While not an important issue of the day, I find it always helpful to have a laugh at the republican's expense. Two weeks ago we got to laugh about the fact that Jon Huntsman, republican governor of Utah, and potential GOP presidential candidate in 2012, was told to take a hike by the Kent County MI republican party due to his radical stance on civil unions. Eating their own v 1.0
Today, we get to laugh about the way Mark Shurtleff, ( Mr. "sure, bring your guns to campus") Utah state attorney general, 'announced' his primary challenge vs. Utah Senator Bob "bleh" Bennett (R).
By ACCIDENTALY twittering 1600 'followers' about his intentions! HAH!
I have to say, sometimes the MSM does it's job. The Salt Lake Tribune, the local NPR stations, and other news outlets have told us about this Twitter gaff of Mr. Shurtleff.
I have a LITTLE sympathy for the guy, cause gosh darn it, sometimes this new fangled technology can sure get in your way! Here's the link to the funny article in the Trib.
Shurtleff has in fact been widely rumored to be tossing his conservative hat in the ring against Bennett. However, he had not yet made a formal annoucement. That is, no ballons, no press conference, no families hugging him. But now, the cat is out of the twitter bag.
The SL Trib tells us that
Several hours later, Attorney General Mark Shurtleff suffered a Twitter spasm, shooting out a series of messages while on a trade mission to Israel, apparently announcing to more than 1,600 followers that he was also going against Bennett.
"I'm announcing I'm running at 12," Shurtleff wrote
And Bob Bennett? He's already facing a primary challenge from Tim Bridgewater, former Bush pioneer, and as for these challengers, Bennett says, "bring 'em on"
Bennett is facing grumbling from the Republican Party, evident at the April 15 "Tea Party" rallies where participants booed the senator for supporting the first round of bank bailouts.
Bennett's campaign says voters are upset with Congress, not Bennett specifically, and believe they will be able to separate the three-term senator from their frustration with Washington, D.C.
Bennett said he hasn't talked to Bridgewater about his challenge, but welcomes the contest.
"As I've said to Mark Shurtleff, if he ever gets around to coming forward, welcome," Bennett said Tuesday. "I'm on the campaign trail, if he wants to join me on the campaign trail I'll be glad to see him. We will discuss the issues."
This should all be really fun to watch as they chomp away at each other. But with respect to the twitter issue, I think that this comment from the article really just sums it all up:
Kirsten Foot, a communications professor specializing in new technology at the University of Washington, said political campaigns are constantly looking for new technologies to reach voters and appear tech-savvy, but there are pitfalls.
"They want to look like they know what they're doing and they want to figure out how to use these tools without getting themselves in trouble," she said.
Ah yes, they want to look like they know what they are doing!