Guilty

until proven

innocent

against 

the recent

rape charge,

an issue

so large

it trumps

a Nazi

tattoo,

the guy

who would

defy

old categories

and deny

old stories

or try

to eschew

what he knew

was problematic,

was a “new”

democrat

who wasn’t

an aristocrat,

but an oysterman

everyman,

if every man

were accused

of rape

and had a 

Nazi

tattoo.

The senate

race

in Maine

has been

an insane

drain

on Dems

everywhere

who care

about

how to 

gain

a majority.

The midterm

priority

to return

to accountability

was weirdly

accommodated

when Platner

was nominated,

as he won

as an outsider.

Brash

and progressive,

if not transgressive,

he’d upend

the successive

terms

of Susan Collins.

But Platner

won’t be

Maine’s

Democrat

nominee

even if he

were innocent.

Now the race

is a drag

causing 

confidence

lag

in the ability

to find

a good 

candidate

at this late

date.

A late

update 

happened

not long before-

in 2024-

and look

how that

election

ended.

There 

is no ideal

candidate,

but to bet

on the base

instincts

not only

stinks,

but drags

Maine

and

the whole

country

down.

Even W,

son-of-a

Bush,

was a push-

over.

Wanting

a beer

with a candidate

is inadequate

to governance.

Substance

should count

an inordinate

amount,

not one’s bank 

account.

Wanting

an outsider

taunting

the system

is wisdom

not always

true.

Who meets

the standard

is answered

by history.

Victory

delivery

should be

considered

carefully,

because

then 

the term

must 

be served.

What must be

preserved

can’t be

dragged

through

the mud.

Just look

at that 

Maine stud,

Graham Platner.