wed, that he will not run again for Mayor. However, as a fellow triathlete, I can attest that Fenty runs a hard race. If he's behind in the swim, then he will catch up on the bike. If he's behind in the bike, there's always the 10 km ride. Fenty lost the primary, but there's always the November election.
How about the values? Would Fenty have to change his campaign priorities as a Republican -- not at all.
The only thing Fenty needs to change is his public perception. The most important value he needs to embrace is his commitment to lasting and meaningful school reform
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