On MSNBC yesterday, former McCain campaign economic adviser Doug Holtz-Eakin faced a tough question from Dylan Ratigan. For all the Democrats flaws, Ratigan mused, isn’t being ruled by alcoholics better than being ruled by alcoholic coke-heads?
No joke.
“Are we setting ourselves up to quit drinking by beginning to snort cocaine in November in addition to drinking?” Ratigan asked Holtz-Eakin.
In a telling answer, Holtz-Eakin confessed that the Republican party has been too obsessed with Sarah Palin, and Palin-like personalities, and has thus not had enough time to prepare its leaders to govern.
“Let’s get away from the politics of personalities,” Holtz-Eakin admonished. “Let’s not talk about a Sarah Palin all the time, and let’s have, again, a debate about ideas….. Unfortunately, what interrupted that is the Democrats ruled so poorly that the Republicans are now back in play quickly and they’re now trying to do that faster than may be possible.”
Watch the entire exchange below.
Brian Beutler
Brian Beutler is TPM's senior congressional reporter. Since 2009, he's led coverage of health care reform, Wall Street reform, taxes, the GOP budget, the government shutdown fight, and the debt limit fight. He can be reached at brian@talkingpointsmemo.com.
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